80 Picnic Food Ideas to Pack in Your Basket
Updated: Aug. 12, 2021Head to the nearest park and bring your brightest blanket. These picnic food ideas pack up perfectly and just taste better in the sunshine.
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BLT Macaroni Salad
A friend served this BLT pasta salad, and I just had to get the recipe. My husband loves BLT sandwiches, so this has become a favorite of his. It’s nice to serve on hot and humid days, which we frequently get during summer here in Virginia. —Mrs. Hamilton Myers Jr., Charlottesville, Virginia
Don’t miss our guide on how to plan the perfect picnic!
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Barbecued Chicken Salad Sandwiches
An impromptu picnic inspired this BBQ chicken salad sandwich. An instant summertime favorite, these dressed-up sandwiches have become a mainstay at our house. —Linda Orme, Battleground, Washington
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Rainbow Gelatin Cubes
These layered jello cubes are fun to serve and to eat! I vary the colors to match the occasion. Kids of all ages snatch them up. —Deanna Pietrowicz, Bridgeport, ConnecticutDiscover even more delightful picnic side dishes.
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Tomato-Melon Chicken Salad
Nothing says summer like picking watermelon, tomatoes and raspberries, then tossing them together in a salad. The addition of grilled chicken makes it a satisfying yet still summery meal. —Betsy Hite, Wilton, California 5 / 80
Turkey, Gouda & Apple Tea Sandwiches
Cut into triangles or quarters, these fun mini sandwiches are a tasty addition to an afternoon tea gathering. The cranberry mayo lends an original flavor twist, and the apples give them a sweet-tart crunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 6 / 80
Confetti Snack Mix
I’ve made this party mix for many years and I usually double the recipe. It makes a wonderful gift, and everyone always wants the recipe. —Jane Bray, Temple Terrace, Florida 7 / 80
Frosted Lemon-Ricotta Cookies
I work for a Special Education school and our students run their own catering business. Every time they make this for a catering event, they get raves. The students chose the Lemon Ricotta Cookies to submit as their favorite cookie recipe. They say they are the “yummiest and chewiest cookies ever!”—Renee Phillips, Owosso, Michigan 8 / 80
Classic Macaroni Salad
This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or festive weekend barbecue. —Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio 9 / 80
Grilled Lemon Chicken
My chicken gets its subtle pucker from lemonade concentrate. So simple, so sweet! —Linda Nilsen, Anoka, Minnesota 10 / 80
Herbed Feta Dip
Guests can’t get enough of this thick, zesty dip that bursts with fresh Mediterranean flavor. The feta cheese and fresh mint complement each other beautifully, creating the perfect sidekick for crunchy carrots, toasted pita chips, sliced baguettes or any other dipper you fancy.—Rebecca Ray, Chicago, Illinois 11 / 80
Focaccia Sandwiches
Slices of this pretty sandwich make any casual get-together more speical. Add or change ingredients to your taste. —Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin 12 / 80
Picnic Fruit Punch
This pink cooler is deliciously thirst-quenching on a warm day. Seeing its color, folks guess it might be pink lemonade. They're pleasantly surprised to discover the bubbly blend includes cranberry, pineapple, orange and lemon juices. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon 13 / 80
Lime-Honey Fruit Salad
Nothing is more refreshing to me than a seasonal fruit salad enhanced with this simple honey-lime dressing. —Victoria Shevlin, Cape Coral, Florida 14 / 80
Cucumber Coleslaw
I created this cucumber coleslaw recipe so I could use a julienne peeler I received as a gift. I had leftover sparkling wine, so I thought I’d try to use it over julienned cucumbers to make this refreshing slaw. It’s a nice way to round out a brunch or picnic. —Merry Graham, Newhall, California 15 / 80
PBJ on a Stick
Take the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the go with these skewers. They also make easy snacks. —Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin 16 / 80
Salami Roll-Ups
These bite-size appetizers are a cinch to make with just four ingredients—even your kids can help you with them! —Jean Baffuto, Apache Junction, Arizona 17 / 80
Puppy Chow
This snack mix is perfect for a late-night treat or a pick-me-up any time of the day. I sometimes take a batch to work, and it’s always eaten up quickly. It’s a slightly different cereal snack because of the chocolate and peanut butter. —Mary Obeilin, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 18 / 80
Chicken Caesar Pitas
Hand-held and picnic friendly, these chicken-stuffed pockets pack a double dose of whole grains from brown rice and whole wheat pitas. The chicken can be made up to 2 days in advance for a fast-fix lunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 19 / 80
