Holiday Work Potluck, help me!

December 9, 2009 6:56 AM

I've got a potluck tomorrow afternoon! I'm not the best cook in the world, so can you think of something quick and simple I can make to bring? Needs to be considered an 'entree' and not just bread or drinks or cookies.

It's also suppose to be an ethically themed dish, but I'm a white american girl who's got a smattering of just about every European country inside of her (Not to mention a nice southern mix with a little native american added).

I have been feeling under the weather (and busy as heck, as this time of year seems to get) and hadn't planned on attending. Suffice it to say, I am now and I don't want to be a freeloader.

Extra points for cheap and/or easy ingredients (I don't want to roast a chuck of cow for 3 hours).

Hurdles: I don't have a slowcooker and I have to cook it tonight.

posted by royalsong to Food & Drink (38 answers total)

I have taken Triscuits with cream cheese and Pickapeppa sauce on them to potlucks. It isn't an entree but it reeally isn't bread or cookies either. It is really easy, and different.
posted by chocolatetiara at 7:03 AM on December 9, 2009

Can't you just pick up a bucket of chicken? I would rather that someone who has been feeling bad bring something already prepared. If anyone turns up their nose at "bought" food, tell them you were thinking of their health. And then you get to rest tonight and not stress over cooking! Good Luck!
posted by pearlybob at 7:14 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

cooking challenged + fast + cheap + nothing to keep it warm.. . I'd say stop by the local supermarket and pick up a rotisserie chicken, yeah it isn't "ethnic"... but it sounds like you want minimal involvement in the process and roto chix is pretty tasty, under $10 and no actual work. make sure to bring something to cut it with.
posted by edgeways at 7:15 AM on December 9, 2009

do you have Popeye's chicken in Michigan? bring a bucket of spicy, with some mash potatoes and that awesome boudin & pepper gravy, red beans & rice and mmmmmbiscuits. if that's not ethnic I don't know whut

what time should I be there?
posted by toodleydoodley at 7:19 AM on December 9, 2009

When people bring KFC to our potlucks, it's always the first to go. People will love you.
posted by ms.v. at 7:23 AM on December 9, 2009

You could go to a Mexican market and get some already made carnitas and bring small corn tortillas, limes and chopped onions.

Fry up some frozen potstickers and make a quick soy sauce based dip.
posted by ad4pt at 7:26 AM on December 9, 2009

chicken salad and crackers, or pita bread. Get about four boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Season them with salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Brown them in olive oil. Add a little wine after the sides are browned a bit, to deglaze the pan. Then add water, halfway up the side of the chicken, and cover. Simmer for twenty minutes, turn once. While the chicken is simmering, chop celery, apples, cucumber and carrots. Shred the chicken (after it's cooled) with a fork, mix in with the veggies/apples, bind with Miracle Whip, add more pepper and oregano.

If someone mentions the ethnic thing, say, hey, I'm an American from the midwest. This is my ethnic food.

(Or, you can do the same, omit the basil and oregano, and toss the shredded chicken with minced lemongrass, shallots, garlic, chili and lime juice. Balinese chicken salad is one of the most amazing things i've ever had in my life)
posted by Ghidorah at 7:33 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Will you have access to an oven or a toaster oven at the party venue? Pigs in blankets are good fpr parties. They are the easiest thing ever to make ... buy a package of Lil Smokies and some Pillsbury Crescent rolls, along with a nice jar of mustard for dipping. You can assemble them tonight and then just pop them in the oven at the event. The Pillsbury website has a lot of those really easy recipes .. you can buy their refrigerated pizza dough and easily make up some little pizza bite things, with veggies and cheese on top.

I can't quite think of a spin on how to make the pigs in blankets "ethnically themed" but you could consider the pizza bites vaguely Italian. It's not really cooking but it fulfills the need to bring something to eat that you made or rather, assembled. And it's very easy. Hope you have fun at the party!
posted by Kangaroo at 7:34 AM on December 9, 2009

do you have a food processor? if so, this 'Salsa di Parmigiano' recipe for cheesey crack-tasty dip is very easy and very tasty.

i'm not sure if it counts as an entree, though.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:36 AM on December 9, 2009

Is anyone bringing a salad? Make a fantastic salad with red peppers and cherry tomatoes and whatnot. People tend to bring cooked food to potlucks. A salad is often welcome.
posted by musofire at 7:37 AM on December 9, 2009

If you really want it to be 'ethnic', maybe you could try making chicken curry using ready-made curry paste/mix? Fry onions, chicken, and whatever else you want to put inside (peppers, zucchini, etc), dump in the pre-made curry paste (add coconut milk if you want more curry / if you want it less spicy), add cubed potatoes, simmer until everything's cooked and the potatoes soften. Potatoes are very useful for adding to the bulk of the entree cheaply...

