What to make for a picnic night?
Macaroni salad, potato salad, and coleslaw are always party favorites, plus they're easy to make the night before and pack in a cooler for your picnic. Just choose any one of these make ahead picnic recipes and enjoy! Your gang is sure to love these cool and refreshing deli salads. Captain's Coleslaw.
What to bring to a picnic?
The best appetizers to bring to a picnic are those that you can easily make ahead, like dips, spreads, and other picnic finger foods. We've included both hot and cold recipes that are sure to be a hit as your gang dives in fingers-first. These make ahead picnic recipes are a must-have on your perfect picnic menu. Fresh Avocado Dip.
Can you have a picnic without a sandwich?
No picnic is complete without sandwiches! Picnic sandwiches are a cinch to make at home and travel easily, making them the ideal make ahead picnic recipe. Whether you prefer fancy wraps or classic sandwiches, you'll love our suggestions for sandwiches to round out your perfect picnic menu.
Picnic All-Stars
Every great picnic starts with good cheese, cured meats, marinated olives, roasted nuts, and other easy nibbles.
Packable Salads & Do-Ahead Dips
These packable, portable, and crowd-pleasing salads are the best way to turn a cheese-and-crackers picnic into a real-deal meal.
Portable Sandwiches & Make-Ahead Mains
These delicious mains don't need to be refrigerated and are great at room temp: perfect for a picnic!
Sweet Treats
The cheese is important, but cookies, cake, and pie bar is just as necessary for making the ultimate picnic spread.
Big Batch Drinks
Don't forget the drinks! Make a big batch of punch or keep it booze-free with a non-alcoholic cocktail or flavored sparkling water.
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These pickled iceberg leaves are a good reminder that meat isn’t always required to make a sandwich substantial and well-spiced.
Muffuletta Sandwich
You'll be the envy of everyone in the park with one these muffuletta sandwiches piled high with salami, ham, cheeses, and olives. "WOW - what a sandwich!" raves Jilian. "We got Italian bread from one of our favorite bakeries and this was fabulous! I threw some kalamata olives into the mix and used high-quality meats and cheeses for this.
All Natural Strawberry Lemonade
This five-star lemonade is better than anything you'll buy at the store. What better way to use fresh summer strawberries?
Black Bean and Cucumber Salad
Take advantage of those bargain summer veggies, and make this delicious summer salad. The citrus dressing really sets it apart.
Magnificent Macaroni Salad
This classic creamy pasta salad is the perfect complement to any kind of picnic food. You can even use it as your base recipe and add other tasty bits such as bacon, crab, shrimp, ham...you get the idea.
Curried Chicken Tea Sandwiches
Apples and dried cranberries add crunch and sweetness to savory curried chicken salad.
Asian Chicken Salad in a Jar
This mason jar salad is perfectly portable and a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken.
Corn Dog Bites
Kids and adults will love these home-made corn-dogs. Don't forget to bring some ketchup or sweet mustard to go with them.
What is grilled corn salad?
This grilled corn salad recipe is the ideal way to enjoy the sweet and crunchy flavor of cooked corn when you're craving something extra. Perfect for summer picnics, this tasty side dish salad delivers mega flavor, thanks to avocado, feta cheese, and plenty of chopped fresh herbs and vegetables.
What is a caprese sandwich?
This Italian Caprese sandwich is a classic vegetarian sub that is packed full of flavor, while also being super easy to make, with only a handful of ingredients, making it a great picnic sandwich choice. Thick, creamy slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, sweet red tomatoes, herbaceous basil, rich extra virgin olive oil, and tangy balsamic glaze are a flavor combination made in heaven.
What is crab roll?
A seafood salad roll and warm weather just go together, and this classic crab roll is a delicious addition to your picnic basket. Canned or frozen crab meat is mixed with a spicy lemon mayonnaise and nestled into a brioche roll. The special finishing touch is the homemade pickled vegetables layered on top, adding a nice tangy bite.
What is roasted garlic pasta salad?
Roasted garlic pasta salad makes a perfect picnic dish! It's a fun new take on regular old pasta salad. The roasted garlic adds a sweet and garlicky flavor, while the tomatoes and spinach provide a nice, fresh pop of color and taste.
What are Thai basil wraps?
These crunchy, flavorful Thai basil chicken lettuce wraps filled with yummy seasoned chicken, herbs and vegetables are a fabulous snack or light lunch idea for picnics. Bursting with flavor and fun to eat, tasty, nutritious, protein-rich wraps are easy to make with this popular recipe.
What is a good dessert to serve at a picnic?
Fruit salad is always a welcome dessert at picnics, especially if you've indulged on lunch. This easy, elegant marinated fruit salad goes beyond the usual cut up fruit, with an easy honey and citrus dressing adding a special flavor to honeydew and cantaloupe melon balls.
How long does it take to make broccoli slaw with raisins?
This light and easy broccoli slaw with raisins is full of flavor, thanks to a few inspired ingredients. Easy to make in about 20 minutes, with a homemade creamy dressing that's so delicious and easy to whip up, it makes a wonderful salad idea for picnics this summer.
What are cheese straws?
Cheese straws are an all-time favorite Southern snack for parties, hostess gifts, and any occasion that might arise because they’re so easy to toss in a tin and take with you.
What is the best weather for a picnic?
Sunny days, blue skies, and a gentle breeze make for perfect picnic weather - there is nothing like a hike in the country and an outdoor meal of your favorite picnic foods. Paired with a soft blanket and a patch of green grass, these easy and impressive picnic recipes will enliven any outdoor event.
What is the best drink to drink on a picnic?
This lime soda is a refreshing drink for a picnic. For an adult version, stir in 2/3 cup vodka. The leftover simple syrup can always be stirred into unsweetened iced tea.
Cantaloupe With Spicy Bacon-Cashew Crumble
Juicy summer melon with a salty-sweet crunchy bacon topping makes for a low-effort but universally crowd-pleasing appetizer.
Stone Fruit Caramel
Combine perfectly ripe, in-season stone fruit (like peaches, plums, or cherries!) with a rich sweet caramel for the perfect ice cream, pound cake, and yogurt topping.
Chopped Salad Supreme With Kimchi Vinaigrette
When you start with good kimchi, all you need is a little neutral oil to make a vinaigrette that will flatter any selection of raw and blanched vegetables.
Slice-and-Bake Jammy Pinwheel Cookies
This one-bowl cookie dough requires no machinery and can be dressed up in a million ways.
Gado-Gado Summer Rolls
Lara Lee’s crunchy, bright, and veg-packed summer rolls are a cross-cultural twist on two street food icons: refreshing Vietnamese gỏi cuốn and Indonesian gado-gado.
Corn, Plum, and Farro Salad with Nuoc Cham Dressing
Make the most of juicy summer stone fruit with this sweet-and-salty Vietnamese-inspired farro salad, studded with grilled corn and ripe plums.
Blackberry and Dried Apricot Slab Pie
A craveable, shareable, crowd-pleasing pie for every summer picnic and party.
