Costco fall potluck ideas

40 Easy Fall Potluck Ideas from Costco for When You’re Too Lazy to Cook

Do you have a potluck coming up, but between work, life, and family, the thought of cooking from scratch feels overwhelming? Don’t worry—just go to Costco. From appetizers to main courses to desserts, here are the best no-cook (or minimal-cook) Fall potluck dishes that will save you time and make it look like you put in a lot of effort. 

Chili 

Costco Food- Chili

Chili is a comforting fall classic, perfect for a potluck. Costco’s refrigerated chili is delicious—heat it in a pan, bring it to a boil, and transfer it to a serving bowl, or bring it to the party in a crockpot. If you have time (or are not feeling too lazy), bring chili bar toppings like scallions, jalapeños, sour cream, red onions, and shredded cheese.

Pull Apart Cheese Bread

Costco Appetizers- Pull Apart Cheese Bread

Impress everyone at the potluck with this pull-apart cheese bread. Costco’s kit makes it easy—simply pop it in the oven for 15 minutes for gooey, cheesy garlic sourdough perfection. Thanks to its fresh-baked look, it’s easy to pass off as homemade, with no one the wiser.

Olive Tapenade

Costco Charcuterie Board-Olive Tapenade

Olive tapenade is an easy appetizer to bring to the potluck. Everyone will enjoy the savory spread of chopped olives, capers, pimientos, and spice. Transfer the olive tapenade to a nice serving bowl and serve it on a platter with bagel chips or crackers. 

Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes

Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes

Bring a “homemade” meatloaf dish to the potluck! Buy the Costco meatloaf with mashed potatoes, which can be found in Costco’s refrigerated prepared foods section. Transfer the meatloaf to a casserole and heat it in the oven. It will look like you made the meatloaf from scratch. Heat up the mashed potatoes and serve them in a serving bowl. 

Carnitas Nachos

Costco Appetizers- Carnitas

Bring a delicious platter of carnitas nachos. Do know that this dish requires a little more cooking than other dishes on this list, but it’s well worth it!

First, heat the carnitas in the microwave or stove. Then, spread a layer of tortilla chips in a big casserole, pile on the carnitas, and a generous amount of shredded cheese. Pop it in the oven and let it bake until everything is melty! Once it’s out, top it off with some guacamole and fresh salsa. Bring it to the party. It will be a hit.

Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatball

These Swedish meatballs make great finger food at the potluck. They are easy to prep. Just sauté them in a skillet, top with creamy gravy, and serve with toothpicks. It’s hard to pass as homemade, but no one will complain because it’s so delicious. You may need two packs—if it’s a large potluck!

Ravioli

Butternut squash ravioli

Butternut Squash Ravioli is perfect for fall. Heat it and toss with butter and parmesan cheese or Rao’s marinara sauce.

Italian sausage ravioli

This Italian Sausage ravioli is perfect if you want to bring a meatier pasta dish to the Fall potluck. Serve it with Rao’s marinara sauce.

Breaded Jalapeno Poppers

Costco Appetizers- Jalapeno Poppers

These spicy jalapeño poppers are a fun appetizer to bring to a Fall potluck. Costco’s Partini Jalapeno Popperz makes it easy—just heat and serve for that delicious mix of heat and gooey cheese. It’s an affordable potluck dish to bring at $15.89 a box.

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes

Scalloped potatoes are always a hit at any potluck. Transfer them to an oven-safe casserole, bake, and bring them to the potluck. You can pass them off as homemade! It’s delicious!

Autumn Squash Soup

Autumn squash soup

Nothing says fall like a bowl of autumn squash soup. Warm it up, serve it in a potluck-friendly thermos or crockpot, and it’s ready to go. While Panera fans might give it away, it’s a delicious soup that everyone will love.

Creamy Tomato Soup

Creamy tomato soup

Bring a classic creamy tomato soup to the potluck. It goes well with almost any main dish. Bring it in a thermos or crockpot. This soup is perfect for cozy autumn potluck parties. 

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken pot pie

With its hefty size, this Chicken Pot Pie is hard to pass off as homemade. Everyone can guess where you bought this jumbo Chicken Pot Pie that weighs more than 5 pounds! But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring it to the potluck.

