When I entered the culinary profession, family gatherings gradually began looking more like “catered” parties rather than the holiday potluck affairs of yore with a hodge-podge of Chinese and American dishes. Eager to show off my new-found skills, I sweated and stressed over curating the perfect menus while doing most of the cooking. All I can say is thank goodness I’m over that. Now, I’m perfectly content to just contribute to the family potluck and not take over. I mean come on, who the heck has the time for that? I much prefer to concentrate on one or two (okay, maybe four) great dishes, which is where these 16 potluck recipes come in. Designed to both comfort and please a crowd, they’re perfect for festive cold-weather gatherings. Whether it’s a cheesy pasta bake, cozy chicken pot pie, flavorful hot dip, satisfying side dish, or an irresistible dessert, there’s no need to stress about what to make—just try one of these recipes.