If you want to save even more time, perhaps you could just make a oyster-sauce (or whatever other "asian"-ish sauce) stir-fry with pre-cut vegetables and tofu? And maybe add noodles to the stir-fry for bulk.
posted by aielen at 7:40 AM on December 9, 2009

Storebought hummus and pita, with tomato and cucumber slices for garnish.

For extra points, cut the pita into wedges, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt or rosemary, and stick under the broiler for 5 minutes or so until crisp.
posted by susanvance at 7:42 AM on December 9, 2009

If I had to being a dish, but didn't have a way to heat it or keep it warm, I'd do as the suggestions above and pick up something to go from a nearby place. Pizza Hut pasta dishes work well (hey, it's Italian!!!), wings/ribs from a barbecue place, etc. You might even get them to deliver.
posted by The Deej at 7:50 AM on December 9, 2009

Maybe this is too ambitious, but it's not that hard to throw together a baked ziti. Cut store-bought Italian sausage out of the casings and fry up. Boil pasta. Toss sausage, pasta, and some jarred spaghetti sauce into a casserole with shredded mozzarella and bake at about 350 until it bubbles. If you're feeling up to it, you can add ricotta and parmesan, but it's not really necessary.
posted by Gilbert at 8:02 AM on December 9, 2009

Am I the only one that thinks bringing KFC to an "ethnic" themed potluck might be a litttttttle too edgy?

I also have no idea what "ethnic" means. Just, "not white-bread american"?
posted by CharlesV42 at 8:03 AM on December 9, 2009

Response by poster: Please keep the suggestions coming! These are excellent ideas.

Gilbert and aielen - Thanks for the suggestions, but I specifically heard the Italian guy say he was making baked ziti. I also overheard someone making meatballs (which was my first tentative plan), and another making chicken curry.

CharlesV42 - 'Ethnic' was my choice of the word. The people I work with all hail from different countries and cultures. So the party planners want to taste food that is unique to each person's heritage.
posted by royalsong at 8:13 AM on December 9, 2009

Ah, that makes more sense!

A casserole is a classic potluck dish, and a lasagna will usually stay warm and will always be delicious. You can pretty easily make a vegetarian version as well, to make sure your bases are covered.

Recently I made a buttermilk biscuit, pulled pork, jalapeno and gorgonzola casserole that was pretty amazing, topped with some red-cabbage slaw, but that may be a bit too intensive for what you're into.
posted by CharlesV42 at 8:22 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

MACARONI AND CHEESE

3 tbsp. butter
2 1/2 c. uncooked macaroni
1/2 lb. sharp cheese, shredded
1 qt. milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 2 quart casserole. Place in oven to melt. Pour in macaroni and stir to coat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and shredded cheese through macaroni. Toss lightly. Pour milk over all. "Do Not Stir". Do not cover while baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 2 quarts.
posted by mr. remy at 8:26 AM on December 9, 2009

Easy to make, fast, and ethnic (Italian): Celery Gorgonzola. It's delicious but you do need to get a good gorgonzola cheese. The ideal one is gorgonzola dolce, the milder one.
posted by MrMisterio at 8:29 AM on December 9, 2009

Buy a box of Family Size Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes. Buy a small (1-3 pound) hunk of ham (usually called Dainty Ham or some such in the meat dept.) Cut ham into thick slices, throw in 2qt casserole with Potato mix and follow directions on box. Heats up well in microwave, but also good at room temp. Easy: yes. Ethnicity: white trash.
posted by FreezBoy at 8:35 AM on December 9, 2009

I am a maximalist cook: I use tons of stuff, every manner of gadget, fidgeting, experimenting, cooking from the barest and scratchest of ingredients. So I asked my sister. Here is her advice: For like $6.00, less than half an hour of your time, and best taste:

CHILI CORN PONE PIE

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
An onion, chopped
1 pkg. chili mix
1 can kidney beans
A can of V8 juice
1 package Jiffy corn bread mix

1) Brown meat in small amount water, drain grease; add onion, cook until tender; Stir in salt and pepper, chili mix, V8, and beans.
2) Cover skillet and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice while you prepare cornbread batter according to box directions and preheat oven to 425 degrees.
3) Spray sufficiently-large pan with vegetable spray (or grease), pour meat in, and top with cornbread batter. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
posted by mr. remy at 8:36 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

If you don't have a way to keep the food warm (but I assume you'll have access to a refrigerator?), maybe you could make some kind of pasta salad? I hate the stuff myself but it seems like everyone else always loves it. You could make it in advance, too.

