I don’t know about you, but it seems like there is always a birthday or holiday and I’m fumbling to find easy dishes for an office potluck last minute! If you’re tired of taking a box of store-bought cookies or running to buy veggie trays on your break, don't worry; I’ve found 10 simple and tasty dishes for office potlucks that are ready-to-eat and do not require lugging a slow cooker to work! Don’t be surprised if people start asking you for your secret recipes! You'll be the hit of all your upcoming office potluck parties!
This is a great summer dish for office potlucks as it’s delicious, light and full of flavor! Vietnamese spring rolls are healthy and so unexpected for the office! This recipe can be a little time consuming at 45 minutes to prepare, but it only takes 5 minutes to put together and you’re ready to go! Forget fried chicken and heavy foods that put everyone into a food coma! These rolls are easy to customize for the vegetarians, pescatarians and omnivores alike!
Ingredients:
2 ounces rice vermicelli
8 rice wrappers (8.5 inch diameter)
8 large cooked shrimp - peeled, deveined and cut in half
1 1/3 tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 leaves lettuce, chopped
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic chili sauce
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon finely chopped peanuts
Directions:
Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain.
Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce.
In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.
Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures.
What a yummy combo for a dish for an office potluck! These ham and mango sammies are easy to make and are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the tummy! Everyone will be surprised at all the exciting flavors when they bite into these juicy and heavenly sandwiches! Get sliced ham at the deli to cut down time in the kitchen and toast the rolls to add a personal touch!
Ingredients:
2/3 cup coarse-grain Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup sliced, pitted kalamata olives or other black olives
1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley
12 sourdough and/or whole wheat mini rolls, split and toasted, if desired
1 1/2 pounds cooked smoked ham, thinly sliced
2 cups refrigerated sliced mango (9 oz.)
Directions:
In a bowl combine mustard, olives, and parsley. Spread the cut sides of 12 roll tops with olive-mustard mixture. Place ham on the roll bottoms. Top ham with mango slices (cut slices to fit, if necessary) add olive-mustard spread bun tops. Makes 12 sandwiches (using 2 ounces cooked meat per sandwich).
The next best and healthiest thing to ordering pizza in as one of the dishes for office potluck is making a pizza pasta salad! I love how easy and scrumptious pasta salads are, not to mention the fact that they're colorful and full of pizza flavors minus the crust and all the fat! Your coworkers will be scrambling for seconds of this summer staple and office favorite.
Ingredients:
Salt and pepper
1 pound short pasta such as bow ties, shells or penne
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
3/4 cup sliced marinated artichoke hearts
8 ounces bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella nuggets), halved (about 18 pieces)
4 ounces pepperoni or salami, diced
1/2 cup shredded fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain well and spread on an oiled baking sheet to cool. (Don't worry if pasta sticks together. It will come apart when mixed with oil.)
Transfer cooled pasta to a large bowl and stir in oil. Add vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, bocconcini, pepperoni, basil and oregano. Toss well and season with salt and pepper.
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If baking is more your thing, try taking these super scrumptious brownies as a dish for an office potluck! You can easily customize this recipe to reflect your personal taste or add in your boss’s favorite treats to make it extra special. These brownies are moist and sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! Take these in as a dessert or mid-day pick-me-up!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Brownie Additions:
1 -2 cup chocolate chips (semisweet, white, butterscotch, peanut butter)
1 -2 cup raisins
1 -2 cup chopped maraschino cherry
1 -2 cup chopped nuts
1 -2 cup M&M'
1 -2 cup Reese's pieces
1 -2 cup miniature marshmallow
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.Grease an 8 inch square pan or line with foil. In a medium bowl combine melted butter and cocoa and stir until cocoa is dissolved. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs one at a time and stir until well combined. Stir in vanilla, flour and salt until you no longer see any flour (do not overmix). Fold in "WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT"!Spread in pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes. DO NOT OVER-BAKE -- your brownies will come out dry. Adjust time/temp accordingly for your oven. If you do the knife/toothpick test, it should come out with moist crumbs, not clean. Cool completely before cutting into squares.For vegetarian omit the marshmallows. For double recipe, bake in 9x12 pan and add 5 minutes to baking time.
Another one of the most popular and appetizing dishes for office potluck! Broccoli-bacon salad is simple, crunchy and brings together sweet and savory tastes for the perfect balance of flavors and textures! The low-fat mayo and fat-free sour cream make the salad creamy yet keep in low fat and if you want, feel free to swap the regular bacon for turkey bacon.
