What's a good dish to bring to an office pot luck?

Question

My office is having a Holiday party pot-luck. Each of us will bring a dish, and I was curious, what is a universally popular sort of dish? Any ideas? (I cook and bake, so anything goes as far as ability)

Answer 1

I usually make a cheesecake. They're usually a favorite. Made a pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving and it was nearly completely devoured by a total of 15 people!

The Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sugar, plus
1 tablespoon sugar
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and 1 T sugar in a medium bowl.

Stir well enough to coat all of the crumbs with the butter, but not so much as to turn the mixture into paste.

Keep it crumbly.

Put foil partway up the outside part of an 8-inch springform pan.

Press the crumbs onto the bottom and about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the springform pan.

You don't want the crust to form all of the way up the back of each slice of cheesecake.

Bake the crust for 5 minutes, then set aside until you are ready to fill it.

In a large mixing bowl combine the cream cheese, 1 C sugar, and vanilla.

Mix with an electric mixer until smooth.

Add the pumpkin, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice and continue beating until smooth and creamy.

Pour the filling into the pan.

Bake for 60-70 minutes.

The top will turn a bit darker at this point.

Remove from the oven and allow the cheesecake to cool.

When the cheesecake has come to room temperature, put it into the refrigerator.

When the cheesecake has chilled, remove the pan sides and cut the cake into 8 equal pieces.

Serve with a generous portion of whipped cream on top.

Answer 2

Only one dish? I usually do a meat dish, since most people take desserts. One time I went to a potluck and everyone brought baked beans or potato chips!!! It was so funny. After that we got assignments. Anyway, I usually bake a chicken or bake a ham. However, the following is always a crowd-pleaser:

Corn Casserole

1 can creamed corn
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 8 oz carton sour cream
1 stick butter, melted
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

Mix together. Pour into dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Answer 3

These are always a big hit at parties or just get togethers. I have made them several times and always bring back empty pans.

SHEET CAKE

In a bowl mix
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour

Bring to a boil, then remove from heat
1 stick butter
3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa, omit if you want a white cake
1 cup water
1/2 cup shortening

Pour into sugar and flour, mix together.
Add 2 eggs
1/2 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix all together, batter will be thin.
Pour into a SHEET CAKE PAN that is greased and dusted with flour or cocoa.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.


ICING

Bring to a boil and then remove from heat
1 stick butter
3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa
1/3 cup milk


Then add 1 teaspoon vanilla, stir.
Start adding powered sugar until it gets as thick as you want the icing, then pour it over the cooled cake. The cake does not have to be refrigerated, but it does tastes best when it is cold.


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Four Layer Delight
or
Better Than Sex Cake

1st Combine
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 stick butter
Press in a 9 X 13 pan, bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
2nd Blend together to a bowl
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup powder sugar
1 cup cool whip
Spread on cooled 1st layer
3rd Mix together in a bowl until thick, then spread on 2nd layer
6 ounces instant pudding
3 cups cold milk
4th Spread on 3rd layer (chocolate)
Cool whip
Grate a sweet chocolate bar of your choice over cool whip
Sprinkle chopped nuts on top if desired.
Keep in refrigerator.

Answer 4

Chicken Ritz Casserole

Ingredients:
5-6 chicken breasts, cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar broccoli soup
about 1/4 soup can of milk
1-1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. cooked minute rice (1 c. prior to cooking)
dash salt and pepper
30 to 40 Ritz crackers, crumbled
Butter
Cooking Instructions:
Cook chicken and remove chicken from bone and cut up. Place chicken in casserole dish. Mix together remaining ingredients. Pour mixed ingredients over chicken. Top with crushed Ritz crackers; dot with butter. Bake at 350F. for 45 mins.

Answer 5

We have 30 people in the office and here are some of the things that I've brought to our monthly pot lucks. Spaghetti is actually pretty cheap. Or of course, nacho cheese dip, green bean casserole. Cut hot dogs in half and bake them in crescent rolls. If it becomes too expensive, sometimes 2 people will go in together and cut the cost in half.

Answer 6

"7 Layer Sombrero Dip" - 8 to 10 servings

1 (1 oz.) packet Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing Mix
1 cup sour cream
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles; drained
1 (2.25 oz.) can black olives; drained
3/4 cup EACH shredded Cheddar and Jack cheese
Chopped avocado (optional)

Spread beans on 10" serving platter. Blend sour cream and dressing mix; spread over beans. Layer remaining ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips.

Answer 7

I think that something in a crock pot would be good because that way it would stay warm.

Last year for a pot luck , I made a nacho dip with velveeta cheese and cooked hamburger in it. Put it in the crock pot and it stayed warm for the dinner. You could add salsa or have it as a side. With tortilla chips.

Answer 8

I always bring Baked Penne. Cook some penne pasta, drain & pour in to large serving dish (13*9) mix entire jar of marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella. cover top in layer of cheese. bake 350 for about 30 minutes.

My fav. sweet to bring is cake mix cookies. lemon ones and I put white choc chips in them. Either that or what we call Buttermilk cake, but I have also heard it called Chess Cake. Yum.

Answer 9

Ceasar Salad! It's always popular and it's easy to make too! Bring along a loaf of toasted garlic bread and your co-workers will love you for it. Salad also gets eaten first, so your dish will be the first to be eaten, which is pretty cool too. Just don't tell anyone that you are bringing Ceasar Salad, so no one copies you! ;)

Answer 10

Layered Mexican Dip
Sour cream & cream cheese mixed together
Ground beef cooked with taco seasoning
Chopped peppers
Salsa
Shredded cheese

Layer them and serve with tortillas. Guaranteed to be gobbled up. Avoid making it too spicy, some people may not enjoy it.