What to Cook for a Potluck: 5 Crowd-Pleasing, Make-Ahead Recipes (All $0.99 on Kindle!)
aka “The Dish Everyone Asks for the Recipe”
“I brought Rossi’s mozzarella sticks to a church potluck. Came home with 3 recipe requests and an empty dish.”
— Debbie L., Georgia
⏱️ Time: 30–45 minutes (plus chilling/frying)
🍽️ Servings: 8–12
🔥 Appliance: Deep Fryer, Air Fryer, or Oven
🛒 Allergy Notes: NF ✅ | DF option 🔄 | GF option 🔄 | V option 🔄
Potlucks aren’t about perfection—they’re about generosity. These 5 recipes travel well, feed a crowd, and disappear fast (in the best way).
💬 Why These Are Perfect for Potlucks
They’re make-ahead, transportable, and loved by kids and adults alike. Plus, most can be served at room temp!
🍳 The Potluck Success Method
Follow this game plan:
- Step 1: Choose Finger Food or Casserole — Easy to serve, no utensils needed.
- Step 2: Make It Ahead — Prep the day before. Fry or bake the morning of.
- Step 3: Pack Smart — Use disposable pans or sturdy containers with tight lids.
- Step 4: Bring extra napkins and a serving spoon.
- Step 5: Label your dish (and your cookbook link on a cute card!).
🧀 Crispy Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara
⏱️ Time: 40 mins (includes freeze time) | Servings: 10 | Cost: $2.20/serving | V Option ✅
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mozzarella sticks | 20 | Low-moisture, pre-cut |
| Flour | 1½ cups | |
| Egg | 3 | Beaten |
| Panko breadcrumbs | 2 cups | Garlic powder added |
| Cooking oil | For frying | Or use air fryer |
| Marinara sauce | 2 cups | Warm for dipping |
- 🧊 Bread sticks: flour → egg → panko. Press crumbs firmly.
- ❄️ Freeze on tray 1 hour (or overnight).
- 🔥 Fry at 350°F for 1–2 mins until golden. Or air fry at 390°F for 6–7 mins.
- 🧻 Drain on rack. Cool 2 mins.
- 🍅 Serve with warm marinara in a small bowl.
📘 100 crowd-pleasing fried bites in Deep Fryer Cookbook For Beginners — Kindle $0.99!
🍗 Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard
⏱️ Time: 35 mins | Servings: 12 | Cost: $2.50/serving
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken tenders | 2 lbs | Fresh or thawed |
| Flour | 2 cups | |
| Paprika | 2 tsp | |
| Egg | 4 | Beaten |
| Honey mustard | 1 cup | For dipping |
- 🥣 Mix flour and paprika. Set up station: flour → egg → flour.
- 🍗 Dredge tenders in double coating.
- 🔥 Air fry at 400°F for 8–10 mins, flipping halfway.
- 🧻 Drain on rack. Keep warm in oven if needed.
- 🍯 Serve with honey mustard in a squeeze bottle.
📘 100 easy air fryer crowd-pleasers in Air Fryer Rotisserie Recipes — Kindle $0.99!
🥙 Mini Shawarma Meatballs with Garlic Sauce
⏱️ Time: 40 mins | Servings: 12 (appetizer size) | Cost: $2.00/serving
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground turkey or beef | 2 lbs | |
| Shawarma spice | 3 tbsp | |
| Breadcrumbs | ½ cup | |
| Egg | 2 | |
| Garlic sauce | 2 cups | From my Shawarma Sauce Cookbook! |
- 🧤 Mix meat, spice, breadcrumbs, and egg.
- ⚽ Roll into 1-inch meatballs (makes ~36).
- 🔥 Bake at 400°F for 18–20 mins.
- 🧄 Skewer with toothpicks. Serve with garlic sauce for dipping.
📘 55 global party bites in 55 Easy Shawarma Recipes — Kindle $0.99!
🍟 Crispy Onion Rings (Big Batch)
⏱️ Time: 30 mins | Servings: 10 | Cost: $1.80/serving | V Option ✅
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large onions | 4 | Yellow or white |
| Flour | 2 cups | |
| Egg | 4 | Beaten |
| Panko | 2 cups | |
| Paprika | 1 tsp | |
| Cooking oil | For frying |
- 🧅 Slice onions into ½-inch rings. Separate layers.
- 🥣 Set up: flour → egg → panko + paprika.
- 🌀 Dredge each ring thoroughly.
- 🔥 Fry at 350°F for 3–4 mins until golden.
- 🧻 Drain on rack. Sprinkle with flaky salt.
📘 More crispy crowd-pleasers in Deep Fryer Cookbook — Kindle $0.99!
🍝 Baked Ziti Casserole (Feeds 12!)
⏱️ Time: 60 mins | Servings: 12 | Cost: $2.10/serving | V Option ✅
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ziti pasta | 2 lbs | Cooked al dente |
| Marinara sauce | 6 cups | Homemade or store-bought |
| Ricotta | 32 oz | |
| Mozzarella | 4 cups | Shredded |
| Parmesan | 1 cup | Grated |
| Egg | 2 | Binder |
- 🧀 Mix ricotta, egg, and half the Parmesan.
- 🥣 In disposable 9x13 pan: layer sauce → pasta → ricotta → mozzarella. Repeat.
- 🔥 Bake at 375°F for 30 mins covered, 15 uncovered.
- ✨ Cool 10 mins before transporting. Reheat at event if needed.
📘 139 big-batch meals in Stockpot Cookbook — Kindle $0.99!
🌟 Rossi’s Potluck Commandments
- Make it ahead = less stress
- Finger food > fork food
- Double the sauce—people love to dip
- $0.99 Kindle books = your potluck secret weapon
👨👩👧👦 Family Help Chart
| Age | Task | Grown-Up Job |
|---|---|---|
| 5+ | Dip meatballs, sprinkle crumbs | Handle hot oil |
| 7+ | Assemble breading station | Monitor temp |
| 9+ | Skewer meatballs, pack containers | Final safety check |
| Teens | Run full batch | Coordinate timing |
💬 Rossi’s Rule: “Bring enough to share—and a copy of your recipe card.”
🍎 Nutrition Badges
👨👩👧👦 Crowd-Pleasing ✅ Make-Ahead 💰 Budget-Friendly 📚 $0.99 Kindle Hack🧠 Why It Works
- Travel-safe: Holds well at room temp or reheats beautifully.
- Scalable: Easily doubled for large gatherings.
- Appeals to all ages: From kids to grandparents.
- Low stress: Most prep done the day before.
📎 Serving Idea
Use a disposable aluminum pan with a lid.
Add a label: “Crispy Mozzarella Sticks – Recipe in Rossi’s $0.99 Kindle Book!”
Bring extra sauce in a small mason jar.
🎉 You don’t just bring a dish—you bring joy.
Stay generous, Rossi.