Potluck Ideas That Take Care of Yourself + Please Any Crowd
It's summer and that means it's potluck season. I love potlucks. Not only is it fun to share food with friends and loved ones, there's usually lots of options, fun things to try and best of all, it's a great opportunity to make sure your needs are taken care of in a social setting and no one needs to know about them!
So, if you're tired of feeling like you have to explain your dietary choices, or you're in the camp that is used to abandoning yourself because you don't want to be “rude” and end up eating food you know doesn't agree with you and paying for it later, the potluck is the perfect meal sharing experience that let’s you stay in the driver’s seat.
The only thing this takes is a little planning. If you can find out from the host what people are bringing that can help otherwise I say, take care of yourself and go with something that’ll keep you satiated and satisfied.
This is how I strategize on what to bring. Of course I want it to be a crowd pleaser but I also want to make sure I'll be taken care of and won't feel hungry. I usually prioritize veggies and/or protein depending on what I know will be there. While I love making desserts, if I had to pick between a savory or a sweet, I will usually pick the savory as insurance that there will be something satisfying and delicious for me to enjoy. This way, I'm less likely to go overboard on all the tempting goodies because of low blood sugar. I'm also more likely to enjoy myself and won't be feeling like I need a day or two to recover.
Here are some of my favorite ideas and recipes… I hope you love them too.
You can never go wrong with a good Charcuterie Plate with olives or tapenade, hard cheeses and cut up veggies.
Beet Salad with Feta - Beets make this earthy, sweet and filling, arugula balances bitter with sweet and feta makes everything better! I make homemade balsamic vinaigrette with my favorite extra virgin olive oil.
Air Fryer Salmon Bites - This airfryer salmon recipe in cute bitesized form is simple and super easy-to-follow, just 5 ingredients, dijon mustard, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper… that’s it! A clean, simple, and irresistibly delicious treat that’s everyone will love.
Tune Nicoise Salad - Just a handful of quality ingredients make this summer salad special. This classic niçoise salad recipe delivers big, briny French Mediterranean–inspired flavors with lots of satisfying crunch. Bonus: It requires the bare minimum of prep time.
Delfina's Spicy Cauliflower - I used to love going to Delfina Pizza in San Francisco back in the good ol days before gluten and I broke up. I have to say, if I was gonna go for it, this would be one place to make it worth it. This cauliflower dish is both delish and satisfying. It's great hot, warm or a room temp. I recommend swapping out the canola oil with avocado oil and omit the breadcrumbs if you're gluten free or avoiding bread.
Loaded Wedge Salad (My mouth waters just reading that…hold the croutons for me!)
Cauliflower Tabbouleh Packed with satisfying flavor and fiber to keep you full and satisfied.
Fresh Spring Rolls - Who doesn’t love a fresh spring roll. These are filled with lots of fresh veggies, easy on the vermicelli noodles and with delish, lightly honey sweetened peanut sauce… an instant crow pleaser.
Le Grand Aioli with Green Garlic - Le Grand Aioli is a simple meal of cooked and raw vegetables with jammy eggs, and seafood - all to dip into a bowl of garlicky mayonnaise.
Healthy Chicken Salad - A super healthy and delicious chicken salad ready in 30 minutes. Not only will you love this healthy chicken salad, but your body will too. It’s brimming with nutrients and absolutely packed with protein, thanks to those pan fried chicken breasts and toasted almonds.
Do you have any favorite potluck picks? I’d love to hear about them. And if you try any of the above, I’d love to hear what you think!