50 Best Picnic Food Ideas That Are So Easy to Pack in a Basket
These sandwiches, salads, and dips are perfectly portable!
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Looking for a fun way to enjoy the great outdoors this summer? Sure, you could play your favorite sport or go for a walk, but even better, you could eat a meal al fresco! In other words, take the party outside with a cute and tasty picnic. Whether you're preparing a basket for a leisurely picnic amidst the greens or loading up the cooler for a sunny beach escapade, this compilation of picnic food ideas is fitting for any outdoor rendezvous.
It's important to remember that picnicking requires a bit of planning. First, you need spring or summer recipes that can handle the heat. But you'll also want to have reliable food containers to make your picnic easy to transport. If you've got a group, consider a drink dispenser, too. Another thing to remember when packing a picnic: convenience. Skip fussy recipes or anything that requires a steak knife. Start simple with wraps or fried chicken and then bulk up your spread with beloved picnic accompaniments, such as pasta salads and potato salads.
Or, if you want something a little fancier, try handheld delights like tea sandwiches or chef's salad skewers. And, of course, don't overlook a refreshing summer beverage or two to cool off from the sun! To make your picnic even more perfect, try a make-ahead dessert, like lemon crinkle cookies or no-bake pies, that are easy to serve. All that's left to do is pack the picnic blanket and you're ready to go!
Easy Summer Vegetable Tarts
Light yet satisfying, these handheld tarts are perfect for showcasing seasonal produce. They feature a store-bought puff pastry topped with a creamy ricotta and pesto spread. then layered with zucchini, yellow squash, and cherry tomatoes.
Get the Easy Summer Vegetable Tarts recipe.
Pink Lemonade Pie
The vibrant pink hue of this easy and refreshing no-bake pie makes it as delightful to look at as it is to eat. It's a seasonal treat that combines a creamy, tangy filling with a graham cracker crust, delivering a burst of citrusy sweetness in every bite.
Get Ree's Pink Lemonade Pie recipe.
Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is always a crowd favorite! With crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and shaved parmesan, it strikes the perfect balance of light and satisfying. This one is made special with a coating of homemade creamy, garlicky dressing.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Hot Dog
Simple, delicious, and picnic-perfect, these hot dogs cook up effortlessly in the air fryer and finish with a crispy exterior and juicy inside. To bring them along, simply wrap them in aluminum foil so they stay warm.
Get the Air Fryer Hot Dog recipe.
Green Goddess Salad
With its vibrant greens and creamy, herb-packed dressing, this salad is a refreshing and flavorful addition to any outdoor feast. The dressing takes just a few minutes to whip up in a blender.
Get the Green Goddess Salad recipe.
Ranch Slaw
Packed with crisp, colorful veggies and tossed in a creamy, tangy ranch dressing, this slaw is both refreshing and full of flavor. Plus, it pairs beautifully with just about anything on your picnic menu.
Get Ree's Ranch Slaw recipe.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
The addition of tender orzo, fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a zesty dressing means this dish is packed with bold Mediterranean flavors. It's refreshing, easy to make ahead, and perfect for sharing.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Orzo Salad recipe.
Sour Cream and Onion Deviled Eggs
This twist on the recipe features a creamy filling packed with the savory flavors of sour cream and onion that comes from crunchy chip shards. Basically, these bites are guaranteed to disappear quickly from your picnic spread!
Get Ree's Sour Cream and Onion Deviled Eggs recipe.
Macaroni Salad
Here's a picnic classic that never disappoints! Creamy, tangy, and packed with flavorful mix-ins, this pasta salad dish is both hearty and refreshing. It’s also easy to prepare ahead of time.
Get Ree's Macaroni Salad recipe.
Lemon-Blueberry Sheet Cake
Insert: a sheet cake that's just as refreshing as it is delicious—and just right for enjoying under the spring sun. It's packed with zesty lemon flavor and studded with juicy blueberries. Since it's baked in a trusty sheet pan, you can easily tote it around, too.
Get Ree's Lemon-Blueberry Sheet Cake recipe.
Green Goddess Chicken Salad Dip
Chock full of green vegetables, chopped rotisserie chicken, and green goddess dressing, this vibrant dip was made to be scooped up with chips. It's crunchy, creamy, and perfectly picnic-ready.
Spring Rolls
These conveniently wrapped bundles of veggies and shrimp make for a refreshingly easy addition to your next picnic. Don't forget to pack a side of peanut sauce for dipping!
Get the Spring Rolls recipe.
Blueberry Lemonade
If you're looking for a refreshing elixir to wash all that hearty picnic food down, blueberry lemonade is just the thing! It's so easy to make with lemons, blueberries, sugar, and a dash of sparkling water.
Get Ree's Blueberry Lemonade recipe.
Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad
Juicy watermelon, tender orzo, and salty feta—what's not to love? This refreshing summer salad is finished off with a zesty and sweet dressing made of lime, honey, and olive oil.
Get Ree's Watermelon-Feta Orzo Salad recipe.
Grill-Fried Chicken
You can't have a picnic without a plate of crunchy fried chicken! This recipe calls for grilling the chicken rather than deep frying it for perfectly juicy, smokey chicken with a crispy crust.
Get the Grill-Fried Chicken recipe.
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
For a make-ahead pasta salad that'll round out your picnic table, make this bow tie one that tastes as good as it looks! It's chock full of color and flavor thanks to bell pepper, green onions, peas, and ham.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
If hot baked potatoes topped with all the works are a suppertime staple in your household, you'll love this mayo-based salad version of it! It's loaded with sharp cheddar cheese, green onion, crispy bacon, and lots of potato chunks.
Get the Loaded Baked Potato Salad recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Add some spice to your picnic lineup with these fiery buffalo chicken wraps. Flour tortillas make a perfectly portable pouch for hot sauce-coated chicken, crunchy veggies, and a cooling blend of blue cheese, sour cream, mayo, and ranch.
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Wraps recipe.
Southwestern Pasta Salad
"Southwestern" and "pasta" may not typically go together, but this pasta salad is sure to turn that preconceived notion on its head! It's packed with all your favorite flavors of the Southwest, like chipotle peppers, corn, tomatoes, pinto beans, avocado, and cilantro, all tossed with pasta in a creamy, spicy dressing!
Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.
Tomato Sandwich
You can't beat a simple sandwich at a picnic! This one truly lets the taste of summer tomatoes shine, calling for a few simple ingredients: white bread, garlic aioli, and fresh heirloom tomatoes.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
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