5 Potluck Dishes Guaranteed To Be A Hit

Sandy Pollock and Crystal Cook, who are known as The Casserole Queens, know one surefire way to get people to try a potluck dish: claim that it's the "world's greatest" -- mac 'n' cheese, potato salad, baked beans or, in this case, chicken pot pie. These ladies don't just speak from personal experience, either. The two started a food-delivery business in Austin seven years ago that has since fed thousands, and they just published their second book, The Casserole Queens Make-a-Meal Cookbook.

Get the recipe: World's Greatest Chicken Pot Pie

Gluten-Free Goddess blogger Karina Allrich has a back-pocket enchiladas recipe that she can throw together at a moment's notice -- whether it's a family get-together, a Sunday brunch or a girls' night in. Allrich cooks these little parcels of black beans, sweet potatoes, chilis and spices all together on a baking platter (you can double the recipe depending on how many other dishes will be served). They're hearty enough to satisfy meat eaters and vegetarians, and if you leave a bottle of hot sauce next to the dish, guests can make their portion as spicy as they like.

Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas

TV personalities and twin sisters Judy Vig and Joy Paoletti, who used to run their own dessert business, know their way around a potluck -- they come from a big family that they say was pretty much always celebrating something when they were growing up. Among their most reliable, impressive-looking and easy-to-make-ahead dishes are tomatoes stuffed with a surprising ingredient: spaghetti. They're a lot faster to prepare than you'd think; just scoop out the inside of the tomatoes, roast until they're softened but not collapsing, stuff with pasta and top with grated Parmesan or a dollop of ricotta cheese.

Get the recipe: Spaghetti-Stuffed Tomatoes

Lucy Gibney, M.D., has a child with severe food allergies -- but she doesn't let that stop her family from going to potlucks. Dr. Gibney, who founded a line of cookies and cakes that are gluten-free and made without milk, eggs, peanuts or tree nuts, says this green-bean salad is great any time of year, and works equally well with beef tenderloin, Thanksgiving turkey or tailgate party fare. Even better: It's quick to make, and it's no big deal if one or two ingredients are missing.

Get the recipe: Best Green Beans

Sweets stylist and party planner Amy Atlas designs and creates dessert tables for all kinds of high-end parties, so she has quite a few tricks for getting cakes to stay looking gorgeous and cupcakes to not lose their frosting in transport. Her lemon bars are a particular triumph: They seem fragile but can actually handle a bumpy car ride better than you'd think, she says. Another plus: You can make these tangy treats up to a week ahead of time (store them in the fridge).

Get the recipe: Tangy Lemon Bars