Savour the season with this curated selection of easy potluck ideas perfect for summer parties. This time of year is ripe with fresh produce and simple recipes perfect for picnics, BBQs, parties, and more.
The ideal summer potluck spread is shareable, convenient, and budget-friendly. Snack-style foods that don’t require a lot of prep are great for casual get-togethers and easy entertaining. Choose a balance of recipes with salty, creamy, crunchy, fresh, and sweet elements so guests can mix and match flavours. Pick portable, packable dishes that can move from the beach to the backyard with zero hassle. Find everything you need at your local Farm Boy to get excellent value on delicious items!
Blog Overview
- Potluck menus work well for casual parties and get-togethers.
- Choose portable, packable items for ease and convenience.
- Shareable snacks and individual portions make for flexible entertaining and hosting.
- Balance savoury and sweet flavours with fresh, creamy, and crunchy textures.
- Easily scale any of these dishes for small or large groups.
Summer Potluck Starters
Italian Charcuterie Board
Bask in the sun and celebrate the season with a simple potluck recipe that requires zero cooking. This easy summer potluck idea is filled with curated Farm Boy Private Label products we think you’ll love. Artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and savoury additions make up the bulk of this spread.
Feel free to customize and adjust this recipe based on the number of guests. Charcuterie is all about a balance of flavours and textures. Combine sweet and savoury items alongside fresh, creamy, and crunchy textures for the best charcuterie board.
Dietary: N/A
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Mild Rolled Pancetta, Farm Boy™ Bresaola, Farm Boy™ Prosciutto, Farm Boy™ Hot Spianata Salami, Farm Boy™ Coppa, Farm Boy™ Gourmet Cheese Ball, Farm Boy™ Buffalo Mozzarella, Farm Boy™ Farmstead Fontina, Farm Boy™ Extra Old Small Batch Cheddar, Farm Boy™ Spicy Bomba, Farm Boy™ Sundried Tomatoes, Farm Boy™ Semi-Dry Cherry Tomatoes, Farm Boy™ Caper Berries, Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives, Farm Boy™ Baguette Crisps, Farm Boy™ Classic Flatbreads, Farm Boy™ Taralli.
Cheese and Green Onion Phyllo Twists
Swap your standard chips for these crisp, cheesy twists at your next summer potluck. Ideal for charcuterie boards or picnics, these savoury twists are as easy to make as they are enjoyable to eat. We used feta cheese for this recipe, but goat cheese would also add a lovely, creamy tang.
A levelled-up version of a charcuterie board dish, try whipping up these pastry twists! As an added bonus, you can even prep them beforehand and keep them in the freezer until it’s time to bake.
Dietary: Vegetarian
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Phyllo Dough, Farm Boy™ Barrel Aged Feta Cheese, Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Chili Peppers, Farm Boy™ Tzatziki, Farm Boy™ Jumbo Kalamata Olives.
Antipasto Salad
Charcuterie, but make it salad! This antipasto salad takes all your favourite charcuterie items and tosses them with some fresh greens and vinaigrette for a crowd-pleasing dish worthy of any summer potluck.
Antipasto commonly contains foods like cured meats, cheese, and pickled items. However, you can customize this salad recipe to suit your guests’ dietary needs. Skip the meats in favour of a variety of cheeses for vegetarians; omit meats and cheeses and focus on pickled items and beans for vegans; and use gluten-free ingredients for those with gluten sensitivities.
Dietary: N/A
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Gluten Free Cheese Tortellini, Farm Boy™ Original Grissini, Farm Boy™ Prosciutto, Farm Boy™ Giardiniera, Farm Boy™ Pitted Green Olives, Farm Boy™ Mini Bocconcini, Farm Boy™ Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Farm Boy™ Pickled Roasted Red Peppers, Farm Boy™ Pepperoncini, Farm Boy™ Organic Mozzarella Cheese, Farm Boy™ Rosette de Lyon Classic French Style Salami, Farm Boy™ Hot Chorizo, Farm Boy™ Italian Vinaigrette.
Crunchy Rainbow Salad with Peanut Dressing
The colours of a rainbow are beautiful after a summer shower—and they’re equally gorgeous in this summer salad. This potluck recipe gets its vibrancy from cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, green onions, mint, and cilantro.
We prepared the dressing from scratch, and it has a wonderfully nutty, sweet, and salty flavour with umami notes thanks to soy sauce and rice wine vinegar.
Dietary: Vegan
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, Farm Boy™ Salted Kettle Cooked Jumbo Peanuts, Fresh Veggies.
Shareable Mains
Pepperoni, Sausage, and Pesto Pizza Rolls
You’ve heard of cinnamon rolls, but what about savoury pizza rolls? A winner for potluck-goers of any age, these pizza rolls have the added benefit of being able to bake the night before. Then, store them in the fridge and zap in the microwave or air-fryer to warm up.
For even easier prep, we used our Frozen Pizza Dough. Crafted from simple ingredients, it’s a delicious base for these pizza rolls. Customize this dish with different fillings to suit a variety of tastes, depending on who’s attending your summer potluck.
Dietary: N/A
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Pizza Dough, Farm Boy™ Marinara Sauce, Farm Boy™ Fresh Basil Pesto, Farm Boy™ Artisan Sausage, Farm Boy™ Italian Blend Shredded Cheese, Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Chili Peppers.
Antipasto Skewers
We’ve done charcuterie as a salad, and now we’ve put charcuterie on a stick! An easy, no-cook recipe that works wonderfully for any summer potluck, picnic, or BBQ, these skewers have the added benefit of being portable and packable.
We used olives, tortellini, salami, and bocconcini as some of the star ingredients on the skewers. However, if you prefer other meats and cheeses, you can swap them out for what you like best. For the best presentation and convenience, we recommend sticking to bite-sized items that are similar enough in size to remain balanced in appearance and flavour.
Dietary: N/A
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Garlic Stuffed Green Olives, Farm Boy™ Genoa Salami, Farm Boy™ Fresh Cheese Tortellini, Farm Boy™ Pickled Roasted Red Peppers, Farm Boy™ Fuet Bites, Farm Boy™ Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Grilled Scallops with Salsa Verde
For an elegant appetizer that takes no time at all to prepare, try this grilled scallop recipe! Our super-sized Jumbo Hokkaido Scallops have a sweet flavour and meaty firmness that holds up well on the barbecue. Their natural sugars allow for a beautiful caramelization and a melt-in-your-mouth quality.
When it comes to summer potluck recipes, these can be whipped up in no time at all and served as a starter or main course. Paired with a bright and zippy salsa verde for dipping, it’s the seafood dish you didn’t know you needed.
Dietary: Pescatarian
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Garlic Flowers, Farm Boy™ Caper Berries, Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Chili Peppers, Farm Boy™ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Farm Boy™ Frozen Uncooked Jumbo Hokkaido Scallops.
Cuban Style Pulled Pork
This flavourful pulled pork may take a long time, but almost all of it is hands-off. Cooked in an herbaceous, citrusy marinade, this recipe is perfect to bring to a summer potluck or picnic. We love that it uses simple, real ingredients to tenderize and flavour the pork.
On your next trip to your local Farm Boy, ask a Team Member to carve the pork roast into large chunks for easier roasting. (Keep the bone for added flavor!) That’s just one of the ways we bring you good food from good neighbours. Serve with rice, beans, or fried plantains for a truly tropical experience.
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Farm Boy™ Orange Juice, Farm Boy™ Organic Ground Cumin, Farm Boy™ Organic Oregano.
Snackable Sweets
Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies
Rich and fudgy, these flourless brownies have a couple secret ingredients that make them nutritional and flavourful powerhouses: sweet potatoes and cashew butter! This dessert recipe is perfect for potlucks, because they’re packable, stackable, and delicious.
Add nuts to this recipe or leave them out if you prefer. Either way, you’ll end up with decadent, chocolatey brownies that are worthy of any picnic or potluck spread.
Dietary: Vegan, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Organic Coconut Oil, Farm Boy™ Cashew Butter, Farm Boy™ Organic Pitted Deglet Noor Dates, Farm Boy™ Organic Ground Cinnamon, Farm Boy™ Ground Nutmeg, Farm Boy™ Walnuts.
Rhubarb and Wild Blueberry Hand Pies
One of the best parts of a summer potluck is using all that delicious summer produce in recipes like these easy hand pies. The combination of blueberries and rhubarb is sweet, tart, and juicy.
We love how portable these pies are. Plus, they can be enjoyed at any temperature, which makes them great for potlucks and picnics. Feel free to add a slightly savoury spin by adding a dollop of Farm Boy™ Original Goat’s Milk Cheese to the mix.
Dietary: Vegetarian
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Wild Nova Scotia Blueberries, Farm Boy™ Organic Ground Cinnamon, Farm Boy™ Cornstarch, Farm Boy™ Butter Puff Pastry, Farm Boy™ Omega-3 Egg.
Chocolate Covered Cashew Strawberries
For a fuss-free, interactive treat, consider this easy, three-ingredient recipe for chocolate covered cashew strawberries. Summer is ripe with fresh berries, and the size and versatility of strawberries make them a great choice. Combined with milk chocolate and crunchy, salty cashews, you have an easy winner for a potluck or picnic.
You can present this dish DIY-style, where guests can do the dipping themselves. You could even add other toppings like sprinkles, shredded coconut, or mini chocolate chips for an interactive chocolate strawberry bar!
Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Milk Chocolate Dessert Sauce, Farm Boy™ Salted Dry Roasted Cashews, Fresh Strawberries.
Gluten Free Chocolate Tahini Cookies
Full of rich, nutty flavour and sweetened with maple syrup and granulated sugar, these gluten-free cookies are a must-make for any summer potluck. When you’re cooking (or baking) for an extensive guest list, it’s best to have options that everyone can enjoy regardless of dietary requirements. These cookies are made with almond flour for a nutty taste that also happens to be gluten-free.
Easy to make, simply store them in a resealable bag or plastic container and pack for your picnic or potluck.
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Tahini, Farm Boy™ Amber Maple Syrup, Farm Boy™ Almond Flour, Farm Boy™ Sesame Seeds.
