Meatballs on toothpicks, with a sauce for dipping, are remarkably popular, hot or cold. Sausage rolls are always good, and everyone likes lasagne. Savory muffins usually go down well too – ham and cheese, or carrot and apple, or vegetable muffins are all options. Mini quiches are good too and usually popular.

I hear you! It’s so hard to know what to make without spending too much or without a lot of effort. I like the idea of pigs in blankets. Fruit is a good option because it outweighs the naughty cakes and slices. How about a zucchini slice or homemade pizza?

I do find that funny, and I’m very much the same there. There are so many dishes that are popular that I really don’t like but have cooked so many times. Anything currants or sultanas isn’t for me, but I made muesli bars and apple carrot currant muffins every week for the house haha

Great ideas from everyone! You know what’s funny is my mum always took thinks like quiche and pizza scrolls or apple and sultana scrolls. I don’t eat any of them but yet I now make them to take places because they are what I’ve learnt are easy to make and bring along lol

Thank you so much for all the tips and recipes everyone! The comment about the mini toast crackers took me way back. I thought they were the ultimate fancy food at Christmas time when I was a kid.
I definitely have some choices for the next pot luck lunch, which is very soon

Pizza Pinwheels (nice cold too) , Fruit and cheese platters are always good. Finger food generally as it is easier and less messy to serve up, just help yourself. Cakes and slices never fail, I always cut them into smaller serves so they go further and people can have more variety.

I like making mini vegetable spring rolls and bring a couple of different sauces.

When I need something quick but still tasty, I usually go for things like chicken sliders on small rolls with coleslaw, a pasta salad, skewers with like cherry tomato and bocconcini or as the others have suggested crackers, cheese and dip. They all travel well, can be prepped ahead and don’t need much fussing on the day.

I just made some canapes for my daughter’s party. You can get the mini toast crackers from the supermarket, some roast beef from the deli and some caramelised onion relish and put them all together- delish and simple! You can also add some capsicum or a baby spinach leaf if you like also.

I haven’t been to a pot luck lunch for years but I used to love them. My go to was always antipasto platter – pickled onions, cheeses, fruits, veggies etc.

I like to make / bring cottage cheese egg muffins, a spinach loaf, stuffed mushrooms, sweet potato brownie, banana blue berry muffins, puff pastry pocket filled with fruit (like apple , pear or strawberry, fresh fruit platters, cut up cheeses of different kind with seeded crackers, hard boiled eggs cut in quarters or filled with greek yogurt and herbs

Also along with savoury dishes that are easy to make and to take and eat on the go; we like sweet dishes. Fruit kebab sticks are a favourite, mini cupcakes and mini muffins, banana cake slices, sweet slices cut into bite size pieces. I like adding fruit to these recipes; particularly fruit that has turned and needs to be used. It is a good way to eliminate waste.

Quiches are good – or mini quiches, or fritattas – they’re all easy to make, transport and serve. Think about snacky type things – spinach and cheese triangles, for example. Meatballs (served with a toothpick) can be very popular, I’ve found. A zucchini slice, perhaps – you can vary that with the addition of chicken.

Love the quiche idea and bonus that it seems a bit fancy! I find muffins quick and easy go tos. Pop them in a cup cake paper to make them more fancy. Do mini ones too make them go further. Savoury or sweet depending on what’s in the fridge! I mean otherwise… you cannot go wrong with a cut up watermelon!

I love to make super easy and a handful of ingredients recipes for this time of the year. My go to recipes are mini quiches and they are super easy to make and can be filled with a variety of ingredients. Vegetable and savoury slices are again super easy and can be cut into bite size pieces.

So many inspirational recipes you’ll find on places like insta and TikTok these days! That are not only quick and easy but also delicious. Give those ones a go!