Memorial Day Weekend is coming up! The official start of the summer entertaining season. The air is turning warm and sweet with the smell of flowers and freshly mowed grass. The sun is shining and sets later and later. Even the moon is brighter. Fire up the grill, load up a cooler, and invite some friends over for dinner. Who’s ready for summer parties?
The best parties seem to be when everyone chips in. If you’re invited to a summer potluck, DinnerTime has some tasty, easy-to-make side dishes, along with tips for being the best guest.
5 Tips When Providing a Potluck Dish
- You can ask the host if there is a dish they would like you to make specifically, or if they would like your suggestion.
- Make sure your dish makes sense for the type of party. For example, if the host is throwing a potluck picnic in the neighborhood park, hot baked beans might not be the best idea, but an easily transportable pasta salad would.
- Ask the host how many guests are expected.
- Make it fresh. You can control the amount of mayonnaise and know it doesn’t need an expiration date. Making a side dish yourself may take a little longer, but it can truly feel satisfying watching it disappear.
- Provide your own attractive serving dish and serving spoons/tongs. And remember to clean them up and take them home at the end of the party.
DinnerTime’s Favorite Potluck Party Recipes:
Herbed Red Potato Salad: It’s easy to make, easy to scale the number of servings and is tasty the next day if you have any leftovers. (You won’t!)
Caribbean Summer Salad: Delicious on a hot summer day! Making this in peak summer months allows you to use the sweetest nectarines and fresh-from-the-cob corn. This recipe makes a bright, pretty, and surprisingly fresh-tasting dish. It’s different than many of the classic summer picnic fare, which makes it more special.
Marinated Mozzarella and Tomatoes: This dish has simple but wonderfully fresh ingredients. Just-picked basil and tomatoes, interspersed with fresh mozzarella, make an elevated summer dish. If you have access to a variety of tomatoes, like yellow and striped hybrids, use them together on the platter for a collective “wow”. Simple and yes, genius.
Homemade Boston Baked Beans: Baked beans are a staple at many summer parties. Baked beans pair well with burgers, chicken, beef…whatever is being served, you can’t go wrong. Remember to think about logistics… do you need to keep them hot, or can you bring your dish in a warming carrier?
Red, White and Blue Summer Salad: Once again, this is a salad that folks will think you are gifted at salad making. It’s beautiful and made with fresh, delicious, and colorful ingredients; it’s perfect. It’s the taste of summer in a salad. Even the kids love it. Plus, it’s so healthy!