27 Perfectly Portable Picnic Recipes

Plan your menu with these easy, no-fuss recipes. We’ve rounded up all the classics like salads, sandwiches, fried chicken and lemonade — and thrown in a few extras that travel well and taste great.

May 03, 2022

By: Lauren Tom Cerone

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Photo By: Armando Rafael

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Photo By: Rob Pryce

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Make-and-Take Dishes

There’s nothing we love more than eating outdoors so it should come as no surprise that we’re always ready to spread out a picnic blanket and invite our friends and family to a meal. Whether it’s a fancy picnic or something no-fuss, we can’t help but enjoy the spread of summery dips, savory pasta salads and picnic-perfect sides. Planning your own? You’re going to need a few good recipes that are easy to pack up and that travel well, like this creamy and flavorful favorite. We bulk the salad up with broccoli, peas, ham and provolone for a satisfying dish that’s easy to transport — and sure to please.

Get the Recipe: Classic Picnic Pasta Salad

Classic Egg Salad with Relish

What’s the secret ingredient that perks up Geoffrey’s classic egg salad? A couple tablespoons of sweet pickle relish!

Get the Recipe: Classic Egg Salad with Relish

California Cobb Salad

Salads are a welcome addition to any picnic basket. Just be sure you don’t dress your salad greens in advance. Pack the dressing separately to that tender lettuces stay fresh and crisp.

Get the Recipe: California Cobb Salad

Jalapeno Berry Lemonade

Spice things up with a little bit of jalapeno. We promise, the heat is perfetly balanced with the sweet-tart flaovr of the lemonade.

Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Berry Lemonade

Dill Benedictine Dip

Fresh veggies have never looked better than they do here, paired with a bright and refreshing dill-yogurt dip.

Get the Recipe: Dill Benedictine Dip

Honey Fried Chicken

There’s nothing we love more than packing a bucket of homemade fried chicken in our picnic basket. Even cold it’s incredibly juicy and delicious. With this honey sweet-and-savory version, wait to drizzle with honey until right before serving.

Get the Recipe: Honey Fried Chicken

The Best Creamy Coleslaw

This crunchy coleslaw features the best of both worlds: the sweet flavor of honey and the tangy flair of vinegar. Yum!

Get the Recipe: The Best Creamy Coleslaw

Fudgy Brownies

These rich, chocolate brownies will satisfy any sweet tooth. Let them cool completely and cut them into squares before your picnic. That will make them easier to travel with — and easier to share.

Get the Recipe: Fudgy Brownies

Quiche Valerie

A savory egg custard baked in a flaky pie crust is perfect for sharing.

Get the Recipe: Quiche Valerie

Lemon-Herb Potato and Pasta Mason Jar Salad

Bring along these travel-friendly jars, filled with your favorite picnic sides. Easy to make and even easier to share and eat.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Herb Potato and Pasta Mason Jar Salad

Cowboy Caviar

Thank Oklahoma for this easy, bright and tangy salad. It's made with one of the state's staple crops, black-eyed peas — or cowpeas as some in the "Sooner State" like to say. With bursts of corn, tomato and pepper, it's a salad that can be served cold or at room temperature, making it perfect for a picnic.

Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar

Ginger Lemonade Fizz

Cool down with a nice glass of lemonade. Add club soda and ginger to the drink for a refreshing spin.

Get the Recipe: Ginger Lemonade Fizz

Oreo Watermelons

This just might be the best way to make your favorite cookie even better: Turn it into an adorable version of your favorite summer fruit.

Get the Recipe: Oreo Watermelons

Green Salad with Mango and Avocado

The trick to perfectly balancing the sweet and savory flavors of this salad? Soak the onion slices in ice water for 15 minutes before patting them dry and tossing them with the other salad ingredients. This will help mellow their flavor.

Get the Recipe: Mango-Avocado Salad

Avocado Hummus

The blend of cool, creamy avocado and smooth, savory hummus is the perfect dip for crunchy veggies. Perfect at any picnic alongside sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Avocado Hummus

Plum Pie Cookies

Pie is a quintessential summer treat but taking one in a picnic basket is quite the task. That’s why we love these cookies. All the flavor of a freshly baked fruit pie, in a portable, handheld treat!

Get the Recipe: Plum Pie Cookies

Potato Salad

It wouldn’t be a picnic without this warm-weather staple. Trisha keeps it simple by adding just hard-boiled eggs, mayo and some sweet pickle relish.

Get the Recipe: Potato Salad

Ham and Cheese Loaf

Ree transforms a loaf of frozen bread dough into a picnic-perfect snack with just a little bit of shaved Virginia ham and grated Cheddar cheese.

Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Loaf

Honey Fruit Salad

Sweeten up your favorite summer fruits with a drizzle of honey and orange juice. Delicious and refreshing on a hot day!

Get the Recipe: Honey Fruit Salad

Pimiento Cheese Pinwheels

Add some excitement to your usual sandwich situation with these fun, portable, picnic-friendly pinwheels.

Get the Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Pinwheels

Smores Granola Bites

Turn a campfire favorite into a miniature, two-bite treat that’s perfect for packing in your picnic basket with this simple recipe. Just dip marshmallows into melted chocolate and roll in a mix of graham cereal and granola. Easy!

Get the Recipe: Smores Granola Bites

Picnic Pasta Salad

This subtly sweet, lemony pasta (studded with toasted walnuts and dried apricots) is easy to make — and you can even store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Get the Recipe: Picnic Pasta Salad

Charcuterie Board

We can’t think of anything we’d rather pack in our picnic basket than the makings of a generous charcuterie board. It’s a little bit of work to assemble the board once you get to your picnic location but trust us, it’s worth it!

Get the Recipe: Charcuterie Board

Turkey Picnic Sandwich

Guy Fieri goes the extra mile with this juicy, brined turkey sandwich. When it’s time to build the sandwich, he piles it high with toppings, including romaine, cheese and his own cranberry-onion jam.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Picnic Sandwich

Avocado and Pineapple Salsa

We love packing homemade salsas for picnics. They’re easy to make and filled with amazing flavors. This one is a little sweet and a little savory, perfect for pairing with salty tortilla chips.

Get the Recipe: Avocado and Pineapple Salsa