These Are Ree Drummond’s Favorite Potluck Dinners
Updated: Aug. 26, 2019
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.
Psst: Take a look at these potluck etiquette rules you should know before your next party.
It’s All About the Casseroles
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.”
Here are some heavenly potluck recipes worth taking to church.
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.
Here’s how she serves that chili. (Our stomachs are growling just thinking about it.)
Now that you have your next few potluck dinner recipes planned out, check out some of Ree Drummond’s favorite potluck dishes for every course.
Spicy Casserole
Ree loves a spicy casserole, so while she'd love this bake as it is, she probably couldn't help but add some salsa or hot peppers to the mix. Make it in the 13x9 nonstick pan from Taste of Home’s new line of cookware and bakeware!
Caramel Brownies
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! Here's a copycat recipe. We tried Ree's famous brownies. See if they lived up to the name.
Layered Salad
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!
Lemon Bars
No dessert table is complete without lemon bars, and both this batch and Ree's go-to recipe make use of a shortbread crust with a curd-like filling. Here's our expert guide on making lemon curd.
Cordon Bleu Casserole
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.
Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
Oatmeal bars are a potluck favorite, and ours are filled with sweet strawberry preserves and topped with coconut. Ree makes a similar dessert, but leaves out the coconut.
Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
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!
Coleslaw
Ree loves cilantro slaw, and she's so adventurous with her cooking, she's probably already tried adding blue cheese to the mix. (If she hasn't, she should!)
Baked Beans
Baked beans are perfect for potlucks, and while Ree tends to use only pork and beans in hers, this version includes seven different types, adding variety in color, texture and taste!
Grasshopper Pie
Ree's grasshopper pie is a very 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!
Southwest Casserole
This dish is similar to Ree's favorite Mexican rice casserole, but with olives, black beans and corn mixed in. It wouldn't be a surprise to learn she's already tried those additions herself.
Saucy Meatballs
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.
Asian Noodle Salad
Ree would probably add some kale, carrots and shredded cabbage to this dish, but she's sure to approve of such a tasty Asian noodle salad. We're all shook up about Elvis' favorite foods, too.
Lemony Potato Salad
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!
Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is always a crowd favorite, and this bake is similar to Ree's tried-and-true recipe–there are three kinds of cheese and plenty of beef!
Pretzel Brownies
One of the Pioneer Woman's favorite brownie recipes is topped with salted pretzels, so we know this version with a pretzel crust would also be a hit with her.
Chicken Taco Salad
Another dish loved by the Drummond family is chicken taco salad, and this version gets it done with a slow cooker. The set-it-and-forget-it approach is often used by Ree, and we love it too.
