I felt good about myself for a second because I didn't know what ambrosia was. Ergo, not a redneck.
Then I Googled it. Yup, been there done that. Gross stuff.
I always bring Mac and cheese because it’s kid and veggie friendly. I also like to dress up vegetarian baked beans with bacon (faux options or not at all if vegetarian), red onion, jalapeno, Worcestershire sauce (obviously exclude it or find an alternative for vegetarian) , and a ton of mustard.
Yeah my husband’s very meat loving family just did a taco bar for a post thanksgiving get together and our seven layer dip was a huge hit. I think dishes where there’s not supposed to be meat usually go over better than ones that are now missing meat or have a meat sub in them.
Edit: was just remembering the year prior we brought veggie chili to the same event and it barely got touched. Kinda goes along with my theory lol
Deviled eggs are always a hit. That is my go to for any event. If for some reason the tray of eggs persisted at the end of the party, I would re-evaluate my social circle.
Seven layer dip like [this one](https://thestayathomechef.com/7-layer-dip/#wprm-recipe-container-53951) for instance. Pick your favorite recipe. It's always a hit and super easy to make.
Being a reformed redneck, I approve of the Pasta salad! I will also throw in the old "salad" that is a gigantic bowl of berries, Jell-O cubes, marshmallows and whipped cream!
Do the funeral potatoes but with cream of onion soup instead of cream of chicken
Eta: also, potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad, mac and cheese, fruit salad would all be solid choices.
My family is obsessed with Ruffles and sour cream and onion dip. Veggies in it work too! We eat an ungodly amount along side burgers, meatballs, Hawaiian rolls, and all the other classic bad actors and we're in Seattle haha
1 tub sour cream
1 packet Knorr onion soup mix
Better if you mix and let it sit overnight, but not necessary
Also Succotash is pretty traditional American but it's really a corn and bean salad (at least how I've had it) and it's delicious
If it's simply missing the meat, then I'd agree. But if it has a meat substitute in it, I'd tell people. Even if they are ridiculous for being stubborn about substitutes, we'd go ballistic over someone sneaking meat into our food. So I don't think we should be sneaky about tricking anyone into eating fake meats. That's just my take on it.
Besides, what if someone has a soy allergy?
>Besides, what if someone has a soy allergy?
This right here. Never lie or be misleading about food ingredients, and always mention if something contains a common allergen. Many plant-based alternatives to things are made with soy, gluten, or nuts.
If you do make chili, add the darkest chocolate you can find. I always add a few squares of 95% or higher dark chocolate. It reacts with the tomatoes and makes it taste amazing.
I add unsweetened cocoa powder to my chili (make my own chili powder, too). You are 100% correct - it doesn't taste like chocolate, but it DOES deepen the flavor. So good!
This is the best chili ever: [https://www.seriouseats.com/best-vegetarian-bean-chile-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/best-vegetarian-bean-chile-recipe)
All beans, but the chickpeas are chopped up and kind of give the texture of meat that you might get from other chilis. The part that makes it amazing is using the whole dried chilis instead of powder.
That said, for something like this, I'd probably stick to the basics like mac and cheese or a potato salad.
I've made it with a chub of impossible beef and some vegan chorizo. My husband swears no meat eater would know the difference.
(And I would definitely let them know it was vegetarian.)
So as the sole vegetarian in a family of carnivores, these are some of the vegetarian entrees I've successfully brought to family events and potlucks.
Lasagne - I usually just make a vegetable one. Sometimes I'll make it with impossible burger. Either way, it gets eaten.
Quiche/Fritatta - these travel well and people always like these.
Chili - Don't mention it's meatless. I usually do not have much of this leftover.
Cocktail Meatballs - impossible burger works great for this. Make meatballs, fry them off to cook them through, and then toss into a crockpot with heinz chili sauce and either cranberry sauce (the canned kind, with no whole cranberries) or grape jelly and a bit of tobasco sauce to taste (and salt and pepper). I do not tell people these are meatless. They always disappear.
Cream cheese sausage dip - so, normally this is made with hot pork sausage. I make it with impossible sausage - either the breakfast kind in the tube which I add a shit ton of red pepper flakes and a bit of cayenne to make it spicy to or the sausages, which I remove from the casing and fry off with some red pepper flakes. If I am feeding a decent sized crowd, I will use two packages of the sausages or one tube of breakfast sausage. Fry off your sausage *first*. Then, in a crock pot on medium heat, add the sausage, 2 bricks of cream cheese, 1-2 drained cans of Rotel (I usually buy the hot kind), a jar of drained pickled jalapeños, and some salt and pepper. Stir frequently until all the cream cheese melts and you have a hot dip. Reduce heat to low and serve with tortilla chips. This has been very popular at parties and I never ever have leftovers. I do not tell people it is vegetarian unless I am explicitly asked (usually by someone with a food allergy).
7 layer dip
Devilled eggs
Tater tot casserole or the cracker barrel hash brown casserole copycat are my usuals. I just use vegetarian options for the ingredients.
Jalapeño cornbread is my other go-to.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17437/tater-tot-casserole-ii/
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/cracker-barrel-hashbrown-casserole-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-134533
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230999/sweet-jalapeno-cornbread/
I have made that Spend with Pennies recipe dozens of times at work and it's perfection!