Pasta Salad in a Jar
If you're planning a picnic, make this pasta a day ahead. For my husband's lunch at work, I sometimes tie a plastic fork on the jar. —Pat Neiheisel, Leetonia, Ohio 20 / 80
Southwest Hummus Dip
Not your ordinary hummus, this dip is a combination of two things I love—chick peas and Southwestern flavors. You can substitute 3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed, for the grilled corn. —Cheray Buckalew, Cumberland, Maryland 21 / 80
Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette
On long summer days when we just want to relax, I make a cool salad with avocado, berries and mint. The tangerine dressing is refreshingly different. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio 22 / 80
Grandma’s Potato Salad
Our Fourth of July feast wouldn’t be complete without this chilled old-fashioned potato salad. It’s my grandma’s treasured recipe. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin 23 / 80
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Snack Mix
I love chocolate-covered strawberries, but that’s a treat you want to make only on special occasions. With a little experimenting, I’ve captured the same incredible flavor in a snack I can take anywhere. Everyone is always amazed when I pull this out at a picnic or tailgate, or on a car trip. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey 24 / 80
Strawberry Watermelon Lemonade
The nutrition department at my local hospital inspired me to create this refreshing summer sipper. I tweaked their recipe slightly to create this drink full of sweet-tart flavor. —Dawn Lowenstein, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania 25 / 80
Dill Garden Salad
I love to cut up whatever fresh vegetables I have on hand and toss them with this delicious dressing and fresh dill. This salad shows up on our table regularly during the summer. —Bethany Martin, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 26 / 80
S'mookies
S'mores are one of my favorite desserts. I wanted to create a cookie to replace the graham cracker—that's when my s'mookie was born. Just as delicious as the classic.—Maria Davis, Hermosa Beach, California 27 / 80
Tuna Artichoke Melts
After sampling a similar open-faced sandwich at a restaurant, I created my own version of lemon-seasoned tuna salad with artichoke hearts. I like to serve it for lunch with a friend on the patio. 28 / 80
Dilly Chicken Sandwiches
A creamy lemon-dill spread adds summery flavor to tender chicken served between slices of grilled French bread with slices of lettuce and tomato. Serve it for lunch, or for a light and breezy dinner on the patio. —Orien Major, Hinton, Alberta 29 / 80
Three-Pepper Coleslaw
There are never any leftovers when I make this dish for a picnic, barbecue or any social gathering. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida 30 / 80
Mango Salad with Mint Yogurt Dressing
An abundant planter full of mint inspired me to create this summery salad. The flavors pair together so well, and really let the freshness of the mint shine. —Natalie Klein, Albuquerque, New Mexico 31 / 80
Italian Submarine
My Italian husband grew up eating this flavorful sandwich, which his mother used to make it after Saturday chores were finished. Put the sub together a few hours ahead and refrigerate, then serve with chips, veggies and dip for a delicious meal. —Christine Lupella, Fifty Lakes, Minnesota 32 / 80
Root Beer Cookies
When it’s too difficult to take along root beer floats on a picnic, take these cookies instead! I’ve found the flavor is even better the next day. The hard part is convincing my family to wait that long before sampling them.—Violette Bawden, West Valley City, Utah 33 / 80
Iced Raspberry Tea
Frozen raspberries lend fruity flavor and lovely color to this pretty iced tea that's good throughout the year. The recipe calls for just a few common ingredients and offers make-ahead convenience. —Lois McGrady, Hillsville, Virginia 34 / 80
Yellow Summer Squash Relish
My friends can barely wait for the growing season to arrive so I can make this incredible squash relish. The color really dresses up a hot dog. —Ruth Hawkins, Jackson, Mississippi 35 / 80
Prosciutto Pinwheels
Fancy-looking and filling, these sensational appetizers are a lot easier to make than they look. With just a few ingredients and our easy directions, it'll be a snap! —Kaitlyn Benito, Everett, Washington 36 / 80
Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
As a mother of three sons, sweets are a staple in my kitchen! I buy ripe fruit on sale and freeze it to make this cake. My banana cake with cream cheese frosting is a favorite among loved ones at my family picnics and dinners. —Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania 37 / 80
Broccoli Slaw with Lemon Dressing
Our family absolutely loves broccoli, so I'm so happy there's finally a slaw mix in stores that uses broccoli stems. I like this slaw best after 20 minutes or so to allow the flavors to meld. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts 38 / 80
