Check out a few garden-inspired potluck dishes that people love to serve. These recipes will surely make everyone ask for seconds.

1. Summer Squash Casserole

Comfort food is a staple item at potlucks, but you can provide a healthy alternative to anyone who’s tired of mac and cheese. For this recipe, combine the yellow squash in your garden with sharp cheddar, sour cream, butter and salt. Sprinkle crushed crackers on top to bring an Instagram-worthy dish.

Make your casserole look like it came from a professional kitchen by broiling it under high heat for a few minutes. You’ll know it’s ready to serve when the cracker layer browns slightly, adding extra color and crunch to every bite.

2. Tzatziki Sauce With Chicken Bites

Grilled chicken bites are the grown-up version of chicken nuggets. Make a large tray so everyone can scoop the seared pieces onto their plates. When you add a side of tzatziki, you might serve the best dish of the night. Make your sauce with dill leaves, cucumbers and garlic from your backyard to put a personal spin on the beloved Mediterranean dip.

3. Spinach Tortellini Salad

If your yard is full of leafy greens, you’re in luck — combining fresh spinach with cooled tortellini creates a pasta salad that makes your tastebuds sing. It’s one of the best garden-inspired potluck dishes to serve a huge crowd. Toss spinach with a few bags of meat-filled tortellini, balsamic vinegar, bite-sized mozzarella pieces and diced tomatoes. It’s a dish best served while the weather’s warm, which is also when spinach is ready to harvest.

4. Creamy Cucumber Salad

If you enjoy bringing side dishes to parties, look no further than this creamy cucumber salad recipe. Every bite is fresh, zesty and creamy, winning over veggie lovers and even those who typically pass on salad. Pull some cucumbers from your garden before washing and slicing them into rounds. Toss with mayonnaise, dill, vinegar and sour cream to whip up a potluck dish in minutes.

5. Cheddar Roasted Broccoli

Serving garden-inspired potluck dishes at parties with young kids is always challenging. They typically don’t enjoy eating veggies, but you can introduce them to broccoli by roasting recently picked florets with cheese and minced garlic. Combine everything in a casserole dish and roast for a few minutes at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. You can reheat under a broiler right before it’s time to eat together.

6. Mild Homemade Salsa

Salsa is a party food that usually pleases everyone. Gather some tomatoes from your garden and use them to make this easy appetizer. Wash and slice them into large chunks before combining them with spices like garlic and cumin in a food processor. Pulse the mixture until it reaches a consistency you enjoy. You’ll have a low-heat salsa ready to serve alongside tortilla chips.

If you know you’re hanging out at a potluck with people who love spicy food, bring a special container exclusively for them. Portion at least two cups of your mild salsa back into the blender once you’ve made enough for everyone. Fry five to eight dried Japones peppers until they’re soft and blend them into your smaller salsa mixture. It’ll pack enough heat to blow everyone’s minds. Remember to label your servings before leaving for the party.

Explore the World of Garden-Inspired Potluck Dishes

Consider what’s currently growing in your garden or what you’d like to plant. The leafy greens or veggies could become excellent additions to your garden-inspired potluck dishes this year. If you save a few recipes for your next invitation, you’ll know how to transform your backyard harvests into dishes people will rave about for years.

Try It Yourself

These potluck recipe ideas are not only healthy and delicious but easy to adapt to what’s in season or what’s growing in your garden. For specific recipes, visit the Food Gardening Network cookbooks and recipe collections or let us know what you’d love to see in our next recipe series.

Fresh Tip: Stick with recipes like this, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll feel the benefits of fresh, whole foods!