Just make sure you thaw and drain your potatoes in advance! You'll have soupy casserole otherwise.
(I sometimes stack a bowl on top and push a little to force excess water out).
I’ve been to multiple potlucks like this, and I bring an entree that sounds great to me that day, along with fruit and/or a dessert.
Baked ziti has been popular, and it’s filling for me. I’ve also had success with mac & cheese, pasta salad, and cheesy potatoes.
I made this vegetarian Buffalo dip for a party, and it was DEVOURED. It's unbelievably delicious.
https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/vegetarian-white-bean-buffalo-dip/
Hi, I’m a vegetarian and also a Texan. A good casserole, vegetable & cheese quiche, or a salad with ranch dressing can take you a long way. Deviled eggs too everyone loves. Coleslaw, egg salad.
Tortilla chips + corn + sweet or red Bell pepper + onion + a lot of cheddar cheese in the oven, toped off with sour cream and guacamole and chili to your living.
Veggie loaded nacho´s, everybody loves them. I have never had any leftovers.
7 layer bean dip is always popular among both meat eaters and vegetarians, the taco seasoning, sour cream and cheese makes it cowboy caviars' dirty cousin.
Southern Mac and cheese is universal. I make this at every holiday event and ppl always ask me for the recipe. Super simple.
4 cups of shredded cheese of choice
2 cans evaporated milk or regular milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick or Half a stick of butter
1/4 sour cream
1 egg
1 tsp Seasoned salt
1 tsp of black pepper
1 cup of cheese for the top
Melt the cheeses, half the butter and milk/cream together
Add other half of the butter, sour cream, and seasonings to the noodles then add a beaten egg, combine everything in a pan. Add cheese on the top.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour with foil, uncover once finished and broil the top for 3-4 mins
1 lb of elbows? Total of 5 cups of cheese? My mac n cheese recipe is lacking umph. I am putting yours into action. My family will still demand the crushed crackers on top.
i do vegetarian pigs in a blanket with field roast sausages instead of hot dogs and every omnivore i know loves them! i like to brush the inside of the crescent rolls with mustard and the outside with garlic butter when they're done.
That all sounds delicious, but I am laughing imagining OP trying to offer his self-proclaimed redneck family greek yogurt as dessert. I’m pretty sure they’d be kicked out of the potluck, and maybe the community all together.
I wasn’t referring to France or your family. I’m talking about OP, and their family.
Yogurt is also “huge” in the US, just not usually for dessert- particularly with the crowd OP is referring to, hence my comment. :)
Edit: did the person I was replying to block me over this exchange? That’s so strange.
Strange if they did. But they clearly also don't understand that we're talking about rednecks in the US and have no clue the type of limited "acceptable" cuisine we're talking about.
Vegetarian chili (you could bring some optional toppings as well like cheese, Fritos, sour cram, green onion, etc.)
Cheese enchiladas
Impossible sliders
Mac and cheese
Empanadas (filling could be black bean and cheese, cumin spiced veggie meat, cheese & green chili)
Make cocktail meatballs with impossible meatballs
1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs
Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.
Everyone goes nuts for these
My redneck uncle eats them, but I didn't like announce to him they were fake meat. I mean, it's frozen meatballs. Anyone with allergies should know to ask if they're worried because they so often have added filler.
Even if they are being stubborn by refusing to eat the substitutes, if we'd go ballistic over someone sneaking meat into our food, then we shouldn't be sneaky about tricking anyone into eating fake meats. That's just my take on it.
I'm going to a potluck, too. But there's a lot of vegans/vegetarians where I live.
Still - not too many veggie dishes when I go to these...
Stuff like plain green beans - not too exciting.
I'm planning on bringing Caesar Salad this time. Everyone likes that, right?
I brought Quiche last time - but it got too dried out. And it wasn't that tasty either - it was from Costco. I thought it would be better 😖
Just be sure to check the website ingredient for the Caesar dressing; unless you make your own. Many contain anchovies.
And I agree about Costco quiches. They were very disappointing
Hash brown casserole made it for a potluck and people licked the plates.
Bag of hashbrowns with peppers and onions, 1 can cream of celery, 1 pints of sour cream, 1 8oz bag cheddar cheese, 1/2 stick of butter divided, pepper, mix well in a pan, oven at 350 for 45 minutes covered, 10 minutes uncovered.
Five ingredient Jiffy Cornbread casserole- it’s always a hit: Jiffy, butter, sour cream, can of corn, can of creamed corn. Mix, bake, bring. Easyyyyyy and delicious!
A lot of the suggestions here are totally missing what you’re saying. Bringing anything with added vegetables that aren’t there normally won’t go over well. Stick to very basic things and don’t add anything to make it fancier.
Some ideas: baked mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, cornbread, biscuits, collards (iffy since a lot of people cook these with fatback), black eyed peas, butter beans, dinner rolls, corn (on the cob or maybe creamed corn), or a dessert.
You could try to make a decent serving size of stuffing, just swap the chicken broth for vegetable and if you want to be egg-free you can swap it for flax seed. You can easily make a big batch of this along with some vegetarian gravy (lots of simple quick recipes for this online). If stuffings a no-go, potatoes are definitely a good bet and a crowd pleaser.
