Food & Cooking Recipes Holidays & Events Potluck Recipes & Ideas Our 32 Best Party-Ready Recipes for Any Occasion Be it appetizers, side dishes, or desserts, these crowd-pleasing favorites are perfect for buffets, dinner parties, and everything in between. By Anna Kovel Anna Kovel Anna is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines and Riley Wofford Riley Wofford Riley is an associate food editor for Martha Stewart Living. Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 26, 2024 Close Photo: Armando Rafael We've all been there: You're invited to a party and the host asks you to contribute something. Some of us have that foolproof dish that always wins big—but if you don't already have a party recipe repertoire, start planning right away to ensure that whatever you bring is a surefire success. Finding a fail-safe dish for a crowd isn't always easy, but you can narrow your options down by deciding whether you're bringing an appetizer, side dish, or dessert. Check in with your host before you make your selection—we have incredible options for each! What you choose to bring should also suit the mood of the party. You want to be able to serve your dish without special equipment or fuss (preparing it shouldn't add stress to your day, which is why only reliable recipes should become part of your party repertoire). Read on for our list of must-make party recipes that will win over every crowd, from appetizers to sides to desserts. 30 Easy Potluck Recipes for All Kinds of Parties Appetizers 01 of 32 Hot-Crab and Pimiento-Cheese Spread Lennart Weibull Delectable pieces of lump crab meat can be found in each bite of this hot and cheesy dip. Cream cheese and mayonnaise make the dip creamy, while chopped pimiento peppers and extra-sharp cheddar pack in a ton of flavor. View Recipe 02 of 32 Tomato Burrata Bites Bryan Gardner Talk about low effort and high reward. These bite-sized jewels are super easy to assemble—just hollow out the insides of juicy Campari tomatoes and fill them with creamy burrata cheese. View Recipe 03 of 32 Minty Margarita Guacamole Chelsea Cavanaugh When the party is fun and loose, bring this fresh take on everyone's favorite dip—guacamole. Instead of cilantro, mint is the star of the show. View Recipe 04 of 32 Labneh Dip With Caramelized Onions and Fennel We guarantee this dip will be the first to go at any get-together. Sweet fennel and Vidalia onions are caramelized and finished with a splash of dry sherry. Spoon them over a platter of smooth labneh and serve with crackers and crudités for scooping. View Recipe 05 of 32 Gruyère, Anchovy, and Olive Straws Paola + Murray Kick things off with these simple baked puff pastry straws. Choose between three flavors—Gruyère-cayenne; anchovy; and olive-caper. They’re the perfect accompaniment to a drink before the real meal starts. View Recipe 06 of 32 Cheese Ball Have some retro fun! Guests of all ages will enjoy digging into a cheeseball. Provide an assortment of crackers and vegetables for serving. View Recipe 07 of 32 Hot Spinach Dip Minh + Wass Win the party game with this meatless, make-ahead crowd-pleaser. Bake it at home and bring it while it's still warm—or assemble the dip in advance and bake it when you get there. View Recipe 08 of 32 Classic Deviled Eggs Bryan Gardner Is there any occasion deviled eggs aren't suited to? Sometimes a party calls for a classic approach, but if you're feeling creative, try our delicious variations with avocado, Old Bay, or smoked salmon. View Recipe 09 of 32 Baked Feta Marinara Dip Sidney Bensimon Assemble this on-site and present it warm from the oven, with bread for sopping up the sauce. Things could get messy—but this dip is so good, guests won't mind. View Recipe 10 of 32 Creamy Edamame Dip CHELSEA CAVANAUGH When the party is relaxed and familiar, bring this easy, healthy dip, which can be made ahead and calls for readily-available ingredients, like frozen edamame, cottage cheese, and ground cumin. View Recipe 11 of 32 Herb Cheese Palmiers When the party is sophisticated, you need to bring something that's more dressed up. The elegance of these savory puff pastry nibbles counters the ease of preparing them. View Recipe 12 of 32 Ham-and-Spinach Dip Armando Rafael We updated a classic: This hot spinach dip features ham and nutty Manchego cheese. Spoiler alert: it's even better than the original. View Recipe Side Dishes 13 of 32 Kale and Farro Salad With Feta Ryan Liebe A handful of crumbled feta adds a pop of fresh flavor to this nutrient-dense salad. Toothsome whole-grain farro is tossed with Tuscan kale (which is a much more tender variety than curly), red onion, fresh mint leaves, and a simple lemon vinaigrette. View Recipe 14 of 32 Onion-and-Leek Focaccia Mike Krautter Once people get a taste of this focaccia, everyone will be begging you