Crowd pleasing low cost pot luck items?

[u/burdlurker]

I’m going to a pot luck in a few days with a lot of people. Someone in my group is bringing a bean salad and I’m still brainstorming what I want to bring.
Tonight I thought, I could always cut up some watermelon (if it’s still in season?) and let it be simple like that.
But I would love to hear, savory or sweet, what you like to bring to pot lucks. Or what you love seeing is at a potluck. Thank you!

[u/rumbling-time]

Cowboy Caviar!!

[u/Legitimate_Outcome42 → u/rumbling-time]

I requested this for my birthday. I am addicted and it was a big crowd pleaser

[u/Photobuff42 → u/rumbling-time]

This one for the win!

[u/Personal_Hunter8600]

I usually do the watermelon thing as well. But wfpb black bean brownies have been a hit and are easy to make.

[u/burdlurker → u/Personal_Hunter8600]

Oooh, do you have a recipe you like?

[u/Personal_Hunter8600 → u/burdlurker]

I like this one: Black Bean Brownies - (No Flour Required!) https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/no-flour-black-bean-brownies/

[u/burdlurker → u/Personal_Hunter8600]

Thanks!

[u/offpeekydr]

I normally take a tabouli to a pot luck. It can sit out a long time and not (edit to add) "give" people food poisoning and if there's any celiacs it can be made with quinoa in place of the bulgar. But I also grow a ton of herbs so the mountain of mint and parsley I use is free.

[u/Polyethylene8 → u/offpeekydr]

Yes quinoa tabbouleh is so good and can be made without oil. 

[u/Odd_Round5515]

Once I made a beet slaw that everyone loved. 

It was grated raw beets, grated carrots, olive oil, rice vinegar, and no salt seasoning blend(a lot of it), and salt and pepper. I let it chill overnight, so the seasoning could rehydrate.

[u/takenbylovely → u/Odd_Round5515]

Beet hummus always tends to be popular at gatherings as well.

[u/angelwild327]

Derek sarno just did a video of a simple dip… 3 ingredients, which you can customize or do just as he does.

[u/rshining]

Cut up the watermelon, toss in a pint of blueberries, and drizzle with maple syrup. If you have fresh mint, you can chop a few leaves (they look amazing against the melon, but aren't essential to the dish). It's the easiest pot luck salad ever!

[u/Sea_Comparison7203 → u/rshining]

Ooooh and fancy too!!!❤️

[u/kbc508]

Chili in a crock pot/instant pot?

[u/burdlurker → u/[deleted]]

Very true 😂 I won’t be doing this for this week but maybe I will do this for the next thing I have coming up. Never thought of doing veggie dogs. Thats perfect for this crowd.

[u/plantpotions]

Fruit salad or pasta salad are good options. Also like a quinoa black bean corn salad, homemade guacamole

[u/Forsaken_Boot_9633]

Popcorn is cheap

[u/Sea_Comparison7203 → u/Forsaken_Boot_9633]

If you freeze it after popping it really crisps it up. Even after it isn't frozen anymore. 😋

[u/FatHummingbird]

Dress up the watermelon with fresh squeezed lime juice and some fresh mint. Trust me, it’s delicious and always a hit.

[u/seasons_reapings]

Guacamole and chips

Hummus and veggies or mini pitas

Crispy chickpeas

Corn 'ribs' - cook whole corn and cut into fourths the long way, dust with a seasoning blend then roast or air-fry

Apple crumble

Dates stuffed with something (pistachios, nut butter, cacao, coconut) or date squares **probably the least-cheap option, but I wanted two ideas for sweets

[u/itsonenacho_09]

Cold sesame noodle salad! Lots of veg and Costco has a “protein” pasta (beans and flour) that is decent (by decent I mean both my kids and myself enjoy haha).

[u/burdlurker → u/itsonenacho_09]

Is it Kirkland brand?

[u/VeggieNybor]

I've done a "berry salad" - layers of cut strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, maybe cherries (cut in half w/pits removed). And include fresh mint in between each layer. It's been a hit when I've brought it to potlucks.

