16 Healthy Fall Potluck Recipes That Could Pass as Comfort Food (2024)

These fall potluck recipes will keep your healthy eating goals intact, even at a tailgate or fall party. Our collection includes barbecued ribs, potato salad, and even macaroni and cheese, all of which feature ingredients or swaps that are better for you. You're definitely going to find a dish worth sharing.

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Apricot Chipotle Pork Ribs

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16 Healthy Fall Potluck Recipes That Could Pass as Comfort Food (1)

Sweet apricots temper smoky chipotle peppers to give these ribs a seriously layered flavor that's not for the faint of heart. Each serving of this healthy fall potluck dish packs in 25 grams of protein, but only 314 calories.

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Soft Pretzels

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16 Healthy Fall Potluck Recipes That Could Pass as Comfort Food (2)

Put a twist on traditional potluck ideas with a batch of homemade pretzels. Everyone will love the soft, doughy texture and the sprinkling of seeds or salt on top.

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Low-Sugar Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches

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Serve up a tray of saucy pulled pork sandwiches at your fall gathering. This healthy slow cooker recipe features a homemade barbecue sauce that's naturally sweetened with Medjool dates. To keep the whole menu healthy and delicious, we're also including the recipe for our whole-wheat hamburger buns.

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Chicken Bratwurst and Onions with Broccoli Slaw Salad

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Everyone loves sinking their teeth into a juicy bratwurst, so you'll be the most popular person at the party when you bring these brats topped with tangy slaw. Did we mention it's made in a slow cooker?

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Four-Cheese Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

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Believe it or not, this cheesy masterpiece has only 266 calories per serving. Mashed butternut squash gives this recipe a boost of antioxidants, while giving every bite a creamier texture and comforting fall flavor.

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French Chopped Salad

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Inspired by salade Niçoise, our veggie-loaded chopped salad recipe is a healthy option for your fall potluck. We love the combination of protein-packed eggs and olives, romaine, and tender potatoes in this healthy potluck side. But can totally toss in your favorite vegetables—there's no need to stick strictly to our list of ingredients.

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Fruited Multigrain Pilaf

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This healthy fall potluck recipe hits the whole-grain jackpot. A combination of wheat berries, pearled farro (or barley), and wild rice come together with dried cranberries, sweet potatoes, apples, and celery. Toasted walnuts add a boost of omega-3s and irresistible crunch.

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Potato Salad with Sausage and Grainy Mustard Dressing

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Potato salad is a must at any potluck, and we love our recipe with tangy coarse-grain mustard and a splash of cider vinegar. Cured sausage adds savory flavor, but each serving has just 199 calories.

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Orange-Sage Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

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Take advantage of sweet potato season and turn them into a healthy side dish for your next fall potluck. Tangy orange juice, earthy sage, and crisp bacon really give every bite the perfect balance of flavor.

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Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Blue Cheese and Bacon

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Creamy spinach-artichoke dip is a classic party-starter. Studded with bacon and tangy blue cheese, our slimmed-down recipe has mighty flavor. Pack some baked pita chips to complete this appetizer.

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Hamburger Cheese Bake

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Warm, melty, and hearty, this skinny casserole recipe features three kinds of cheese, but it will cost you only 311 calories per serving. The healthy duo of lean ground beef and simple seasonings keeps this fall potluck food light.

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Caramel Apple Cookies

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If you love sweet-tart caramel apples, wait until you try the cookie version. We use whole-wheat flour, raisins, and walnuts to get some extra fiber into this healthy potluck dessert.

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Spicy Apple-Glazed Meatballs

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Lighten up a batch of meatballs by using lean ground beef and a homemade sauce. The sweet and tangy apple glaze in this recipe has a hint of heat from cayenne pepper.

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Coconut Sweet Potatoes and Wild Rice

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Here's something healthy but a bit offbeat for your fall potluck. Please everyone with heaping bowls of our globally-inspired sweet potato casserole. Coconut and curry liven up the vitamin-packed duo of sweet potatoes and edamame.

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Sloppy Turkey and Veggie Sandwiches

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Ground turkey, chopped vegetables, and seasoned tomatoes unite to make this easy, healthy potluck recipe a whole lot better. A dollop of our tangy goat cheese yogurt sauce is a fresh alternative to store-bought condiments.

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Cassava Pumpkin Muffins

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For gluten-free and/or paleo diet potluck attendees, try bringing these pumpkin-filled delights. In this grain-free recipe, cassava flour (made from yuca root) is a substitute for wheat flour, and pure maple syrup is used instead of refined sugar, so it meets Paleo diet requirements.

16 Healthy Fall Potluck Recipes That Could Pass as Comfort Food (2024)

FAQs

What is a meal where everyone brings a dish to pass? ›

A potluck is a communal gathering where each guest or group contributes a different, often homemade, dish of food to be shared.

