63 Best Picnic Food Ideas

Crunchy green and red cabbage serves as a colorful backdrop for this miso-ginger slaw with shredded chicken. There’s lots of great flavor and texture in this hearty slaw.

This slaw is magic. Red cabbage, tart granny smith apples, the slight heat of jalapeño, a squeeze of bright lime juice and the refreshing flavors of mint and cilantro–it simply cannot be beat!

Creamy, a little sweet and a little tangy, this classic coleslaw recipe is a picnic must-have. Just be sure to keep it cool!

Wondering what to do with all those fresh summer tomatoes? Pack them in your picnic basket, of course!

Your tortilla chips have never been so happy to see a dip! If you're picnicking with a big crowd, this is a must-bring picnic recipe.

Pack it up in little to-go containers (we always save them for picnicking when we get takeout) and bring along homemade guacamole. It's a crowd and kid favorite, and a total must-have!

Hummus is one of our go-to picnic foods, and this jewel-hued roasted beet hummus is an instant mood booster, and a refreshing change from the store-bought stuff.

This easy, creamy carrot dip recipe gets a savory supercharge from a secret store-bought ingredient. It'd make a sunny addition to a beach picnic!

Everyone’s favorite dip gets a homemade makeover and best of all? You can make this protien-packed dip a few days ahead of time. Who doesn't love a picnic make-ahead!

A little savory and a little sweet with miles of cheesy goodness, our best pimento cheese recipe is an immediate classic. Grab some crackers and get the party started!

Seasoned with a ginger-spiked sweet and smoky sauce, this huli huli chicken recipe is the best way to bring Hawaiian vibes on your picnic blanket. Play some slack-key guitar on your favorite outdoor speaker and you're in picnic dreamland.

Picnic in the park, but make it dinner, too, with these yummy, easy chicken kebabs. They're delicious at room temperature, and so easy to eat with your fingers.

A quick marinade of lime, garlic, bright cilantro, and a touch of honey transforms boneless, skinless chicken thighs into the juicy surge of flavor that your picnic menu needs!

Sweet and savory, these super easy pineapple-dotted Hawaiian chicken kabobs are pure summertime fun.

A simple, quick homemade BBQ sauce is the secret to this oven-baked BBQ chicken thigh recipe. It cooks to sticky, sweet-savory perfection and makes them as deletable as they are easy. Hot picnic tip: Pack some extra wipes!

Seasoned with some of the defining flavors of Vietnamese cuisine—heady, citrusy, lemongrass, tons of fresh ginger, and fish sauce—these succulent chicken thighs are a true treat that proves that picnic food can be exciting, too!

Say hello to your new go-to grilled chicken thigh recipe with a hearty side of summer Succotash!

A mix of Greek yogurt, mayo, herbs, evoo and vinegar does double duty as a marinade for grilled chicken and a dressing for a crispy salad of romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and red onion.

Cooked low and slow, there’s nothing quite like tender pulled pork, and this pulled pork recipe is the very best we’ve ever made! Plus, this recipe works in the oven, slow-cooker, or Instant Pot! You can make it ahead of time, and just pack some to bring to the park.

This cold, crunchy broccoli salad—studded with crisp bacon, diced red onion and chewy raisins, then tossed in a creamy homemade dressing—is what all of your summer classic picnic food dreams are made of.

It's hardly an innovative picnic food idea, but classic macaroni salad is a classic for good reason. Just be sure to pack it in an insulated container with plenty of ice packs so that it says cool.

A cayenne-spiked buttermilk batter makes this classic fried chicken recipe golden brown and crisp on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. And yes, it's delicious at room temperature, too!

Though the name implies otherwise, these classic deviled eggs are nothing short of heavenly. A bit tricky to transport, but if you're walking to your picnic, a deviled egg plate (yes, there is such a thing) will get you there! And everyone at the picnic will be so grateful.

Creamy and a bit tangy, with ruby-pink radishes for a little crunch, this classic potato salad wins best in show, every time.

This crunchy salad has tons of fresh veggies, a creamy ranch dressing, and a healthy crumble of goat cheese and makes a perfect vegetarian picnic main dish.

Take all the greatest Italian salty, briny, tangy, pickly things and toss them with crunchy lettuce and a Parm-lemon dressing and you’ve got the best antipasto salad ever.

Salty salami, creamy mozzarella, olives, Parm, fresh basil and—oh yeah—some lettuce make this Italian chopped salad recipe truly crush-worthy.

This fresh, crunchy chopped salad is studded with bacon, dates and feta then doused in a yogurty, herby salad dressing. If you make it you might have a hard time not eating the whole bowl yourself.

Sturdy white beans and peppery arugula get dressed in a simple vinaigrette and topped with grilled pesto chicken. An easy and beautiful salad to put together when you’re craving something fresh!

It’s as easy as opening a few cans and adding some flavor powerhouses–lime juice, smoked paprika and honey! Gather the crew and head to the park with a bag of chips, it’s time to dig into this healthy, delicious black bean and corn salsa!

There’s few recipes where kidney beans take center stage, and 3 Bean Salad is one of the best reasons to open a can of this hearty bean. Stir them up with green beans and garbanzos for a classic trio! It's a make-ahead wonder and one of the unsung heroes of picnic recipes.

