Church Ladies’ Favorite Potluck Recipes: Salads
Part 1 of 4 in the Series
Have you ever noticed that when you have a potluck dinner at church, you will find some of the best dishes you have ever eaten? Because of this, I decided to start a series to share some of these wonderful dishes. This is the 1st in the series – Church Ladies’ Favorite Potluck Recipes: Salads. Enjoy!
Church Potluck Meals
Potluck meals have a way of bringing people, families, and communities together. In fact, I have heard that potlucks really became popular during the Great Depression because the people shared what they had, which gave them a variety.
They would have community gatherings and have soup suppers which fed large groups. The food was great, and the fellowship was inexpensive entertainment.
I have attended potlucks at family gatherings and family reunions. We have had potlucks at friends’ homes and for some of our family’s meals, but when I hear the word potluck, I think of a church social.
My Church Potluck Experience
I don’t really remember that much about the food at church suppers and potlucks when I was growing up, but as an adult, I really appreciated them. Church ladies are some of the best cooks and have always had the best-loved recipes.
They are also eager to share them with others. In fact, if you have never owned a church cookbook, you are missing out! These cookbooks are put together when a church family submits their favorite recipes and compiles them into a cookbook. They are real treasures!
Church Ladies’ Favorite Potluck Recipes Series
I want to showcase some of these delicious recipes and the ladies who make them. This post shares some of the salads from our last church potluck. After this one, you can find:
Salads
Salads at a church potluck will range anywhere from literal salads to Jello salads, to homemade pickles. Here are a few of my favorites.
1 – English Pea Salad (Brenda McDaniel)
This English Pea Salad is delicious. Notice the Deviled Eggs around it as well. Brenda sprinkles them with a little bit of dill, which puts them over the top for me!
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a 2 cup measuring cup, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, onion, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir until well blended.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a rubber spatula, gently combine the peas, hard boiled eggs, and cheese. Pour the dressing over the top of the peas and fold together, just until well blended.
- Refrigerate the salad for 8 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, gently stir the salad and add the chopped bacon. Garnish with additional chopped bacon, cheese, and sliced hard-boiled eggs.
2 – Broccoli Salad (Cindy Haynes)
This Broccoli Salad is very creamy and has the perfect sweetness! I could eat this as the main course – or dessert.
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine broccoli, grapes and purple onion, and mix well.
- Pour dressing mixture over the broccoli mixture and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
- Add bacon and sunflower seeds just before serving. All amounts can be adjusted to personal taste. Serves approximately 8.
- Combine milk and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Add vinegar and stir. Milk will thicken. Pour over broccoli mixture.
- Some people use mayonnaise instead of Half & Half.
Dressing Instructions
3 – Fruit Jell-O (Carole Stanley)
I have had Carole’s Fruit Jell-O on several occasions, and I never get tired of it. Sometimes I have it as a salad and then go back and get more for dessert.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring one cup of water to a boil; turn off burner, and dissolve Jell-O in hot water.
- If strawberries are still frozen, put them in the Jell-O and water. After the strawberries are thawed, add pineapple, bananas, and pecans.
- Pour half of the mixture in a bowl and set in the freezer until firm.
- Spread sour cream over the top, then pour the remainder of the mixture in the bowl and refrigerate until all is firm.
4 – Cherry Salad – Or Strawberry Salad (Barbara Finley)
My grandmother made something similar to this, so when I had Barbara’s Cherry Salad not too long ago, it brought back sweet memories! This is another one I can eat as a salad and then again as dessert.
She also makes this with strawberry pie filling. They are basically the same, but they have a slightly different taste.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and chill. (Easy Peasy!)
5 – Caprese Salad (Mine)
Make this salad according to your likes. Add what you like and omit what you don’t. The portions are also adjustable.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and add to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the Mozzarella cheese. If you get the pearls, separate them as you add them to the bowl. If you get a block of Mozzarella, cut it into small chunks.
- Add diced cucumber and chopped basil to the bowl.
- Add the desired amount of Italian dressing (at least enough to cover the vegetables).
- Mix this well, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
6 – Summer Salad (Sylvia Brewer)
I have had something similar to this in the past and really enjoyed it. Sylvia uses fresh vegetables, and the dressing has just the right amount of sweet and savory! It is a very refreshing salad.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Mix vinegar, sugar, and water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Combine all of the vegetables together in a bowl and mix.
- Pour the dressing mixture over the vegetables, mix, and marinate overnight.
7 – Peach Salads (Barbara Sikes)
My mother-in-law used to make the most unique yet delicious peach salad! It is so simple and easy to make. It is perfect at home or for a potluck!
See the full instructions here for her Unique and Tasty Peach Salad Recipe.
Clever Tips for Your Next Potluck
- For a cute presentation, put your disposable pans in Fancy Panz.
- If you make a slow cooker recipe, use a slow cooker or crock pot with a locking lid to transport it to the potluck.
- Put your food on a rubber boot tray in the car to catch any spills when transporting your dishes. We use these religiously!
- You might not want to experiment with a new recipe when taking it somewhere. (Experience talking!)
- Label the meal if it fits certain dietary restrictions, such as sugar or gluten free.
Whether it is your next church potluck or you are just coming together with friends and family to feed a hungry crowd, I hope some of these church ladies’ favorite potluck recipes will be on your menu.
As you all bring something different, everyone will have a little variety. Find a delicious recipe that you love and share it with your corner of the world.
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Other Favorite Potluck Recipes
8 Jalapeno Appetizers
Jill’s Family Favorite Bean Dip
How to Make Zesty Pasta Salad
Until next week…
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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Matthew 5:6
Susan,What A Wonderful Idea. I Loved All The Salads You Shared From Your Church. You Are Such An Amazing Lady. I Do See All Your Posts But Do Not Always Comment. Thank You For All You Do. Love You .
Awww, you are so sweet! I love and appreciate you so much! I would love to include one of your recipes in an upcoming post. I still need desserts if you want to share!
Church cookbooks are THE best cookbooks, Susan! I couldn’t agree with you more. It’s been so much fun to follow along on these old recipe posts. They’re bringing back such fun memories from my childhood and from church suppers back in our hometown. I can’t wait to revisit these ideas, CoCo
I do love these vintage recipes, especially the easy ones! I have a few extra copies of some church cookbooks. I think I will share them at Christmas! Have a blessed day!
I love a good potluck at Church! These salads look so yummy. I love a good jello salad, and these two look delicious. I will have to give them a try this holiday season.
I hope you enjoy them! We are having a potluck tonight, so there is no telling what all good food will be there!
Your post brought back so many wonderful memories of church potlucks or of a luncheon after a funeral service held in a small town. So much love goes into these dishes! My mom had a collection of church cookbooks and I have several… they are the best! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
There is something about small town get togethers! We are at a small church now that has a potluck each month. It is so homey and giving!
Yum, some tasty looking salads! And, finally someone else besides me who says supper instead of dinner!! Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedLinkParty 135. Pinned.
LOL! Yes, I didn’t even catch that I used the word supper. That is what I was raised to call it.😄
What a great variety of salads. Thanks for sharing on SSPS, hope to see you again next week.
Thank you so much!
Visiting from Full Plate Thursday #664. These salad recipes look delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Please come visit us at http://www.BackyardTexasGrill.com anytime!
Thank you so much! I will check it out. Thanks for sharing!
I love church lady foods. Yum! I appreciate you sharing these recipes.
Visiting today from SSPS 284 #37
Thank you so much! They always seem to be great cooks!
You said the magic word: “SALAD” I will have them all thanks.
Thank you for sharing your links with us at #284 SSPS Linky. See you again next week.
Thank you so much!
CONGRATS Susan! Your post is FEATURED at the #UnlimitedLinkParty 136!
thanks so much
thank you so much.
I love broccoli salad! This recipe looks absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing!
I love it too! This recipe is from a lady at my church, and it is delicious! Have a wonderful Easter!
I think your Caprese Salad sounds the best, I’ve never been one for sugary salads.. Yes, Potlucks were a great experience growing up. Sandi from Vintage charm
I like it best also. I always go back for the sweet salads and have them for dessert.😊
I love church cookbooks and church recipes. I found some of my favorites that way. Have a wonderful weekend!
You too, and a wonderful 4th of July!
I love salads and I love this post!
Thank you so much! Those ladies can really cook!
You are so right, the church ladies have the best recipes. I have a couple of my Mom’s Church Ladies recipe books and use them often. These salads all look so good! Thanks.
Some of my favorite recipes have come from church ladies and their cookbooks!
I grew up going to church potluck suppers and loved them. Salads are a favorite dish too. Thanks for new recipes. Visiting from Will Blog for Comments.
Thank you! Aren’t those church potlucks the best?
Susan, how have I lived this long without a boot tray and your wonderful use of it to hold food in transit! I want to try some of this salads right away. I’m always taking a dish somewhere! #SSPS
Oh my goodness! That boot tray has saved the back of my car many times. I think it was just an accident that we happened to use it one day.
It all looks so good! Thanks for joining in on Home Matters Linky Party! I will be featuring your post this week! #HomeMattersParty xx
Awww! thank you so much!
Congratulations Susan, your post will be featured this Monday at SSPS 368 Thanks for sharing.
I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you so much! I am looking forward to seeing all of the others as well!
I love these ideas! Yum. These shareable dishes are such good recipes to have on hand. Thanks for sharing this post at our month-long Will Blog for Comments #65 linkup. We’ll be back to our regular schedule now, so #66 opens Monday morning. Hope to see you there.
Thanks so much Jennifer!
How many servings is the jello fruit salad?
The Jello salads serve around 10-12 people. That is definitely an estimate, but it serves several people.