Frugal & Fabulous Potluck Ideas

Potlucks are a great way to share delicious, home cooked food with friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors. Not only are potlucks a fun way to sample new and different foods homemade with love, they take the burden of cooking off of the host. Potlucks are wonderful for many reasons. But, if you aren't prepared, deciding on what to bring to a potluck can be an arduous task. Here are some great ideas for delicious, inexpensive dishes to take to your next potluck.

Crock Pot Dishes

Crock Pot dishes are perfect for potlucks. There is no need to worry about keeping your dish warm because the crock-pot does it for you. You can even serve right from the crock-pot. Try these mouth-watering appetizers in your crock-pot.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs: Mix a 16 oz package of fully cooked, frozen meatballs, half a bottle of Sweet & Sour sauce and cook on low for at least 4 hours. Serve as an appetizer or on top of steamed rice as a main dish.

Chips~n~Queso: Mix 1 lb Velveeta cheese with 1 can (un-drained) of Rotel tomatoes. Cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. If possible, warm the tortilla chips in the microwave for thirty seconds or in the stove for ten minutes at 350 degrees. They taste even better when served warm.

Bourbon Weenies: These little weenies are delicious and so easy to make. Simply place two packages of drained Cocktail Dogs (I use Hillshire Farm) inside of the crock-pot, add 3-4 cups of ketchup, 1-2 shots of Bourbon, 1-2 cups of water, and 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar. Cook on low for 4 hours.

Salads and Such

Pasta Salad - Everybody loves pasta salad, especially in the summer. Try this recipe I found next to a Wacky Mac coupon: Heat 1/2 cup of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 bunch of broccoli, sliced 1/8" up to crowns, 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, julienne cut, and 1/2 cup of diced red bell pepper. Sautee for about 5-6 minutes, or until broccoli is tender. Add 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced and heat for an additional two minutes. Be careful to not burn the garlic. Meanwhile, prepare Wacky Mac according to package directions. Rinse in cold water and add to skillet. Add 4 tablespoons of pine nuts to skillet (optional), toss salad, and transfer to serving bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or chilled. I suggest serving it chilled.

Cucumbers & Vinegar - This German favorite consists of only two ingredients. Can you guess what they are? Simply slice cucumbers and let soak in white vinegar for thirty minutes to an hour. I absolutely love these but the vinegar might be too much for some people. If that is the case, try cucumbers with sour cream instead. Mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 cup of sour cream, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of salt, mix well. Peel and slice cucumbers. Add cucumbers and 1/2 cup of finely diced onions to the sour cream mixture. Stir and chill for 2-3 hours.

Deviled Eggs: It doesn't get much more frugal than classic Deviled Eggs. Boil a dozen eggs, let cool. Rinse with cold water and remove shells. Slice eggs in half (lengthwise), remove yolks, and place in a bowl. Mash yolks with a fork and add 2-3 tablespoons of mayo and 1 tablespoon of mustard. Mix well. Scoop mixture into egg halves and sprinkle with paprika.

Sweet Treats

Desserts are fun to bring to a potluck and usually pretty easy. Try these delicious desserts that are a little different than the common potluck desserts.

Pudding Shots: Try this delectable variation of the classic Jell-O-O shots. Trust me, you won't be able to eat just one. Using an electric mixer, mix one package of instant chocolate pudding mix and ¾ cup milk for 2-3 minutes. Add ¼ cup Vodka and ½ cup Irish Cream and mix well. Then mix in 8 oz of Cool Whip. Keep the freezer until it is time to partake.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries: This is an easy, elegant, and economical dessert for a potluck. You won't believe how simple they are to prepare. Wash and completely dry the strawberries. Heat chocolate (I prefer dark chocolate for the health benefits) in the microwave. Immediately dip strawberries into hot chocolate. Chill in refrigerator for at least thirty minutes before serving. For a little spice, add a dash of chili or cayenne pepper to the chocolate.

Root Beer Floats -This is great when you are in a crunch for time. Just bring a few 2 liters of Root Beer, a carton or two of good quality ice cream (Breyers is my favorite), cups and straws. I thought of this idea when I when I remembered about the potluck at work on the way there. It was a huge hit! I know, this isn't homemade but it is such a fun idea that everyone forgets you didn't make it.

With these easy and affordable ideas, you will never have to struggle for an idea of what to bring to a potluck again.