7 Easy Dishes for a Thanksgiving Potluck

Published Nov 15, 2016•Updated Nov 18, 2022

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Are you attending a Thanksgiving potluck or Friendsgiving this year? Wondering what to bring? Looking for easy Thanksgiving side dish ideas? From side dishes to desserts, all these Thanksgiving recipe ideas take under an hour to make…

What to Bring to a Thanksgiving Potluck?

This will be the first year in recent history that we’ll be cooking almost nothing for the feast. Our holiday will be potluck hosted by my mom (who will be doing all the turkey+stuffing+gravy heavy lifting).

It means I get to spend plenty of time enjoying all things turkey but less than an hour making my dish. And then we’re going to have a dance party with all the free time that we’re NOT spending in the kitchen.

And when you’re only bringing one dish, you want to be sure it’s both delicious and easy. If none of the options below are striking you as “the one”, save yourself some stress and check out my extensive roundup of 35 Thanksgiving recipes that can specifically be made ahead.

7 Easy Dishes for a Thanksgiving Potluck:

1-Hour Light and Buttery Dinner Rolls – Every year I get emails from people who make and love these simple, light, addictive dinner rolls for the holidays. They are an instant classic. Just scroll through the comments to see for yourself!
Stuffing Balls – Frank’s favorite, vegetarian stuffing rolled into balls and baked. These are so well-loved around here that we made a video about them! We even now have an Air Fryer Stuffing Balls version that come out perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside every time.
Twice-Baked Butternut Squash with Quinoa, Pecans, and Parmesan – Stuffed with a savory, crispy filling of quinoa, pecans, parmesan and breadcrumbs these are an impressive and fun vegetarian side or main dish.
Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Craisins and Pecans – This stovetop + oven side dish looks and tastes like the essential holiday food. It will look amazing at any Thanksgiving potluck. Sweet dried cranberries, tender brussels sprouts and the crunch of pecans and bacon. Even brussels sprouts skeptics will be converted with this dish.
Salted Caramel Apple Cider – Warm, fragrant mugs of this cider are so much fun to sip before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner. A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and transforms traditional cider into something extra special. Keep the cider warm in a crockpot so that everyone can help themselves throughout the meal!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites – Pumpkin is a must for any Thanksgiving meal. These mini pumpkin cheesecakes with a gingersnap crust were one of the first recipes to go viral on Inquiring Chef. This easy dessert comes together in a matter of minutes in a food processor and are always a favorite.
Pumpkin Bread Truffles – If you want to bring a dessert that’s a bit different than the classics, these pumpkin bread truffles are always a win. Use store-bought pumpkin bread or the simple one-bowl version linked in the recipe as a base. Dip them in chocolate and refrigerate until party time!