13 Must-Try Summer BBQ and Potluck Recipes to Wow Your Guests

🔥 Fire up the grill and get ready to wow your guests with the best summer BBQ and potluck recipes! From cheesy dips to juicy ribs and easy desserts, these dishes are made to impress. Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash or joining a picnic, these recipes make every gathering a hit.

A collage of dishes showcasing the best summer BBQ and potluck recipes, featuring everything from dips to desserts for every guest.

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and with it comes the season for these best summer BBQ and potluck recipes. Before you know it, the 4th of July will be here, bringing pool parties, birthday celebrations, and backyard gatherings. Maybe you’ll want to have your friends over for a BBQ, or maybe you’ll go camping or have some picnics. Summer is such a wonderful time of year to enjoy the abundant, colorful food all around us.

So, I’m here to give you 13 of the best summer BBQ and potluck recipes so that you can make fresh, fabulous food for your family and friends. There’s something for everyone and ideas for dips, side dishes, meat, and desserts.

Summer BBQ and Potluck Dips

3-Ingredient Spicy Queso Dip

This 3-ingredient spicy queso dip is perfect for a BBQ or pool party because it is quick, tasty, and everybody loves it! It’s especially a hit with teenagers!

Creamy spicy queso dip with cilantro on top, served with tortilla chips, a tasty summer BBQ and potluck appetizer.

Homemade Cilantro-Lime Salsa

Homemade cilantro-lime salsa can be made in 5 minutes with your food processor. Now that I know how easy and inexpensive it is to make my own salsa, there is no need to buy the bottled version ever again!

Homemade cilantro-lime salsa in a bowl with a chip dipped in, an easy, fresh recipe for summer BBQ and potluck parties.

Chunky Restaurant-Style Guacamole

Chunky restaurant-style guacamole is just as tasty as your favorite tableside guacamole but can simply be made in your own kitchen. Be sure to set aside some for yourself because you’ll watch this disappear in a matter of minutes when you set it in front of guests!

Chunky guacamole topped with tortilla chips in a white bowl, a crowd-pleasing dip for summer BBQ and potluck parties.

Summer BBQ and Potluck Side Dishes

Baked Beans

What says summer BBQ better than baked beans? These are the BEST baked beans, and they only take 30 minutes! Both smoky and sweet, you’re going to want to pile them on your plate! They are perfect on their own but are also lovely on top of tortilla chips or next to a yummy roll to sop up all the juice.

Baked beans in a dish, featuring a smoky, sweet glaze, a classic recipe for summer BBQ and potluck dinners.

10-Minute Cranberry and Broccoli Salad

This 10-minute cranberry and broccoli salad is the perfect side dish for those of us trying to stay on the healthier side. It’s a great substitute for the chips we are so eager to reach for! This recipe is also great to take to a potluck because the flavors get better over time, and it transports easily.

Broccoli salad with cranberries and dressing, a vibrant and healthy addition to any summer BBQ and potluck spread.

Greek Pasta Salad with Feta Cheese

Greek pasta salad with feta cheese is full of flavor and color! This is a great dish to prepare ahead of time and leave in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. It is also a great crowd-pleaser because it feeds a lot of people without breaking the bank.

Greek pasta salad with feta, tomatoes, and peppers, a fresh and colorful dish for summer BBQ and potluck gatherings.

3-Cheese Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This 3-cheese baked macaroni and cheese is one of the most viewed recipes on my site. It is simple to prepare, doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, and everybody goes for seconds. In fact, you might want to make two batches because the leftovers are amazing! Save yourself some time and stress and prep this the day before your event. Pop it in the oven an hour before you’re ready to eat.

Cheesy baked macaroni in a glass dish, a comforting and popular side dish for summer BBQ and potluck meals.

Summer BBQ and Potluck Main Dishes

3-Ingredient Tangy Marinated Chicken

My recipe for 3-ingredient tangy marinated chicken will make your next grill out a breeze! I like to prepare extra chicken because it goes so well on top of salads and inside burritos and quesadillas. This is also a great alternative for the folks who want to grill out but don’t like red meat.

Grilled chicken breasts with a tangy marinade, a simple and flavorful main dish for summer BBQ and potluck parties.

Crockpot Baby-Back Ribs

Want a yummy BBQ recipe without setting up the grill? These Crockpot baby-back ribs are slow-cooked in a delicious homemade rub and smothered in your favorite BBQ sauce. The meat is so tender it falls right off the bone! So if it’s raining outside, you can still have delicious ribs!

Crockpot baby-back ribs smothered in BBQ sauce, served with sides, a finger-licking main dish for summer BBQ and potluck dinners.

Lawry’s Marinated Grilled Steak

For us meat-loving carnivores, summer is not complete without a juicy steak! This recipe for Lawry’s marinated grilled steak gives you instructions on how to properly marinade, grill, and cut a steak so that it stays juicy and isn’t overcooked. This main dish goes well with almost any side dish!

Grilled steak with grill marks, marinated and juicy, a hearty main dish for summer BBQ and potluck meals.

Summer BBQ and Potluck Desserts

Kiwi Lime Pie

Summer desserts should be light and refreshing, and this kiwi lime pie is just that! If you want to save time, use a store-bought crust. But if you have an extra 15 minutes, consider making the homemade graham cracker macadamia nut crust that comes with the recipe. Your backyard guests are sure to be impressed!

Kiwi lime pie topped with fresh kiwi slices, a light and refreshing dessert for summer BBQ and potluck celebrations.

Easy No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

This easy, no-bake strawberry cheesecake is the perfect dessert to showcase the beauty of the summer season. The cream cheese filling is sweet and airy, and the strawberries show off a rich red that would be very patriotic for the 4th of July.

Fresh strawberries on a creamy cheesecake, a quick and colorful dessert for summer BBQ and potluck get-togethers.

8-Layer Chocolate and Peanut Butter Trifle

This 8-layer chocolate and peanut butter trifle is a great way to serve a stunning dessert for several guests without going over budget. It looks like you spent a long time in the kitchen, but you can whip it up in no time. This treat travels well and is easy for everyone to scoop out their own portion.

A glass trifle with layers of chocolate, peanut butter, and cream, a show-stopping dessert for summer BBQ and potluck events.

Fresh, Fabulous Recipes for Every Summer Gathering

So whether you’re the hostess or you’ve been invited to a backyard bash, one of these summer BBQ and potluck recipes are sure to help you make fresh, fabulous food for your family and friends. So lather on the sunscreen and put on your sunglasses because it’s time to enjoy the sun. Happy cooking, y’all!

Heidi Davison

Head Baker & Owner

Hi, I'm Heidi, Head Baker and Owner of Heidi's Bakery in Knoxville, TN.

What began as a blog to share family recipes has become a thriving bakery, thanks to community support.
Many recipes here are from my family’s cookbook. Give them a try and leave a comment below!

Heidi Davison the Owner of Heidis Bakery

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