Food To Make For A Picnic

52 Recipe Ideas for Picnic Food; from Potato Salad to Finger Food, this collection has many tried and tested recipes for an amazing picnic day. Plus follow the outdoor dining checklist for the best-prepared picnic outing ever!
Food To Make For A Picnic

Sharing today, collection of our family favorite Picnic Food Recipes to make for a picnic or a potluck event this summer.  For your convenience, I have divided collection into 5 sections:

  1. Finger Food
  2. Potato Salads
  3. Pasta Salads
  4. Breads and Pies
  5. Chicken Recipes (including few Instant Pot one-pot ideas)

Whether making a complete meal or simply a salad, this recipe collection has lots of picnic food options to choose from.

Picnic is all about good food and relaxed family time. I use following  outdoor dining checklist to have a well planned picnic. (Everything needed in an arm's reach.)

Essential Picnic Dinning Checklist
Follow this outdoor dining checklist for the best-prepared picnic outing ever.

1. Seating:

  1. Cooler
  2. Picnic basket
  3. Foldable Picnic Table
  4. Picnic blanket (preferably waterproof)
  5. Picnic chairs  or Sheet if setting on the grass.

2. Serving:

Whenever possible opt for eco-friendly paper plates and utensils. 

  1. Plates
  2. Utensils (including serving utensils)
  3. Napkins
  4. Cups
  5. Cutting board and knife 
  6. Bottle opener

3. Condiments and Drinks

  1. Drinks and Water
  2. Salt and pepper
  3. Mustard and Ketchup.

3. Cleanup:

  1. Paper towels (and/or wet wipes)
  2. Kitchen Towels
  3. Trash Bags (pack extra-large)
  4. Extra Water to wash hands (and a travel size soap when wet wipes are not enough.)

4. Other Essentials:

  1. Insect repellent
  2. Sunscreen
  3. Hats
  4. Flashlight (for late evening or night trips)

Friends, its time to head outdoor and have a wonderful summer picnic. Pick few recipes to make for picnic and follow the essential checklist above for a relaxing and entertaining picnic outing. 

Finger Food

Bialy

Make Bialy at home with this homemade Bialy recipe. Bialy Bagel is a soft, chewy breakfast bread from New York with sweet onion and poppy seed filling. With this Bialy recipe, bread bakes soft, with signature air-pockets, have perfect balance of salted chewy bread and sweet onion filling. Closest, even be...

Smoked Chicken Quesadillas

Smoked Chicken Quesadillas, or I should say, Chili's Smoked Chicken Quesadillas are tortillas stuffed with smoked chicken, sauteed bell peppers, onions, cheese, and jalapeno aioli sauce. Very easy to put together and bursting with flavor, this Chili's copycat recipe is perfect for a Mexican dinner night at...

Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps

Asian Thai Peanut Chicken wraps with spicy chili-lime peanut sauce.. Friends, even saying this make me drool! I love adding peanuts in lot of savory preparations. The sweetness of peanut goes very well with heat of chili and tang of lime.. and I'm kinda addicted to it. So, today I decided to share with you...

Spicy Deviled Eggs

Buffalo Chicken Spicy Deviled Eggs, all flavors of buffalo chicken wings, moist chicken, hot sauce, crunchy celery, and creamy blue cheese.. topped on boiled eggs. Just 5 ingredients, so much flavor on top of hard boiled eggs, these deviled eggs are the best deviled egg recipe ever!Whenever we plan movie-...

Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs

Quick and Easy Jalapeno Poppers Deviled Eggs with all-you-want-in-jalapeno-poppers topped on doubled eggs.. even crunchy breading! These spicy deviled eggs are bursting with flavor and heat of two kind of jalapenos, pickled and roasted, and have filling of cream cheese and feta to balance the heat! These l...

Healthy Deviled Eggs with Avocado

Quick and healthy Deviled Eggs! These deviled eggs are packed with egg-protein, topped with homemade spicy and green good-fat avocado sauce! They are also mayo free and far more quicker to put together! Paleo, gluten free, and ketogenic diet friendly!Honestly, eggs and avocado are made for each other. Don'...

