Chances are, right now you’re in the time of year where there’s an office potluck on the horizon. I have a love-hate relationship with office potlucks. On one hand, I love to get together with coworkers and enjoy the food that they’ve made. Other the other hand, I never feel like I have enough time to make dishes that are really special, something my coworkers deserve. (Seriously, Erica, how do you have time to make that fancy 18-layer dip?!!!) And so I end up racing to the grocery store to buy something that’s pre-made and totally mediocre, unworthy of my amazing colleagues. Well, no more! Recently, I took the time to gather up the best office potluck recipes. Onward!
The Best Office Potluck Dishes
Image: Shutterstock
Pulled Chicken Sliders
A slow cooker is your friend for this recipe, brought to you by Natasha’s Kitchen. Just a couple tweaks make this an even more lightning-fast recipe! Just bake the chicken breasts the night before (or get a rotisserie chicken and shred) and bring everything into the office kitchen the next morning. Right away when you get into the office, plug in that slow cooker, add the chicken and the rest of the ingredients, and turn it on to HIGH til lunchtime (4 hours). Add Hawaiian slider rolls, cole slaw and BAM – lunch to please a crowd. Don’t forget tongs!
Tarragon Chicken Salad
You’re going to absolutely love the combination of fresh, herby tarragon, savory chicken and creamy mayonnaise in this recipe, courtesy of Feasting at Home. Bring along a package of croissants from the grocery store bakery and watch the whole office devour! You can pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, easy peasy.
Broccoli Cashew Salad
The bacon! The golden raisins! The CRUNCH! This is a copy cat recipe of the Whole Foods’ Broccoli Crunch Salad, and it is to DIE for. If you make this the night before (and it will take you literally 10 minutes, promise), all the flavors will be mingled and married by the next day, and the cashews take on this chewy texture and bacon-y flavor… it. Is. So. Good. Check it out, from Just a Pinch.
“That Good Salad”
With ALL the heavy meals and rich desserts going around during the holidays, sometimes a fresh salad is a welcome relief to the system. Betty Lamb, who submitted this recipe to Taste of Home, says that when she first learned of this salad, it had a fancy French name, so she and her children just call it “that good salad”. With just a 20 minute prep time, this green and healthy salad is put together in no time. I suggest swapping out the canola oil for olive oil, and also maybe add a couple fresh herbs to the romaine for even more flavor!
Five Minute (Really) Taco Dip
Cream cheese, taco seasoning, sour cream and toppings come together super fast in this delicious taco dip from Spend with Pennies. Bring a bag or two of good tortilla chips (if you can get Juanita’s in your area, do it) and the office crowd will be dipping and crunching all the way to the bottom of the plate. Watch out for double dippers, ahem, GEORGE!
Image: Shutterstock
Marshmallow Fruit Dip
Oh. My. Marshmallows. This stuff is amazing – also from Taste of Home. It comes together with cream cheese, whipped topping (who can resist Cool Whip, really?), cherry yogurt, and marshmallow creme. It’s super easy to make and tastes incredible with virtually any type of fruit.
Potluck Mac & Cheese
Again, if you can bring your slowcooker to work and either make this at the office or heat it up in time for lunch, this will definitely please a crowd. This recipe from Forks ‘n Flip Flops is a deliciously blank canvas: add broccoli. Add bacon. Add andouille sausage! The pastabilities are endless. I think that’s an old commercial from the Macaroni Grill, but you understand.
No Bake Oreo Refrigerator Cake
Everyone loves Oreos – everyone! This recipe from Food.com comes together in about 30 minutes and is probably even more delicious the next day (ours didn’t last the whole 24 hours). It cuts up perfectly into squares, making it super easy to divvy out at an office potluck. Just don’t look at the nutrition facts. It’s Christmas!
