50 Best Picnic Side Dishes to Pair With Your Spread
These recipes are begging for some fun in the sun!
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It’s that delightful time of year again—picnic season! The prime time to prepare scrumptious meals and embrace the great outdoors. There's just something magical about a stuffed basket, a refreshing glass of lemonade, and clear skies on a sunny day. And don't forget the joy of avoiding kitchen cleanup afterward! Whether it's a sandy beach escape, a post-hike refuel, or a leisurely day in the park, having an array of delicious picnic sides at your disposal is key. However, achieving the ideal picnic experience requires some thoughtful planning.
To start, opt for picnic recipes that can be prepped ahead of time, travel well, and are easy to enjoy wherever you choose to unwind. Packing your picnic basket will be a breeze with these fuss-free summer side dish options. For example, who even needs knives and forks when you can serve up a chef's salad on a stick—or when you can use chips to scoop up the seasonal corn salad? Of course, this list has tons of classic picnic side dishes, like deviled eggs, pasta salads, and homemade biscuits.
But the best thing about these seasonal summer and spring recipes is that you don't actually need to wait to have a picnic to whip up one of them. Try them as part of your BBQ sides, incorporate them into a casual weeknight meal, or add a few to your next potluck. They’re great for taking on the go, after all!
Caprese Salad
This timeless pairing embodies freshness, making it an ideal complement to any summer dish. Juicy, ripe tomato slices are stacked with smooth, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil leaves, then finished with a drizzle of zesty balsamic glaze.
Get Ree's Caprese Salad recipe.
Ramen Noodle Salad
A delightful mix of crispy toasted ramen noodles, buttery cashews, and fresh coleslaw come together with bursts of juicy mandarin oranges for this vibrant salad. The finishing touch is a homemade dressing that delivers the perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess.
Get the Ramen Noodle Salad recipe.
Easy Summer Vegetable Tarts
Showcase fresh seasonal produce with these simple yet elegant tarts! Using store-bought puff pastry as a base, the tarts are topped with a creamy ricotta and pesto mixture, then layered with thinly sliced zucchini, yellow squash, and juicy cherry tomatoes.
Get the Easy Summer Vegetable Tarts recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant colors and flavors, this picnic-ready dish features a hearty mix of peas, ham, red bell pepper, green onions, and cheddar cheese. Bonus: Bow tie pasta is the perfect shape for all that zesty dressing to settle into.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Grilled Veggie Skewers
Packed with a mix of fresh zucchini, mushrooms, squash, cherry tomatoes, and other veggies, these skewers are lightly seasoned and grilled to perfection—plus, they're so easy to eat off throughout the picnic.
Get the Grilled Veggie Skewers recipe.
Ranch Slaw
Coleslaw is a summer staple, but this ranch-inspired twist takes it to the next level! Crisp carrots, scallions, and coleslaw mix are tossed in a rich, creamy ranch dressing, making it the perfect companion for your picnic favorites.
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Taco Pasta Salad
Tacos and pasta are already delicious on their own, so combining them creates an irresistible fusion! Packed with flavor, this dish features corn, chorizo, green onions, pickled jalapeños, cotija cheese, and a crunchy kick from chili lime corn chips.
Get Ree's Taco Pasta Salad recipe.
Esquites
This Mexican street corn salad is a picnic-perfect delight! Charred corn and roasted poblano peppers are mixed into a zesty, garlicky, and cheesy dressing, making it an irresistible crowd-pleaser that will vanishe in no time.
Get the Esquites recipe.
Caesar Salad
Whether paired with pizza, pasta, or a hearty picnic spread, a classic Caesar salad is always a winning choice! Featuring crisp lettuce and crunchy croutons, this side dish brings a refreshing bite to any meal.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Radish Salad
Get your greens (and pinks) in with this crunchy cucumber and radish salad! The delicately sliced vegetables are lightly dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, allowing their fresh flavors to take center stage.
Get the Radish Salad recipe.
Waldorf Salad
This creamy, fruit-filled salad offers a variety of different textures, flavors, and seasonal colors. It's one of the most refreshing picnic salads you can make!
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
Deviled Eggs
This tried-and-true deviled egg recipe is a must-have at any picnic or potluck. There's nothing complicated about it, just hard-boiled eggs stuffed with a creamy filling of cooked egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, and tangy pickle juice. But that's what makes it so good!
Get the Deviled Eggs recipe.
Corn Salad
Bring bold flavors to your picnic with this zesty corn salad, featuring smoky chipotle, tangy hot sauce, and fiery jalapeño peppers. Creamy avocado and crumbled queso fresco add a perfect touch to balance the spice.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Biscuits are a must-have for any picnic basket, no matter the other goodies inside. This recipe guarantees perfectly tender and flaky biscuits every single time.
Get the Buttermilk Biscuits recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Cool, refreshing, and crisp—this salad is perfect for warm days spent in the sun. To make it simple, the sliced veggies and zippy dressing can be tossed a day before, but be sure to reserve the herbs until you're ready to serve.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
Bacon, cheese, and potatoes—what’s not to love? This crowd-pleasing dish is a fun new way to serve up loaded potatoes.
Get the Loaded Baked Potato Salad recipe.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
This is the kind of macaroni salad that's both sweet and tangy with little bits of crunch from chopped celery, carrots, and green onion. It's easy to make ahead, but you might need to stir in a tablespoon or two of milk to loosen it up.
Get the Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
A colorful assortment of fruit will brighten up any picnic spread! And serving them on skewers means that you don't even need a fork to eat it.
Get the Rainbow Fruit Skewers recipe.
Broccoli Slaw
This twist on classic coleslaw adds extra crunch and nutrition to the mix by using broccoli alongside the cabbage and carrots. Raisins add a hint of sweetness and roasted salted sunflower kernels are nutty and fun!
Get the Broccoli Slaw recipe.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Using cheese-stuffed tortellini in place of your typical pasta is a deliciously hearty idea for this picnic side. The cheesiness also pairs well with the Italian flavors of salami, zucchini, olives, pepperoncini, and sun-dried tomato dressing.
Get the Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe.
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