Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 50 Classic Picnic Recipes For Your Next Outdoor Gathering Sunshine and good food—some things just belong together. By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna is a Senior Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and assigns content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Josh Miller Josh Miller Josh Miller is a writer, editor, recipe developer, and food stylist who has been writing about Southern food and working in the publishing industry for the past 20 years. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Taste of the South, and Southern Cast Iron magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 15, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray These easy and impressive picnic recipes, paired with a soft blanket and a patch of green grass, will liven up any outdoor event. Just like when hosting a tailgate, a host needs to consider portability and casual charm for picnic food ideas. Try these delicious, make-ahead recipes to minimize pre-party prep and stress and maximize praise from your picnic guests. With these simple picnic recipes, you will create the perfect memorable and portable menu. 01 of 50 Picnic Egg Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele It's all in the name! This simple, old-school egg salad recipe will fit perfectly on your picnic spread, whether you put it between two slices of bread or spread it on toasted baguette slices. Minced radishes help elevate this dish. Get the recipe 02 of 50 Three Pickle Potato Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Filled to the brim with pickles, this potato salad will be the star of your next picnic. Get the recipe 03 of 50 Spicy Pineapple Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke This vibrant slaw recipe will kick your picnic game way up. Total prep time is under 30 minutes, so add this recipe as your new go-to to accompany grilled meats, sandwiches, and finger foods. Before serving, whisk zest, lime and lemon juice, honey, and seasoning to coat the cabbage mixture. Get the recipe 04 of 50 Cracker Crust Tomato Pie Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Easy to transport, this is the easiest Southern tomato pie you've ever made. Get the recipe 05 of 50 Peach Hand Pies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall When peaches are in season, you must eat them every way you can. These hand pies are just right for your next picnic. Get the recipe 06 of 50 Pepper Sauce Watermelon Wedges Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray These spicy-salty watermelon wedges take just minutes to make and will be the most-talked-about item at your next picnic. Get the recipe 07 of 50 Sweet Potato And Cabbage Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Grated sweet potatoes add a naturally sweet twist to this classic summer picnic side dish. Get the recipe 08 of 50 Cornbread Cookies Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Crumbly cornmeal cookies slathered in a honey-butter frosting? Sign us up, please! Get the recipe 09 of 50 No-Bake Granola Bars Yossy Arefi These healthy homemade granola bars will keep everyone full throughout the day, and there are three flavor options to satisfy every family member's preferences. No-bake granola bars include rice cereal, oats, almond butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Upgrade with one of the following varieties: Tart Cherry-Pistachio, Apricot-Coconut-Cashew, or Chocolate Chip-Pecan-Sea Salt. get the recipe 10 of 50 Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele This new spin on a classic tomato sandwich features our all-time favorite Summer Sauce. Test Kitchen professionals describe Summer Sauce as a bright, fresh, loose pesto-like sauce, ideal for any summer dish. Prepare these sandwiches a day before the picnic. Get the recipe 11 of 50 Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Cheesecake in a cookie form—could these be any more picnic-perfect? Get the recipe 12 of 50 Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox This easy sandwich recipe makes the most of that rotisserie chicken you have in the fridge. This chicken salad mixture pairs well with fresh sandwich rolls and toasted baguettes, or you can even enjoy it on lettuce leaves. Get the recipe 13 of 50 Classic Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Throw a Tupperware container full of pimiento cheese and an assortment of crackers into your basket, and you're good to go. You could always make easy-to-tote sandwiches with this favorite spread, too. Get the recipe 14 of 50 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Fresh fruit is always welcome at our picnics. Bring skewers or toothpicks for a utensil-free serving. Combine your favorite fruits with a honey and orange juice mixture. Get the recipe 15 of 50 Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites Jennifer Davick To round out your picnic with a bite of something sweet, toss a few of these easy pecan pie bites into a Mason jar. Frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells are the perfect portable container for this glazed pecan filling. Get the recipe 16 of 50 Lemonade Iced Tea Jennifer Davick Our riff on a classic Arnold Palmer is refreshing for hot summer days. Make this an adult-only beverage by adding bourbon or spiced dark rum. Garnish with fresh citrus slices. Get the recipe 17 of 50 Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Crunchy apple and