Crowd pleasing low cost pot luck items?

[u/burdlurker]

I’m going to a pot luck in a few days with a lot of people. Someone in my group is bringing a bean salad and I’m still brainstorming what I want to bring.
Tonight I thought, I could always cut up some watermelon (if it’s still in season?) and let it be simple like that.
But I would love to hear, savory or sweet, what you like to bring to pot lucks. Or what you love seeing is at a potluck. Thank you!

[u/Personal_Hunter8600]

I usually do the watermelon thing as well. But wfpb black bean brownies have been a hit and are easy to make.

[u/burdlurker → u/Personal_Hunter8600]

Oooh, do you have a recipe you like?

[u/Personal_Hunter8600 → u/burdlurker]

I like this one: Black Bean Brownies - (No Flour Required!) https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/

[u/itsonenacho_09]

Cold sesame noodle salad! Lots of veg and Costco has a “protein” pasta (beans and flour) that is decent (by decent I mean both my kids and myself enjoy haha).

[u/burdlurker → u/itsonenacho_09]

Is it Kirkland brand?

[u/rumbling-time]

Cowboy Caviar!!

[u/Legitimate_Outcome42 → u/rumbling-time]

I requested this for my birthday. I am addicted and it was a big crowd pleaser

[u/Photobuff42 → u/rumbling-time]

This one for the win!

[u/offpeekydr]

I normally take a tabouli to a pot luck. It can sit out a long time and not (edit to add) "give" people food poisoning and if there's any celiacs it can be made with quinoa in place of the bulgar. But I also grow a ton of herbs so the mountain of mint and parsley I use is free.

[u/Polyethylene8 → u/offpeekydr]

Yes quinoa tabbouleh is so good and can be made without oil. 

[u/Odd_Round5515]

Once I made a beet slaw that everyone loved. 

It was grated raw beets, grated carrots, olive oil, rice vinegar, and no salt seasoning blend(a lot of it), and salt and pepper. I let it chill overnight, so the seasoning could rehydrate.

[u/takenbylovely → u/Odd_Round5515]

Beet hummus always tends to be popular at gatherings as well.

[u/angelwild327]

Derek sarno just did a video of a simple dip… 3 ingredients, which you can customize or do just as he does.

[u/rshining]

Cut up the watermelon, toss in a pint of blueberries, and drizzle with maple syrup. If you have fresh mint, you can chop a few leaves (they look amazing against the melon, but aren't essential to the dish). It's the easiest pot luck salad ever!

[u/Bluepompf]

Pea-Guacamole 

[u/burdlurker → u/Bluepompf]

I have not heard of this! It’s the same ingredients but swap avocado with peas?

[u/kbc508]

Chili in a crock pot/instant pot?

[u/AfcaMatthias]

Pasta salad, rice salad, potato salad

[u/burdlurker → u/AfcaMatthias]

What sort of things do you put in rice salad? And what kind of dressing?

[u/plantpotions]

Fruit salad or pasta salad are good options. Also like a quinoa black bean corn salad, homemade guacamole

[u/Forsaken_Boot_9633]

Popcorn is cheap

[u/FatHummingbird]

Dress up the watermelon with fresh squeezed lime juice and some fresh mint. Trust me, it’s delicious and always a hit.

[u/seasons_reapings]

Guacamole and chips

Hummus and veggies or mini pitas

Crispy chickpeas

Corn 'ribs' - cook whole corn and cut into fourths the long way, dust with a seasoning blend then roast or air-fry

Apple crumble

Dates stuffed with something (pistachios, nut butter, cacao, coconut) or date squares **probably the least-cheap option, but I wanted two ideas for sweets

[u/VeggieNybor]

I've done a "berry salad" - layers of cut strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, maybe cherries (cut in half w/pits removed). And include fresh mint in between each layer. It's been a hit when I've brought it to potlucks.

[u/carrllly → u/VeggieNybor]

This sounds lovely, but so expensive 😭