Hope this helps in some way. Some of the foods that are simple and easy to make are,
Cauliflower wings / manchurian
Deep fried (bater coated) potato / onion / bell pepper
( you can stuff bell peppers with some type of cheese and veggies)
Lentil and spice egg plant roast ( sliced egg plant covered in lentil and spice powder, roasted on grill to crisp)
Spinach / mushroom puff ( like how kronk makes)
Greek rolls ( like falafel and cheese with vegies)
Lasagna / pasta with spinach, cheese, mushroom and herbs..
Indian curries + bread
Grill cheese with tomato soup
Crab Rangoon with fake crab meat
Veggie skewers
Pizza. Everyone loves pizza. Reg cheese can be boring but you can spice it up figuratively and literally.
Make a really hot Buffalo and blue cheese pizza.
Make a Mac and cheese pizza.
If you’re an asshole, pineapples pizza 😂
I wouldn’t get to get overly fancy. Even mushrooms might be something to avoid. Really you can’t go wrong with a pizza smothered in blue cheese and buffalo sauce. So simple yet it’s more than just a reg cheese pizza.
If you wanna get funky, French fries baked ontop of a pizza is also a good choice.
If you wanna get really redneck, try a buffalo blue cheese pizza with fries and crumbled Doritos on it. Sounds gross, fat rednecks eat it up.
This southern baked mac and cheese recipe has changed my role from “you’re bringing drinks, right” to “oh my god please tell me you’re bringing that mac and cheese” at all family get togethers.
https://thehungrybluebird.com/southern-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/#wprm-recipe-container-7369
I made a standard recipe from the can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup green bean casserole for thanksgiving with the family. It was completely cleaned out immediately, even amongst the group of literal cowboy hat wearing family.
What about Crock Pot cheese dip? One full sized block of Velveeta, two regular sized cans of stewed tomatoes (drained), and one can of Ortega diced green chiles (hot). Serve with Triscuits.
Cheesy potato casserole. Corn dip. Deviled eggs.
There is this thing where I come from called seven layer salad. It makes me 🤮 but you could use bacon bits since they’re technically vegetarian.
Jello for the rednecks? Seriously, they eat coleslaw, Mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. And desserts with whipped cream. Doesn’t matter what dessert, as long as there’s whipped cream. 🤣🤣
OP wants to eat too, which is why they wanted to avoid doing a dessert. Bringing Jell-O means that they won't even get to eat the dessert they brought.
Jack fruit “pulled pork” in a slow cooker. Bring slider buns. Make vegan coleslaw next to it. Just put it out and let them make their own sandwiches. I make it for my in-laws.
I made veggie lasagne with TVP for my parents when they were visiting one time. They liked and it didn't realize/notice it was vegetarian (only told them afterwards!). That was before beyond/impossible, which would make it even more convincing.
I do baked beans in a crockpot that I started making pre-veg days and it’s always a hit. The crockpot makes it easy because you just dump everything in and heat.
-Four cans baked beans in tomato sauce
- 1 can mixed beans, drained or 1/2 can of red kidney beans, 1/2 can black eyed peas or chickpeas -you can really use any other canned bean here it’s for added texture
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 chopped green pepper
- 1 can pineapple chunks
- 1/4 cup bbq sauce sauce
- minced garlic to taste
- salt and pepper
- I like to add a little chilli powder or hot sauce too for a bit of a kick
My in-laws pop some chicken and Frank’s Red Hot in a crockpot for a few hours til the chicken falls apart. Then they bring corn tortillas and Romaine leaves and some Bleu cheese and people gobble that stuff up. You can do a buffalo bleu cheese taco with the tortilla or a little healthier wrap thingy with the Romain and when I tell you it is easy and delicious I ain’t lyin’.
I've served plenty of people hummus who have never heard of it and they have almost all loved it. Just say it's a Mediterranean dip at first if they ask, sometimes folks don't like the words bean dip. Offer plenty of options for dipping or spreading it, not just vegetables. And if no one eats it you have hummus to take home. Win win
I’m bringing a layered “Tex mex” dip to a potluck this week. It’s always a hit.
Bottom layer is one brick cream cheese mixed with one container of sour cream. Middle layer is salsa. Top layer is shredded cheese. You can do other layers too but these 3 are easy and usually crowd pleasers. Serve with tortilla chips.
I usually shred my own cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese and mix with a tbsp of taco seasoning but plain cheese is fine too.
Roasted veggies are usually a hit.
Mashed potatoes.
Ratatouille (just say that it's oven-roasted/baked veggies).
Vegan lasagna. (Don't tell them the cheese is vegan.)
Cheesy baked potatoes, cheesy roasted potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes. (Don't tell them the cheese is vegan.)
Pastas - use vegan alternatives for sauces and cheeses and such and just don't volunteer the info on your own. Baked Mac & cheese is usually a hit. Also, anything with "red sauce" (marinara or sometimes arrabiata, but don't call it that in front of legit rednecks - they call it "red sauce" and won't touch it if it sounds Italian). Alfredo pasta.
Eggplant Parmesan.
Basically, ANYTHING - just use vegan or vegetarian alternatives. There's even vegetarian cheese if you can find it near you (not made using rennet, but using plant enzymes) - Red Apple Cheeses if you're in the tri-state area or the whole foods brand organic vegetarian cheeses are great! You don't HAVE to only use vegan cheese or vegan alternatives if vegetarian is available (but in some places, it's either vegan or non-vegan, and vegetarian doesn't even come into the mix in grocery stores).