Apples and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Fig Spread

Homemade fig spread, tart granny smith apples, and buttery brie cheese sandwiched in two slices of parmesan crusted multi-grain bread! This, my friends, is a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich which you can make and enjoy in comfort of your own home!!All of my posts this whole week has been about my foodie in...

Grilled Vegetables and Smashed Chickpeas Sandwich

To keep-up with goal of healthy meatless Mondays, today, I'm sharing a delicious grilled vegetables and spiced smashed chickpeas sandwich. This hearty sandwich will fill you up but will NOT weigh you down. Oh- and you can ready these veggie sandwiches, for four, in just 22 minutes!Flavors in this sandwich...

Cranberries, Asparagus and Pickled Jalapeno Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Inspired from love of vegetables, this Grilled Cheese Sandwich delivers scrumptious vegetarian flavors of crunchy asparagus and earthy mushrooms, a duo of mild Cheddar and fruity MontAmoré cheeses, with chipotle spiced vegetarian sausage, pickled jalapenos and tart cranberries. Earthy, sweet and spicy flav...

Savory Empanadas

One of my favorite finger-food to serve for get-togethers is: Mexican Empanadas! Crisp empanada dough is perfect medium to fill any savory or sweet filling of your choice. Once you have made the dough, you can go all creative with the fillings!You will find a lot of recipes with Sweet Empanada filling. I'm...

Zucchini Carrot Muffins

Carrot Muffins loaded with seasonal sweet zucchini, and fresh herbs. These muffins are moist, butter free, dairy free, and also not too sweet. I call'em my all-in-one and easy, savory Zucchini Carrot Muffins. Easy because this recipe is super easy to put together. Al-in-one because these are delicious, lo...

Potato Salad

Loaded Potato Salad with Best Ever Potato Salad Dressing

Welcome Spring with lots of colors and fresh flavors of this Loaded Potato Salad with best ever Potato Salad Dressing! Crisp Red potatoes (new potatoes), and Tex-Mex flavors of black beans, corn, cherry tomato, red onion, herbs, and scallions meets amazingly creamy Salad Dressing with mayonnaise, mustard,...

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad is a sweet and sour Potato Salad flavored with chicken stock, onion, herbs, and tangy Mustard Vinaigrette dressing. Gluten free, dairy free and all-season Potato Salad which can be served cold or at room temperature. Also known as Kartoffelsalat, this Southern German Potato Salad is mad...

Crispy Baked Ranch Potato

Today, I transformed traditional Ranch Potatoes into baked, crispy, and spicy Ranch Potatoes coated in creamy homemade Ranch Sauce. This recipe will change the way you serve Ranch Potato. I guarantee. Gluten free, low-oil, vegan, and paleo. Need only 10 minutes prep and rest is the job of oven. This Ranch...

Potato Chickpea Salad - Aloo Chana Chaat

Potato and Chickpea Salad with sweet, sour, and spicy tamarind dressing. Famous by name of Aloo Chana Chaat or Aloo Chole Chaat, this potato chickpea salad is bursting with flavor of Indian spices and a must try at-least once in life. Ready in just 20 minutes, it is also gluten free, vegan, and loaded with...

Creamy Potato Salad without Mayo

Simple, easy and ridiculously creamy potato salad with combination of red skin potatoes and golden potatoes, crunchy celery, sweet cranberries and creamy sour cream dressing without mayo.This is a kinda potato salad which everyone can enjoy! All who love potato salads and all who can't eat it when it has...

Roasted Sweet Potato Chickpea Feta Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato Chickpea Feta Salad with roasted sweet and smoky sweet potatoes and seasoned chickpeas and feta, coated in a tangy lemon-herb dressing. This vegetarian salad makes a great side for grilled/roasted meat main-course. It is also a good filling lunch. Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Protein-Packe...

Farmer Market Healthy Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing

This potato salad is much more than just a plain potato salad.This salad has no creams, no mayo, no eggs and variety of fresh farm vegetables for crunchy texture. And a lite and tangy mustard dressing to balance all the flavors.Clearly, this is salad is not like a traditional potato salad and screams summe...

Pasta Salad

Mexican Macaroni Salad

Every fork full of this Mexican Macaroni Salad has something delicious to offer - creamy macaroni pasta, sweet grilled corn, crunchy celery, sweet red bell peppers, and to top it all the creamy smokey chipotle and mayo dressing. If you are fan of Mexican flavors and Mac Pasta Salads, this salad will quickl...

Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

In this Chicken Pasta Salad, every fork full will have something delicious to offer. Crunch cucumber, tomatoes and hidden surprise of roasted bell peppers, with chicken and top it all of the tangy Red Wine Salad Dressing is a party of flavors. If you are fan of deli-style pasta salads, this salad will be y...

Ramen Noodle Salad with Miso Peanut Dressing

Ramen Noodle Salad with creamy, sweet and spicy Miso-Peanut Butter and Sriracha Salad Dressing. Every fork-full of this refreshing Asian Salad has something delicious to offer - crunchy cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, Ramen noodles coated in sweet and spicy peanut buttery dressing, and roasted peanuts for s...

Ultimate Greek Pasta Salad

You guys, this Greek Pasta Salad is flavor bomb! With marinated sweet-sour red onions, crunchy cucumber and creamy feta, it will be your most-favorite pasta salad ever. Every cook and foodie should have a Greek pasta salad card in their personal recipe repertoire.. Don't you think? If you are looking for y...

Deviled Egg Pasta Salad with Avocado

Put leftover Easter eggs to delicious use with this easy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad! In this egg pasta salad creamy avocados, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, leftover/boiled eggs meet a zesty lemony dressing.. for a scrumptious after-Easter lunch or dinner! After festivity and enjoying holiday food.....

Mango Avocado Pasta Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Healthy fresh take on pasta salad with creamy avocado, sweet mangoes and zesty flavorful cilantro-lime dressing. Every fork-full of this pasta salad has something delicious to enjoy - lime-soaking creamy avocados, juicy mangoes, farfalle pasta, and crunchy pine nuts. This is one avocado salad which you can...

Deli Style Pasta Salad with Kale

In this deli-style pasta salad, every fork full will have something delicious to keep digging for more. If you are fan of deli-style pasta salads, this vegetarian pasta salad will be your new favorite! I promise!Specially great to pack for potlucks or family trips, ingredients in this pasta salad are robus...

Mezze Penne Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

This pasta salad combines few of my favorite, seasonal foodie-love-affairs, in one! I mean, who will say no to deliciously fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Caprese Salad, Pasta Salad, and a rich and fragrant Basil Pesto Vinaigrette?! All-in-one!! Anyone? Even saying "Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto" makes me hun...

Asian Vegetarian Banh Mi Salad

A delicious, healthy and gluten free take on Asian Classic - Bánh mì. This salad is loaded with fresh crunchy vegetables, lite and gluten free Buckwheat Soba Noodle with Sweet and Spicy Chili-Garlic Dressing! I call it: an Asian Bánh mì experience in a delightful summer salad bowl! I'm telling you, this sa...

Vegan Orzo Pasta Salad with Arugula and Meyer Lemon Dressing

Sharing with you a lite and fit vegan orzo pasta and wild arugula salad dressed in a simple meyer lemon dressing!Meyer lemon is one of my favorite citrus and I love grabbing some whenever these are in season. Their sweet and sour taste is really unique, kinda combination of navel orange and lemon. No kiddi...

Bread, Pudding, Pies

Lemon Strawberry Pound Cake

This Strawberry Pound Cake recipe combines my two seasonal favorites, fresh strawberries and lemon, in one dessert. I love strawberries. And I love pound cakes. Hence, a strawberry pound cake made perfect sense in my world. Moist, buttery and rich with fruit fragrance of strawberries and punch of lemon.. t...

Mango Blueberry Bread Pudding

Give cinnamon bread pudding some break and serve a summer-inspired Mango and Blueberry bread pudding for breakfast! Blueberry Bread Pudding with sweet mango and cream custard coated in each layer.... a little scent of cardamom and amazing mango aroma... this bread pudding recipe brings summer flavors to we...

Spiced Breakfast Egg Casserole

Sharing today, an easy vegetarian, spiced breakfast egg casserole loaded with flavor of warm spices. It makes comforting chili weather breakfast or brunch. You can even prep casserole at night and simply bake in the morning. Meatless, loaded with veggies and flavorful spices, this casserole will some becom...

