Surroundings Market Blog

Potlucks can happen any time of year, which is why we’d like to share our list of easy sandwich recipe ideas. When you’re looking for something quick and easy that won’t pinch the purse, sandwiches can always be a good go-to. Not to mention, you can make a lot and only spend a little. Keep reading to see our list of sandwiches you can throw together for your next potluck gathering. Are sandwiches appropriate for potlucks? If you’ve asked yourself this question, don’t worry. You’re not the only one. In fact, it’s a great question to ask. It’s not that sandwiches aren’t appropriate for potlucks. The answer actually relies on the style or theme of the gathering. If there is a particular theme that calls for dips only or a dessert bar, then you may want to skip making sandwiches. However, sandwiches can go with just about anything. Think soup and sandwiches… dips, chips, and sandwiches. See! Sandwiches have a way of complimenting a variety of foods while offering a filling meal at the same time. If ever in doubt, always ask the potluck host. If that’s you, then consider having a sandwich themed potluck! Plan Ahead for Your Next Potluck Cooking and/or preparing food for a crowd can quickly become overwhelming without a plan. Before buying one single ingredient, make sure you decide on the types of sandwiches you want to prepare. There are quite a few kinds to choose from. Do you want to go the slider route? Smaller sandwiches with the capability to make more. Do you want full slice size sandwiches? They can be cut in triangles, halves, or even squares.  Regardless of what you choose, make sure you gather all necessary details down to the type of bread you want to use. To help with budgeting, look for bread that is on sale or in the last buy section. Go for a meat or veggie that you can get a lot of but for a decent price. Also, don’t forget to consider side items like slaw, salad, or chips. Easy Sandwich Recipe Ideas for a Potluck Now that we’ve gotten the particulars out of the way, let’s look at a few irresistible sandwich recipe ideas for your next potluck get together. Sloppy Joe Sub Sandwiches You’ve had sloppy joes, but how about on a sub sandwich? When feeding a large crowd, you can make sloppy joe subs and cut them into smaller sandwich slices about 3” inches in width. This will get you about 4 sandwiches per foot long sub! Also, consider switching things up a bit and adding an Italian flare to the meat mixture and making strombolis. Mini Slider Melts Using the sandwich meat and cheese of your choice, place a nice helping of meat and cheese inside the mini sliders (like Hawaiian rolls) and bake until the cheese is melted. Don’t worry, they don’t have to stay warm to still be good. In fact, these are also good cold so if you have some left over, pop them in the fridge and have them the next day. Pulled Beef Sandwiches You can never go wrong with a bbq style pulled beef sandwich. You can also substitute the beef for another meat of your choice, but the overall idea is to get that bbq flavor. If it’s too cold outside, skip the grill and go with baking the meat until well done and tender. Then place it in a bowl and use two forks to begin pulling the meat apart. Apply a generous helping of bbq sauce and you’re set to go. Bring a bowl of slaw just in case someone wants to top their sandwich with it. Chicken Salad Sandwich Nothing is easier than a store-bought salad and yummy bread. If you don’t have time for the cook it from scratch method, purchase some chicken salad from the deli of your local grocery. Stop by the bread basket and see if they have any loaves on sale and assemble your sandwiches at home. Place them on a platter for an overall homemade look. Mini Burgers Instead of cooking full-sized burgers, opt in for mini burgers that can fit on a slider roll. This size is perfect for a little slice of a roma tomato, one pickle, and small dollop of mayo, mustard, and ketchup. These are sure to be a big hit especially if the potluck will have children in attendance. Final Thoughts These five easy sandwich recipe ideas are sure to be crowd pleasers at your next potluck. Remember to plan ahead and save yourself the stress of feeding a large crowd. If you have leftovers, don’t hesitate to put them in the fridge and enjoy them at home the next day (or two)! Psst... looking for something to easily transport your sandwiches in and make them look cute? Try our disposable pan holder!

