13 Healthy Potluck Veggie Side Dishes Guaranteed to Please a Crowd

Spicy Watermelon Salad
Photo: John Kernick

Put down the greasy potato chips and nosh on this: a gorgeous lineup of healthy potluck side dishes under 250 calories. With new twists on salads (hello, jalapeño vinaigrette!) and classics like potato salad and guacamole, these options give you more of what you love—for less.

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Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad
Jason Donnelly

You can customize this veggie potluck side dish with any vegetables on hand or use in-season produce any time of year. Opt for tiny red potatoes, leeks, and carrots in the spring. Come fall, try sweet potatoes, onions, and parsnips. Choose whatever's handy to add to the peppers and mushrooms. With beans added to the whole grain pasta salad, it's packed with nutrients and fiber.

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Beet Hummus

Beet Hummus with chips
Andy Lyons

We hope you like pink! Put a fresh face on hummus that's naturally colored with beets! The root veggie is filled with fiber and potassium, and it deepens the flavor of our favorite easy healthy side dish like never before.

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Spicy Watermelon Salad

Spicy Watermelon Salad
John Kernick

Hit your hydration quota with this absolutely stunning fruit-and-veggie potluck side dish featuring cool cucumbers and watermelon. Mint and serrano chiles nicely balance sweet and heat, while crumbled feta lends a creamy, salty kick.

Test Kitchen Tip: Serranos and other chile peppers contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Wear plastic or rubber gloves when working with them.

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Peach and Tomato Salad

Peach-Tomato Salad
Buff Strickland

Step aside, peaches and cream. Fresh peaches and tomatoes, coated in a sweet and tangy balsamic-honey dressing, are about to become your new go-to summer combo. Add crunch to your veggie potluck side dish with a handful of pecans, walnuts, or Marcona almonds.

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Sesame Green Beans with Teriyaki Glaze

Toasted Sesame Green Beans Teriyaki Glaze serving bowl
Blaine Moats

Summery green beans go gourmet in this sesame-infused healthy potluck side dish. A simple two-step cooking method (blanch then stir-fry) allows you to get this Asian-inspired vegetable medley on the table in just 30 minutes.

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Creamy Sweet Potato Salad

Creamy Sweet Potato Salad
Blaine Moats

Bump your vitamin A intake by swapping plain potatoes for sweet potatoes in one of our best potluck side dishes. The sweet potatoes are accompanied by hard-cooked eggs, Picante peppers, and fresh dill. Coated in Greek yogurt and light mayo, this healthy potluck side dish will disappear fast.

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Ricotta and Parmesan Spread

Ricotta and Parmesan Spread
Jason Donnelly

Kick off your potluck with a spread that will be hard to stop eating. Ours starts with whole milk ricotta cheese and tastes delish on crisp summer veggies. And while this sounds indulgent, each serving only contains 115 calories, so you'll have plenty of room for all the rest of your favorite potluck dishes.

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Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta

Blackberry Salad with Creamy Feta
Sara Remington

As one BH&G reviewer says, "This salad is beautiful and got loads of compliments." Come July and August, juicy blackberries reach their sweet peak. Contrast their natural sugars with vibrant mint and tangy quick-pickled onions in this 100-calorie fruit salad.

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Marjoram-Scented Corn-Tomato Salad

Marjoram-Scented Corn-Tomato Salad
Jason Donnelly

Grilled corn meets BLT in this fresh herb-topped salad. Even with the bacon and cider vinaigrette, each serving is only 147 calories (so you'll have plenty of room for your main dish and dessert!). If marjoram isn't handy, basil or parsley work beautifully, too.

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Sweet Pea Spread

Sweet Pea Spread
Blaine Moats

For a fresh spin on hummus, blend white beans and green peas to a dippable consistency. Then dunk with crudites or crackers or slather on toasted baguette slices (and sprinkle with shaved Parmesan) for a vibrant summer snack.

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Grilled Romaine Panzanella

Grilled Romaine Panzanella
Andy Lyons

Grilled lettuce. Sounds crazy; tastes crazy-amazing. Char some romaine and cherry tomatoes, then toss with grilled bread cube "croutons" for an easy healthy side dish that allows you to enjoy the warm weather as you prep. Add some grilled chicken for a delicious main-dish perfect for summer.

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Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Green Onion Vinaigrette

Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Green Onion Vinaigrette
Jason Donnelly

Fresh Brussels sprouts make an excellent vegetable side dish for potlucks since they'll stay crisp even after the dressing goes on. Here we make a zippy green onion vinaigrette with lemon, vinegar, honey, and coriander. Fresh orange sections and cashews complete the easy vegetable side dish.

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Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad

Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad
Carson Downing

This Mediterranean take on bean salad will be one of the best potluck side dishes you've ever made. It only takes 15 minutes to prep this delicious salad, but it can be made up to a day in advance to let the flavors marinate. Oh, and did we mention this was a low-calorie veggie side dish? There are only 58 calories per serving!

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