The name says it all. Our beloved Trader Joe’s smoked trout (no, seriously, it’s so good) makes regular old canned white beans into the easiest dinner ever.

Creamy and full of nutrition, our zesty, garlicky white bean hummus recipe is a delicious, easy spin on classic hummus.

A perfect make-ahead dish for any potluck or party, our cowboy caviar recipe is one we know you’ll be making over and over again even as the summer winds down.

Soft, creamy chickpeas with crunchy cucumber and a vinegary pop of pepperoncini, this salad has it all!

Bursting with Mediterranean goodness, this summery white bean salad is studded with crispy fried capers and drizzled in a rich and sharp anchovy vinaigrette. It'll be the start of your picnic spread, we promise!

An effortless and fresh melon and avocado salad is the perfect picnic recipe for a romantic picnic outing. Pair with some chilled rosé and golden hour and, well, we'll just give you two some privacy now.

This curried cauliflower quinoa salad with tahini dressing is so simple. It's the perfect vegetarian picnic main meal!

In the summertime our favorite expression is, if it grows together, it goes together, and that’s especially true of this corn, cucumber, and tomato salad with a honey lime dressing.

There’s a layer of flavor for everyone in a classic cobb salad. Crunchy, creamy, and rich, it is the best of all worlds.

Dressed with a chive vinaigrette, crunchy sunflower seeds and tart cranberries, this barley salad is an edible celebration of the cusp of spring.

A classic wedge salad is a favorite way to eat iceberg lettuce. Crispy and fresh with the best salad dressing. We’ve made a couple edits to the original wedge recipe, giving it a Mediterranean twist.

Cookie brittle: an imperfect name—we’re just not sure what else to call them!—for this perfect shortbread-ish chocolate chip cookie bar recipe.

The most classic, feel-good treat on the planet and truly an ideal picnic food. If all your kid eats at the picnic is these, don't worry about it — rice crispy treats are basically a breakfast food.

Summer gives us many great things like swims in lakes & corn on the cob. It also gives us peaches. And when life gives us peaches, we immediately gotta make this recipe for peach pie!

There’s nothing like sinking your teeth into a perfectly sweet and tart bite of Key Lime Pie. The good news is, this classic dessert can be made with a handful of easy to find ingredients.

Loaded with late summer fruit, this peach cobbler recipe is warmly fragrant with almond and vanilla, and a bit grandmotherly in all the best ways. Plop it on the picnic table and let folks dive in!

Warm from the sun and bursting with crimson juice, fresh berries embody summer more than anything else. Celebrate their ripe perfection with this simple, classic mixed berry shortcake.

With briny olives, juicy cherry tomatoes, spicy arugula, purple pops of red onion, and creamy feta crumbled throughout, this Mediterranean pasta salad is as bright and sunny as a warm summer day.

Blushing pink roasted salmon and crisp green beans tossed with fresh pesto and perfectly al dente orecchiette make for a healthy, one-bowl meal everyone will love.

This colorful, hearty spinach orzo salad tastes like a garden at its summertime best—juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, garlic and plenty of sunshine-y lemon.

The classic Italian caprese trio of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes are the inspiration behind this couldn’t-be-easier cheese tortellini salad.

Cooked-til-crisp ground pork, and creamy Thai peanut dressing add a hint of heft to fragrant fresh mint, basil, cooling cucumber and delicate rice noodles in this lively cold Thai noodle salad.

This stunningly beautiful, twisty-twirly pesto zoodle salad with fresh mozzarella, chicken and toasted pine nuts is a textural, colorful study in how to make the most of the late-summer harvest.

Tossed in a creamy, Thai-inspired peanut dressing, this crunchy, colorful cold Thai zoodle salad is quick, healthy and satisfying.

Tossed with a rainbow of crunchy vegetables, these Asian-inspired, twirly cold sesame noodles are a summertime staple.

A kale and broiled salmon salad that has a creamy umami dressing with serrano peppers, anchovies, lemon, and mint. It’s a really satisfying forkful and perfect for when you’re craving something fresh.

Canned tuna meets hearty green lentils for a dressed up tuna salad. We encourage you to serve this with crackers and endive for scooping up the perfect bite!

Salmon bites with wasabi mayo is a recipe that transforms one of the worlds’ healthiest foods into a supper that’s as fun to eat as it is good for you.

Light, healthy and bursting with color, fresh spring rolls are surprisingly easy to make at home and they travel beautifully! They truly check all of our easy picnic food boxes — hand held, good at room temp, easy, light.

This bright green potato salad is an herbaceous and garlicky version of the classic. Simply made with pesto (fresh or from the store), cucumber, and hard-boiled eggs, you’ll be making this on repeat.

Watermelon is a classic picnic food, any way you slice it. It signals warm weather and gatherings with loved ones. This salad is a celebration of watermelon, with fresh herbs, feta, and cucumber.

Juicy, sweet and oh-so-colorful, there’s nothing like fresh fruit salad! Our favorite fruit salad recipe gets a serious burst of sweetness from a light orange-mint dressing, too!