If there’s ever a day of the year to create an eye-catching table, it’s Thanksgiving. Ideally, the meal itself should evoke pleasant food memories, such as apple pie, warm mashed potatoes with melted butter, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. But have you ever gone to a Thanksgiving potluck and found that your food didn’t arrive well? Sometimes you’re disappointed when you make a dish that looks great at home, but it doesn’t look as good on the table when you’re traveling. Deciding on a dish may actually encourage you to exercise your brain in the first place. In other words, what travels well, looks beautiful, and still tastes the same no matter how many hours pass?
15 100% Sure Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas
If you’re like me, you want your food to not only taste good but also look good, especially on Thanksgiving Day. To take some of the stress off your busy schedule, we’ve put together some ideas for Thanksgiving potlucks that are travel-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and crowd-pleasing. Scroll down for the recipe and then forward this as a PSA to all your friends.
best side dishes for thanksgiving
In many cases, the owner will have the bird handled. Either way, a whole turkey isn’t necessarily travel-friendly. But what about the sides? I’m talking now. The side dishes below are the ultimate crowd-pleasers, adding much-needed color and vibrancy to your table. Also, full transparency: the sides are my favorite part.
pesto parmesan potatoes
Flavorful potatoes made with just 5 ingredients? Music to my ears! Choose a variety of small potatoes (Yukon, baby potatoes, baby potatoes) and toss them with pesto, fruity olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add roasted garlic and Parmesan cheese. And while I love a good homemade pesto, in the words of Ina Garten, “store-bought is just fine.”
Travel tips: These potatoes are best served warm, so ask your host about their ovens. Let them know that they need to reheat it if they don’t eat it right away. I promise it’s worth it. Warm, crispy potatoes are always a good thing.
autumn harvest salad
I love salads that are simple and quick to eat. The highly entertaining Sophie Collins created this recipe to add fresh flavor and stunning color to your fall gatherings. A combination of hardy vegetables and crunchy seeds proves that salads are not only nutritious, but also delicious.
Travel tips: Fill with brie cheese and sliced pears. To serve, slice the brie in half, tear into bite-sized pieces, then add the pears. you will be very happy.
Butternut squash may be popular (and yes, I love it), but for me, acorn squash wins. In this recipe, half moons are tossed with olive oil, brown sugar, rosemary, and red pepper flakes and roasted until golden and tender. Also, brown butter makes everything better.
Travel tips: Decorate your pumpkin with sage leaves! Garnishes take a dish to the next level when it comes to presentation. You want to give it your all for Thanksgiving.
simple stir-fried vegetables
This recipe is courtesy of our resident wellness expert, Edie Horstman. Not only is this dish packed with nutrition (a huge win for your Thanksgiving table), it’s also packed with flavor. Wild rice gives the base a nice bite, and a rainbow of heirloom carrots brings some much-needed color to the table. Is there some crumbled goat cheese on top? *chef’s kiss*
Travel tips: The highlight of this holiday is tahini sauce. Pack into small containers, serve at your host’s home, and serve with goat cheese and pepitas.
cauliflower tabbouleh
For my gluten-free friends, this salad is light and hearty. It captures all the colors and flavors of the holiday season and is the perfect festive main dish. In other words, it’s exactly what you should bring to your potluck this season.
Travel tips: Make this in a beautiful serving bowl and cover with plastic wrap when you leave. Just put it in the fridge when you arrive at your destination and you’ll be able to travel without any problems. Be sure to also have pomegranate seeds and pistachios for garnish.
Holiday Jewels Chopped Kale Salad
Think you’re not a fan of kale salad? Let’s think again. Add pear slices, crushed gorgonzola, pomegranate, and a mustard-shallot vinaigrette and it goes from bland to the best I’ve ever had. Perfect for Thanksgiving. And here’s the good news. Even if you go home with leftovers, they’ll still be delicious for lunch the next day.
Travel tips: A few minutes before the meal is to be served, add the cheese, nuts, and dressing. If you ask me, candied walnuts taste better than actual candy, but you can also buy them at the grocery store if you’re afraid to make them yourself.
apple walnut salad
This salad is an ode to all of our favorite fall flavors. This is a great example of why we should eat apples by the bushel. Fruity, peppery, crunchy, and salty, the different ingredients combine to create the perfect balance of flavor and color. Plus, it’s the refreshing bite you need when you hit half of your annual turkey consumption. Who doesn’t love an explosion of color in a sea of beige foods?
