• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Air Fryer Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Cheap dinner ideas

    27 Cheap Potluck Dishes We’re Making This Fall

    Published: Oct 28, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

    • Facebook
    • Email

    These 27 potluck dishes are budget-friendly and perfect for fall gatherings. From hearty casseroles to creamy salads, these recipes are easy to prepare and sure to please a crowd. Whether you're looking for something cheesy or lighter, there's a dish here for everyone. We know we all have different budgets, so here you'll find options from super cheap, to quite afforadble.

    Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Chicken Pasta Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cook Dinner Tonight.

    Chicken Pasta Casserole features tender chicken and pasta mixed in a creamy cheese sauce. It's a great option for a quick and filling dinner during the week. This dish is easy to prepare and is sure to please everyone at the table.

    Get the Recipe

    French Potato Salad

    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This easy homemade potato salad is a great option for gatherings. It's made without mayo, eggs, or dairy, using a creamy Dijon mustard dressing instead. This recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, making it a perfect choice for everyone at the table.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin

    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe is a great option for a filling meal. With hearty Russet potatoes and ground beef, it brings together simple flavors that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's an easy choice for dinner that won't break the bank.

    Get the Recipe

    Mashed Potatoes Without Milk

    Mashed Potatoes Without Milk
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These mashed potatoes are simple and delicious, made with just potatoes and plenty of butter. Ready in under 30 minutes, they're a great side dish that you might find hard to share. Perfect for any meal, these creamy potatoes will quickly become a favorite.

    Get the recipe

    Pulled Pork Tater Tot Casserole

    Pulled Pork Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Quicker Kitchen.

    Pulled pork tater tot casserole is a simple and satisfying dish that comes together quickly. In just 5 minutes of prep, you can have a filling meal ready to serve, perfect for feeding a crowd. This hearty casserole is great for gatherings or any time you need to feed a lot of hungry people.

    Get the Recipe

    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon

    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    Skillet Baked Beans and Bacon are a classic Southern dish that combines the rich flavor of molasses with crispy bacon. This hearty meal is cooked in a cast iron skillet, giving it a deliciously smoky taste. It's perfect for gatherings and is sure to please a crowd.

    Get the Recipe

    Easy Layered Enchilada Casserole

    Enchilada casserole.
    Photo Credit: What a Girl Eats.

    Layered enchilada casserole is a simple dish that eliminates the need to roll tortillas. It features layers of ground meat, cheese, and mild green enchilada sauce, making it a hit with the whole family. This is a great option for potlucks or gatherings, as it's easy to prepare and serve.

    Get the Recipe

    Vegan Couscous Salad

    Vegan Couscous Salad.
    Photo Credit: Happy Kitchen.

    This vegan couscous salad is simple to make and packed with fresh vegetables, olives, and a tangy lemon garlic dressing. It's a light and healthy dish that brings Mediterranean flavors to your table. Perfect for any occasion, whether it's a picnic, a casual lunch, or a festive gathering, this salad is sure to please everyone.

    Get the Recipe

    Mashed Potato Casserole

    Mashed potato casserole.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    This mashed potato casserole is creamy and cheesy, perfect for any gathering. It only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it a great choice for busy days. You can even make it ahead of time, so it's ready when you need it.

    Get the recipe

    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking Taco Casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This casserole brings all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying meal. Perfect for potlucks or a simple weeknight dinner, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite.

    Get the recipe

    Vegetarian Ravioli Bake

    Ravioli bake.
    Image credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This dish is a family favorite that everyone enjoys. It's cheesy and packed with flavor, making it a great choice for gatherings. Perfect for potlucks, this recipe is easy to prepare and sure to please a crowd.

    Get the recipe

    Caulislaw - Raw Cauliflower Salad

    Caulislaw - Raw Cauliflower Salad
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Caulislaw combines cauliflower, carrots, and red onions with a creamy mayonnaise dressing. It's a great side dish for barbecues and can even be used as a topping for burgers. This dish is quick to prepare, healthy, and low in carbs, making it a go-to option for many meals.

    Get the recipe

    Eggplant Moussaka

    Eggplant moussaka.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Eggplant Moussaka is a hearty dinner packed with vegetables and ground beef or lamb, all covered in a generous layer of cheese. This recipe skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead, which keeps it true to its Mediterranean roots. It's a healthy and tasty option that's easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Pesto Pasta Bake

    Pesto pasta bake.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pesto pasta bake is quick and easy to prepare, taking only 20 minutes. It features fresh vegetables, lots of pasta, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying dish. Perfect for gatherings, this recipe is both simple and delicious.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken And Rice Casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    Chicken and rice casserole is a great comfort food that's simple to prepare. It's filling and satisfying, making it a good choice for gatherings or potlucks. This dish combines tender chicken with fluffy rice, creating a hearty meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice is a tasty dish that combines spices, tender chicken, and gooey cheese. This casserole is full of flavor and is sure to be a hit with your family. It's a simple meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Gnocchi with Frozen Vegetables

    Baked gnocchi with vegetables on a Dutch oven.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This is an easy one-pan gnocchi bake that requires no chopping. It's filled with frozen mixed vegetables and a creamy cheese sauce, making it a comforting meal for the whole family. You'll be surprised at how simple it is to put together.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

    A scoop of Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: Flavorful Eats.

