19 Summer Casseroles to Bring to the Potluck

Casseroles and potlucks are the perfect pair. They're easy to whip together, feed a lot of people, and they're always crowd pleasers. But typical cream- and cheese-filled casseroles can be heavy in hot weather — not to mention that you’ll want to take advantage of the abundance of fresh summer produce available. When you're in need of a potluck dish for your next summer gathering, use one of these vegetable-filled recipes that taste like summer. 

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Stuffed peppers are delicious, but no one has time for that fiddling just for a potluck — or a weeknight meal. Instead, chop up those beautiful bell peppers and mix them with ground turkey or beef, rice, tomatoes, and seasonings before baking it all casserole style. The unusual addition of spinach adds color and nutrients. 

Recipe: Well Plated

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Elote — traditionally grilled corn on the cob with tangy cheese, chili, and lime — is a popular street food in Mexico and all over the United States, but it's hard to serve to a large group unless you happen to have a corn roaster. This casserole combines all the ingredients into an easy, creamy, chili powder-seasoned side dish. It calls for frozen corn, but is the absolute best with fresh corn cut off the cob. Don't skip the sprinkle of lime juice.

Recipe: Salt & Baker

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This pasta casserole gets its creaminess from cream cheese, so it's not as unhealthy as you might expect. It's also packed with fresh summer veggies, including sugar snap peas, carrots, mushrooms, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes. Feel free to switch up the vegetables depending on what looks best at the farmers market.

Recipe: Better Homes & Gardens

Related: Easy Recipes for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Tater tot casserole is an iconic dish everyone loves. In this version, fresh vegetables including zucchini, corn, and tomatoes are mixed into a ground beef layer along with plenty of Worcestershire. Perfect to make in summer, this could be great as a healthy alternative to the canned soup classic year-round.

These eggplant roll-ups are a fresh and low-carb addition to a gathering. They're deceptively easy to make: Just bake eggplant slices, roll them around a quick ricotta filling bursting with fresh basil, and bake with a favorite jarred marinara sauce. They're in perfect individual portions that are easy to dish out, too.

Recipe: Southern Living

A filling of shrimp, zucchini, and onion keeps these enchiladas lighter than the meat- and cheese-heavy versions you might be used to. A jar of ready-made enchilada sauce — look for Herdez — keeps this quick and easy to prepare.

Recipe: Bake It With Love

Who doesn't love a green bean casserole? This one is much lighter than the Thanksgiving classic, and in fact it's not even creamy. Chopped tomatoes, sweet onion, butter, garlic, and Italian seasonings give the mix of green beans and yellow wax beans tons of flavor, while a topping of breadcrumbs and Parmesan give it crunch.

Recipe: Taste of Home

Okra is a Southern staple everyone will love in this casserole recipe, whether they're familiar with the vegetable or not. Made with celery, bell pepper, and onion, plus plenty of corn and Cajun seasoning, the dish has a Louisiana flair. Using precooked microwavable rice saves time without sacrificing flavor.

Recipe: Southern Living

Chicken broccoli casserole is a family favorite everyone at a potluck is sure to enjoy too. Frozen broccoli is fine in the winter, but in summer, stick with the fresh stuff and chop it into florets yourself for the best flavor. A wild rice mix, cremini mushrooms, and some white wine make this version unique.

Recipe: Damn Delicious

Brunch casseroles are always welcome, especially when it's basically bread pudding masquerading as French toast, like in this make-ahead dish. Cream cheese makes it extra decadent, and while the recipe calls for blueberries, you can use a mix of any fresh berries you like. An oat streusel on top gives it crunch. 

Recipe: Spend with Pennies

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The beauty of this vegetable lasagna is that you can use any vegetables as filling that you like, including zucchini, eggplant, fennel, mushrooms, peppers, or even broccoli. Though the recipe includes a quick tomato sauce with garlic and oregano, you can substitute a favorite recipe or use a good store-bought jar — everything else in this dish is so good, no one will notice.

Recipe: Smitten Kitchen

If you and your kids watched the movie "Ratatouille" years ago but never made the namesake dish, a summer potluck is the perfect opportunity. It's full of fresh vegetables, a bold tomato sauce, and an herb-and-garlic topping. It also looks amazing, so everyone will be in awe of your cooking skills even though it's really easy.

Recipe: Tasty

Summer squash casserole is a Southern classic, but why not add some zucchini when it's overflowing from the garden? Lots of garlic and shallots add punch to this version's creamy sauce, and a thick layer of panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese create a crunchy topping as it bakes.

Recipe: Taste of Home

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This casserole is packed with protein despite being vegetarian. Chickpeas and pasta give the standard caprese combination of tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella some more substance. Swiss chard, kalamata olives, and roasted red peppers are not traditional additions, but they'll be more than welcome once you taste the results. 

Recipe: Better Homes & Gardens

A strata is a savory egg bake, and though it's typically a brunch dish, this one is so hearty that it would make a fine lunch or dinner. Zucchini and three kinds of bell peppers are roasted and layered with tomato, fresh herbs, crusty Italian bread, and cheese. Make it the night before and save yourself some time the next day.

Recipe: Taste of Home

This light casserole is low-carb and gluten-free, so it would appeal to a lot of people on a potluck buffet. It's Greek-inspired, and starts with a base of roasted cauliflower and onions. Shrimp tossed with tomatoes and garlic are baked on top, and fresh feta cheese and dill sprinkled on after it's baked to ensure a fresh taste.

Recipe: Eating Well

There are few people who can pass up good Mexican rice. This garlic, chili powder, and cumin version is cooked in one pot so there's little cleanup. Bell pepper, corn, and zucchini add substance, but you could go even further by adding black beans or shredded chicken.

Recipe: Damn Delicious

Southern tomato pie is made with garden-fresh tomatoes at the height of summer. Instead of futzing with a fiddly pie crust, just make it in a casserole form. A layer of bread cubes acts as a bed for soaking up the tomato juice, and the classic mayo and cheese mixture is spread on top to bake up golden and bubbly.

Recipe: Destination BBQ

Typical squash casserole gets a makeover with Tex-Mex flavors in this dish. Mild canned green chiles and diced jalapeños give the squash a little kick, while onions and cheddar cheese are featured inside and on top. Pour your favorite jarred salsa over it, or make your own with garden tomatoes and cilantro.

Recipe: Taste of Home

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