45 Perfect Summer Potluck Recipes You Can Make In Your 13x9

Everything you love about summer—in a casserole dish.

Summertime is the best time for a Southern potluck full of dishes that take advantage of the season's vibrant bounty from farmers' markets, local farm stands, or even your own backyard. Unlike during the holidays, summer potlucks let you make it more about the fresh peaches, tomatoes, okra, corn, summer squash, and peas than anything else. Fresh, easy, and pretty enough for a get-together, these summer potluck recipes will showcase every bright and colorful thing we love about summer.

From packed-to-the-brim vegetable gratins to freshened-up pasta bakes, these easy summer casseroles will wow the crowd and disappear faster than those fleeting summer days. To top it off, we included some easy summer desserts for a crowd that'll be easy to make and even easier to take, thanks to your 9x13 dish.

Here are 45 of our favorite 13x9 summer potluck recipes, featuring crowd-friendly appetizers. seasonal sides, delicious casseroles, and flavorful desserts.

Ham Delights

We updated this tried-and-true appetizer with flavorful Gouda cheese and a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning. Bake in your trusty 13x9 to get nice and melty.

Baked BLT Dip

Much like your go-to BLT sandwich, this dip is a seasonal summertime favorite made with bacon, cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, and lemon juice.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

What makes this sensational recipe stand out? Lots of ooey, gooey cheese—including sharp Cheddar cheese, pepper Jack cheese, cream cheese, and crumbled blue cheese. Chopped cooked chicken makes it a breeze to whip together for a party.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

This is like a loaded baked potato, but in casserole form and made a little less rich by using cauliflower instead of heavy potatoes. It makes a super satisfying side dish.

Cakey Strawberry Cobbler

We can't be sure of which part we love the most: the fresh, juicy cooked strawberries or the golden, cake-like topping with crispy edges and a tender center.

Zucchini Lasagna

Say hello to the prettiest use of summer's bounty. This lasagna alternates between layers of lasagna noodles and laced zucchini strips.

Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Can you name a better summertime trio than zucchini, squash, and corn? Bound together with a cheesy, creamy filling, this bright dish gets beautifully golden on top to match that sunny weather.

Okra and Rice Casserole

Tender sautéed okra, sweet corn, bell pepper, and tomatoes give this dish so much bright summery color. Cajun spices and buttery garlic breadcrumbs make sure it doesn't skimp on the flavor.

Old-School Squash Casserole

This classic will make the most of the harvest. You can't go wrong when showing up with this bright crowd favorite.

Banana Pudding Poke Cake

This cake is rich and delicious, bursting with fresh banana flavor and big enough to feed a crowd. We recommend chilling the cake in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

New-School Pineapple Casserole

The biggest change we made in our new take on classic pineapple casserole, which is perhaps slightly controversial, is we swapped the canned pineapple for fresh.

Reunion Pea Casserole

This casserole packs a delicious punch. The stuffed-to-the-brim dish is full of Italian sausage, cheese, squash, and peas. Then, it's finished off with a buttery crescent roll crust.

Fresh Peach Cobbler

This recipe's name just about sums up why it's the perfect dish for a summertime gathering.

Savannah Red Rice

This regional delicacy is simple to prepare while still showcasing rich flavor. The smoky bacon and tangy tomatoes will keep guests coming back for more.

Lemon-Lime Poke Cake

Citrus-spiked sweetened condensed milk and buttermilk add a double-dose of moisture and tang to plain white cake.

Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

Bulk up macaroni and cheese with pulled pork from your favorite local joint, and you have a main and side dish all in one.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

People like potatoes in just about any form, and this is a new recipe to save as a go-to. We like to think of this dish as a portable, easy-to-portion take on twice-baked potatoes.

Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

Thanks to the Goldfish topping, this recipe is automatically kid-approved. Don't be fooled, though: Made with in-season zucchini and yellow squash, it's also adult-approved and highly encouraged as a welcome side dish on just about any supper menu.

Raspberry-Rhubarb Bars

Everyone will appreciate these fruity hand-held treats. Fresh rhubarb adds a tart touch that balances out the buttery shortbread-like crust.

Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

There's nothing not to love about these scalloped potatoes, which are done up in a casserole dish with a load of parmesan and heavy cream. We recommend rounding out your meal with something on the light side like fresh vegetables.

Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Big chunks of fresh vegetables—cauliflower, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, butter beans—mingle with a creamy cheese sauce and tender kale to make up this meat-free casserole that'll shine at your summer potluck.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

With chicken, vegetables, and pasta all held together by a creamy sauce, this casserole is a well-rounded, family-friendly meal.

Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Even your macaroni and cheese should have a summery touch, thanks to the bounty of ripe tomatoes at your fingertips. This comforting homemade mac-and-cheese will wow the kids and the adults alike at the potluck.

Chili Cheese Enchiladas

Made with a flavor-bursting chili-cheese gravy, this Tex-Mex casserole will be the tastiest thing at the potluck. Add any ingredients you have on hand, such as a can of corn, black beans, refried beans, or shredded chicken.

Sweet Tea-and-Lemonade Cake

No occasion is complete without this showy confection that takes inspiration from the refreshing Southern beverage: the Arnold Palmer. You can spin this into a tipsy cake by substituting up to two tablespoons of vodka or bourbon for the lemon juice in the frosting.

Deep-Dish Loaded Hash Brown Casserole

This casserole captures the flavors of hash browns from the diner, but in a size that'll feed your whole family and can easily work for lunch and dinner, as well as breakfast.

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Loads of in-season squash and tomatoes give a freshness to this classic dish that's a staple at Southern reunions, potlucks, and funerals. Fresh mozzerella and basil top off the dish in a delicious fashion.

Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

This casserole is full of summer color with broccoli, bell peppers, and colorful spinach-and-cheese tortellini. It's always one of the first to disappear.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Everyone's favorite party dip got a hearty upgrade with chicken and penne pasta.

Plum-Berry Cornmeal Sheet Cake

This sheet cakes looks like it just belongs at a breezy picnic. The vanilla-flavored cornmeal batter makes a not-too-sweet base for the fresh berries and plums.

Ham and Noodle Casserole

This family-friendly casserole is made with egg noodles, chopped ham, a tasty mix of vegetables (carrots, broccoli, asparagus), and a rich and creamy sauce.

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

You can never go wrong when showing up with a poppyseed casserole in tow. This version uses traditional egg noodles, diced turkey, and plenty of creamy sauce to get the job done.

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake

This dessert pleases the crowd by being both patriotic and packed with fruity flavor. It's made with two fillings of fresh summer berries and topped with rich mascarpone frosting.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Forget individual patties and whip up this cheeseburger casserole for a crowd. It's easy to tote and cut if you're bringing it to a party or serving individual slices for a group.

Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up

One of our favorite quick-fix dishes to bring to the summer potluck, this take on a tamale pie is packed with a filling of ground beef, cornmeal, tomato sauce, and corn that gets finished with a layer of cheese.

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Bring summertime freshness to your potluck lineup with this almond-topped casserole. Take a break from the pasta bakes with a wild rice casserole filled with chicken, water chestnuts, sour cream, and cheese.

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Make use of your lush greens from the farmers' market with this creamy bake with loads of cheese and tender kale. This dish comes together in half an hour, making it a hearty no-brainer for any get-together.

Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars

Instead of serving cake or pie at your next gathering, consider making these cheesecake bars in a casserole dish. They're easy to cut up and transport for a party, and, thanks to the fresh berries, the colors look especially festive for a 4th of July or Memorial Day celebration.

Layered Squash Casserole

While this recipe is similar to classic squash casserole, the flavor is dialed up with a few key ingredients, such as Dijon mustard and white cheddar cheese.

Macaroni Corn Casserole

We upped the ante on a classic side dish with crumbled bacon and pretty little corn kernels. It's topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs.

Patchwork Cobbler

Show off your summer fruits at the cookout with this patchwork cobbler packed full with peaches, plums, and blueberries. A sugar-crusted pastry topping makes it look pretty as a picture.

Tennessee Onions

This onion casserole is made with a handful of simple ingredients: sweet vidalia onions, cheese, and butter mainly. It's unsuspecting good for pairing at a burger cookout.

French Onion Chicken Casserole

For this casserole, we quickly caramelized fresh onions for the filling and then topped everything with crispy fried onions before baking for double the French onion flavor.

Pineapple Bread Pudding

That extra bread in your kitchen has never been tastier. Made with pineapple pieces, pineapple juice, soft Hawaiian dinner rolls, and macadamia nuts, it's a tropical dream.

Savory Corn Pudding

Although corn pudding is technically a casserole, it has a rich, soft texture that's almost dessert-like. This corn pudding recipe puts a savory spin on the classic with the addition of chopped onion and fresh thyme.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.