Salted Pistachios Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake

Mexican Chocolate, spicy and smoky chipotle in adobo chili sauce, more chocolate, roasted salted pistachios! This, my friends, translates to a delicious spicy chocolaty pudding cake which your guests will love to enjoy with a glass of wine after dinner!I often find myself lazy to stand in kitchen and bake...

Fresh Strawberry Cream Scones

Sharing with you, lite and buttery, fresh strawberry and cream scones! Perfect for Sunday Breakfast with Mom, on Mother's Day! The best thing about these scones? These just need 10 minutes of prep! By the time, coffee/tea brews and oven preheats, you will be ready to usher scones into the oven. And then ju...

Moist Chia Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Hello Friends! I hope your enjoying beginning of week so far! about me... I'm just lost in chocolate!!!!It's Tuesday, still 5 more days to Valentine's Day and seems like whole world is just covered in chocolate! Every where I see, TV, Ads, blogs, or social media, everyone just want to talk chocolate! I thi...

Chicken

Chicken Marbella

Chicken Marbella, a delicious savory chicken bake with chicken marinated with vibrant flavors of prunes, olives, capers, oregano and red wine vinegar and then baked topped with little brown sugar. The aroma of chicken cooking with prunes, olives, sugar and garlic makes everyone look forward to the dinner....

Chicken Divan

This Chicken and Broccoli Divan recipe is easy to prepare, use rotisserie chicken (can use fresh or leftover cooked chicken) and is baked coated in a delicious cheesy creamy Curry Mustard Sauce. All the flavors go so good together, this will become your favorite Chicken and Broccoli Casserole of all times!...

Instant Pot Butter Chicken

An easy Instant Pot Butter Chicken recipe with restaurant-style bold flavor in just 15 minutes of prep. It will be your favorite Butter Chicken ever! Refrigerate up-to 3-4 days. Freeze up-to 6 months. Gluten free, Nuts Free. Today's Butter Chicken recipe is inspired from my earlier Slow Cooker Butter Ch...

Curry Chicken Salad

Creamy Curry Chicken Salad with grilled chicken breast, sweet mango chutney, crunchy almonds, and aromatic flavor of spicy curry powder. Also known as coronation chicken salad, it is an easy chicken salad with amazingly bold and creamy curry flavor. One of our most-requested salad for potlucks and family g...

Pollo Asado (Oven Roasted, Grilled)

Flavorful chicken (roasted or grilled) marinated in orange, lime juice, garlic, paprika, herbs, and spices. Pollo Asado is Mexican (or Cuban depending upon spices) take on grilled chicken where citrus tenderize chicken, and herbs, spices make it juicy and flavorful. The beautiful orange color is so temptin...

Curry Chicken Rice (Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker)

Curry Chicken Rice is my ultimate one-pot weekday chicken dinner. Flavored with homemade yellow curry paste, coconut, and spices. This Instant Pot Chicken Rice are fragrant, mild spicy with subtle flavor and richness of coconut milk. Dairy free, nut free, perfect for meal-prep or a quick weekday dinner at...

Chicken Burrito Bowl (Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker)

Chicken Burrito Bowl prepared in Instant Pot start to finish for a weeknight dinner ready in 25 minutes. It has all you want from a hearty yet quick weeknight meal. Delicious chipotle chicken, black beans, corn, bell pepper, rice, and spice. Gluten free, nuts free. Also dairy-free (when served without dair...

Roasted Chicken alla Limoncello

When I planned to roast some chicken for Sunday supper, I added a twist on my favorite roasted lemon chicken with limoncello and orange marmalade, and buttery-aromatic fennel. Sweet of marmalade, fennel met savory spices and citrus with sharp notes of limencello........ The result was a savory, aromatic, s...

Leave a Message:

*Name and Email are required.

5 Responses

  1. Totally spoiled for choice with this amazing selection of picnic food! Was scrolling the web looking for inspiration and I have found it! Thanks :)
  2. We have LOADS of picnics planned for this summer, so I will be trying lots of these recipes.
  3. Great roundup! Cant wait to try some of these!
  4. So many delicious options to choose from! I cant decide which to try first :-)
  5. This is absolutely delicious! I love that it’s such a crowd pleaser for the whole family