Smoked Salmon Egg Salad
Served on croissants, these grown-up sandwiches offer a great way to use leftover Easter eggs. Salmon adds smoky flavor. —Cathy Tang, Redmond, Washington 39 / 80
Margarita Cupcakes
These margarita cupcakes are my most requested recipe. If you are unable to find Key lime juice, you can use regular lime juice. —Kerri McMillan, Sylvester, Georgia 40 / 80
Refrigerator Garden Pickles
Canning isn't necessary for these crisp-tender, tangy pickles. Keep them in the fridge and eat them up within a month. —Linda Chapman, Meriden, Iowa 41 / 80
Club Roll-Ups
Packed with meat, cheese and olives, these roll-ups are always a hit at parties. 42 / 80
Quick & Easy Honey Mustard
This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas 43 / 80
Raspberry-Rhubarb Slab Pie
"Slab pie" is a pastry baked in a jelly-roll pan and cut in slabs like a bar cookie—or a pie bar, if you will. My grandfather was a professional baker and served pieces of slab pie to his customers back in the day. Here is my spin, featuring rhubarb and gorgeous red raspberries. —Jeanne Ambrose, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 44 / 80
Strawberry, Cucumber & Honeydew Salad
Strawberries and cucumbers together—I just love this combination! We used to eat a lot of cucumbers growing up in upstate New York. We'd get them, along with strawberries and melons, from fruit and veggie stands to make this sweet and tangy salad. —Melissa Mccabe, Long Beach, California 45 / 80
Cherry Tomato Corn Salad
Brighten a picnic lunch or backyard barbecue with this cheerful, fresh-tasting salad. If you use want to use sweet corn off the cob, saute the corn for 5 minutes in a skillet before adding to the salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 46 / 80
Fruit Salad with Apricot Dressing
When I serve this lovely refreshing salad for picnics and holidays, the bowl empties fast. —Carol Lambert, El Dorado, Arkansas 47 / 80
Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas
My kids ask for these pita sandwiches all the time. They haven’t noticed that as good as they taste, they’re also good for them. —Kim Holmes, Emerald Park, Saskatchewan 48 / 80
Picnic Bars
You’ll score points with your pals when you stir together these delicious fudge-like treats. They’re very moist and rich. The chocolate chips and walnuts make a pretty topping. —Frank Bee, Eugene, Oregon 49 / 80
Nutty Cereal Crunch
This is one of my favorite snacks to take to large get-togethers. Cinnamon, brown sugar and butter create a lip-smacking coating for cereal and a variety of nuts in this change-of-pace party mix. One handful simply isn’t enough! —Grace Yaskovic, Branchville, New Jersey 50 / 80
Turkey-Jalapeno Sandwiches
When turkey sandwich meets modern Thai, it’s a fun mix of classic and trendy food. I love it when my mixing and matching turns out so tasty. —Stacy Mullens, Gresham, Oregon 51 / 80
Greek Deli Kabobs
For an easy Mediterranean-style appetizer, marinate broccoli and mozzarella, then skewer with sweet red peppers and salami. Everybody loves food on a stick! —Vikki Spengler, Ocala, Florida 52 / 80
Hearty Muffuletta
Famous in Louisiana, muffulettas are cold cuts, cheese and olive salad layered into an Italian bread shell. I was happy when a friend and co-worker gave me this recipe so I could make them myself. More than a meal, it’s a dining experience! —Ruth Hayward, Lake Charles, Louisiana 53 / 80
Chicken Strawberry Spinach Salad
This pretty spinach salad, topped with grilled chicken, strawberries and almonds, features a delectably sweet poppy seed dressing. Made in moments, it’s a refreshing lunch or light supper for two. —Ginger Ellsworth, Caldwell, Idaho 54 / 80
Fast Macaroni Salad
Chopped veggies provide crunch, and cherry tomatoes add vibrant color to this refreshing and creamy pasta salad. —Frankiee Bush, Freedom, Indiana 55 / 80
Olive-Stuffed Celery
My grandmother taught both me and my mom this appetizer recipe for stuffed celery. We always serve it at Christmas and Thanksgiving. The stuffing is so yummy that even if you don’t normally care for the ingredients on their own, you’ll love the end result. —Stacy Powell, Santa Fe, Texas 56 / 80
Southern Potato Salad
This potato salad with a southern twist is perfect for a summer picnic. The pickles add extra sweetness. —Gene Pitts, Wilsonville, Alabama 57 / 80
Roasted Curry Chickpeas
We coated chickpeas with simple seasonings to make a low-fat snacking sensation. This chickpea recipe rivals calorie-laden varieties sold in stores. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 58 / 80
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Flaky salmon and creamy sauce go so well over hard-boiled eggs. Drizzle the sauce or serve it on the side; it's great either way. —Marinela Dragan, Portland, Oregon 59 / 80
Mexican Roasted Potato Salad
My husband is the No. 1 fan of this south-of-the-border potato salad. The leftovers make an awesome late-night snack, straight from the fridge. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah 60 / 80