At only $3.99 per pound, it’s a steal, and it’s really delicious comfort food—rich gravy, chicken, onions, potatoes, celery, and carrots. It can easily feed many people, perfect for potlucks.

Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd's Pie

Costco’s ready-made shepherd’s pie is another easy potluck dish. It is packed with seasoned ground meat and veggies beneath creamy mashed potatoes. You can’t pass this off as homemade (the jumbo size is a dead giveaway), but everyone will love it at the party. All you need to do is pop it in the oven to warm it up and bring it to the party.

Mini Beef Franks

Costco Appetizers- Spring Valley Beef Franks

Spring Valley beef franks wrapped in puff pastry are perfect party appetizers. Just heat and serve on a platter. At $21.99 for a box of 76-80 pieces, they’re affordable enough to bring to potluck parties.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Costco Appetizers-Buffalo Style Chicken Dip

Bring buffalo chicken dip to your Fall potluck. It’s loaded with tender chicken and gooey Monterey Jack cheese. Serve it on a platter with chips and bring it to the party. 

Chicken Alfredo

chicken alfredo pasta

This Costco chicken alfredo pasta will surely be a hit at the potluck. You can find it in the refrigerated prepared food section. Just transfer it to a casserole, bake it, and then bring it to the potluck. You can pass this as homemade!

Cuisine Adventures Butter Chicken Naan Bites

Costco Appetizers- Butter Chicken Naan Bites

Add some variety to the potluck with these butter chicken naan bites. They’re delicious—classic butter chicken stuffed inside soft naan dough pockets. They’re easy to prepare—just pop them in the oven for 12 minutes or air fry them in only 8 minutes for that perfect crispy finish! They’re an affordable party appetizer at just $11.99 for a box of 36 pieces.

Pretzel Bites

Costco Appetizers- Pretzel Bites

Bring pretzel bites to your Fall potluck. These appetizers come with two delicious dipping sauces: cheddar cheese and mustard dip. Serve them on a platter and bring them to the potluck. 

Mozzarella Sticks

Costco Appetizers- Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella sticks are an easy appetizer to bring to your potluck. They’re simple to prepare—just air fry them and serve with some tasty Rao’s marinara sauce. 

Bratwursts and Sausages

Costco Appetizers- Bratwurst and sausages

How about bringing a sausage and bratwurst platter to the potluck? Costco has a great selection of bratwursts and sausages—there is always something new to try. Grill them or slice and sauté them, then serve them on a platter with toothpicks.

Spinach Artichoke and Parmesan Dip

Spinach artichoke and parmesan dip

This spinach artichoke and parmesan dip is a potluck favorite. For a homemade touch, transfer it to an oven-safe casserole, add a layer of parmesan cheese, and bake it in the oven. Everyone will love this warm, cheesy dip with chips or crackers.

Chips and Guacamole

Costco Appetizers- Chips and Guacamole

Chips and guacamole are a no-prep party appetizer that’s always a hit. And you can’t beat Costco’s prices on tortilla chips and guacamole.

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Tortellini pasta

If you don’t have time to reheat anything and just want to bring a dish to the potluck, bring this Tortellini Pasta salad. It’s ready to eat; just transfer it to a nice serving bowl and then bring it to the potluck (zero prep required!). 

Stuffed Bell Peppers

stuffed bell peppers

These stuffed peppers bring a bit of color to the buffet table and are great to bring if you’re going to a small potluck (they only come in a pack of 6). They’re peppers filled with beef, rice, and cheese, topped with cheese. Lay them out on an oven-safe dish, bake them, and bring them to the potluck.

Mac and Cheese

mac and cheese

This Panera mac and cheese is creamy and delicious. It’s easy to prepare—just transfer it to a casserole, pop it in the microwave, and bring it to the party. It can even pass as homemade!

Mozzarella and Tomato Skewers

Costco Appetizers- Mozzarella Balls

Mozzarella and tomato skewers are an easy potluck appetizer. Thread marinated mozzarella balls and grape tomatoes onto skewers and serve them on a platter. If you don’t have time to make mozzarella and tomato skewers, mix them up in a serving bowl and bring them to the potluck. Either way, they will be a hit. 