Whether you’re the host or attending as a guest, we have put together a roundup of the best dip recipes for your next potluck. If you will be the host, having a dip recipe food theme can make things a lot easier and interesting at the same time. Bookmark this page, save the pin, and grab your favorite recipe journal because these are a must-try! What is a potluck and why have one? You’re probably already familiar with what a potluck is, but for good measure, let’s revisit its original meaning. Potlucks are communal gatherings where each guest contributes a homemade dish to share with others. These types of parties are perfect ways to add uniqueness and make catering much easier.  While there are many things to bring to (or prive at) a potluck, in this post we’re going to tackle some of the best dips that are easy to make and yummy to the belly. 10 Best Dip Recipes for Your Next Potluck Each of these recipes take few ingredients, can easily be increased to accommodate a big crowd, and are substitute-friendly in the event there are any food allergies. If you know you’ll be making dips often, it’s a good idea to keep some of these ingredient essentials on hand: Sour cream Cream cheese Mayonnaise Block (or Shredded) Cheese And don’t forget to pair your dip with the best crackers, pretzels, chips, or breads. We’ll give you a heads up on which is the best option with each dip recipe mentioned below. Dips with Meat Buffalo Chicken Dip From game day to a family reunion, this dip is ready in just thirty minutes. Easy peasy, right? All you need are just a few ingredients to whip this dip up and become the talk of the next potluck. Chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, sour cream, and shredded cheese come together and are combined with a few other kitchen staples for an amazing dish. Pairs well with: skillet bread, toasted baguette slices, and/or tortilla chips. Shrimp Dip Headed to or hosting a potluck with a nautical theme? This shrimp dip is a must-bring. It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and can easily be doubled or tripled to make a big batch. Even if there isn’t a theme, shrimp dip is a good dish to add a little twist to the potluck lineup. Pairs well with: toasted bread slices (or pieces) and round crackers. Reuben Dip If you’re a big fan of the reuben sandwich, then you’ll love it in party-size dip form. The best part is you’re not making anything from scratch. Instead, it’s simply combining ingredients that can all be conveniently found at the grocery store. Things like corned beef, cream cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. You’ll have an amazing dip in less than an hour from start to finish. Pairs well with: toasted rye bread pieces and/or tortillas. Beef Queso Dip Skip the store bought and go for making your own beef queso dip from scratch. Not to mention, it only takes 15 minutes! Grab a few packs of hamburger meat, your favorite seasonings, cubed cheeses, and salsa ingredients to make this super easy dip. Get the full recipe here.  Pairs well with: tortilla chips. Vegetable-Based Dips The next three recipe suggestions are all cooked the same way. Start by roasting the vegetables until soft and fragrant. This will vary depending on your oven type. Once your veggies have reached the appropriate consistency, let them cool completely before turning them into a dip. Using a blender or food processor, start with about 2 cups of veggies at a time and 1 cup of full-fat plain Greek-style yogurt, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of tahini, blending it all together. To get a dippable consistency, begin adding about 2 tablespoons of water at a time until you reach your desired feel.  Once it’s all blended together, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. Give it a taste and adjust the flavor as you see fit. The following veggie combinations we recommend are: Cauliflower and onion Roasted beet and garlic Butternut squash and leeks Pairs well with: baguette bread, torn pieces of Italian bread, toasted bread. Easy Artichoke Dip Another 20-minute dip and potluck favorite coming up! To make the easiest artichoke dip ever, all you need are 2 cans of water-packed artichokes, 2 cups of parmesan cheese, 1 cup of mayonnaise, and salt and pepper to taste. Drain and chop the artichokes, mix all the ingredients together, and bake for 20 minutes. That’s it! Pairs well with: crackers, endive leaves, toasted slices of baguette. Cheesey Dips Pimento Cheese Dip This is another time when you’ll want to skip the store bought pimento cheese and have a go at making this 15-minute dip. You’ll most likely have all the ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry. Learn how to make this yummy dip here. Pairs well with: Ritz crackers. Chunky Blue Cheese Dip Six ingredients is all you need to make this dip and it’s a pure cheese delight. The base ingredients are cream cheese and sour cream mixed with a few seasonings. Then, you’ll lightly fold in the blue cheese so it keeps a “chunked” look and consistency. You can add pecans as a garnish for an extra touch. Pairs well with: apple and pear slices, crackers, French bread pieces. Final Thoughts As you get ready for your next potluck, keep these yummy dip recipes in mind. They are perfect for any season and can easily accommodate a group of any number! Share your favorite dip recipes in the comments below! Psst... don't forget to grab our disposable pan holder and plate holder for your next potluck!