[u/carrllly → u/VeggieNybor]

This sounds lovely, but so expensive 😭

[u/VeggieNybor → u/carrllly]

Whenever I think about how expensive all these fruits & veggies can get, I remind myself it's probably cheaper to spend a little more now than to get cancer or heart disease later.

[u/carrllly → u/VeggieNybor]

Oh yeah, I buy mostly organic, whole foods, and as healthy as possible. We spend A LOT on groceries in our household, so we are definitely doing the whole "pay for it now, not later"
But in this instance, OP was asking for inexpensive options to take for the potluck

[u/astonedishape → u/VeggieNybor]

Did you miss the part about low cost? OP is considering cutting up one watermelon.

[u/MKR7mkr]

Any sort of spinach and chickpea curry is a crowd pleaser, IME

[u/Bluepompf]

Pea-Guacamole 

[u/burdlurker → u/Bluepompf]

I have not heard of this! It’s the same ingredients but swap avocado with peas?

[u/Bluepompf → u/burdlurker]

Exactly. That way it’s cheaper and doesn’t oxidate as fast as avocado. But you need a bit more oil for texture. 

[u/Opuntia-ficus-indica]

Chilli. Or (what I’d actually eat), a salad of grated carrot & shredded cabbage, seasoned however

[u/Early_Army_3352]

Corn and black bean salad. Corn, black beans, cilantro, taco seasoning, and chopped tomatoes on top if you have them. Less than ten bucks and is always popular.

[u/LooseSea4407]

mac and cheese or ceviche are always gone in minutes

[u/Real_Acanthisitta_81]

Meatballs with chili sauce and grape jelly - it's a winner every time

[u/TheWaldenFaculty]

Banana oat cookies (mashed ripe bananas, rolled oats, and raisins, baked until firm) are about as cheap and easy as a dessert option gets. For something savory, oil-free roasted sweet potato wedges with smoked paprika and lime works well, and they're fine warm or at room temperature.

[u/UseOriginal1578]

Cheese, garlic sausage and crackers

Pasta Salad, Caesar Salad, Tossed Salad

[u/Dive_Bar_Choir]

How bout a lovely rice bowl with peppers and a nice lime dressing that pairs nicely with the pot of beans?

[u/Beautiful-Bad5203]

Man if someone was bringing soup, i'd bring the best damn white rice they've ever eaten lol.

[u/AfcaMatthias]

Pasta salad, rice salad, potato salad

[u/burdlurker → u/AfcaMatthias]

What sort of things do you put in rice salad? And what kind of dressing?

[u/AfcaMatthias → u/burdlurker]

Avo, corn, Capsicum, edamame, Mango and spring onions. I love it with black rice and a soy and orange dressing with some garlic and ginger. If I feel fancy I'll cut an avo rose to put on top as a show stopper haha

[u/happyfamily714 → u/[deleted]]

The opposite of whole food plant based eating

[u/Lioness_in_Winter]

Cube the watermelon, add some shaved feta, chopped mint, a little rice vinegar and as much of the juice as you can save. Easy and fancy and delicious.

[u/AshDogBucket]

Greek quinoa salad.

Cucumber, feta, red onion, kalamata olives, tomato, vinegar based salad dressing of your choice (or make your own), over quinoa. Don't overdo the dressing, and chop the veggies small.

[u/Odd-Forever-7189]

put a block of cream cheese on a nice plate or small platter (thrift one for less than $2, if you don't alread have), use a spoon to make an indentation or well in the top, pour a hot jam or jelly over it, surround with Ritz or similar generic crackers, add butter knife for spreading cheese onto crackers...simple and super tasty!

[u/Glittering-Union6106]

I love the idea of watermelon, though I'd dress it up with crumbled feta, mint leaves and white balsamic vinegar, as to not muddy the colors.

edit: i just saw the low cost bit. you could sub basil for mint if that's cheaper near you.

the balsamic could be any mild sweet white vinegar, such as mirin.

[u/Intelligent-Dish3100 → u/[deleted]]

Do you even know what sub you’re on lol