    Made with tender homemade Italian chicken meatballs topped with marinara sauce and plenty of melted mozzarella cheese, this one-pan recipe for Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs will satisfy your comfort food cravings! These cheesy, saucy meatballs are perfect over pasta or added to rolls for the best meatball parmesan subs!

    Get the recipe

    Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole

    Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole.
    Photo Credit: A Taste of Madness.

    This spicy chicken and cauliflower casserole is easy to make with only five ingredients. It's a solid choice for a weeknight dinner that the whole family will like.

    Get the Recipe

    Vegan Mexican Casserole

    Vegan Mexican Casserole
    Photo Credit: Hassle Free Vegan.

    This casserole is versatile and can be enjoyed in a bowl with tortilla chips or as a filling for burritos. It's simple to prepare and requires just one pot, making cleanup a breeze. Perfect for gatherings, this dish is budget-friendly and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Potato Ground Beef Casserole

    Ground Beef Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Honour System.

    This ground beef casserole is a family favorite that's easy to make. It features browned beef mixed with a tasty tomato sauce, layered with filling potatoes, and finished off with melted cheese on top. It's a satisfying dish that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

    Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    Cowboy Cornbread Casserole is a great comfort food option. It's a filling dish that combines seasoned ground beef, corn, and beans, all topped with a light and fluffy cornbread layer. This casserole is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty and satisfying.

    Get the Recipe

    Crockpot Chicken Bacon & Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

    Crockpot Chicken Bacon & Ranch Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Our Love Language is Food.

    This slow cooker recipe is all about comfort food. Chicken bacon ranch tater tot casserole puts a fun spin on the classic dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's simple to prepare and perfect for gatherings, making it a great choice for busy nights.

    Get the Recipe

    Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

    A casserole dish full of spinach artichoke casserole.
    Photo credit: Nibble and Dine.

    This creamy casserole combines rotisserie chicken and frozen vegetables, making it super easy to prepare. You can have it ready in less than an hour, perfect for a quick meal. It's a great option for potlucks or gatherings, offering a comforting dish that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Potato Chicken Sausage Casserole

    Cheesy Potato Chicken Sausage Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Almond Eater.

    This Chicken Sausage Casserole features chicken sausage, potatoes, and cheese for a delicious meal. It's easy to whip up in just one skillet, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it's gluten free, so it's a great option for everyone.

    Get the Recipe

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Zesty Italian Dressing

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Zesty Italian Dressing.
    Photo Credit: Maple + Mango.

    This Italian pasta salad is packed with delicious ingredients. It features salami, cheese, a variety of fresh and pickled vegetables, and fresh basil, all mixed together with a tangy homemade Italian dressing. Each bite is full of flavor and makes a great addition to any potluck.

    Get the Recipe

    Company Casserole

    Company Casserole (Ground Beef Pasta Casserole)
    Photo Credit: Neighbor Food Blog.

    Company Casserole combines ground beef, pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce, all topped with cheese. It's a dish that everyone enjoys and can be prepared in advance, making it ideal for busy nights or when you're hosting friends. This recipe is simple to put together and is sure to satisfy a hungry crowd.

    Get the recipe

    More Cheap dinner ideas

    • Cabbage roll in a bowl.
      14 Cheap Ground Beef Meals That Feed a Crowd
    • Tortellini casserole.
      19 Affordable Dishes for When You Want to Impress (Fast)
    • Chicken barley pualo.
      19 Budget-Friendly Chicken Dinners That Don’t Taste Cheap
    • French onion pork chops.
      18 Cheap Meals That Feel Like Fine Dining at Home
    • Facebook
    • Email

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Readers Love These Recipes

    • Chicken and rice soup.
      22 Revolutionary Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners
    • Cauliflower beef taco skillet.
      17 Quick and Elegant Ground Beef Meals You Need to Try
    • Chicken adobo.
      23 Deliciously Simple Crockpot Meals for Stress-Free Cooking
    • Crockpot lasagna.
      14 Crockpot Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    Latest Articles

    • Gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms.
      22 Easy Dump-and-Bake Dinners You'll Make Every Weekly
    • Chicken wild rice soup.
      18 Time-Saving Budget Dinners Anyone Can Make
    • Chicken and noodles.
      18 Chicken Pastas That Disappear Fast
    • Buffalo chicken lasagna rolls.
      23 Easy Recipes That'll Make You Everyone's Favorite Chef

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosure
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • [email protected]
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden

    Copyright © 2026 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB