The holiday season is quickly approaching, and that means so will the annual invitations for potluck meals. It’s a simple concept for a gathering—a party of any size where everyone gets to enjoy a range of dishes, but only has to make one.
But we know there’s more at play. Whether you’re dining with friends, family, coworkers, or complete strangers, an unspoken question lurks below the surface: who brought the best potluck recipe of all?
The answer can be you if you opt for one of the easy food ideas below, armed with bacon as your secret weapon.
The Holiday Dinner with Relatives: Angus Steak Bacon Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
The family competition has been going on for decades. Which is better, Aunt Martha’s garlic mashed potatoes or Uncle Dennis’s candied yams? This year, you’re coming for the potato crown. Knock the reigning champs out of contention with these Angus Steak Bacon twice-baked sweet potatoes. Packed with cheddar cheese, chives, and decadent Angus Steak Bacon, these potluck-winning potatoes can be completely prepared in your air fryer. No muss, no fuss, just a lot of deliciousness and a new family potluck hero. Aunties and uncles take note—up your game for next year.
The Friend Gathering: The Best Bacon Brussels Sprouts
The group chat got neglected, and everyone brought boxed pumpkin pie and/or dinner rolls again. But not you. You have your cohort’s veggie needs covered with a fresh batch of the best bacon brussels sprouts. Baked in browned butter; seasoned with crispy sage, garlic, and paprika; and topped with flavor-packed turkey bacon, these savory morsels will win over even the most brassica-averse buds. You can prep them in advance and give them a quick crisping up in the oven when you arrive (to wild applause, of course).
The Office Potluck: Grilled Peach and Turkey Bacon Salad
Work potlucks are always a gamble. Do you really trust Dave in IT’s cooking? Those mysterious brown squares in the corner: dry, dangerous, or delicious? In a sea of questionable pasta salads, aging veggie trays, and soggy spring rolls, your grilled peach and turkey bacon salad will stand out as a beacon of nourishment.
Made with spinach, fresh peaches, and lean protein–packed turkey bacon, it will help everyone dodge that dreaded after-lunch slump and get one step closer to the holidays. If you can’t find fresh peaches, try swapping in chopped orange segments or thinly sliced apples.
The Book Club Get-Together: Angus Steak Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Your book club cocktail party is coming up fast, and you have a choice to make: finish the reading or prepare something delectable to bring. Might as well put that book down—you can’t finish reading it that quickly, anyway—and use your time to whip up some Angus Steak Bacon Wrapped Dates with goat cheese, lemon zest, and parsley. They’re 50% sweet, 50% salty, and 100% delicious. With these classy and festive snacks in hand, Claudia and Jessica won’t even notice you’re avoiding mentioning the main character by name.
Potluck with New Friends: Bacon Mac & Cheese
Maybe you’ve just moved to a new town, got a new job, or met a new group of friends. Maybe you’re joining a new romantic interest at their annual gathering for the first time. Whatever the reason, you’ve committed to bringing a dish to a potluck meal, and you only know a few people going.
To win over this new friend crowd, you need a potluck recipe that commands attention. Enter: bacon mac and cheese. Made with milk, dijon mustard, and two kinds of cheese, then topped with crispy breadcrumbs and turkey bacon, this easy potluck meal will have everyone wondering how they ever had get-togethers without you.
Whatever the occasion and whatever the crowd, these five potluck meal ideas have you covered. With the stress of finding something to bring alleviated, you can move onto celebrating, enjoying the holidays, and basking in your new reputation as the best cook in the group!
Looking for more recipe ideas for the perfect potluck? Check out the recipes page on our website.
