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52 Particularly Portable Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas
We've got the recipes you want—and ideas for hauling and heating them!
When you think about it, Thanksgiving and potlucks go way back.
The first Thanksgiving, as the stories all say, was a feast shared by Puritan settlers and the native Wampanoag tribe—where the tribe brought deer and settlers shared their harvest. What's that, but a potluck?
Over the years, Thanksgiving has taken a lot of different forms, but these days, coming nearly full-circle, Thanksgiving is as likely to be a "Friendsgiving" event as it is to be limited to merely close family. And in the spirit of sharing, we think everyone should still bring a dish! (Though you may want to check everyone's food aversions before bringing venison.)
Tips for Hosting a Thanksgiving Potluck
If you're asking guests to bring a dish, it's a good idea to get a sense of who's bringing what. You don't want to end up with three pumpkin pies, no stuffing, and nothing but water to drink!
As the host, you usually get to pick the dish you want to make. Turkey, which takes the longest to cook and is the least portable, is traditional. But you can choose a different dish if you'd rather: Just be sure to assign the turkey to someone else. (Unless it's a vegetarian Thanksgiving, of course.)
Depending on how many people are coming and how hands-on you want to be, you can either assign dishes to folks, or come up with a list of general foods ("sides" "salads" "pies" "beverages") and let people suggest what they're going to bring. It's best to make the list public so that everyone can see what has already been claimed before making their choice. A shared Google document or spreadsheet can work, or you can use an app like Sign Up Genius or Potluck.
Make sure to communicate with the host about bringing dishes that need to be re-heated or cooked in the oven. You don't want five people bringing dishes that needs to cook at 5 different temperatures. It might be best to let people know they can warm food in (or on) your stove, but will need to cook it at home.
Finally: share this list of recipes! These recipes are all very portable, and/or able to last for quite a while at room temp. And we have suggestions for how to carry or transport them. Best of all, they're from Country Living, so you know they're going to taste great.
More great Thanksgiving Stories from Country Living:
The Ultimate Two-Beef Chili
This ultimate chili is the perfect option for a potluck! It's hearty, comforting, and feeds a crowd!
Serve it in a portable slow cooker that you can carry to the event!
Pecan Acorn Cookies
Dipped in chocolate and pecans, these shortbread cookies double as seasonal party favors! Either serve up a batch at your Thanksgiving potluck, or pack them in cute bags to send home with your guests.
Cheddar Cornbread
Whether you're making it to go with chili, top a casserole, go into a classic Southern Thanksgiving dressing, or even just fill out a plate at a potluck, cornbread is a must-have at your Thanksgiving potluck! You can pack this cornbread in practically any sealable carrier.
Sweet Potato-Praline Pie
This sweet potato pie gets an upgrade with praline sauce and Vanilla Bean Chantilly Cream. It's sure to be a hit at the potluck!
To bring it along, use a classic dessert carrier for the pie, and a sealable bowl for the whipped cream.
Harvest Salad with Pickled Pomegranate Seeds
Don't forget to make sure someone is bringing greens to your Thanksgiving potluck! Sturdy winter greens provide the base layer, followed by crunchy apple, crumbled goat cheese, a tangy cider vinaigrette, and rich roasted squash. And to top it all off? Quick-pickled pomegranate seeds.
To travel with, pack the vinaigrette in one mason jar, the pomegranate seeds in another, and the rest of it in a sealable salad bowl.
Get the recipe for Harvest Salad with Pickled Pomegranate Seeds.
Ginger-Pumpkin Cookies
These cookies are the perfect bite-sized sweet treats to bring to a potluck! This recipe feeds a crowd so there should be plenty of cookies to go around.
A cookie carrier makes transport a snap.
Radicchio Pumpkin Salad with Tahini Dressing
This rich fall salad is packed with all the best seasonal flavor: sweet beets, rich tahini, toasted hazelnuts, and salty, creamy Feta.
Tip: Pack the salad and dressing separately in a travel bowl and mix them when you arrive.
Get the recipe for Radicchio Pumpkin Salad with Tahini Dressing.
Gorgonzola Baked Polenta
This yummy casserole has it all: It's easy to make, easy to transport, can be reheated or eaten at room temperature, and it's even gluten free!
Use a casserole carrier to keep it warm in transit!
Escarole Salad with Oranges, Pistachios, and Pickled Onions
What makes a good potluck salad? Resistance to wilting. Escarole is a sturdy lettuce that can happily sit in this tasty dressing, and will only taste better for it.
You can also pack the salad and dressing separately in a travel bowl and mix them when you arrive.
Get the recipe for Escarole Salad.
RELATED: Looking for other Thanksgiving salad ideas? Here are our 30 best Thanksgiving salad recipes to complete your feast.
Peanut-Salted Caramel Slab Pie
If it's a big potluck, or you're the only one who signed up for dessert, a slab pie is the way to go. This salty, nutty version is a sweet-savory delight.
The pie is not likely to spill, but a baking pan with snap-on cover makes transport easier.
Cranberry Mulled White Wine
Mulled wine is an easy fall cocktail for a crowd, and it's a great pre-dinner drink. (Pro tip: Bring it and keep it warm in a traveling slow cooker!)
But red wine can also be really weighty before a big meal. Serve this white wine version, and then bring a good wine to have with dinner.
Grandsue’s Sweet-and-Spicy Roasted Pecans
These spiced pecans make a great appetizer to go with the mulled wine. They're hard to stop eating.
Get the recipe for Grandsue’s Sweet-and-Spicy Roasted Pecans.
Turkey Roulades with Sourdough Pancetta Stuffing
Want to win guest of the year? Bring the turkey! These smart roulades can be made up to two days in advance. Borrow the host's oven and bake them for about 45 minutes, then slice. You've just made a main dish with no messy leftovers to worry about!
Sweet-and-Sour Onions
Nana's classic creamed onions gets a serious upgrade here. Plenty of butter, a touch of vinegar and some sugar give these little bites lots of flavor, and they're easy to carry and reheat.
Braided Cranberry-Orange Pie
Cranberry pie is classic, but we'll admit that a big draw is this braided crust. It's like the pie is wearing a warm, cable-knit sweater! It looks great in a classic dessert carrier.
Cream Cheese Herb Biscuits
Bring a big basket of these herby cheese biscuits to the potluck, and you'll be everyone's favorite.
Easy Root Vegetable Gratin
We can't decide if the best thing about this casserole is how easy it is, or how delicious it is. You can let us know when you make it.
Use a casserole carrier to keep it warm in transit!
The Best Pumpkin Pie
Thanksgiving isn't over until you've had a slice of pumpkin pie. This one has a small, smart upgrade from the original: a crunchy top crust of sugar you can easily add right before serving with an inexpensive brulée torch.
Get the recipe for The Best Pumpkin Pie.
RELATED: You can never have too much pie at Thanksgiving! Here are over 50 of our favorite pie recipes to try.
Nana’s Famous Corn Pudding
This sweet Southern classic is practically tailor-made for potlucks. It's hearty and delicious, and it tastes great warm or cold!
Use a casserole carrier to keep it warm in transit!
Bourbon Yams
Sweet potatoes of some variety are a must-have on Turkey Day. This recipe makes judicious use of cinnamon and a slug of good whiskey for some how-did-you-make-these yumminess. Wrap the dish in foil and bring it to the party hot.
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