Charcuterie Board

Bring a charcuterie board to the potluck. Costco makes it easy with a large selection of antipasto meat and cheeses. 

Beretta Wrapped Mozzarella

Add this mozzarella-wrapped antipasto to your charcuterie board. Each pack contains two types: prosciutto with mozzarella and sweet soppressata with mozzarella.

Charcuterie sampler

Or you can add this sampler, which includes six different types of meats: peppered salami, calabrese, chorizo, genoa salami, Italian dry salami, and soppressata, to your charcuterie board.

Cello cheese flight

This trio pack of cheese makes adding variety to our charcuterie board easy. Each pack has three different cheeses: asiago, Fontal, and cheddar.

Costco Charcuterie Board- Carrs Table Water Cracker

Don’t forget to include a variety of crackers in your Fall charcuterie board. This Carr’s cracker set has three kinds: original, pepper, and sesame.

Busseto Charcuterie

Costco Charcuterie Board- Busseto Charcuterie board

If you have no time or are too lazy to assemble a charcuterie board from scratch, just buy this all-in-one kit! For only $11.99, this Busseto charcuterie board comes with everything you need—prosciutto, salami, chorizo, salami nuggets, mixed olives, provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, gouda cheese, and even chocolate almonds. It’s so complete that it even comes with a serving platter!

Sandwich Platter

Sandwich platter

No time to prep? No problem, just buy a pre-made sandwich platter from Costco to bring to your potluck. The Artisan Bread Sandwich platter, priced at $49.99, can easily feed 18 to 20 people with a delicious assortment of sandwiches, such as roasted chicken, roast beef, tomatoes, and herb aioli.

Kale Salad

Kale Salad

Salad is an easy potluck dish if you have no time to cook. Costco has many bag salad kits. This Kale Salad is a favorite and is sure to be a hit at the potluck. Simply toss the vegetables, salad dressing, and toppings in a salad bowl and bring it to the potluck. 

Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail party platter

Impress everyone by bringing shrimp cocktails to the potluck party. Costco has the best deal on shrimp cocktail platters, serving 24 people for just $39.99. You need to order ahead. Just bring it to the potluck—no preparation required—so easy! 

Fruit, Meat and Cheese Platter

Fruit Meat and Cheese platter

Costco’s Fruit, Meat, and Cheese party platter is another easy potluck dish that requires zero preparation. Priced at $39.99, this platter is designed to serve 24 people and includes grapes, salami, soppressata, cheddar, and gouda. You need to order this in advance; it comes in a large serving platter that you can bring to the potluck. 

Cookies

Cookie party platter

The Costco cookie platter is an easy dessert to bring to your potluck. You need to order ahead. Each platter is $22.99 and has 60 cookies in four tasty flavors: chocolate chip, white chocolate double nut, oatmeal raisin, and white chocolate cranberry. Just be mindful of nut allergies—it has macadamia and cashew nuts.

Mixed Berry Streusel Cheesecake

Mixed berry streusel cheesecake

This delicious mixed berry streusel cheesecake is another easy potluck dish. It’s perfect for the Fall Party dessert table.

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie

Bring pumpkin pie for dessert. Like the chicken pot pie, you can’t pass this up as your homemade pumpkin pie because it’s too big and obviously from Costco. You can’t beat the price at $5.99 for a 12-inch pie! Bring it to the potluck. It will be a hit!

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

Apple Pie is another Fall pie that is perfect for potlucks. It’s delicious and affordable at $12.99 a pie. 

Apple Crumble Cheesecake

Junior's Cheesecake

Bring Junior’s apple crumble cheesecake to your Fall potluck. It’s a great addition to the dessert table.

Maple Butter Pecan

Maple butter pecan cake

Here is a Fall cake from Costco that you can bring to your potluck- maple butter pecan cake.

Macarons

Costco Snacks- Macarons
Photo Credit: Suburbs 101

French Macarons are always a hit at potluck parties. Costco sells a variety pack with many flavors. Just lay them on a nice serving platter and bring them to the party.

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