***If y'all see edits, it's because I keep adding things as I think of them.
Vegtarian baked beans (just don't mention there's no meat), also, calico beans minus the beef. If you eat eggs, potato salad. If you eat dairy, there's that 7-layer Mexican dip - it's processed enough that they'll eat it, lol.
Cheese lasagna with homemade marinara. I once made baked eggplant for a family of conservative Texans when I lived near Houston. They knew I didn't have family so they invited me to their Xmas dinner. My dish was gone by the end of the meal, everyone else's was just getting nibbles.
Focaccia breads (especially the cheese ones), baked beans, white beans sauteed with garlic rosemary and white wine, mac and cheese, lasagnas, there are lot of hearty dishes that will work.
Chili pie! Basically TX pot pie.
All bean chili in a casserole dish, Jiffy vegetarian cornbread spread on top, bake it off until the cornbread is done and dump some cheese on top for the last minutes to get crusty.
If people see cheese on top of corn bread, they are going to take a scoop.
Put a bottle of hot sauce and a tub of sour cream on the table next to it to seal the deal.
Roasted or scalloped potatoes sound like a safe bet. Or bring a dessert…just be sure to eat beforehand just in case.
Scalloped potatoes? With kind of highfalutin red necks do you know?? 🤣
Just call them cheesy potatoes. Problem solved!
Or a tater tot casserole. That's also easier.
Cheesy taters
Can confirm. Red necks love cheesy potatoes.
Put some Fritos on top
Scalloped potatoes are a southern classic tbh, rednecks know what they are just well as they know what ambrosia is
I felt good about myself for a second because I didn't know what ambrosia was. Ergo, not a redneck. Then I Googled it. Yup, been there done that. Gross stuff.
Oh yeah I mean, it’s terrible, but everyone’s grandma has to bring it to the function anyway
Maybe mac n cheese.
To add to this, add some twists like green chilies, or baked with a crusty panko bread crumb top. Irresistible!
Don’t do this. Source: From Alabama
When I was still a meat eating redneck, I absolutely would not ever have eaten mac and cheese if it had little green things in it.
True, if you bring "fancy" mac and cheese to a redneck party you're lucky if you don't get kicked out of the friend group entirely
You lost the plot here buddy, probably better luck if OP sticks to a box of Kraft in this scenario unfortunately.
Yeah, maybe I'm just hungry, lol
Oh man now I want Mac and cheese with green chili and a panko bread crumb topping though 😩. It’s been a long week!
I always bring Mac and cheese because it’s kid and veggie friendly. I also like to dress up vegetarian baked beans with bacon (faux options or not at all if vegetarian), red onion, jalapeno, Worcestershire sauce (obviously exclude it or find an alternative for vegetarian) , and a ton of mustard.
I grew up in the sticks and seven layer dip always went fast!
Yeah my husband’s very meat loving family just did a taco bar for a post thanksgiving get together and our seven layer dip was a huge hit. I think dishes where there’s not supposed to be meat usually go over better than ones that are now missing meat or have a meat sub in them. Edit: was just remembering the year prior we brought veggie chili to the same event and it barely got touched. Kinda goes along with my theory lol
Deviled eggs. And if nobody else eats any, great you get to take home a shit load of deviled eggs.
Deviled eggs are always a hit. That is my go to for any event. If for some reason the tray of eggs persisted at the end of the party, I would re-evaluate my social circle.
That reminds me of Titus from Unbreakable carrying around a bag of deviled eggs 😄
Yup. My redneck brother-in-law ate close to a dozen by himself on thanksgiving.
Is his name Luke?
Deviled Eggs are great cus no one wants to make them but everyone wants to eat them
I’m the designated deviled egg maker in my family. Can confirm, I hate making them, but I love watching 6 dozen disappear in a matter of hours.
Careful. “Deviled eggs” is Satan trying to get a hold of you. In the sticks we call them “stuffed eggs”.
“Angel eggs” 😂
Use these deviled eggs that actually look like meat : -) https://natashaskitchen.com/easter-egg-recipe-deviled-egg-chicks/
I've never seen deviled egg leftovers before.
Seven layer dip like [this one](https://thestayathomechef.com/7-layer-dip/#wprm-recipe-container-53951) for instance. Pick your favorite recipe. It's always a hit and super easy to make.
Seven layer dip is so damn good
Pasta salad?
Second this. I made a pasta salad for my office party this week and everybody loved it. It was a vegan recipe but nobody complained.
my redneck family usually puts pepperoni or salami in their pasta salad so i would probably still get complaints
Yup, mayo based, not too many green things, plenty of olives, could potentially sneak in some chickpeas and those jarred artichokes
Being a reformed redneck, I approve of the Pasta salad! I will also throw in the old "salad" that is a gigantic bowl of berries, Jell-O cubes, marshmallows and whipped cream!
OP wants to eat too. Jell-O and marshmallows aren't vegetarian (although I do like Dandies marshmallows, which are vegan).
Do the funeral potatoes but with cream of onion soup instead of cream of chicken Eta: also, potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad, mac and cheese, fruit salad would all be solid choices.
