Many of are staying near home so why not pack a picnic! Check out our best picnic food ideas—from potato salads to chicken salads to fun sandwich recipes. Plus, we have summery drinks and yummy picnic desserts including our best brownies.
Some of our favorite memories are family picnics. On the next sunny day, head outdoors—whether it’s your outdoor patio or a nearby park! Find a shady spot, spread out a picnic blanket, bring a book or board game, and enjoy the day!
While a traditional wicker basket is romantic, a simply tote or cooler is perfectly practical. Don’t forget utensils, perhaps a cutting board to use as a flat surface, and a bag for clean-up.
3 Potato Salads
German-Style Potato Salad
A true German Potato Salad recipe combines hot potatoes, vinegar, and hot bacon fat. If you’re seeking a delicious savory potato salad—without mayonnaise—try this adaptation of theclassic.
American Potato Salad
Our version of the picnic classic, this American-Style Potato Salad has a light and fresh taste and takes little time to prepare!
Potato Salad With Chicken
This Potato Salad With Green Beans and Chicken dish is loaded with fresh ingredients—and no mayonnaise.
2 Pasta Salads
Pasta Salad With Spinach and Artichoke
A colorful no-mayo pasta salad that’s full of flavor. Adapt to whatever is on the pantry shelf—tomato instead of pimiento, green olives instead of black ones, or perhaps a different cheese.
Photo: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein
Kat’s Tortellini Salad Bowl
This tortellini salad combines the saltiness of olives, the creaminess of mozzarella cheese, and the freshness of spinach into one flavorful dish.
Photo credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
2 Salads
Curry Chicken Salad
Curry adds flavor to this light chicken salad made with nuts and apple chunks for a filling lunch. Serve as a salad alone or in a sandwich.
Seven-Layer Salad
This attractive Seven Layer Salad looks great when assembled in a clear glass bowl. This salad must be made about 8 hours before serving, which makes it very convenient for potlucks when you don’t have time for a lot of last-minute preparations.
Photo: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein
Chips and Salsa
Summer Salsa Salad
This prize-winning salsa can be served as a side with tortilla chips or as a salad. For easy carrying to a picnic, pack in a sealable bowl!
Beet Chips
Move over potato chips—beet chips have you, well, beat! These easy-to-make vegetable chips are as beautiful as they are nutritious.
Chicken Wing
Sesame-Ginger Wings
These wings are good cold–great in a picnic basket.They’re already fully flavored with sesame and ginger, so need need to worry about a dip.
Photo: Coffeemill/Shutterstock
Sandwiches
Crunchy Chicken Salad
Our Crunchy Chicken Salad has zip and zest with tart apples, crunchy pine nuts, and protein-packed quinoa! This recipe works as a chicken salad on its own, too.
Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Sandwich
Coat one side of each slice of foccacia or French bread with pesto or olive oil. Layer on the tomato slices, season with salt and pepper, add the mozzarella slices and fresh basil leaves, and top with a second piece of bread. Wrap in foil if transporting.
Picnic Desserts
Best Brownies
Everybody has a favorite brownie recipe, but these homemade brownies are hard to beat! Moist, rich, and fudgy.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are super easy to make and extremely delicious. They are great with semi-sweet chocolate chips, but we recommend trying them with milk chocolate chips for a truly mouth-watering treat.
Picnic-Friendly Drink
Strawberry Lemonade
Our easy Strawberry Lemonade is loaded with fresh ripe strawberries and zesty tart lemon!
Photo: Amallia Eka/Shutterstock
More Picnic Recipes
- Green Beans Vinaigrette
- Cold Apple Bisque
- Summer Couscous and Shrimp Salad (or, substitute chicken)
- Three Bean Salad
- Main-Dish Picnic Biscuits
- Seven-Layer Salad
- Roasted Potato Salad
- Cold Macaroni Salad
- New-England Style Coleslaw
- Pickled Daikon
- Italian-Style Pasta Salad
- Crunchy Dill Pickles
Picnic Desserts
- Brown Sugar Cookies
- Elderberry Pie
- Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Strawberry Delight Cake
- Best Brownies
- Date Bars
Drink Recipes
If you plan to grill, check out our great Grilling Recipes and Tips.
Reader Comments
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Recipes
These all look fabulous. I will be trying the salad and sandwich recipes this week. Thank you! I love your website!
mother day
great ideas for any occasion. it was helpful for I was looking for mother days ideas.