Slow-Cooker Party Mix
This mildly seasoned snack mix is always a party favorite. Served warm from a slow cooker, the munchable mixture is very satisfying. —Dana Hughes, Gresham, Oregon 61 / 80
Veggie Brown Rice Wraps
Salsa gives a bit of zip to the brown rice and bean filling in the meatless tortilla wraps. —Lisa Sullivan, St. Marys, Ohio 62 / 80
Chipotle BLT Wraps
BLT sandwiches are so good, but they can make a lot of messy crumbs from the toasted bread. Since we also love wraps, I decided to make BLT's using tortillas instead. Warming the wraps a little makes them easy to work with. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon 63 / 80
Fruit Salad in a Pineapple Boat
A sweet, summery treat that looks as good as it tastes! No one, young or old, will be able to resist this healthy fruit salad. —Amy Short, Lesage, West Virginia 64 / 80
PB&J Chex Mix
As a kid, I loved to add crunchy textures, like chips or popcorn, to my PB&J sandwiches. This mix has all the necessary components of that childhood favorite: sweet jelly, rich peanut butter, a little saltiness from peanuts and, finally, that irresistible crunch from the Chex mix. —Shelley Ward, Isle of Palms, South Carolina 65 / 80
Effortless Guacamole
Here’s one delicious, extra-easy classic you’ll turn to again and again. I’ve been making this recipe since I started cooking, and that was a long time ago. —DeAnn Lokvam, Tijeras, New Mexico 66 / 80
Salami & Provolone Pasta Salad
Everyone needs a perfect pasta salad that’s easy to make, especially on busy nights when your family wants a dish that’s fast, light and cool. This is just the thing. —Jill Donley, Warsaw, Indiana 67 / 80
Basil White Bean Dip
We're big fans of hummus, but my son is allergic. I came up with this bean dip, and it’s turned out to be a great alternative. —Erin Bosco, Carlton, Washington 68 / 80
Campers' Coleslaw
Crispy and crunchy, this old family slaw recipe makes a refreshing side dish for picnics and parties. —Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio 69 / 80
Crispy Snack Mix
This recipe proves you can make just about anything in a slow cooker, even a delightfully crispy snack mix. —Jane Sims, De Leon, Texas 70 / 80
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
My son taught me how to make hummus, which is a tasty and healthy alternative to calorie-filled dips. Fresh roasted red bell peppers make it special. —Nancy Watson-Pistole, Shawnee, Kansas 71 / 80
Sage & Prosciutto Pinwheels
I love, love, love to make appetizers and I especially like this recipe because I can make the rolls ahead, freeze them, and then slice and bake when needed. —Kate Dampier, Quail Valley, California 72 / 80
Lavender Shortbread
Lavender flowers can be used fresh or dried in cooking. The flowers have an intense flavor, so they are best used sparingly.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin 73 / 80
Broccoli Slaw
Here's my favorite twist on broccoli salad. It's so easy to make and has an irresistible tangy crunch. —Konny Thomas, Citrus Heights, California 74 / 80
Stromboli Sandwich
I've made this Stromboli sandwich many times for parties, and it gets great reviews. You can add ingredients and spices to suit your taste. The recipe is so good I just had to share it with you! —Leigh Lauer, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania 75 / 80
Spicy Chunky Salsa
Vinegar adds a refreshing tang to this sweet tomato salsa. It's wonderful as is, but for more heat, leave in some hot pepper seeds. —Donna Goutermont, Sequim, Washington 76 / 80
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Blue cheese dressing and hot pepper sauce enhance these yummy tortilla wraps. Filled with chicken, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, these buffalo chicken wraps are colorful, fun to eat...and tote-able, too! —Athena Russell, Florence, South Carolina 77 / 80
Contest-Winning Grilled Mushrooms
Grilled mushrooms always taste good, but this easy recipe makes them taste even more fantastic. As the mother of two children, I love to cook entire meals on the grill. It's fun spending time outdoors with the kids. —Melanie Knoll, Marshalltown, Iowa 78 / 80
Easy Cheese-Stuffed Jalapenos
A few years ago, I saw a man in the grocery store buying a big bag of jalapeno peppers. I asked him what he intended to do with them, and right there in the store he gave me this fabulous recipe for stuffed jalapenos! —Janice Montiverdi, Sugar Land, Texas 79 / 80
Pineapple Chicken Salad Sandwiches
These sandwiches are always welcome at lunchtime around our house. Sweet pineapple and crunchy pecans are nice additions to ordinary chicken salad. —Carol Alexander, Midland, Michigan 80 / 80
Avocado & Artichoke Pasta Salad
A squeeze of lime, a sprinkle of cilantro and a little avocado make this a creamy and zingy pasta salad. —Carrie Farias, Oak Ridge, New Jersey Originally Published: March 11, 2019
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