Travel tips: Add the goat cheese, walnuts, and dressing and wait until it’s almost time to serve. If you add it too soon, the salad will become soggy.
Stir-fried potatoes with salt and vinegar
Let us introduce you to the most coveted and worthy spuds. With just 5 simple ingredients and 40 minutes of prep and cooking time, these delicious dishes are ready. (Bonus: They’re easy to transfer and even easier to reheat.) Maybe just change the name to “crack potatoes”…
Travel tips: Add a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar for a classic salt and vinegar flavor. Add just before eating. Sprinkle with salt and chopped chives to make it even more luxurious.
best thanksgiving desserts
OK, I said I like side dishes best at Thanksgiving, but I might change my mind and replace them with dessert. I love desserts so I always offer to bake instead of cooking. No Thanksgiving potluck idea would be complete without some sweet treats. Introducing dessert recipes that are not only delicious but also beautiful and perfect for traveling.
buttermilk pie
This is Camille’s mother’s recipe, so we already know it’s going to be delicious. Buttermilk pie is a Southern staple, but as Camille agrees, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It has a creamy, custard-like filling, light and light, and slightly tangy thanks to the buttermilk. And when you mix in a tablespoon of vanilla, it’s beautiful and wonderfully sweet.
Travel tips: Just like you can invest in a cake carrier, you can also invest in a pie carrier. If you’re good at a little sewing, this can also be a fun DIY project.
Spiced sweet potato cake with cream cheese frosting
During pumpkin season, sweet potato desserts are a welcome addition. This cake more than deserves to appear on your Thanksgiving buffet. It’s gluten-free, so anyone can enjoy it. Mixing sweet potatoes, a neutral-flavored oil, and an egg creates a moist crumb, while a combination of almond flour and sorghum flour keeps the forkfuls light and adds flavor from cinnamon and ginger.
Travel tips: Don’t be surprised if the cream cheese frosting collapses on the top of your travel container. When it’s time to eat, you can reapply with a butter knife. This is also the time to top with ginger sugar!
Chewy pumpkin spice cookies
If you’re heading to a more casual Thanksgiving potluck, you need these pumpkin spice cookies. Cinnamon glaze may seem like an option, but trust me, it’s not. It perfectly captures the sweet and spicy flavors of the season, and if you like your cookies chewy, then this is the cookie for you.
Travel tips: Cookies may be the most portable dessert of all time. If you want more, just bring it in a cake dome. Placing it on your Thanksgiving dessert table will make it feel even more special and charming, just like a bakery display.
pumpkin snack cake
By our definition, snack cakes are casual, comforting treats that don’t require much thought or effort. That being said, you have to be happy to eat it because love and care has been put into it. This pumpkin version benefits from a coffeecake-like crumble and a moist, spiced crumb. That means it’s perfectly fine to enjoy leftovers as breakfast the next morning.
Travel tips: Make sure the cake is completely cool before packing for your trip. If you don’t have a cake carrier, line a Tupperware container with parchment paper instead.
chocolate bourbon pecan pie bar
I’m all for taking classic, popular recipes and putting a spin on them. And this pecan pie bar does just that. It’s hard to improve on the original, but adding chocolate and bourbon to the mix does it. The result is a thick, chewy, nutty flavored bar that’s exactly what you want when you think you can’t eat anything more.
Travel tips: Bars are notoriously touristy, so don’t be afraid to toss them in a storage container for the road trip. However, when it’s time for dessert, consider serving it on a large wooden cutting board. It’s simple, but amazing.
healthy pumpkin bread
Just because the recipe has “healthy” in its name doesn’t mean this pumpkin bread doesn’t deserve a perfect dessert. Bonus: Healthier ingredients are the same ingredients that give you rich flavor and moist texture in every bite. Applesauce, Greek yogurt, coconut oil, and maple syrup naturally sweeten the bread, revealing it’s still indulgent. Is this the perfect Thanksgiving potluck dessert? You decide.
Travel tips: Invest in a cake carrier! This makes packing cakes incredibly easy and they even make them specifically for bundt cakes.
Dairy and gluten free pumpkin pie
Pumpkin pie is a classic and a holiday dessert that everyone can enjoy. That’s why we’ve adapted some of our favorite recipes so our gluten-free friends can join in too. Don’t worry. grooved edges amazing It’s easier to create than it looks. Check out the post for step-by-step tips.
travel tips: It goes well with all pies. Wait until serving time to add the cashew whipped cream.
This post was last updated on November 9, 2025 with new insights.
Source: Camille Styles – camillestyles.com