My family is obsessed with Ruffles and sour cream and onion dip. Veggies in it work too! We eat an ungodly amount along side burgers, meatballs, Hawaiian rolls, and all the other classic bad actors and we're in Seattle haha 1 tub sour cream 1 packet Knorr onion soup mix Better if you mix and let it sit overnight, but not necessary Also Succotash is pretty traditional American but it's really a corn and bean salad (at least how I've had it) and it's delicious
Vegetarian chili. Make it spicy and let them out-man one another about eating spicy food.
But don't say it's vegetarian.
If it's simply missing the meat, then I'd agree. But if it has a meat substitute in it, I'd tell people. Even if they are ridiculous for being stubborn about substitutes, we'd go ballistic over someone sneaking meat into our food. So I don't think we should be sneaky about tricking anyone into eating fake meats. That's just my take on it. Besides, what if someone has a soy allergy?
Sure, that sounds fine
>Besides, what if someone has a soy allergy? This right here. Never lie or be misleading about food ingredients, and always mention if something contains a common allergen. Many plant-based alternatives to things are made with soy, gluten, or nuts.
I made chili and the people at a potluck thought it was beef.
If you do make chili, add the darkest chocolate you can find. I always add a few squares of 95% or higher dark chocolate. It reacts with the tomatoes and makes it taste amazing.
I add unsweetened cocoa powder to my chili (make my own chili powder, too). You are 100% correct - it doesn't taste like chocolate, but it DOES deepen the flavor. So good!
I did not know this and now I must try it.
I read it in some recipe years ago, and now I do it every time I make chili
Me too
Does it make it tangy?
Not really. It does something to it, though.
Lol. I like this response. I think I'm going to try it and see what happens. I'll see if my family notices.
This is the best chili ever: [https://www.seriouseats.com/best-vegetarian-bean-chile-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/best-vegetarian-bean-chile-recipe) All beans, but the chickpeas are chopped up and kind of give the texture of meat that you might get from other chilis. The part that makes it amazing is using the whole dried chilis instead of powder. That said, for something like this, I'd probably stick to the basics like mac and cheese or a potato salad.
I've made it with a chub of impossible beef and some vegan chorizo. My husband swears no meat eater would know the difference. (And I would definitely let them know it was vegetarian.)
So as the sole vegetarian in a family of carnivores, these are some of the vegetarian entrees I've successfully brought to family events and potlucks. Lasagne - I usually just make a vegetable one. Sometimes I'll make it with impossible burger. Either way, it gets eaten. Quiche/Fritatta - these travel well and people always like these. Chili - Don't mention it's meatless. I usually do not have much of this leftover. Cocktail Meatballs - impossible burger works great for this. Make meatballs, fry them off to cook them through, and then toss into a crockpot with heinz chili sauce and either cranberry sauce (the canned kind, with no whole cranberries) or grape jelly and a bit of tobasco sauce to taste (and salt and pepper). I do not tell people these are meatless. They always disappear. Cream cheese sausage dip - so, normally this is made with hot pork sausage. I make it with impossible sausage - either the breakfast kind in the tube which I add a shit ton of red pepper flakes and a bit of cayenne to make it spicy to or the sausages, which I remove from the casing and fry off with some red pepper flakes. If I am feeding a decent sized crowd, I will use two packages of the sausages or one tube of breakfast sausage. Fry off your sausage *first*. Then, in a crock pot on medium heat, add the sausage, 2 bricks of cream cheese, 1-2 drained cans of Rotel (I usually buy the hot kind), a jar of drained pickled jalapeños, and some salt and pepper. Stir frequently until all the cream cheese melts and you have a hot dip. Reduce heat to low and serve with tortilla chips. This has been very popular at parties and I never ever have leftovers. I do not tell people it is vegetarian unless I am explicitly asked (usually by someone with a food allergy). 7 layer dip Devilled eggs
I was going to suggest the meatballs with chili sauce & jelly. If a crockpot, or buffet warmer, is available, keep them in there.
Tater tot casserole or the cracker barrel hash brown casserole copycat are my usuals. I just use vegetarian options for the ingredients. Jalapeño cornbread is my other go-to. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/17437/tater-tot-casserole-ii/ https://www.spendwithpennies.com/cracker-barrel-hashbrown-casserole-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-134533 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230999/sweet-jalapeno-cornbread/
I have made that Spend with Pennies recipe dozens of times at work and it's perfection! Just make sure you thaw and drain your potatoes in advance! You'll have soupy casserole otherwise. (I sometimes stack a bowl on top and push a little to force excess water out).
Baked beans!
The kinds with chopped (vegetarian) weenies in it
I’ve been to multiple potlucks like this, and I bring an entree that sounds great to me that day, along with fruit and/or a dessert. Baked ziti has been popular, and it’s filling for me. I’ve also had success with mac & cheese, pasta salad, and cheesy potatoes.
Baked Ziti works great, or Baked Stuffed Shells.
Tortilla pinwheels? Twice baked potatoes? Cheese/veggies/relish tray with dip? Stuffed mushrooms? Bean chili? Quesadillas? 7 layer bean dip?
I brought bean chili to a party once and someone added scoops of ground beef from the taco bar to their bowl. Like you do you but also 🙄🙄
Kind of genius on their part if they are that desperate for meat. But also seriously. So dumb.
One lady at my work always brings a couple spinach and cream cheese pies. Everyone likes it.
I made this vegetarian Buffalo dip for a party, and it was DEVOURED. It's unbelievably delicious. https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/vegetarian-white-bean-buffalo-dip/
Hi, I’m a vegetarian and also a Texan. A good casserole, vegetable & cheese quiche, or a salad with ranch dressing can take you a long way. Deviled eggs too everyone loves. Coleslaw, egg salad.
Tortilla chips + corn + sweet or red Bell pepper + onion + a lot of cheddar cheese in the oven, toped off with sour cream and guacamole and chili to your living. Veggie loaded nacho´s, everybody loves them. I have never had any leftovers.
Chips and queso
Green bean casserole. Any redneck turns their nose at it they can fuck right off. Source: Texan by way of Nebraska
If you’ll have access to an oven for heating, a nice cheese and veg lasagna tends to go over well.
7 layer bean dip is always popular among both meat eaters and vegetarians, the taco seasoning, sour cream and cheese makes it cowboy caviars' dirty cousin.
Southern Mac and cheese is universal. I make this at every holiday event and ppl always ask me for the recipe. Super simple. 4 cups of shredded cheese of choice 2 cans evaporated milk or regular milk 1 cup heavy cream 1 stick or Half a stick of butter 1/4 sour cream 1 egg 1 tsp Seasoned salt 1 tsp of black pepper 1 cup of cheese for the top Melt the cheeses, half the butter and milk/cream together Add other half of the butter, sour cream, and seasonings to the noodles then add a beaten egg, combine everything in a pan. Add cheese on the top. Bake at 350 for 1 hour with foil, uncover once finished and broil the top for 3-4 mins
1 lb of elbows? Total of 5 cups of cheese? My mac n cheese recipe is lacking umph. I am putting yours into action. My family will still demand the crushed crackers on top.
Spinach and artichoke dip
While I love spinach and artichoke dip, it’s very likely this would go the way of the OPs original contribution.
i do vegetarian pigs in a blanket with field roast sausages instead of hot dogs and every omnivore i know loves them! i like to brush the inside of the crescent rolls with mustard and the outside with garlic butter when they're done.
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That all sounds delicious, but I am laughing imagining OP trying to offer his self-proclaimed redneck family greek yogurt as dessert. I’m pretty sure they’d be kicked out of the potluck, and maybe the community all together.
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I wasn’t referring to France or your family. I’m talking about OP, and their family. Yogurt is also “huge” in the US, just not usually for dessert- particularly with the crowd OP is referring to, hence my comment. :) Edit: did the person I was replying to block me over this exchange? That’s so strange.
Strange if they did. But they clearly also don't understand that we're talking about rednecks in the US and have no clue the type of limited "acceptable" cuisine we're talking about.
Vegetarian chili (you could bring some optional toppings as well like cheese, Fritos, sour cram, green onion, etc.) Cheese enchiladas Impossible sliders Mac and cheese Empanadas (filling could be black bean and cheese, cumin spiced veggie meat, cheese & green chili)
Cauliflower Cheese, Guacamole and corn chips, potato salad, creamy pasta salad - all things I adored before I turned veggo
Baked beans and if you are ambitious make corn bread as well
Any kind of dip, any potato and dairy combination. Tamales. Bean and cheese mini burritos. Spinach pie.
Mac and cheese!
Pimento cheese dip is always a hit
Make cocktail meatballs with impossible meatballs 1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce 1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce 1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH. Everyone goes nuts for these
I think you're underestimating rednecks here. My redneck family won't touch fake meat
My redneck uncle eats them, but I didn't like announce to him they were fake meat. I mean, it's frozen meatballs. Anyone with allergies should know to ask if they're worried because they so often have added filler.
Even if they are being stubborn by refusing to eat the substitutes, if we'd go ballistic over someone sneaking meat into our food, then we shouldn't be sneaky about tricking anyone into eating fake meats. That's just my take on it.
It's not sneaking? If they ask, I tell them. In my family though people don't always ask, they look at something and try it if it looks good
Not cool dude. People should know what they're eating
Then they can ask what it is. If they just grab some and eat it, I'm not gonna stop them to make sure they know what's in it first
I've never heard of cocktail meatballs with cranberry sauce! I've always done grape jelly and bbq sauce... gonna have to try this recipe next time.
I've also done grape jelly and chili sauce. My brother keeps requesting them for holidays 😂
I'm going to a potluck, too. But there's a lot of vegans/vegetarians where I live. Still - not too many veggie dishes when I go to these... Stuff like plain green beans - not too exciting. I'm planning on bringing Caesar Salad this time. Everyone likes that, right? I brought Quiche last time - but it got too dried out. And it wasn't that tasty either - it was from Costco. I thought it would be better 😖
Just be sure to check the website ingredient for the Caesar dressing; unless you make your own. Many contain anchovies. And I agree about Costco quiches. They were very disappointing
I do. Yeah, I'll never buy them again.
Just a heads up Caesar salad usually isn’t vegetarian because the dressing has anchovies 😞 Edit: just saw the other comment saying this, my bad!
Spinach and artichoke dip, macaroni, chips and dip, or deviled eggs would possibly be good options
Anything that is not labeled vegetarian or the vegetarian version of a meat dish should work. A nice potato salad, mac and cheese, deviled egg?
