Are you attending an Indian Food Potluck Party and looking for recipe ideas? Here are all my favorite potluck dishes including easy Indian vegetarian recipes, appetizers, and work appropriate options!
Whether you're celebrating Diwali with a party, planning an office potluck lunch, or just gathering friends and family for a potluck-style weekend luncheon, these Indian potluck recipes are guaranteed crowd-pleasers! From festive chaats and comforting curries to colorful sweets and cozy drinks, these dishes are easy to make ahead and travel well.
Here are my best recipes to add to your menu for an Indian Food Potluck that's appropriate for work and vegetarians! These recipes are designed to feed a crowd with love and flavor. Build your menu around a mix of appetizers, mains, sides, and desserts, and your guests will be talking about the spread for months.
If you're looking for more ideas, be sure to check out 20+ Authentic Indian Curry Recipes!
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Appetizers & Starters
Start your potluck strong with flavorful finger foods and chaats that instantly get a good vibe going. These are the perfect bite-sized dishes that disappear fast!
The best Indian potluck appetizers are, without a doubt, samosas! I'm including an approachable vegetarian option and chicken option for samosas as well as some of my other favorite appetizers for passing around.
Vegetarian Appetizers
💡 Hosting Tip: Keep a few condiments handy like Tamarind-Date Chutney and Green Chutney for guests to drizzle over appetizers or chaats.
Puff Pastry Potato & Peas Samosa Pinwheels
Aloo Tikki (Potato Patties)
Dahi Vada
Peanut Chaat
Puff Pastry Mango Chutney Brie Bites
Chicken Appetizers
Chicken Keema Samosas
Chicken 65
Cheesy Tandoori Chicken Garlic Bread
Main Courses
Between Indo-Chinese over noodles and making vegan chickpea curry in an Instant Pot so that it's easy to plug in and keep warm at the office... Your options for easy Indian vegetarian recipes for a potluck are going to be delicious. One-pot curries and mains are hearty, flavorful, and perfect for serving buffet-style. Each reheats beautifully, so you can make them the day before and simply warm them up before serving.
And don't worry! I included a roast chicken if you're hosting because that's always a delicious and impressive option to have.
🍚 Serve with: Saffron Rice or Fluffy Basmati Rice, both of which can be made ahead and kept warm in a rice cooker.
Chili Paneer
Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)
Chole (Indian Chickpea Curry)
Puri (Indian Fried Bread)
Paneer Butter Masala
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Whole Oven-Roasted Tandoori Chicken
Sides
Having the potluck at home? Assign out 1-2 sabzis like bhindi, aloo gobi, or baingan so that there are ample vegetable dishes to choose from.
Cucumber Mint Raita
Bhindi Masala (Okra Stir Fry)
Aloo Gobi (Potato and Cauliflower Sabzi)
Indian Stuffed Eggplants (Bharwa Baingan)
Kachumber Salad (Indian Cucumber Tomato Salad)
Sauces
You'll need a few sauces to pair with your appetizers and main dishes! Chutneys are a must, and should be placed at the beginning of the table with the appetizers.
Cilantro-Mint Chutney
Tamarind Date Chutney (Imli Chutney)
Dessert
A potluck is nothing without the sweet treats to finish off an incredible meal! These options are easy to make a large amount of as well as transport if needed.
Malai Stuffed Dates
Fruit Custard
Gulab Jamun
Ras Malai
Date Nut Ladoos
Drinks
Masala Chai (Tea)
Restaurant-Style Mango Lassi
Cardamom Coffee
Hosting Tips for the Perfect Potluck
- Decorate simply: Diyas, flowers, and small bowls of chutneys make the table festive and functional.
- Plan a mix: Include at least one appetizer, one curry, one chutney, one dry sabzi, rice or bread, a raita, and a sweet. A signature drink for the night is always appreciated.
- Make ahead: Most curries, desserts, and chutneys taste better the next day.
- Serve buffet-style: Keep mains warm in Instant Pots or warming trays. Bring food in a heat-safe container so you can use the hosts microwave or oven if something needs to be warmed or baked when you arrive.
- Label dishes: Include notes for spice level and dietary tags (V, GF).
Potlucks in Indian Culture
One thing I appreciate as a - now adult - first-generation Indo-American immigrant was the effort our elders put into building the Indian community we have around us. My late uncle built a wonderful community centered around their Hindu temple in Edmonton, Canada and my parents did the same thing when we left Canada for Arizona.
I'm sure a lot of immigrants can relate to initially finding their community through places of worship. At the Hindu temple, lunch was usually served potluck style where each family was assigned a dish to bring the next Sunday.
The families we met there became like extra siblings and second moms and dads. As young kids, we'd play together during the weekends while our parents put together potluck-style spreads so that one family wasn't burdened with making a massive amount of food. Extra food was always sent home in tupperware.
Even now, we still gather over food and celebrate each other's accomplishments as adults. A huge part of desi culture is gathering around good food and simple cardamom chai for quality time with family and friends.
Ayesha says
Came to your website looking for some ideas for a goodbye potluck for my Indian coworker, when I read about your uncle building a temple in Edmonton. I'm reading from Edmonton! Small world 🙂 Can't wait to try some of your recipes.
Shweta Garg says
That’s amazing!! My late uncle didn’t build the temple but he built the community since the beginning and was definitely a pillar of it 🙂 so crazy how small the world is!!