for the recipe. Caramelized onions are stirred into the dough, and leeks, rosemary, and chives are artfully arranged on the top. View Recipe 15 of 32 Quinoa With Caramelized Corn and Scallions Linda Xiao This breezy side dish is both nutritious and delicious. Fresh corn and scallions are lightly caramelized before being tossed with fiber and protein-rich quinoa. Add the goat cheese while the salad is still warm—it will start to melt slightly and become even creamier. View Recipe 16 of 32 Classic Caesar Salad Caesar salad is always a hit at any party, from a casual outdoor barbecue to an elegant dinner party. You can make the croutons, chop the lettuce, grate the Parmesan cheese, and whisk the dressing ahead of time, but wait until you’re ready to serve to toss everything together. View Recipe 17 of 32 Kale Slaw With Red Cabbage and Carrots Bryan Gardner A modern slaw, this bright and crunchy side goes with everything from grilled fish to barbecue chicken. It's a great side dish to reach for when you're not sure what the party is shaping up to be. View Recipe 18 of 32 Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil Ren Fuller Make this your go-to pasta salad. It's a hearty, mayo-based vegetarian dish that has it all: There's crunch from the green beans and protein from the chickpeas, while red onion adds a bite and fresh basil brings herbal freshness. View Recipe 19 of 32 Pimiento Mac and Cheese Con Poulos Sometimes, a perfectly gooey mac and cheese is all the party needs. Try our Southern-inspired version. It's flavored with extra-sharp cheddar and a pinch of ground mustard and cayenne. View Recipe 20 of 32 Spinach-Feta Pizza Slab Pie Linda Pugliese Here's a satisfying side that's a definite crowd-pleaser. This slab pie is made with two kinds of cheese and pizza dough; you can use store-bought or homemade. View Recipe 21 of 32 Roasted Carrots With Oat Dukkah Sidney Bensimon A spiced, crunchy topping is the talking point of this dish. Choose carrots of varying colors when you can find them, but keep them about the same size so they roast evenly. View Recipe Desserts 22 of 32 Double Chocolate Brownies Everyone needs the perfect brownie recipe in their repertoire—and this is it. A combination of semisweet chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder contributes to the brownies' fudgy texture. View Recipe 23 of 32 Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies Photographer Bryan Gardner; Food Stylist Laura Rege; Prop Stylist Paige Hicks Each one of these fudgy chocolate cookies has a secret stash of peanut butter hiding inside. Plus, they have a double dose of chocolate from cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate chips. View Recipe 24 of 32 Stone-Fruit Galette Frederic Lagrange When summer stone fruit is in season, there’s no better way to use it than in a sweet galette. Each bite has the perfect crust-to-fruit ratio. View Recipe 25 of 32 Lamington Thumbprint Cookies Chris Simpson These quirky thumbprint cookies are our take on lamington cake, a traditional Australian dessert. The buttery cookies are rolled in coconut and dipped in melted chocolate, Once baked, the indents are filled with dollops of orange marmalade. View Recipe 26 of 32 Blueberry Slab Pie Slab pies are an easy way to make dessert for a large crowd. Be sure to bring vanilla ice cream for serving —and watch everyone dig into this pie. View Recipe 27 of 32 Butter-Pecan Blondies Ren Fuller When you want the buttery, nutty flavor of a blondie, try these rum-spiked ones. The perfectly toasted nuts on top are a game-changer, and the blondies themselves practically melt in your mouth. View Recipe 28 of 32 Apple-Membrillo Tart Justin Walker When the party is a little bit dressy, this deceptively simple take on an apple tart is the dessert to bring. The Membrillo can be found at most well-stocked cheese counters. View Recipe 29 of 32 No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cup Bars CHELSEA CAVANAUGH This is our take on everyone's favorite peanut butter cup candies. These bars are just as easy to make, serve, and devour. View Recipe 30 of 32 Crisp and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Dana Gallagher These chocolate chip cookies will be a hit with kids (and adults) of all ages. Make a double batch—they're sure to disappear quickly. View Recipe 31 of 32 Snickerdoodle Crumb Bars Alpha Smoot Satisfying cinnamon crumb bars fit the bill for dessert, tea time, or a brunch party. You'll find a layer of cinnamon sugar swirled through the center of the cake. View Recipe 32 of 32 Chocolate Tortoises Johnny Miller What could be cuter or more delicious than these handmade confections? Guests will appreciate the time and effort it takes to assemble these adorable chocolate treats. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit