There are a lot of fun summer dinner party ideas out there, but the one we had the most fun with this year had all the feels of southern church potluck centered around the idea that with a good casserole you can do just about anything, even go back in time.
What You’ll Find
I’m sharing just how we did it:
- 5 easy, nostalgic recipes
- a stress-free timeline (a total of 4 ½ – 5 hours scheduled into easy task over 4 days)
- shoppable links to create your own beautiful table.
- Sending out the invites is up to you!
Instead of hosting this dinner with my friends at home, we decided to really lean into the inspiration of classic potluck casseroles and actually have dinner on beautiful church grounds! The location made this dinner together extra special. We dressed for the occasion, set the table with delicate garden-themed dinner plates and our best crystal.
But that paled in comparison to the magic that happened as the sun began to set and everyone arrived. Hugs and laughter and lots of conversation flowed. It was easy. We caught up. We shared ideas. And of course, we anticipated dinner.
And in the hum of crickets and twilight, was when it started. “Oh my gosh… is this that casserole from… It is!” “…I remember this like it was yesterday!” “I haven’t had this in forever!”
As the memories of church potlucks, family dinners and holidays found their way to the present, we reminisced. We talked of weddings, parents and grandparents and wondered why we hadn’t kept a tighter hold on the food that made us who we are.
Our Nostalgic Casserole Menu
You and your friends are going to love reliving the utter deliciousness of this classic church potluck menu. All of the recipes are easy to make. (The wrapped asparagus takes a little extra time.) And the organized timeline below makes sure nothing is hard or hurried. (recipes at the end of the post)
- Homestyle Deviled Eggs (with a charcuterie of fruit, cheese, walnuts, summer sausage and dark chocolate squares)
- Southern Poppyseed Chicken Casserole
- Puffed Pastry Wrapped Asparagus (Or Lemon Roasted Asparagus if you to save some time)
- Classic Fruit Salad with Century Cream Sauce
- Coconut Pineapple Trifle
- Picnic Sugar Cookies by The Cheerful Baker (as favors)
The timeline at the end of the post walks you through:
- how to make each dish ahead of time,
- how long each task should take,
- how to organize the tasks if you need to do just a few things in the evenings after work in the days leading up to your own southern church potluck dinner party.
My Best Potluck Tips
Want to do this dinner with friends in true potluck style? Check out all my best tips for creating a cohesive menu and having everyone bring a dish.
No matter how you choose to have your Dinner with Friends this season, the important thing is your having one! Getting together and eating together weaves you into a larger story. It’s one we share… made of memories, delicious food and lots of laughter.
Everything You Need For This Casserole Dinner Party
Table Links
- seagrass placemats
- navy blue chargers
- white dinner plates with open lattice rim
- floral salad plate
- blue cherry blossom tablecloth by Just Darviny
- pink striped linen placemats/dinner napkins
- blue striped linen placemats/dinner napkins
- blue rechargeable touch lamps
- crystal stemware
- crystal cocktail pitcher (Note size. This is a cocktail pitcher- tall and narrow. 34 ounces.)
Serving Pieces:
Southern Church Potluck Menu
Timeline (Total Time 5 Hrs.)
4 Days Before– 15-30 minutes (excluding grocery shopping)
- Do your grocery shopping.
- If you’re getting special cookies like the ones we had made by The Cheerful Baker, then don’t forget treat bags and gift tags so you can send the cookies home with your guest as thank you’s!
- Get out dishes + utensils, tablecloths, placemats, etc. needed to set the table + serve. Make sure they are ready + you have all you need. (15 minutes)
3 Days Before– 1 hour
- Boil chicken for the casserole and shred. Store in fridge in a zip top bag or covered tightly. (20-30 minutes)
- Bake cake for trifle. Cool, cover tightly + refrigerate. (30 minutes)
- TIP: Start the cake as soon as you put the chicken on to boil to cut 15-20 minutes from today’s time total.
- Have tablecloth & chairs delivered. (From, Ep. 1, I do this so I don’t have to own, store or clean these items.)
2 Days Before- 50 minutes
- Mix together the poppy seed chicken casserole filling. Add chicken, put it in your casserole dish, cover + refrigerate. Crumble crackers for topping + store in zip top bag. (15 minutes)
- Make the cream sauce for the fruit salad. Cool, cover + refrigerate. (10 minutes)
- Whisk together the pudding filling and toast the coconut for the trifle. Cover + refrigerate the filling. Store the coconut in a zip top bag. (10 minutes)
- Put sugar cookies in favor bags and tie on the gift tags. (15 minutes)
1 Day Before– 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Boil eggs, peel, cut into halves and make deviled egg filling. Store egg whites in a single layer (on your egg plate), in the fridge covered tightly. Put filling in a piping bag + refrigerate. (20-25 minutes)
- Assemble the Coconut Pineapple Trifle. Cover + Refrigerate. (15 minutes)
- Assemble the puffed pastry wrapped asparagus, but don’t apply the egg wash, garlic powder or Parmesan. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet, cover + refrigerate. (30 minutes)
Day Of– 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Set up table & chairs if eating on church grounds (15 minutes)
- Set the table. (15 minutes)
- Bake poppy seed chicken casserole. (30-35 minutes)
- While the casserole is baking, pipe filling in deviled eggs and put on toppings. Put together charcuterie. Move to next step to get as much done while casserole is baking.
- Chop fruit and toss in dressing to complete fruit salad. (15 minutes)
- Brush the egg wash on the asparagus and puffed pastry. Sprinkle with garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and bake. (15 minutes)
- Get your trifle from the refrigerator and arrange your buffet table! Don’t forget your cookie favors or the drinks! (15 minutes)
Lisa
hi Stacey. I used your theme for our garden club meeting today and it was such a a hit. I made your poppy seed chicken and it was delicious. thank you so much for the inspiration!
Hi, Lisa! This seriously made my day! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! So very awesome!