28 Easy Side Dishes For Picnics and Potlucks

Side Dishes Recipes – Are you invited to a potluck or picnic and don’t know what to bring? Fret not! These easy side dishes for picnics or potlucks are quick to whip up, portable, and super delicious. From Cheesy Corn Fritters to Roasted Potato Salad, we guarantee you’ll make a hit at your next gathering. Enjoy!

by Sidney Yang

Sidney Yang

Sidney is part of the Eatwell101 family since 2014. As an editor, she shares her enthusiasm for food, cooking tips, and entertaining across more than a thousand written articles published on Eatwell101.

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Updated Mar 8, 2026

1. Fried Baby Potatoes with Garlic Brown Butter

These epic Fried potatoes baby with garlic brown butter are the perfect side dish to practically anything!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Parmesan Cauliflower Rice Skillet

This Parmesan Cauliflower Rice Recipe is nourishing and easy to whip up - The perfect base for your low carb lunches and dinners.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil 

Healthy chicken pasta salad is packed with flavor, protein and veggies. Try this pasta salad recipe for a quick lunch or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Healthy Roasted Cauliflower Salad

This roasted cauliflower salad is so flavorful and healthy, you’ll want to make over and over again!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

5. Garlic Butter Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

These crispy roasted potatoes with garlic parmesan, and bacon are the perfect side for any of your meals
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

6. Apple Bacon Coleslaw

This coleslaw recipe only takes a few minutes to make and is packed with bright and delicious flavor! Super creamy, crunchy, and fresh coleslaw you can make in a cinch!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potato Cakes

These potato cakes make for a super easy side dish, light dinner or lunch!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

8. Cheesy Corn Fritters Recipe

These Corn Fritters are crispy on the edges, soft in the middle – A great side dish for a host of dinners!
Cooking time: 8 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

9. Healthy Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad

This wholesome chicken kale salad recipe is packed to the max with goodies!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. Cucumber Avocado Salsa

This refreshing salsa recipe is perfect for your potlucks, BBQs, meal preps or protein bowls. Enjoy!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Healthy Cabbage Salad with Orange-Lime Dressing

This cabbage salad recipe is crunchy, healthy, and perfect for your midweek lunches or large gatherings.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. Perfect Marinated Tomatoes with Mozzarella

These marinated tomatoes make a perfect hors d’oeuvre full of fresh summer flavors!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. Cucumber Salad with Creamy Dill Sauce

This fresh cucumber salad recipe is here to help you conquer your cravings!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

14. Creamy Corn Salad

This crowd-pleasing fresh corn salad recipe will always disappear fast at your summer potlucks and BBQs.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

15. Avocado Shrimp Salad

This avocado shrimp salad recipe with lettuce and tomato, is THE BEST healthy salad meal. Perfect for lunch or any night of the week!
Cooking time: 5 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

16. Asian Noodle Salad

This Asian noodle salad is perfect for midweek lunches or larger gatherings.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

17. Avocado Salad

Avocado Salad with Tomato, Eggs, and Cucumber is so easy to make! Fresh, healthy and super delicious, the best salad to add to your dinner table.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

18. Spinach Salad with Mozzarella, Tomato & Pepperoni

This spinach salad is healthy and delicious - So simple and perfect for a quick lunch!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

19. Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad

This avocado chicken salad recipe is light, flavorful, and easy to make - Perfect Healthy salad recipe for your next barbecue or potluck!
Cooking time: 6 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

20. Cilantro Lime Watermelon Salad

Sweet, fresh and juicy - This Cilantro Lime Watermelon Feta Salad recipe is a definite crowd pleaser!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

21. The Easiest Creamy Cucumber Salad

This creamy cucumber salad recipe is delicious and refreshing — Great for grilling or a light dinner!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

22. Avocado Corn Salad Recipe with Feta

This Avocado Corn Salad is so creamy and flavorful - A light, yet satisfying meal!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

23. Spicy Corn Salad

Easy and delicious corn salad recipe - A great light lunch or side for bbq and grilling.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

24. Chicken Pasta Salad Bowl

Perfect for meal prep or a healthy lunch on the go.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

25. Avocado Quinoa Salad

This avocado quinoa salad is super healthy and loaded with tons of fresh flavor!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

26. Roasted Potato Salad

This roasted potato salad recipe is super nourishing and packed with flavor. The perfect side dish for your BBQ menu.
Cooking time: 30 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

27. Pineapple Cucumber Jalapeño Salad

This Pineapple Jalapeño Cucumber Salad is an explosion of flavors - Perfect for potlucks, light dinners, or summer BBQ sides!
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

28. Healthy Cucumber Tomato Salad

This cucumber tomato salad is perfect for a casual dinner or for feeding a crowd at a potluck.
Cooking time: 0 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

What are some great sides to a picnic or potluck?

A hearty salad is one of the best side dishes for a picnic or potluck. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and cucumbers can be tossed together with vinaigrette or other light dressing options. It’s simple to prepare and doesn’t require a lot of advanced cooking. Additionally, it’s a great way to get a good balance of nutrients into your picnic meal.

Pasta salad is another picnic and potluck staple. Cooked macaroni, spiral noodles, or any other small pasta shapes can be mixed with various ingredients like vegetables, cheese, olives, and tuna for a filling side dish. A light vinaigrette dressing keeps the salad light and flavorful.

Finally, no picnic or potluck is complete without potatoes. From a classic potato salad to oven-baked sweet potatoes, potato dishes provide a good amount of starch and can be just as versatile as any other side dish you can make. Add herbs, spices, and other seasonings to give the potatoes a unique flavor and ensure a side dish to please your guests.

Did you make one of these side dish recipes? Please share on your social media using our hashtag #eatwell101!