Here is one recipe that looks pretty easy.
posted by castlebravo at 8:45 AM on December 9, 2009

I have used this Tri-Color Orzo recipe for many a pot luck and it always goes over well. Simple to make; store in the fridge overnight and put out the next day without having to worry about re-heating (or just make it in the morning if you wake up early enough).
posted by mikepop at 8:46 AM on December 9, 2009

"Ethically sourced" suggests KFC might not be welcome. Quiche or strata is easy and tasty.

Asparagus quiche: storebought pastry crust, shredded swiss cheese, canned asparagus (drained), eggs, milk, salt, pepper. Cook as you would for any basic quiche.

Asparagus strata: cubed bread - stale works well, shredded swiss cheese, canned asparagus (drained), eggs, milk, salt, pepper. Basic strata

If you want something more interesting, I brought roasted brussel sprouts to a recent potluck, and they were a big hit: 2 big pkgs frozen brussel sprouts, spread on roasting pan(s). 1/2 lb. bacon, cut into bits, mixed in. Roast at 360 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Bacon - just slice across the slices to cut it up. Don't under-cook this, the bacon should be crispy and brown, the sprouts get browned, too, and it's delish. I've made this with turkey kielbasa, instead of bacon, but it might need a tablespoon or two of cooking oil, as kielbasa doesn't have as much fat in it as bacon.
posted by theora55 at 8:49 AM on December 9, 2009

OK, this is probably the 4th time I've posted this in a recipe thread, but it's really good!

Quinoa and Black Beans. I guess it would be Peruvian? Not sure how authentic, though. I doubled it and brought it to a potluck and every bite was eaten. If it's still warm when served, great; if it's not, it's still good. Just don't serve it ice cold out of the fridge. Warm or room temp are best.
posted by peep at 8:49 AM on December 9, 2009

How about bruschetta? Olive oil on baguette slices, a little parmesan cheese with garlic and chopped tomatoes with italian seasoning on the top - pop in the oven until the bread gets toasty. Tastes good at room temperature, is cheap and easy, and 1 baguette will make a lot of pieces.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 8:59 AM on December 9, 2009

Soup!

Easy, tastes better the next day, re-heats easily, and stays warm for a long time. Plus, it's always comforting when you feel a bit sick. You can get away with opening up a bunch of cans (cheap & easy), and seasoned well no one will know. Heck, you can even buy pre diced onions and garlic if you don't want to chop.

This is a southwest American "ethnic" dish, if anyone asks. (your great aunt spent a summer in New Mexico right?) Also, it's very flexible, so adapt it to your tastes. I call it tortilla soup, though it's not like the original Mexican tortilla soup at all. Best part, this whole thing should cost under $10, and makes 6-8 dinner servings (but people will have much less at a potluck)

1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-3 serrano or jalapenos (optional)
3 corn tortillas, torn to bits
2 quarts chicken broth
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 bag frozen corn
1/4 to 1 cup salsa verde (go for mild, you want flavor not heat)
1.5 lbs chicken tenders (or breasts) chopped to bite-sized chunks
salt and pepper as needed

Garnish:
cilantro, washed and torn from stems
fried tortilla strips (can be pre-made, or just tortilla chips)
colby-jack cheese, shredded

In your big soup pot saute (in vegetable oil) the onion, garlic, spicy peppers until tender. Toss in the tortilla bits, and cover with broth. Bring to a boil for 5 min, and let the tortillas thicken the broth. Toss in beans, corn, salsa, and adjust seasonings to taste. You want spicy but not blow your head off. From this point on, you don't want the soup to rapidly boil, or the beans will become mush. When simmering, toss in chicken chunks. Simmer for 5-10 min. or until chicken is cooked through.

To serve, place some crispy tortilla strips in a bowl. Ladle the soup over, top with cilantro and cheese.

