As the unofficial queen of farmhouse food, Ree Drummond knows a thing or two about feeding a crowd. Here are her two favorite dishes to cook when a potluck rolls around.
Potluck recipes have a special place in my heart. There’s something so comforting about a bunch of friends and family coming together, contributing what they can to create a fun and satisfying meal. And it usually means there’s a giant potato side dish, a major plus in my book. But sometimes, I’m completely lost as to what to contribute, especially if I don’t know what others will bring.
Lucky for me and anyone with potluck-related stress, Taste of Home recently chatted with Ree Drummond to get the inside scoop on her go-to potluck dinner choices.
As someone who’s no stranger to feeding a herd of people, Ree likes to stick with a trusty casserole dish when a potluck comes along. In particular, she turns to her mom’s chicken spaghetti. “It was one of the first recipes I posted on my food blog years ago,” Ree says, “and I take it to our church potlucks.”
Chicken spaghetti is pretty simple to put together; it’s usually chicken, pasta, some condensed cream soup, and handfuls of veggies and cheese that bubble and bake in a 13×9. I can’t get enough of Taste of Home’s most popular version of chicken spaghetti, but you can still find Ree’s recipe on her site, if you want to feel like the Pioneer Woman herself.
Go Meaty
Ree doesn’t limit herself to casseroles, though. Another of her favorites is “just a good ol’ beef chili, with no beans.” To make it a bit easier (and limit the number of dishes she’ll end up washing) Ree reaches for her her Instant Pot. “I love making chili in the Instant Pot because you can saute the meat there and you can add everything and cook it all in one vessel,” she says.
This Pioneer Woman potluck recipe is worth every penny! The combination of cheddar, Swiss and blue cheese is the perfect combo of tang, sharpness and pungent perfection. Be sure to bring veg or pretzels for dipping. Don’t forget to check out this million-dollar spaghetti recipe.
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You can't go wrong with Ree Drummond's apple crisp. She uses tart Granny Smith apples plus sugar, flour, oats and cinnamon to make a simple but ridiculously delicious dessert to pass. This apple crisp is one of her favorite comfort foods, too.
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Ree got this secret family recipe from her mom. It calls for only three ingredients (a can of biscuits, blue cheese and butter) but will wow everyone around the table.
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You'll be making these dreamy pumpkin bars on repeat this fall. This recipe is made in an 8-by-8-inch pan but can be doubled to make a 13-by-9-inch dessert.
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Looking for more? Here’s a Pioneer Woman cheese ball recipe loaded with cheddar, bacon and ranch.
One of Ree's biggest hits is her Knock-You-Naked Brownies, which are stuffed with ooey, gooey caramel. The combo of chocolate and caramel is undeniably powerful!
The layered salad is a staple at potlucks everywhere, and Ree takes a classic approach with her ingredients. She includes bacon, hard-boiled eggs and peas, to name a few. We think she'd like this make-ahead version.
Ree can turn just about anything into a casserole, including chicken cordon bleu. The creamy chicken and ham are topped with buttery bread crumbs that make both versions irresistible.
Oatmeal bars are a Pioneer Woman potluck favorite, and ours are filled with sweet strawberry preserves and topped with coconut. Ree makes a similar dessert, but leaves out the coconut.
The Pioneer Woman knows that the only way to improve a twice-baked potato is to turn it into a casserole. The essential ingredients are bacon and cheddar cheese. Talk about comfort food! If you’re looking for more recipes, don’t forget to try our favorite sweet potato casserole.
Baked beans are perfect for potlucks, and while Ree tends to use only pork and beans in hers, this version includes seven different types of beans, adding variety in color, texture and taste.
Ree's grasshopper pie is a popular recipe and one she undoubtedly loves herself. Here, cream cheese and whipped topping make a luscious base for the minty green filling. Your family is going to love this, whether or not you live on a ranch in Oklahoma.
The Pioneer Woman loves her meatballs, and one of her best recipes is dressed in a rich sauce made with tomato paste and beef broth. These meatballs get some extra sass from cranberries.
You can't have a potluck without potato salad. This is a lighter version of the Pioneer Woman's lemon basil potato salad, but all the bright flavors are still there!
The whole Drummond family loves chicken taco salad, and this version gets it done with a slow cooker. Ree often uses the set-it-and-forget-it approach for her big-batch recipes, and we love it too.
As Editor, Caroline writes and edits all things food-related and helps produce videos for Taste of Home. When she’s not at her desk, you can probably find Caroline cooking up a feast, planning her next trip abroad or daydreaming about her golden retriever, Mac.