27 Joyous Christmas Recipes for a Church Potluck

Christmas Party Pinwheels

'Tis the season for easy make-ahead appetizers like these. They look so special and pretty that folks can't resist them! The refreshing flavor of ranch dressing and crisp colorful vegetables makes these pinwheels a pleasure to serve. —Janis Plourde, Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario

Baked Spaghetti with Cream of Mushroom Soup

Being cheesy is a good thing when you're talking about baked spaghetti with cream of mushroom soup. It's cozy, cheesy and promises lots of leftovers.

Potluck German Apple Cake

My mother made this German apple cake for my brothers and me when we were kids. It's an excellent choice for a Christmas potluck or actually any time of year. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

Ham Balls with Brown Sugar Glaze

These smoky-sweet meatballs are a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty. I like setting them out when folks come to visit. —Janet Zeger, Middletown, Pennsylvania

Potluck Taco Casserole

This is the dish I most often take to potlucks, and the pan comes home empty every time. —Kim Stoller, Smithville, Ohio

Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

Including the hands-off time it spends chilling in the fridge, chocolate chip cookie delight is a low-lift layered dessert of chocolate chip cookie crust, cream cheese filling and creamy pudding.

Potluck Sausage Casserole

Whenever my husband digs in to this pasta casserole full of Italian sausage and veggies, he gets a big smile on his face. I love that! —Jane Davis, Marion, Indiana

Mini Fruitcakes

Fruitcake always looked so festive to me but I did not like the hard citron fruit so I came up with my own recipe using dried fruits and nuts. I place these in Christmas themed petit fours paper cups and give them to neighbors and friends along with the many other cookies and candies I bake. These keep well in the freezer in an airtight container. Just thaw to room temperature and they taste fresh baked and moist. —Lisa McDermith, Highland, California

Little Pigs in a Hammock

Pigs in a blanket aren’t just for kids! Dijon and Camembert transform this children’s favorite into a version that’s perfect for grown-ups. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Pistachio Salad

Fluffy, creamy, sweet pistachio salad isn't exactly what you expect from a salad—but it is delicious. Here's how (and when) to make this vintage side dish.

Layered Veggie Tortellini Salad

Tortellini and a Parmesan dressing give this layered salad an unexpected twist. It's great for a potluck. —Dennis Vitale, New Preston, Connecticut

Snickers Salad

Snickers salad may not be a traditional green salad, but it is a midwestern specialty. Bring this easy one-bowl dessert to your next potluck and watch it disappear!

Fig and Goat Cheese Meatballs

Around the holidays, saucy cocktail meatballs are always the first appetizer to go. In this dish, the sweet flavor of the fig glaze goes perfectly with the pork and tangy goat cheese. Serve the meatballs hot from the skillet or freeze and gently reheat. —Kim Banick, Turner, Oregon

Spiced Rum and Pear Cake

The flavors in this cake really make it stand out as a special-occasion dessert. With raisins, fresh sweet pear chunks, rich spices, crunchy walnuts and rum, it's a fine finale for your holiday spread. If you don't cook with alcohol, try substituting apple juice for the rum—it will still be delicious! —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Make-Ahead Creamy Potatoes

For the holidays, I usually serve the traditional foods with a new spin or two on family favorites. I put together these creamy potatoes the night before and simply bake the day of to save precious holiday time. —Wendy Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan

Spiced Cranberry Crisp Cake

This cake is a cross between a fruit crisp and a moist cake. We love the festive cranberry filling with its sweet-tangy flavor and the combination of soft cake, tender fruit and crunchy topping. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California

Ricotta Sausage Triangles

Savory pockets filled with cheese, sausage and seasonings...what's not to like? This recipe makes a lot so it's ideal for parties or potlucks. If you don't need the entire amount, they do freeze well. —Virginia Anthony, Jacksonville, Florida

Christmas Meatballs

The perfect tasty holiday party appetizer that your guests will absolutely gobble up.

White Chocolate Bark

White chocolate bark is a home run for holiday season gifting. The combination of dried cranberries and walnuts is wonderful, but you could easily customize your bark with any other additions you like.

Taco Meatball Ring

While it looks complicated, this attractive meatball-filled ring is really very easy to assemble. My family loves tacos, and we find that the crescent roll dough is a nice change from the usual tortilla shells or chips. —Brenda Johnson, Davison, Michigan

Christmas Morning Sweet Rolls

These make-ahead rolls have been a holiday tradition for years. The eggnog in the frosting makes them extra special on Christmas morning. —Kimberly Williams, Brownsburg, Indiana

Potluck Macaroni and Cheese

You'll always have a winner at the potluck when you bring macaroni and cheese. Here's an extra-rich, creamy version for the slow cooker. —Jennifer Blondek, Chicopee, Massachusetts

Sweet Potato Crisp

My not-too-sweet potato crisp features a wonderful buttery crumb topping. This is a welcome change from candied sweet potatoes.—Kathy Hamsher, Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Warm Feta Cheese Dip

We’re big on appetizers, so this dip is a mashup of our favorite tastes, like cream cheese, feta, basil and sweet peppers. Serve with bread or chips. —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Garbanzo-Stuffed Mini Peppers

Mini peppers are so colorful and are the perfect size for a two-bite appetizer. They have all the crunch of pita chips but without the extra calories. —Christine Hanover, Lewiston, California

Green Bean Pasta Salad

I like to prepare this special green bean pasta salad with fresh green beans and homegrown dill. Serve chilled or at room temperature. —Chris Snyder, Boulder, Colorado

Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake

When my family is planning a get-together, I can count on three or four people to ask if I'm bringing this dessert. If you don't have a chocolate cake mix, use a white or yellow one and stir in 3 tablespoons baking cocoa. —Fay Moreland, Wichita Falls, Texas