Put it in microwave safe containers, and you can reheat it at the office.
posted by fontophilic at 9:01 AM on December 9, 2009

I make an easy black bean salad a lot and it always gets rave reviews. It is adapted from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything.
Drain and rinse 2 large cans black beans.
Put about 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add about half a package of frozen corn. Roast, stirring every so often, until corn is golden brown - some black bits are good too. Cool and add to beans.
Seed and chop one red bell pepper. Orange or yellow is good too. Green is fine but not as pretty. Add to beans and corn.
Chop 3 green onions. Add to the salad.
In another bowl mix 4 tablespoons olive oil with 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or balsamic. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat.
You can also find canned chipotle peppers at the grocery store. If you want a little heat and spice, chop 2 or 3 of these (you may want to wear gloves or avoid touching them too much) and add. Don't worry about drying off the sauce, it's very tasty. I usually add some of it to the dressing, actually.
This can be eaten alone or with tortilla chips.
posted by k8lin at 9:05 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

How about tacos, especially if you've got a way to reheat the meat at work (even a microwave will work). Super easy, the only cooking involved is cooking the ground beef in a pan and dumping in the taco seasoning pack, then reheating at work, and you can bake the shells in the oven in the night before as well. Add a bag of shredded cheese and salsa and you're good to go. You can buy taco dinner kits that have everything but the meat and cheese or you can go fancier with nice salsa, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, etc. Everyone gets to assemble their own taco, which is kind of fun, and who doesn't like tacos?
posted by 6550 at 9:22 AM on December 9, 2009

People are usually really happy to get salad at these things because nobody thinks of bringing it. To make it seem like you're working, pick up two bags of romaine lettuce ready salad, a bag of good croutons, a bag of fancy grated parmesan cheese and a bottle of good Caesar salad mix. Toss it all together at the table and voila, Caesar salad. You could top it with chunks of rotisserie chicken if you really want to win friends and influence people.
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:36 AM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Precooked pot roast divided up onto mini hamburger buns (slider buns). Drizzle a little of the gravy on each.
posted by jmmpangaea at 9:49 AM on December 9, 2009

CHILI CORN PONE PIE

is completely delicious. If you want to be even lazier, I've made it with Trader Joe's canned beef chili.

Culp family favorite appetizer:
Spread cream cheese on platter.
Combine cocktail sauce and crab (or "krab"), spread over cream cheese.
Serve with crackers.
We call this "carnage".
posted by Flannery Culp at 10:48 AM on December 9, 2009

What about Frito pie? Just put some Fritos in a casarole dish, dump microwaved canned Chili over it, and sprinkle with shredded colby jack, pepper jack, colby or cheddar cheese. EASY!
posted by Daddy-O at 11:12 AM on December 9, 2009

Baked wings. Cheap and easy.

Pick up a bottle of 'ethnic' marinade like Thai or Teriyaki and a pound of wings. Marinate the wings for an hour in the sauce. Wrap them in tinfoil and bake 20-30 minutes.
posted by VanCityChica at 11:40 AM on December 9, 2009

Made a huge batch of jambalaya recently for an international potluck-- easiest thing ever. Take spicy sausage, onions, peppers, creole seasoning, hot sauce and a tiiiiiiiiny bit of sugar-- brown it all in a pot with olive oil-- empty in two cans of crushed tomatoes-- put rice and water in on top of it. Bam! Fast, mildly spicy, easy, filling and deeeeelicious. Plus it's a Southern, Latin-influenced European-originated American thing-- just like you! Shouldn't take more than, say, half an hour to forty five minutes to make, all told.
posted by WidgetAlley at 12:35 PM on December 9, 2009

Black bean vegetarian chile. There are many recipes out there, I've linked a few in this response. I prefer starting with dried beans and soaking them (8 hrs plus) myself, but it isn't necessary. I'd go milder for work, and all the linked recipes are mild, but for myself I tend to add chopped habaneros in adobe sauce, lots of minced garlic sauted with my chopped onion, and more toasted hot spices.
posted by bearwife at 1:18 PM on December 9, 2009

Seriously good, cheap and easy:

Carrot-Currant Slaw

Combine 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 1⁄2 teaspoons olive oil, 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, 1⁄8 teaspoon ground red pepper, and 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Stir in 4 cups shredded carrots, 1⁄2 cup chopped green onions, and 1⁄2 cup currants.
posted by idest at 6:42 PM on December 9, 2009

Here are some others:

* mini bagel dogs -- yeah, ready made and microwaveable. It is easier than pigs in a blanket if you just buy a big bag from Costco;

* Speaking of Costco, you can simply pick up platters of sandwiches, deli, salads or dips sized for parties;

* You could pick up a side of salmon for around $13 and bake it using various salmon recipes such as, maple syrup, black pepper and soy sauce. A nice fatty fish like salmon works well at room temperature
posted by jadepearl at 2:00 AM on December 10, 2009