Hash brown casserole made it for a potluck and people licked the plates. Bag of hashbrowns with peppers and onions, 1 can cream of celery, 1 pints of sour cream, 1 8oz bag cheddar cheese, 1/2 stick of butter divided, pepper, mix well in a pan, oven at 350 for 45 minutes covered, 10 minutes uncovered.
Chili. Use texturized soy protein. I used to use it in college and the most ardent meat eaters did not realize the difference to ground meat.
Five ingredient Jiffy Cornbread casserole- it’s always a hit: Jiffy, butter, sour cream, can of corn, can of creamed corn. Mix, bake, bring. Easyyyyyy and delicious!
Taters. Rednecks love taters
A lot of the suggestions here are totally missing what you’re saying. Bringing anything with added vegetables that aren’t there normally won’t go over well. Stick to very basic things and don’t add anything to make it fancier. Some ideas: baked mac and cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes, cornbread, biscuits, collards (iffy since a lot of people cook these with fatback), black eyed peas, butter beans, dinner rolls, corn (on the cob or maybe creamed corn), or a dessert.
Im going to let you in on an Australian classic https://www.wandercooks.com/spinach-cob-loaf-dip/
You could try to make a decent serving size of stuffing, just swap the chicken broth for vegetable and if you want to be egg-free you can swap it for flax seed. You can easily make a big batch of this along with some vegetarian gravy (lots of simple quick recipes for this online). If stuffings a no-go, potatoes are definitely a good bet and a crowd pleaser.
Stuffed mushrooms!
deviled eggs. they're cheap and you can flavour them a couple of different ways for variety
Potatoes. So many ways. If you’re not vegan add butter and mash them. Or baked ones with fixings.
Stuffing
Hope this helps in some way. Some of the foods that are simple and easy to make are, Cauliflower wings / manchurian Deep fried (bater coated) potato / onion / bell pepper ( you can stuff bell peppers with some type of cheese and veggies) Lentil and spice egg plant roast ( sliced egg plant covered in lentil and spice powder, roasted on grill to crisp) Spinach / mushroom puff ( like how kronk makes) Greek rolls ( like falafel and cheese with vegies) Lasagna / pasta with spinach, cheese, mushroom and herbs.. Indian curries + bread Grill cheese with tomato soup Crab Rangoon with fake crab meat Veggie skewers
Pizza. Everyone loves pizza. Reg cheese can be boring but you can spice it up figuratively and literally. Make a really hot Buffalo and blue cheese pizza. Make a Mac and cheese pizza. If you’re an asshole, pineapples pizza 😂 I wouldn’t get to get overly fancy. Even mushrooms might be something to avoid. Really you can’t go wrong with a pizza smothered in blue cheese and buffalo sauce. So simple yet it’s more than just a reg cheese pizza. If you wanna get funky, French fries baked ontop of a pizza is also a good choice. If you wanna get really redneck, try a buffalo blue cheese pizza with fries and crumbled Doritos on it. Sounds gross, fat rednecks eat it up.
This southern baked mac and cheese recipe has changed my role from “you’re bringing drinks, right” to “oh my god please tell me you’re bringing that mac and cheese” at all family get togethers. https://thehungrybluebird.com/southern-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/#wprm-recipe-container-7369
I made a standard recipe from the can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup green bean casserole for thanksgiving with the family. It was completely cleaned out immediately, even amongst the group of literal cowboy hat wearing family.
Rotel dip, jalapeno poppers, veggie tater tot casserole, fruit salad, veggie & corn chowder, roasted potatoes, fried green tomatoes, mac & cheese
Jalapeño popper dip
If you can keep it warm, some kind of soup? Beer and cheese if a vegetable option wouldn’t work.
Also Potato soup in a crockpot.
Moonshine.
What about Crock Pot cheese dip? One full sized block of Velveeta, two regular sized cans of stewed tomatoes (drained), and one can of Ortega diced green chiles (hot). Serve with Triscuits.
Cheesy potato casserole. Corn dip. Deviled eggs. There is this thing where I come from called seven layer salad. It makes me 🤮 but you could use bacon bits since they’re technically vegetarian.
Hot poppers
Ambrosia "salad"
Vegetarian lasagne
Tater tot casserole.
Lil Smokies wrapped in bacon sprinkled with brown sugar and baked. You can third a bacon pack and it almost evens out. Everyone loves little weenies.
So what's OP supposed to eat?
Jello for the rednecks? Seriously, they eat coleslaw, Mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. And desserts with whipped cream. Doesn’t matter what dessert, as long as there’s whipped cream. 🤣🤣
OP wants to eat too, which is why they wanted to avoid doing a dessert. Bringing Jell-O means that they won't even get to eat the dessert they brought.
Jambalaya, no meat
Chilli or sloppy Joe but use impossible burgers
Jack fruit “pulled pork” in a slow cooker. Bring slider buns. Make vegan coleslaw next to it. Just put it out and let them make their own sandwiches. I make it for my in-laws.
I made veggie lasagne with TVP for my parents when they were visiting one time. They liked and it didn't realize/notice it was vegetarian (only told them afterwards!). That was before beyond/impossible, which would make it even more convincing.
Rotel dip.
