25 Classic Potluck Recipes from Grandma’s Cookbook

Published: Sep 7, 2025 by Jessica @ TMG · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you know potlucks weren’t just about the food—they were about community. Whether it was a church social, a family reunion, or a neighborhood block party, tables groaned under the weight of Pyrex casseroles, Tupperware salads, and sheet cakes that could feed an army. Grandma always seemed to have the perfect dish ready, whether it was deviled eggs that disappeared in minutes or a chocolate sheet cake that everyone lined up for.

This list of 25 classic potluck recipes from grandma’s cookbook will take you right back to those comforting days. From savory casseroles and creamy salads to nostalgic desserts, these dishes prove why grandma’s cooking never goes out of style.

25 Classic Potluck Recipes

1

Best No Carb Deviled Eggs (Keto, Carnivore) - Whole Lotta Yum

Best No Carb Deviled Eggs (Keto, Carnivore) - Whole Lotta Yum

Hard-boiled eggs filled with a creamy yolk-mayo-mustard mixture. Since the 1950s, deviled eggs have been the first dish to disappear from any potluck table.

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2

The Best Southern Fried Chicken

The Best Southern Fried Chicken

Crispy, golden-brown, and seasoned just right. A Sunday dinner and potluck staple for generations, especially in the South.

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3

The Best Classic Meatloaf - The Wholesome Dish

The Best Classic Meatloaf - The Wholesome Dish

Ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs and onions, baked with a tangy ketchup glaze. A Depression-era comfort food that remained a 50s–70s potluck mainstay.

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4

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes Recipe

Ground beef simmered in a tangy tomato sauce and served on buns. By the 1960s–70s, this quick, kid-friendly dish was a crowd-pleaser at gatherings.

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5

Old School Chicken and Rice Casserole - Plain Chicken

Old School Chicken and Rice Casserole - Plain Chicken

Tender chicken baked with rice and cream soup. A thrifty 1960s favorite that showed up in nearly every church cookbook.

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6

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti baked with meat sauce and a blanket of cheese. A hearty 60s–70s casserole perfect for feeding a crowd.

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7

Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole - Made Without Canned Soup

Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole - Made Without Canned Soup

Egg noodles, canned tuna, peas, and cream of mushroom soup, topped with breadcrumbs or chips. A 1950s budget-friendly favorite that never left potluck tables.

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8

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Green beans baked with cream of mushroom soup and French fried onions. Invented in 1955 by Campbell’s, it quickly became a holiday and potluck classic.

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9

Old Fashioned Baked Beans

Old Fashioned Baked Beans

Beans slow-simmered in a sweet, smoky sauce with bacon. A Midwest staple for backyard barbecues and potlucks alike.

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10

Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes

Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes baked in a creamy sauce with cheese. A cozy casserole that’s been filling Pyrex dishes at potlucks since the 1950s.

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11

Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe - I Heart Naptime

Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe - I Heart Naptime

Elbow pasta tossed with mayo, celery, onion, and sometimes eggs. A 60s–70s Tupperware favorite that traveled well to any gathering.

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12

Ultimate Potato Salad

Ultimate Potato Salad

Tender potatoes in a creamy mayo or tangy mustard dressing. A classic picnic and potluck dish beloved since the early 20th century.

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13

Old Fashioned Vinegar Slaw without Mayo

Old Fashioned Vinegar Slaw without Mayo

Shredded cabbage in a mayo or vinegar dressing. Refreshing, cheap, and easy to transport—no potluck was complete without it.

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14

Old Fashioned Ambrosia Recipe

Old Fashioned Ambrosia Recipe

Canned pineapple, mandarin oranges, marshmallows, coconut, and Cool Whip. A Southern tradition since the late 1800s, it became a nationwide potluck favorite in the 50s–60s.

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15

Traditional Southern Seven Layer Salad

Traditional Southern Seven Layer Salad

Lettuce, peas, onion, bacon, cheese, and dressing layered in a clear bowl. A 1970s hit that was as pretty as it was practical.

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16

Retro Waldorf Salad for Mad Men Fans | Mother Would Know

Retro Waldorf Salad for Mad Men Fans | Mother Would Know

Apples, celery, grapes, and walnuts with mayo or cream. From hotel menus to grandma’s kitchen, it became a retro favorite in the 50s–60s.

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17

Old Fashioned Cornbread

Old Fashioned Cornbread

Golden cornbread baked in a skillet or casserole dish. A Southern comfort food that became a potluck go-to by the 1960s.

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18

Lime Jello Salad - Cooking With Carlee

Lime Jello Salad - Cooking With Carlee

Shimmering gelatin with fruit or veggies suspended inside. A 1950s–70s centerpiece that made every potluck table sparkle.

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19

Baked Ziti Recipe - Once Upon a Chef

Baked Ziti Recipe - Once Upon a Chef

Ziti pasta baked with ricotta, mozzarella, and tomato sauce. Italian-American families introduced it at gatherings in the 60s–70s.

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20

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Caramelized pineapple slices baked under vanilla cake, flipped before serving. A 1920s Dole contest recipe that lived on at potlucks through the 70s.

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21

What Makes Texas Sheet Cake So Ridiculously Moist?

What Makes Texas Sheet Cake So Ridiculously Moist?

Thin, fudgy chocolate cake topped with warm icing. A 1950s–60s potluck classic, it fed a crowd straight from the pan.

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22

Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

Tangy lemon curd on buttery shortbread. A 1960s bake sale and potluck darling often passed down in church cookbooks.

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23

Grandma’s Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Grandma’s Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Chewy cookies filled with oats, raisins, and cinnamon. A cookie-jar classic that made its way to potlucks all through the 20th century.

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24

Old Fashioned Lunch Lady Brownies Recipe

Old Fashioned Lunch Lady Brownies Recipe

Rich chocolate squares, sometimes studded with nuts. Dating back to the early 1900s, brownies were a guaranteed potluck favorite.

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25

Classic Egg Salad Recipe

Classic Egg Salad Recipe

Creamy egg salad spread on bread or rolls. Affordable and easy, these little sandwiches were mid-century luncheon and potluck staples.

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Wrap-Up

Potlucks weren’t just meals—they were memory makers. From grandma’s Pyrex casseroles to her pastel Jell-O molds, every dish carried a little piece of family history. These 25 classic potluck recipes remind us of a time when food was simple, hearty, and always shared. Whether you bring deviled eggs, tuna noodle casserole, or a pan of chocolate sheet cake, you’ll be carrying on a tradition that never goes out of style.

FAQs About Potluck Recipes

What makes a recipe “potluck friendly”?

It should feed a crowd, travel well, and be easy to serve in a community setting.

What were the most iconic grandma’s potluck dishes?

Deviled eggs, tuna noodle casserole, green bean casserole, ambrosia salad, and chocolate sheet cake were all must-haves.

Why were casseroles so common at potlucks?

They were budget-friendly, filling, and could be baked in large dishes to serve many people.

Do people still make these retro recipes today?

Yes! Many of these classics are still potluck favorites, especially around the holidays.

What dessert showed up at nearly every potluck?

Brownies and sheet cakes were always a sure bet—they were easy to slice and share.

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