What's the easiest thing to bring to a potluck? ›

What to Bring to a Potluck
  1. Greek Potato Salad. ...
  2. Pasta Salad with Black Beans & Avocado Dressing. ...
  3. Vegan Creamy Coleslaw. ...
  4. Apple, Bacon and Sweet Potato Mini Casseroles. ...
  5. Classic Lasagna. ...
  6. Roasted Brussels Sprout & Butternut Squash Salad. ...
  7. Baked Oatmeal With Banana, Raisins & Walnuts. ...
  8. Spinach & Mushroom Quiche.
Mar 28, 2023

What to bring to a potluck last minute? ›

Last-Minute Appetizers
  • Ham and Cheese Tortilla Roll Ups. You can put anything in tortilla pinwheels, like this recipe with ham and ranch seasoning. ...
  • 5-Minute Taco Dip. ...
  • Pepper Jelly Cream Cheese. ...
  • Crockpot Meatballs with Grape Jelly Sauce. ...
  • 5-Minute Black Bean Dip. ...
  • Pimento Cheese. ...
  • Antipasto Platter. ...
  • Homemade Salsa.
Nov 29, 2023

What food to bring to a party as a guest? ›

38 Ideas For Party Food That Will Please Any Crowd
  • Chicken Fajita Quesadillas. tasty.co. ...
  • Cheeseburger Sliders. tasty.co. ...
  • Tomato Basil Bruschetta. tasty.co. ...
  • Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball. tasty.co. ...
  • Chicken Pesto Pinwheels. ...
  • Garlic Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms. ...
  • Deep-Fried Mini Calzones (Panzarotti) ...
  • Honey Lime Sriracha Chicken Poppers.
Dec 21, 2023

What is a good finger food to bring to a potluck? ›

Easy Finger Food Recipes to Make Ahead
  • Fried Pickles. Treat your guests to fried pickles for fun finger food ideas. ...
  • Fried Mac and Cheese Rolls. ...
  • Deviled Eggs. ...
  • Honey Garlic Meatballs. ...
  • Garlic Breadsticks. ...
  • Salted Soft Pretzels. ...
  • Whipped Ricotta Crostini. ...
  • Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
4 days ago

What is a good potluck food? ›

Our Best Potluck Recipe Ideas Of All Time
  • 01 of 30. Ham Delights. ...
  • 02 of 30. Macaroni And Cheese. ...
  • 03 of 30. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. ...
  • 04 of 30. Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs. ...
  • 05 of 30. Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad. ...
  • 06 of 30. Classic Potato Salad. ...
  • 07 of 30. Strawberry Dump Cake. ...
  • 08 of 30. Hot Corn Dip.
Jul 22, 2023

Can you go to a potluck without bringing anything? ›

Just be sure to let the host know if you're not bringing food to ensure there are enough dishes to go around!

How do you make a potluck interesting? ›

  1. Set a theme. Create excitement by setting a theme for your potluck. ...
  2. Picky eaters can be found in any group of kids. If guests are bringing children, think ahead and have easy, no-fuss foods that kids will enjoy. ...
  3. Consider dietary needs and allergies. Have a guest that is gluten-free or vegetarian? ...
  4. Plan for variety.

Is it rude to not bring food to potluck? ›

You always bring something to a potluck. If you can't, or don't want to, cook then bring something premade from the grocery store. Drinks and paper products are also good to being. Just make sure they are needed first.

Can I bring pizza to potluck? ›

Not everyone likes to cook, and it's a perfectly acceptable practice to provide something you didn't actually make. Unless the rules of the potluck are that you need to bring or avoid certain items, I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing pizza to a potluck.

How much food should I bring to a potluck? ›

As a general rule, plan for one main dish serving and one or two side dish servings per person. For example, if you have 30 guests, you would aim for approximately 30 main dish servings and 60 side dish servings.

What is a potluck dinner called? ›

Over time, the term “potluck” has taken on other names as well, including: Jacob's Supper, Faith Supper, Dish Party, Shared Lunch, Pitch-In or Fellowship Meal. ‍

How do you ask someone to bring a dish to pass? ›

Call the party a potluck and ask them to bring a dish, side, or dessert. It is fairly simple. Tell your guests that the party is a potluck and ask if they can bring specific items. But only if it really is a potluck.

What is the type of meal called in which the serving bowls and platters are passed around the table and everyone helps themselves? ›

Family-Style (English) Service: Guests are seated. Large serving platters and bowls filled with food are set on the dining tables by servers. Guests either help themselves from a revolving stand/tray on the table or they pass the food items to each other.

What is a passed appetizer? ›

But a passed hors-d'oeuvres dinner party allows your guests to try a plethora of small plates without ever needing plates—and at the end of the night, the only dishes to wash are the trays on which you've served each treat.

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