20 Classic Church Recipes To Serve Friends and Family

From Sunday supper to a church potluck, we've got you covered.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published April 12, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Overhead view of a white plate of a ham ball appetizer surrounded by various crackers and apple slices

Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

Whether you're looking for a dish to bring along to a potluck or to make ahead and share for Sunday supper with friends and family, this list has you covered with classic dips, appetizers, sides, mains, and desserts. No matter your level of confidence in the kitchen, there's something here you can make, take, and use to impress.

  • Baked Mac and Cheese

    Overhead view of a white baking dish of macaroni and cheese with a serving removed

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "You can assemble the casserole ahead of time. Just put it all together but don’t bake it just yet. Wrap the baking dish tightly, then refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months before baking." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Retro Ham Ball

    Overhead view of a white plate of a ham ball appetizer surrounded by various crackers and apple slices

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "Life is busy, and parties take planning! For convenience, you can make the ham ball up to two days in advance." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

  • Shoofly Pie

    A crumb topped easy shoofly pie.

    Simply Recipes / Irvin Lin

    Shoofly pie is a Pennsylvania Dutch dessert with a strong molasses flavor tempered with a buttery spiced crumble topping. It's perfect with a cup of strong coffee.

  • Instant Pot Collard Greens

    Instant Pot Collard Greens on a Plate with Serving Utensil

    Simply Recipes / Sharee Hill

    Thanks to the Instant Pot, these tender, smoky collard greens are ready in under and hour. Plus, they're super easy to transport and reheat.

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • 2-Ingredient Country-Style Pork Ribs

    Saucy ribs and a small glass bowl with a spoon and barbecue sauce on a baking sheet pan

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    "These tender, smoky oven-baked country-style pork ribs are perfect for dinners at home, football weekends, or large gatherings. I love how the sauce caramelizes on the ribs and the fat renders to create a beautiful crust around the delicate meat that falls right off the bone." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Scotcheroos

    Angled view of sliced squares of Scotcheroos stacked on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "From birthday parties to funeral lunches to potlucks, you can count on at least a few types of sweets to end the meal. Scotcheroos are a classic example of an easy but delicious Midwestern bar dessert." —Maren Ellingboe King, Recipe Developer

  • Million Dollar Deviled Eggs

    A ceramic serving plate with deviled eggs, garnished with chopped chives and paprika

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Since deviled eggs are a party food, I usually try to make the filling ahead of time and assemble the eggs right before serving. I will spoon the filling into a heavy-duty Ziploc bag or into a piping bag fitted with a star tip (which is then stored in a larger Ziploc bag) and then leave it in the fridge up to 24 hours ahead." —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Salad

    Broccoli Salad

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    It can be tricky to get something green on everyone's plate at a potluck, but not with this tasty broccoli salad with almonds, bacon and peas.

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Easy Jam Cake

    A white baking dish with the a baked white spiced cake, with swirled with dulce de leche frosting

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    "For the uninitiated, it can seem like a strange combination. A spice cake is spiked with jam, either prepared as a layer cake or a bundt cake, and slathered with caramel frosting. Just trust me when I tell you it is delicious." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 4-Ingredient Mayonnaise Biscuits

    Metal mesh basket of Mayonnaise Biscuits with a blue and white checkered cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Two important things to remember for the very best biscuits: keep the ingredients cold and get the oven very hot." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • Homemade French Onion Dip

    Caramelized Onion Dip

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Made with caramelized onions and balsamic vinegar, this creamy dip just needs some ruffled chips.

  • Chocolate Chess Pie

    Slice of Chocolate Chess Pie Served With a Dollop of Cream on the Side (on a Plate), and in the Background, More Plates With Slices of Pie and Whipped Cream, a Bowl With More Whipped Cream, and a Pie Dish With More Chocolate Chess Pie

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    This classic Southern dessert is fudgy and rich and can easily be made with a store-bought or homemade pie crust.

    Continue to 13 of 20 below

  • Cheesy Funeral Potatoes From Scratch

    Funeral Potatoes with Real Potatoes

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Impress your friends and family with this completely homemade take on classic funeral potatoes.

  • Mom's Easy Macaroni Salad

    Easy Macaroni Salad Recipe in a bowl for serving

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Made with macaroni, hard boiled eggs, roasted red bell pepper, chopped spring onions, mayonnaise, and sweet paprika seasoning, this is the perfect salad for a summer potluck.

  • Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork

    Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker shred the pulled pork

    Simply Recipes / Summer Miller

    Pulled pork is a hands-off main that can be served up in a variety of ways. With buns and barbecue sauce, tortillas and toppings, or a spoon of mustard, this one is versatile and delicious.

  • Spiced Cottage Cheese Dip

    Spiced Cottage Cheese Dip in a bowl with veggies/melba toast around it

    Simply Recipes / Ivy Manning

    "When dipped into with crispy vegetable sticks and rye chips, there’s nothing better to pique the appetite (and hold you over until your parents are done gabbing with everyone in town and finally sit down to eat)." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 20 below

  • Peanut Butter Buckeyes

    Peanut Butter balls or Buckeye balls

    Simply Recipes / Irvin Lin

    Simple to make, transport and serve, these peanut butter buckeyes will be gone in the blink of an eye.

  • Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

    Meatballs in a slow cooker filled with tomato sauce with a spoon lifting a meatball out of the sauce.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Little meatballs in tomato sauce are super easy to make, transport and reheat.

  • Texas Sheet Cake

    Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake

    Simply Recipes / Cindy Rahe

    This thin sheet cake with a rich, pour-it-on frosting is super easy to make for a crowd and everyone will be lining up for a slice.

  • Classic Potato Salad

    Potato salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

    If there's no potato salad, is it really a potluck?

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