nutty, creamy brie are a perfect match with sliced turkey for a sandwich that's anything but boring. Wrap each sandwich in parchment paper to help keep them fresh until you are ready to eat. Get the recipe 18 of 50 Cheddar Cheese Straws Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cheese straws are an all-time favorite Southern snack for parties, host gifts, and any occasion that might arise because they're so easy to toss in a tin and take with you. This savory and rich snack has the perfect amount of peppery kick. Get the recipe 19 of 50 Cornbread Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Remember cold, layered salads? We've never forgotten them! These vintage recipes are so easy to package and take on a picnic. Cornbread elevates this recipe, but it is adaptable based on your available ingredients. Get the recipe 20 of 50 Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox This old-school recipe is delicious, nostalgic, and easy to pack and take in zip-top plastic bags for a satisfying lunch at the park. Make cheese puffs in advance and freeze them so you can prepare this recipe whenever you'd like. Pair these cheesy bites with a classic Southern Ham Salad. Get the recipe 21 of 50 Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Bruschetta Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch This easy bruschetta recipe makes the most of the fresh summer cherry tomatoes. Softened goat cheese spread over toasted baguette slices pairs perfectly with tomatoes, oil, and basil leaves. Get the recipe 22 of 50 Golden Corn Fritters Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins These crispy poppers will be long gone before the picnic is over. Creating this hearty finger food takes only 30 minutes of hands-on time. Get the recipe 23 of 50 Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise Victor Protasio This bite-size spin on a classic BLT will become a new favorite. Choose whatever tomatoes are ripest for this recipe, but a combination of red and yellow heirloom varieties makes an exciting color combination. Prepare this dish an hour in advance and refrigerate it until you are ready to eat. Get the recipe 24 of 50 Mini Muffulettas Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke Layers of cheese, cold cuts, and pickled vegetables stuff these slider sandwiches. Make this mini muffuletta sandwich a day before your picnic to save time. After preparing, store muffulettas in a plastic freezer bag and refrigerate them overnight. Get the recipe 25 of 50 Permanent Slaw Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Make this simple slaw recipe ahead of time so you only need to remember to pack it in your picnic basket when it's time to go. This tangy vinegar-based coleslaw combines finely shredded angel hair cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, sweet onions, and a sweet and sour apple cider vinegar dressing to make it incredibly flavorful. Get the recipe 26 of 50 Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This childhood favorite is perfect for carrying along on a breezy afternoon picnic. Upgrade this old-fashioned favorite with a salty-sweet caramel filling. Allow enough time to refrigerate the pies before packing them so the filling is firm. Get the recipe 27 of 50 Smoky Snack Mix Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Go ahead and double this recipe because this Smoky Snack Mix will be every guest's favorite. White cheddar cheese crackers add a buttery richness to this irresistible mixture. Store leftovers—if any—in an airtight container for up to five days. Get the recipe 28 of 50 Puppy Chow Snack Mix Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Whip up this addicting snack in just a few minutes. Upgrade this classic treat by combining the cocoa powder with powdered sugar for an extra chocolate-flavored coating. Get the recipe 29 of 50 Salmon Bagel Sandwiches Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Use your slow cooker to help make the bright, tender salmon that is the star of this recipe. Season the cream cheese with chives, radishes, dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice before adding it to the everything bagel. Get the recipe 30 of 50 Fire Crackers Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This Southern favorite starts with a sleeve of saltines from the pantry. The best part about this recipe is that baking is optional. Use a Ziploc bag filled with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, ranch dressing mix, red pepper flakes, and olive oil, and let it sit overnight. Get the recipe 31 of 50 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Micah A. Leal Bacon and ranch are a match made in side-dish heaven. Choose a pasta, like cavatappi or elbow pasta, to help the mixture cling to every curve. Fresh herbs, sliced cherry tomatoes, and shredded Parmesan cheese complete this flavor-filled dish. Get the recipe 32 of 50 Greek Grilled Chicken Pita Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This easy and fresh pita recipe makes your picnic lunch more fun than usual turkey sandwiches. Marinate the chicken overnight in olive oil, garlic, lemon, salt, and pepper. After grilling the chicken, top it with a drizzle of lemon juice and fill a pita pocket with tzatziki, lettuce, tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. Get the recipe 33 of 50 Chicken and Fontina Panini Greg DuPree This simple but tasty sandwich makes the most of store-bought pesto and rotisserie chicken. Assemble this