The sun is out and that means backyard barbecues with family and friends! The next time you get an invitation, bring one of these dishes. We’ve got options from the store-bought to the gourmet and whatever you choose, it will be the hit of the party!
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Deviled Eggs – Who doesn’t love a delicious deviled egg? There are all sorts of fancy variations, but I love the traditional with a little kick. Mix together the yolks of a dozen boiled eggs, a quarter to a half cup of mayo (depending on whether you’re trying to be healthy), 2 Tb mustard, 1 Tb ketchup, and ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper. Mix it up, adjust the ingredients to your liking, and salt to taste. Then, instead of topping them with the traditional paprika, sprinkle a little more cayenne! Bring them in a deviled egg platter with a secure lid to keep them in perfect condition as you travel to the party.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad – I have serious issues with regular potato salad. But this? I could eat it every single day. All the goodness of a baked potato wrapped into a delightfully fluffy and creamy potato salad. Yes, please.
Fresh Fruit Platter – Sometimes, simple is best. Even if you buy the pre-cut fruit from the grocery store deli, arrange it on your own platter to be more visually appealing. In fact, this ingenious one holds ice in the bottom to keep your fruits (or veggies) cool for hours.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (Skinnytaste) – This is my new favorite salad. So fresh and delicious – and a great option for your friends who might have certain dietary restrictions. Make sure you rinse the quinoa well before cooking, and drop a couple of teaspoons of salt in the water when cooking to make this a savory dish even the sworn quinoa-hater will love.
Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil toothpicks – No recipe needed, and your kids can even assemble them. But they look so pretty and seem so elegant! Drizzle with good balsamic vinegar to elevate this dish even further.
Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salsa (Sally’s Baking Addiction) – There’s nothing in here that will spoil in the heat. A great, healthy dish for summer snacking!
Roasted Shrimp and Orzo with Dill (Ina Garten) – I had a coworker bring this to work like 13 years ago and I still dream about it. I’m not even kidding. It’s not the cheapest option for a crowd since it contains shrimp, but hey – sometimes you gotta treat yo’self.
Lemonade – Nearly every host would love help providing the drinks. Check with them first to make sure it’s an okay contribution, and then simply buy store-bought lemonade and freeze lemons in blocks of ice. Serve in a clear pitcher or cute drink dispenser with extra slices of sliced lemons for garnish. EASY PEASY. (Or, make your own lemonade. You do you.)
Pasta Salad with Peas and Pesto (Serious Eats) – This is another one without mayo so it won’t spoil as quickly. If you’ve got a garden, use up the basil and peas from your garden! Or, just buy store-bought pesto and save your sanity.
Oriental Coleslaw (Midwest Living) – Colorful, crunchy, and so super tasty! This is a great twist on traditional coleslaw.
What’s your go-to dish to bring to a potluck barbecue in the summer? Share it with us in the comments!
