I love any excuse to gather around a table full of my favorite people, especially when that table is absolutely loaded with good food. If your holiday calendar is already packed with parties and get togethers, you are going to need some seriously delicious dishes to bring along. I've rounded up 19 recipes that are perfect for sharing, from sweet to savory and everything in between.
1. How to Assemble A Veggie Platter
Veggie platters and charcuterie boards are having such a big moment right now, and there is a real art to arranging all that beautiful food. I usually go for a full rainbow effect, starting with red cherry tomatoes and then working my way around the plate with bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, and anything else that catches my eye. You could also go the extra mile and whip up a few colorful homemade hummus pots for dipping, which is always a fun touch.
2. Roasted Butternut Squash Kale Salad with Farro and Goat Cheese
Fall salads are honestly my favorite, because they are so far from sad lettuce and boring bottled dressing. This is the season for big bowls loaded with roasted veggies, dried fruit, crunchy nuts, and creamy cheese. I love the butternut squash here, but you could easily use pumpkin or even a sweet potato if that is what you have on hand.
3. Pineapple-Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
A simple sweet potato casserole is always a hit, but sometimes you want to shake things up a little for the holiday table. This version with pineapple and bourbon is an absolute must make if you want to bring something unexpected. Once your sweet potatoes are cooked, pop the mash into a food processor with brown sugar, bourbon, melted butter, ginger, allspice, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, eggs, and the pineapple.
4. Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
I know this looks like a giant pan of roasted, cheesy potatoes, but it is actually a lower carb casserole packed full of cauliflower. The creamy sauce is a dreamy mix of cream cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, sour cream, garlic powder, and onion powder, with bacon sprinkled right on top. To make it really special, I suggest roasting the cauliflower first, steaming doesn't do much for such a mild veggie.
5. Brussels Sprouts and Grapes au Gratin
If you are looking for a dish that will make people stop and stare, this is the one you need to make. Brussels sprouts already deserve so much more love than they get. But I promise you, when you show up with this fun and unexpected version, there will not be a single crumb left in the pan.
6. Raspberry Pretzel Jell-O
This dessert hits every single note, it is sweet, creamy, salty, and wonderfully crunchy. Using pretzels instead of a regular graham cracker crust is a genius move because they add so much more personality to the dish. I also found it way easier to pipe the filling right over the base for a beautiful, clean finish.
7. Parmesan Crisps with Thyme and Sea Salt
I am obsessed with Parmesan chips because they are crispy, salty, cheesy, and a little nutty, plus they are even low in carbs. The process is so simple, just pile freshly grated Parmesan onto a lined baking sheet inside a small cookie cutter. The cutter keeps all that wonderful cheese from spreading out all over the pan.
8. Onion Bread Recipe No-Yeast Method
You might be surprised to learn you do not actually need yeast to make a fantastic loaf of bread. Yeast is basically just there to help things rise a bit faster. You can easily swap it with a starter, baking soda, or even buttermilk. This particular recipe bakes up more like a giant muffin loaf, so it is nice and dense, and it relies on baking powder to do the lifting.
9. Dark Chocolate Pecan Toffee Bark
You have probably made your fair share of bark, or at least been gifted plenty of it over the years, because it is easy, tasty, and always a huge hit. Around Christmas, I usually lean towards the classic white chocolate, peppermint, and cranberry combo. But for Thanksgiving, why not switch things up with this rich and decadent dark chocolate version?
10. Easy Pumpkin Pie Dip
Someone is going to bring guacamole, and someone else will probably show up with buffalo dip. But will anyone think to bring a sweet dip that tastes just like dessert? You will! The base is a luscious blend of cream cheese, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice, making it taste just like a no bake cheesecake.
11. Classic Waldorf Salad
You might have guessed it, but this salad has some pretty fancy roots, it was first created at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Over the years, people all over the globe have put their own little spin on it and tweaked it endlessly. But the one thing that never changes is that it is crazy delicious.
12. Easy Stuffing Recipe
Can you even call it a Thanksgiving potluck if there isn't a big pan of stuffing on the table? It is always the first thing to disappear, so bringing a batch is never a bad idea, even if someone else shows up with one too. My best trick for making it from scratch is to use bread that is really dry. I like to chop mine up the day before and just let it sit out on the counter overnight.
13. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is one of those cozy, classic comfort foods that shows up at just about every gathering. We all say it is for the kids, but let's be honest, everyone sneaks a scoop or two for themselves. This clever twist blends squash right into the sauce, giving it that lovely orange color and a hint of natural sweetness.
14. Best Ever Cranberry Sauce
Okay, let's be real, there is almost always going to be turkey at a Thanksgiving gathering. And honestly, what is turkey without a gorgeous spoonful of cranberry sauce? I know grabbing a can feels quick, but this homemade version is so simple and your host will absolutely taste the love. One little tip from me to you: frozen berries tend to release a lot of extra liquid, so let them bubble on the stove a bit longer to get that perfect thick texture.
15. Easy Creamed Corn
I don't know about you, but just looking at this dish makes my mouth water. Is there really anything more comforting than a big spoonful of creamed corn? If you have the time, please roast the corn first and let it get a little charred. That smoky flavor is unbeatable and takes the whole thing to another level.
16. Apple Pie Recipe with the Best Filling
When you make apple pie, do you prefer big chunks of fruit or thin little slices? I usually go for thinner slices because it helps everything cook perfectly in time. This recipe uses lovely thin apples and lots of warm, cozy spices. If you want to make it a bit easier for a party crowd, try baking them as mini pies in a muffin tin.
17. Cranberry Crumb Bars
Crumble bars are such a wonderful dessert because they are welcome at any kind of event. They are buttery and simple to make, and you can pick any filling your heart desires. Cranberries feel just right for the Thanksgiving theme, and I love that they aren't overly sweet. The orange juice glaze on top adds a bright, zesty finish.
18. Hasselback Potato Gratin
How gorgeous is this dish? All those beautiful edges and colors mean it won't be sitting on the party table for very long. If you want to keep it simple with just potatoes, try to hunt down some red ones and even blue ones if you spot them. Otherwise, you can create that stunning rainbow look with carrots, parsnip, beets, radishes, and sweet potatoes.
19. Incredibly Easy French Onion Soup Casserole
Soup is usually a tricky thing to transport to a party, but this casserole gives you all that cozy flavor in a way that is way easier to serve and eat. The real secret here, besides all those glorious onions, is using beef broth. If you swap it for chicken or veggie stock, you just won't get that same deep, rich, savory taste that makes French onion soup so incredible.