dish in 10 minutes with only a handful of ingredients. In addition to the pesto and chicken, add sliced tomatoes and fontina cheese to crispy ciabatta bread. Get the recipe 34 of 50 Ranch Oyster Crackers Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you can't get enough ranch dressing, this simple snack will be your new favorite. These oyster crackers are delicious as a snack, or you can add them to your favorite salad or soup. Get the recipe 35 of 50 Crispy Cheese Wafers Make your picnic a snack lunch featuring these homemade cheese crackers. These crackers are extra crunchy because of the rice cereal. Store in an airtight container for up to one week. Get the recipe 36 of 50 Southern-Style Potato Salad Southern Living This Southern classic is always a welcome sight at a picnic. Assemble this recipe with sour cream, bacon, sweet pickle relish, and mayonnaise for this fan-favorite side dish. Achieve the perfect texture by cooling the potatoes entirely before adding them to the mayo mixture. Customize this dish with extra mustard, shallots, grape tomatoes, or other preferred ingredients. Get the recipe 37 of 50 Sweet and Salty Snack Mix Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Your family will beg you to make this snack mix all the time. The sweet and salty flavors make this a snack everyone will enjoy. Store in an airtight container until the picnic. Get the recipe 38 of 50 Bacon Bites Molly Bolton / Southern Living You can't stop returning for more once you try this three-ingredient snack. Wrap the brown sugar-glazed bacon around a breadstick for a unique portable treat. Get the recipe 39 of 50 Cucumber Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Cucumber sandwiches are classic tea-time finger food. Picnics can enjoy the same casual elegance with this recipe on the menu. Customize sandwiches with homemade mayo, pimiento cheese, and minced chicken. Get the recipe 40 of 50 Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey This make-ahead dish is reminiscent of our grandparents' cold, layered pasta salads. Make things simpler by doing the prep work in advance and storing the ingredients in an airtight container until you are ready to assemble. Get the recipe 41 of 50 Turkey Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Whether you make the classic version or try one of our twists—Golden Curry Turkey Salad, Pickle-and-Dill Turkey Salad, or Fruit-and-Nut Turkey Salad—a turkey sandwich will always be a favorite. Assemble this dish in 10 minutes. Get the recipe 42 of 50 Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Fried chicken is a Southern picnic staple—tuck it into a bun with plenty of lettuce and pickles to make it easier to eat outdoors. Get the recipe 43 of 50 Quick-Pickle Cucumbers And Onions Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood On a hot summer day, few things are better than quick pickles. In just over an hour, you have a portable snack that can be enjoyed in an endless amount of ways. We can't resist taking a few out of the jar. Get the recipe 44 of 50 Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox For those days when turning on the oven is the last thing we want to do, we turn to these easy cookies. As luck would have it, the four ingredients are pantry staples, which makes this recipe even easier to take on. Get the recipe 45 of 50 Shrimp Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Succulent shrimp salad is a Southern dish that's hard to turn down. If company's coming over and you have 20 minutes to spare, this recipe will impress your crowd. Get the recipe 46 of 50 Strawberry Cookies Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Picnics aren't for fussy desserts with tricky icing or melting fillings, instead we opt for simple: like these strawberry-studded cookies. Full of bright spring flavor, including a pop of citrus zest, these stand-out treats are sure to disappear. Get the recipe 47 of 50 Cheesecake Fruit Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox A refreshing spin on a picnic staple, we love this simple and delicious Cheesecake Fruit Salad. Work ahead and cut the fruit the day before and then toss with the cheesecake filling when you're ready. Get the recipe 48 of 50 Cherry-Lime Hand Pies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Matthew Gleason; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall With a flavor nod to our favorite drive-in drink, these cherry-lime hand pies simply scream summer. Get the recipe 49 of 50 Cheese Lover's Snack Mix Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Every picnic needs a cheesy, salty treat, and this cracker-packed snack mix is just the ticket. Get the recipe 50 of 50 Peanut Butter Cookies Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living It's hard to get any more classic that peanut butter cookies. With nothing to melt, they're the perfect picnic dessert. Get the recipe Frequently Asked Questions What should I pack for a simple picnic? Bring a large enough blanket or blankets for your family, plus cutlery, cups, paper plates, napkins, and a basket or cooler. Depending on what you're serving, you may also want to pack a small cutting board, knife, bottle opener, and corkscrew. How can I make a picnic more special? A pretty blanket and fancy picnic basket go a long way toward dressing up a picnic. Display food with a bread basket or cheese board, and bring along a bucket and ice to chill wine or other beverages. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit