40 best vegan potluck recipes for any gathering

With plant-based recipes like vegan walking tacos, chili, 7 layer dip, and rice crispy treats, there’s something to please every guest.

In this post:

Vegan dill pickle dip is a guaranteed hit with pickle lovers.

It’s made with a base of raw cashews, which makes it endlessly creamy. Then it’s finished with fresh dill and pickles for crunch.

Serve with potato chips, carrot sticks, celery sticks, and/or cauliflower florets.

Vegan 7 layer dip is the appetizer my non-vegan family members ask for by name. (I’ve made it for my birthday party on more than one occasion.)

It’s made with layers of refried beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, vegan sour cream, and more. Serve with tortilla chips for scooping up every bite.

Spice lovers will enjoy chipotle black bean dip.

Inspired by a discontinued Trader Joe’s product, chipotle peppers in adobo give this dip a smoky flavor with a slow burning heat.

Warming spices like cumin, ancho chili powder, paprika, and granulated onion round out the flavor. Serve with tortilla chips or crunchy bell peppers.

At Halloween, turn this appetizer into a spooky dip with a spider web.

Of course, any potluck is better with guacamole. This easy dip is always the group favorite. Plus, it takes just five minutes to make.

With avocado, onions, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice for zing, the only thing left is tortilla chips for scooping.

Hummus with garlic and lemon is always great for a gathering. Creamy and filling, this chickpea bean dip is budget-friendly and easy to prep ahead of time.

Serve this Middle Eastern dip with toasted pita and crunchy veggies for scooping.

Smoky baba ganoush is similar to hummus, but with air fried or baked eggplant instead of chickpeas.

This creamy dip pairs well with warm flatbread, carrots, bell pepper wedges, and cucumber slices.

Olive tapenade sounds fancy, but it’s so simple to prepare in the food processor.

It’s made with two kinds of olives, garlic, lemon juice, capers, and fresh thyme. Pair it with crackers or toasted crostini.

Add some color to your potluck table with these vibrant salsas. There’s classic roasted tomato, salsa verde, fruit salsa, and more.

Keep the tortilla chips coming for a potluck appetizer option that’s naturally vegan and gluten-free.

Roasted tomato salsa has deep, robust flavor, thanks to oven-roasted tomatoes, caramelized onion, jalapeño, and garlic. 

Finished with a squeeze of lime juice and handful of cilantro, this is your classic salsa but better.

Guests always rave about this salsa verde recipe made with roasted tomatillos, onions, jalapeño, and garlic.

The roast-y toasty flavor and zing from lime make this salsa addictively delicious.

If your potluck is in the summer, take a break from the ordinary with sweet and spicy watermelon salsa.

Juicy watermelon is so hydrating, while jalapenos and Tajin add a zing of heat.

Another terrific summer potluck option, pineapple salsa is sweet, fresh, and juicy.

It comes together in just 10 minutes, and it’s easy to tweak to fit your spice preferences.

Here’s another potluck appetizer for the dill pickle lovers: pickle salsa.

This crunchy, briny “pickle de gallo” is excellent with tortilla chips for dipping. It’s also a tasty sandwich topping for burgers and veggie dogs.

Vegan pickle rollups are so easy make with just 3 ingredients. They tick all the boxes for creamy, crunchy, and smoky.

Guests will be popping these rollups into their mouths one right after the other.

These tortilla pinwheels are filled with buffalo hummus, crisp romaine, shredded carrot, and chives.

They can be served on their own as a finger food, or include a cup of vegan blue cheese dressing or vegan ranch dressing for dipping. 

Tomato bruschetta is a classic for a reason.

Ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and oil are spooned onto toasted bread for a light and healthy potluck appetizer option.

If you’re transporting this bruschetta to your gathering, I recommend keeping the tomato mixture separate from the toasted bread until you arrive. Then assemble just before serving.

Speaking of healthy potluck options, check out the vibrant colors in this rainbow fruit and veggie platter. It’s sure to elicit some ooh’s and ah’s.

With a sea of pinks, blues, oranges, and reds, this produce-packed board will brighten any gathering.

Here are some of my favorite cold salads for potlucks and parties. Full of fresh and flavorful ingredients, there are creamy classics like potato salad and hearty noodle salads. They pair perfectly with all kinds of main dishes.

Israeli couscous salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and grilled artichoke hearts is a favorite amongst Cadry’s Kitchen fans.

One reviewer noted, “This salad is delicious! I am vegan, and I love finding dishes that I can serve to my non-vegan coworkers and have them actually enjoy it. Everyone raved about this dish, even the picky eaters among the bunch!!”

For an added boost of protein, throw in roasted chickpeas.

If you prefer a creamy pasta salad, try this vegan pasta salad with thinly sliced carrots, radishes, cucumbers, and chopped bell pepper. It’s tossed in a flavorful creamy mayo dressing.

This nostalgic pasta salad is easy and familiar, which makes it a welcome side dish for vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegans alike.

For a nutty spin, try cold peanut noodle salad.

Easy for scooping, short pasta is tossed in a creamy peanut sauce and finished with crisp, cool vegetables with plenty of crunch.

If you’re really short on time, vegan coleslaw is the answer. Use pre-shredded cabbage to make fast work of this recipe.

This classic side dish goes over well in any group. It’s also an excellent sandwich topper. (I love it on a vegan BBQ sandwich.)

Is it even a potluck without vegan potato salad?

This creamy classic is dotted with crunchy pickles, dill, and onion. Then it’s finished with a sprinkling of paprika.

Vegetarian and vegan protein options can be lacking at potlucks. That’s where curried tofu salad comes in. It has 13 grams of protein per serving.

Filled with carrots, celery, and onion, it’s tossed in a seasoned vegan mayo dressing. It can be enjoyed on its own, or put it on bread to eat as a sandwich.

No cooking is required for this side dish. Just assemble and go.

Bean salads always go over well at potlucks, because they can be enjoyed as a side dish or a dip. This black bean corn avocado salad is no exception.

It’s made with corn, black beans, bell pepper, cilantro, and avocado in a light and zingy lime dressing.

Vegan pigs in a blanket are one of those super easy appetizers that potluck-goers eat first.

Made with just 3 ingredients, store-bought crescent roll dough is wrapped around a smoky vegan hot dog. Then it’s sprinkled with Everything But the Bagel seasoning and air fried or baked.

Great for dipping into vegan honey mustard or vegan Big Mac sauce.

Vegan bacon wrapped dates is a warm appetizer that feels fancy, but requires only 4 ingredients.

A delicious mix of smoky and sweet, dates are stuffed with creamy vegan cheese, wrapped in seitan bacon, and fried.

Everyone loves vegan walking tacos – kids & adults alike.

Make a walking taco bar with chips, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and lentil taco mix. Then let your guests fix their ideal frito pie.

Sheet pan barbecue jackfruit nachos are a mouthwatering vegan and gluten-free potluck option.

Tortilla chips are layered with smoky jackfruit, melty vegan cheese, creamy avocado, sweet bell pepper and corn, and finished with garlicky ranch dressing.

With a variety of tastes and textures, this satisfying appetizer recipe keeps you coming back.

Three bean chili is filled with pinto, black, and Great Northern beans. It’s an inexpensive and pantry-friendly vegan main course option.

Keep it warm in a slow cooker, and folks can serve themselves whenever hunger strikes. (It’s also great over a veggie dog for a vegan coney!)

If you love Trader Joe’s soy chorizo, you should also try soy chorizo chili from my book, Living Vegan For Dummies.

Vegan meatloaf is a savory potluck main course that can be served in slices from a whole loaf or enjoyed as meatloaf muffins. (I share both methods in the recipe.)

Made with Impossible ground beef, sautéed onions, garlic, and spices, it has rich, meaty flavor, and loads of umami.

Vegan meatloaf slices are also terrific on sandwiches!

This vegan chicken pot pie is one of my favorites for holiday potlucks. You’ve got to love the simplicity of a complete meal in a pie pan.

Loaded with carrots, onions, celery, peas, and chicken-style seitan, this pot pie filling is enveloped in a creamy cashew sauce.

Baked tofu with lemon and rosemary is full of tangy, herbaceous flavors. It can be served hot or cold.

It’s an inexpensive main course that’s full of plant protein.

This lemony baked tofu is also an excellent filling for sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

When you really want to go all out, make cheesy vegan scalloped potatoes.

Thin potato slices are encased in a custard-like cashew cheese sauce and cooked until tender. It’s a potluck side dish that’s absolutely heavenly.

Greek lemon potatoes are a hot potluck side dish that’s popping with tangy flavor.

These roasted potatoes soak up lemon juice, garlic, broth, and seasonings, which adds refreshing balance to heavy dishes.

Roasted Brussels sprouts are on my regular potluck rotation in the fall and winter months.

Brussels sprouts are roasted with apples until browned and tender. Then they’re tossed with caramelized onions for added sweetness and pistachios for crunch.

Chili crisp Brussels sprouts are a step outside the ordinary when it comes to potluck dishes.

Great for spice lovers, air fried Brussels sprouts are tossed in a spicy chili crisp sauce that gets into every nook and cranny.

Prefer to roast in the oven or fry in a skillet instead of air fry? I give instructions for those cooking options as well.

You know it’s a fall potluck when the vegan green bean casserole comes out. This isn’t anything like those old school recipes made with a can of soup, though.

In this updated version, tender green beans are tossed in a velvety mushroom cashew sauce, and topped with crispy fried onions.

Pear crisp is made with thick slices of fruit tossed in cinnamon and topped with crunchy oats and pistachios.

It’s all the pleasure of pie without the hassle of pie dough!

If you like, bring along a container of vegan vanilla ice cream for serving.

Old-fashioned rhubarb crisp bars are a spring and summer potluck favorite.

A crispy streusel-type oat layer surrounds tart and tangy rhubarb filling for a mouthwatering treat.

If you’re a rhubarb fan, I also recommend magic rhubarb pudding cake for potluck desserts.

Vegan peanut butter cookies are wonderfully soft and chewy. Made with just 8 ingredients, they’re easy to prepare, and even easier to finish off!

This one bowl recipe has all of that nostalgic flavor folks crave.

Want a dessert that is a guaranteed winner with adults and kids alike? Make a batch of vegan rice crispy treats.

This simple, 3-ingredient dessert is always a favorite with crunch from rice cereal surrounded by gooey vegan marshmallows.

Peanut butter chocolate popcorn is a sweet and salty snack that’s addictively delicious.

Swirls of peanut butter sauce and melted chocolate adorn crisp popcorn. It’s the potluck dessert that can be enjoyed by the handful.

Content updated May 27, 2026. Originally published July 4, 2018.