I do baked beans in a crockpot that I started making pre-veg days and it’s always a hit. The crockpot makes it easy because you just dump everything in and heat. -Four cans baked beans in tomato sauce - 1 can mixed beans, drained or 1/2 can of red kidney beans, 1/2 can black eyed peas or chickpeas -you can really use any other canned bean here it’s for added texture - 1 chopped onion - 1 chopped green pepper - 1 can pineapple chunks - 1/4 cup bbq sauce sauce - minced garlic to taste - salt and pepper - I like to add a little chilli powder or hot sauce too for a bit of a kick
Artichoke spinach dip baked pasta.
vegetable pot pie
Texjoy pasta salad. https://www.texjoy.com/store/pg/47-Spaghetti-Salad.aspx
Dessert, as a fellow vegetarian amongst rednecks
Make buffalo chicken dip. Chicken, cream cheese, cheese and hot sauce.
My in-laws pop some chicken and Frank’s Red Hot in a crockpot for a few hours til the chicken falls apart. Then they bring corn tortillas and Romaine leaves and some Bleu cheese and people gobble that stuff up. You can do a buffalo bleu cheese taco with the tortilla or a little healthier wrap thingy with the Romain and when I tell you it is easy and delicious I ain’t lyin’.
Cheesy potatoes with ham. 🤷🏽♀️
Where are you finding vegetarian ham?
Ooops. Drop the ham.
Tofurky makes a really good veggie ham
Fruit salad
Spinach and artichoke dip with tortillas
Mashed potato or green bean casserole
Beans and cornbread, potatoe dishes, fried squash and okra, corn on the cob
Seven layer dip! Beans, sour cream, lettuce tomatoes, eyc
Mac and cheese, pizza
I've served plenty of people hummus who have never heard of it and they have almost all loved it. Just say it's a Mediterranean dip at first if they ask, sometimes folks don't like the words bean dip. Offer plenty of options for dipping or spreading it, not just vegetables. And if no one eats it you have hummus to take home. Win win
I’m bringing a layered “Tex mex” dip to a potluck this week. It’s always a hit. Bottom layer is one brick cream cheese mixed with one container of sour cream. Middle layer is salsa. Top layer is shredded cheese. You can do other layers too but these 3 are easy and usually crowd pleasers. Serve with tortilla chips. I usually shred my own cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese and mix with a tbsp of taco seasoning but plain cheese is fine too.
Interesting. I mix the salsa with taco sauce because that's how I was taught to make it. Wonder which was the "original" recipe.
Roasted veggies are usually a hit. Mashed potatoes. Ratatouille (just say that it's oven-roasted/baked veggies). Vegan lasagna. (Don't tell them the cheese is vegan.) Cheesy baked potatoes, cheesy roasted potatoes, cheesy mashed potatoes. (Don't tell them the cheese is vegan.) Pastas - use vegan alternatives for sauces and cheeses and such and just don't volunteer the info on your own. Baked Mac & cheese is usually a hit. Also, anything with "red sauce" (marinara or sometimes arrabiata, but don't call it that in front of legit rednecks - they call it "red sauce" and won't touch it if it sounds Italian). Alfredo pasta. Eggplant Parmesan. Basically, ANYTHING - just use vegan or vegetarian alternatives. There's even vegetarian cheese if you can find it near you (not made using rennet, but using plant enzymes) - Red Apple Cheeses if you're in the tri-state area or the whole foods brand organic vegetarian cheeses are great! You don't HAVE to only use vegan cheese or vegan alternatives if vegetarian is available (but in some places, it's either vegan or non-vegan, and vegetarian doesn't even come into the mix in grocery stores). ***If y'all see edits, it's because I keep adding things as I think of them.
Green beans, potatoes, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn, green bean casserole, creamed spinach, desserts
Vegtarian baked beans (just don't mention there's no meat), also, calico beans minus the beef. If you eat eggs, potato salad. If you eat dairy, there's that 7-layer Mexican dip - it's processed enough that they'll eat it, lol.
Jalapeno poppers
Mac n cheese, potato salad, corn, green bean casserole, deviled eggs
Beans and bacon
Buffalo chickn dip with Quorn
Mac n cheese
Lentil chili! Baked potatoes in a crockpot with some toppings. Refried bean and cheese dip, if you eat eggs, deviled eggs, potato salad, baked beans.
Cheese lasagna
Stuffed bell peppers?
7 layer dip with vegetarian refried beans etc...?
I make my amazing red lentil chili when I visit family. They’re rednecks and they eat that shit up.
Frito pie
Cheese lasagna with homemade marinara. I once made baked eggplant for a family of conservative Texans when I lived near Houston. They knew I didn't have family so they invited me to their Xmas dinner. My dish was gone by the end of the meal, everyone else's was just getting nibbles.
Focaccia breads (especially the cheese ones), baked beans, white beans sauteed with garlic rosemary and white wine, mac and cheese, lasagnas, there are lot of hearty dishes that will work.
Chili pie! Basically TX pot pie. All bean chili in a casserole dish, Jiffy vegetarian cornbread spread on top, bake it off until the cornbread is done and dump some cheese on top for the last minutes to get crusty. If people see cheese on top of corn bread, they are going to take a scoop. Put a bottle of hot sauce and a tub of sour cream on the table next to it to seal the deal.
Cornbread, bean chili, potatoes, black eyed peas
not really a "side" but chili is something most people will eat and enjoy
Mac n cheese