December sure is a busy month! Whether you were invited to a friend's Christmas dinner party, a church potluck, or a tree-trimming celebration, your calendar is probably filled with holiday gatherings galore. If you're encouraged to contribute a dish to any of these events, there are plenty of festive and crowd-pleasing recipes to choose from. As long as the item is transportable, easy to serve, and large enough to feed a group, you should be golden! Of course, an added bonus is selecting bites that bring the holiday spirit, such as wreath-inspired cookies, tree-painted deviled eggs, and red-and-green-colored sandwiches.
If you're searching for Christmas potluck ideas that fit the bill, you've come to the right place. Here, you'll find Christmas appetizers, main courses, and Christmas desserts that are easy to prepare, simple to serve, and delicious to eat. There are lots of Christmas casseroles on this list that simply need to be reheated before dishing out. Below, you'll also discover slow cooker Christmas recipes that you can make ahead and keep warm for hours. Not to mention, there's a chocolate peppermint sheet cake that’s big enough for a crowd—and everyone will be asking for the recipe.
To jumpstart the process, scroll through our collection of Christmas potluck ideas that are perfect for any holiday party, whether you're attending or hosting.
Biting into a warm casserole is one of the best ways to brave the wintry weather during the holiday season. This hamburger-inspired variation is stuffed with ground beef and coated in melted cheese, which makes it extra hearty and homey. It's also super easy to throw together and even easier to serve!
Cranberries, brown sugar, orange zest, and ginger work together to give this crumbly, buttery Christmas crisp a seasonal twist. The vibrant red berries topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream will even look like holiday décor!
With a prep time of just 15 minutes, these sautéed green beans make an effortless and nutritious dish for a Christmas potluck. And this seasonal side is also decorative! The pomegranates' eye-catching red color fused with the green beans' hue is perfectly on theme.
Bringing these sliders to a Christmas potluck makes for easy distribution (like the name suggests, just pull one apart!), and the burst of comforting flavors will make it a guaranteed hit. After all, what's better than breaded chicken, melted cheese, and marinara sauce stuffed between a buttery bun?
If you're looking for a potluck-approved appetizer, these cranberry brie bites simply scream Christmas. Cranberry sauce and chopped pistachios stuffed in flaky puff pastry is reminiscent of a Christmas tree, and the flavors make it nearly impossible to pass up!
Maybe it's the crushed butter crackers or the decadent cheese sauce, but this side dish is always a crowd-pleaser. Prepare for guests to come back for seconds!
You'll hear 'oohs' and 'ahhs' when you show up with this holiday main course. The rolled turkey breast filled with bacon, apple, and cornbread stuffing is worthy of its centerpiece status.
Not only can this pie be made with store-bought crust, but the filling is made with instant vanilla pudding mix, a carton of eggnog, and a package of cream cheese for an even more convenient treat.
Pepper jack cheese gives this pudding-like cornbread casserole a welcome kick. But if you really want to take things up a notch, drizzle the whole thing with hot honey just before serving.
This holiday ham is cooked in a slow cooker so you don't have to worry about fussing with the oven. But the secret to making it such a crowd-pleaser is all in the sticky Dr Pepper glaze.
You'll impress everyone at the party with this elegant appetizer! The savory mushrooms are packed to the brim with a creamy crab mixture, pimientos, and melty cheese. Top them off with golden breadcrumbs for a welcome crunch.
This nostalgic treat will surely make everyone jiggle with excitement. What once was a potluck staple for grandma is now retro chic. And of course, it's the perfect color combo for the holiday!
A pasta dish stuffed with cheese will always go over well with a crowd. The great thing about manicotti is that it tastes just as good warm, so you don't have to worry too much about keeping it piping hot while it sits out.
If you're assigned a dessert, skip the fussy tiers and make a 9-by-13 single layer cake instead. This cake will still stand out thanks to the sparkly sugared cranberries on top.
If you want to bring a snack for everyone to munch on but you're not sure if you should go salty or sweet, do both. Chex mix is also so easy to carry. Simply carry it in a big zip-top bag and just pour it in a serving bowl when you get to the party.
Warm, creamy cheese sauce and hearty potatoes make the perfect side dish—and making them in a slow cooker not only makes them easier to prep but easier to transport, too!
It's just not Christmas without a little candy! This festively sweet idea can be made in advance, too, so you're not in a rush that same day trying to finish up.
Deviled eggs are Ree Drummond's go-to for any party. Give them a little holiday flare by adding fresh herbs and green food coloring to the filling, then finishing them with red pepper "ornaments!"
Cookies are always a good idea for Christmastime. These ones in particular will impress all the guests with their pretty pinwheel swirl and colorful sprinkles.
Ree's mashed potatoes are perfect for potlucks because they actually can be made ahead. You read that right! Just whip it up and place in a medium-sized baking dish, top with butter, and reheat before serving.