Ingredients:
1 clove(s) garlic, minced
1/4 cup(s) low-fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoon(s) cider vinegar
1 teaspoon(s) sugar
4 cup(s) finely chopped broccoli crowns (see Tips & Techniques)
1 can(s) (8-ounce) sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped
3 slice(s) cooked bacon, crumbled
3 tablespoon(s) dried cranberries
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions:
Whisk garlic, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, and sugar in a large bowl. Add broccoli, water chestnuts, bacon, cranberries, and pepper; stir to coat with the dressing.
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Ever thought about making some good old fashioned comfort food as one of your office potluck dishes? If you want to add some variety to the potluck lineup, try these cheesy potatoes that are pure comfort and pleasure! This recipe doesn’t require buying tons of ingredients and it’s ready in one hour! This could be your next go-to potluck dish!
Ingredients:
2 lb. pkg. frozen hash browns
1 c. diced onion
1 c. cream of chicken soup
1 lb. sour cream
1/4 lb. melted butter
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
Combine all ingredients. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour.
Salads are always a hit as a dish for office potlucks and this particular salad is like a dessert and salad in one with juicy strawberries, crunchy ramen noodles and heart-healthy walnuts! Low in calories but high in flavor, this salad is a breeze to make and the dressing is light and perfectly complements the various aspects of the salad! This recipe makes up to 12 servings so everyone can have another helping!
Ingredients:
1 package (3 ounces) ramen noodles
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
8 cups torn romaine
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Directions:
Discard seasoning packet from ramen noodles or save for another use. Break noodles into small pieces. In a large skillet, cook noodles and walnuts in butter over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until golden; cool.
For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, vinegar and soy sauce. Just before serving combine the romaine, onions, strawberries and noodle mixture in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently.
Another great idea for dishes for office potluck is the quiche! It’s delicious, uncommon and easy peasy! You can swap the ham in this recipe for bacon or sausage and you can get creative with the veggies in the dish if you don’t care for mushrooms. Make an extra quiche for yourself and freeze it for a quick lunch with an unexpected guest!
Ingredients:
2 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crusts
1 tablespoon finely chopped green bell pepper
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained and chopped
6 eggs
2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
8 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
12 ounces cooked ham, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/8 teaspoon dried tarragon
1 pinch garlic powder
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and pre-bake crusts for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool on racks.
In a large skillet, saute green pepper, onion and mushrooms until onions are soft and translucent. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix eggs and cream together. Stir in the shredded Jack and Swiss cheese, chopped ham and sauteed vegetables. Stir in vinegar and season with tarragon, garlic powder, nutmeg, parsley, salt and pepper. Divide filling into the 2 baked pie crusts.
Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set and crusts are golden brown.
What better way to win over grouchy coworkers than with peanut buttery cookies as one of your dishes for office potluck?! These soft, moist and foolproof cookies are unbelievably easy to prepare and bake! With less than 5 ingredients, you can easily whip these up when you’re having a relaxing night at home or to surprise your boyfriend after a long day!
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter (your choice, smooth or chunky)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
Sugar, for rolling (optional)
Directions:
Mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg together until smooth. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet two inches apart. If desired, roll in extra sugar before placing on cookie sheet. Press with fork; press again in opposite direction. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not brown; do not over bake.
Here’s another common comfort food that is a perfect addition to office potluck dishes! This decadent dish calls for gourmet cheeses, making this a notch above your standard mac ‘n cheese recipe. You can prepare this aromatic and savory dish in less than 40 minutes and you and your coworkers will be amazed at how easy yet delicious this dish really is!
Ingredients:
2 cups elbow macaroni
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
2 cups mixed shredded semihard cheeses , such as Mimolette, aged Gouda, and Vella dry jack (1/2 pound)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Directions:
Preheat the broiler. In a medium saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente; drain well.
Meanwhile, in another medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in the flour until a paste forms. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil over moderately high heat, whisking, until thickened. Off the heat, stir in the mixed shredded cheeses until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the macaroni to the hot cheese sauce and stir to coat; transfer to a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish and sprinkle on the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 4 minutes, until richly browned. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
I hope you got some ideas for dishes for office potluck or at least the itch to try out some of these quick and easy recipes. Although work celebrations are nice, dishes for office potluck can often be unhealthy and just plain boring! Save the day and spice up dull office potlucks with some of these desserts and entrees! What is your favorite potluck dish?
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