50 Classic Picnic Food Ideas for Your Next Outdoor Gathering

Tuna Pasta Salad
Photo: Caitlin Bensel

Sunny days, blue skies, and a gentle breeze make for perfect picnic weather—there is nothing like a hike in the country and an outdoor meal of your favorite picnic foods. Ditch the dining room this season and take it outside. Our best food picnic ideas will help you enjoy every minute of these glorious days.

Paired with a soft blanket and a patch of green grass, these easy and impressive picnic recipes will enliven any outdoor event. Similar to hosting a tailgate, a hostess needs to think about portability and casual charm for picnic food ideas. To minimize pre-party prep and stress—and maximize praise from your picnic guests—try these delicious, make-ahead recipes, including Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise and Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies. Check out thrift stores or antique shops for not-so-perfect wicker baskets, hand-me-down vintage blankets, and charming quilts to help you set up a perfect picnic. These picnic recipes are both portable and casual, making for the perfect picnic menu. Armed with these recipes, you are sure to pull together a memorable movable feast.

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Picnic Egg Salad

Picnic Egg Salad
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Picnic Egg Salad

It's all the name! This simple, old-school egg salad recipe will fit right in on your picnic spread, whether you put it between two slices of bread or spread it on toasted baguette slices.

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Smoky Snack Mix

Smoky Snack Mix
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix

Go ahead and double this addicting recipe—it won't last long.

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Spicy Pineapple Slaw

Spicy Pineapple Slaw
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Spicy Pineapple Slaw

This vibrant slaw recipe will kick your picnic game way up.

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Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Blackberry-Peach Cobbler Bars

This delicious recipe has everything you love about a summery fruit cobbler in grab-and-go form that's perfect for picnics.

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Southern-Style Potato Salad

_Southern-Style Potato Salad
Southern Living

Recipe: Southern-Style Potato Salad

This Southern classic is always a welcome sight at a picnic.

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Mini Muffulettas

Mini Muffulettas
Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Recipe: Mini Muffulettas

This tiny take on the muffuletta sandwich can be made a day in advance so you don't waste any daylight on the day of your picnic.

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No-Bake Granola Bars

No-Bake Granola Bars
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: No-Bake Granola Bars

These healthy homemade granola bars will keep everyone full throughout the day, and there are three flavor options to satisfy every family member.

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Tomato Sandwiches

Tomato Tea Sandwiches
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches

This new spin on a classic tomato sandwich features our all-time favorite Summer Sauce.

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Field Pea and Pasta Salad
Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Mini glass jars make for easy and adorable toting for this summery pasta salad recipe.

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Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

This easy sandwich recipe makes the most of that rotisserie chicken you have in the fridge.

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Classic Pimiento Cheese

Basic Pimiento Cheese
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese

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.

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Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad
Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit is always welcome at our picnics. Bring skewers or toothpicks for utensil-free serving.

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Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

To round out your picnic with a bite of something sweet, toss a few of these easy pecan pie bites into a Mason jar.

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Lemonade Iced Tea

Lemonade Iced Tea
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemonade Iced Tea

Our riff on a classic Arnold Palmer is refreshing for hot summer days.

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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Crunchy apple and nutty, creamy brie are a perfect match with sliced turkey for a sandwich that's anything but boring.

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches
Jen Causey

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

Egg salad is a potluck favorite, so we made it picnic accessible in Masters-style tea sandwiches.

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Cheddar Cheese Straws

Cheddar Cheese Straws
Lee Harrelson

Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Straws

Cheese straws are an all-time favorite Southern snack for parties, hostess gifts, and any occasion that might arise because they're so easy to toss in a tin and take with you.

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Dianne's Southwestern Cornbread Salad

Easy Turkey Recipes: Layered Cornbread-and-Turkey Salad

Recipe: Dianne's Southwestern Cornbread Salad

Remember cold layered salads? We never forgot about them! These vintage recipes are so easy to package and take on a picnic.

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Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad

Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad

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.

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Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

You can still enjoy a bite-size picnic dessert when it's too hot to turn the oven on. These no-bake bars fit the bill perfectly.

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Sweet Potato Chips

Sweet Potato Chips
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chips

If you want to go all-out on homemade, try out this simple chip recipe that's so much better than bagged.

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Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

Sweet Pepper-Peanut Sauce
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

Showcase fresh summer peaches with this healthy handheld recipe.

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Golden Corn Fritters

Golden Corn Fritters
Southern Living

Recipe: Golden Corn Fritters

These crispy poppers will be all gone long before the picnic is over.

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Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise
Victor Protasio

Recipe: Mini Tomato Sandwiches With Bacon Mayonnaise

This bite-size spin on a classic BLT will become a new favorite.

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Permanent Slaw

Permanent Slaw
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Permanent Slaw

This simple slaw recipe was meant to be made ahead, so you don't have to worry about it when you're trying to pack up and go.

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Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies

Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies Recipe
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies

This childhood favorite is perfect for carrying along on a breezy afternoon picnic.

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Muddy Buddy Mix

Muddy Buddy Mix

Recipe: Muddy Buddy Mix

Whip up this addicting snack in just a few minutes.

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Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

Salmon Bagel Sandwiches
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

The bright, tender salmon that stars in this recipe is made with the help of your slow cooker.

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Fire Crackers

Fire Crackers

Recipe: Fire Crackers

This Southern favorite starts with a sleeve of saltines from the pantry.

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Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad

Bacon and ranch are a match made in side-dish heaven.

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Apple Chips

Apple Chips
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Apple Chips

You'll leave store-bought bags behind once you try these healthy homemade chips.

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Greek Grilled Chicken Pita

Greek Grilled Chicken Pita
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Greek Grilled Chicken Pita

Make your picnic lunch more fun than usual turkey sandwiches with this easy and fresh pita recipe.

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Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars
Photo: Helen Norman; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

If blackberry cobbler is your favorite Southern treat, you have to make these portable bars.

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Chicken and Fontina Panini

Chicken and Fontina Panini
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken and Fontina Panini

This simple but tasty sandwich makes the most of store-bought pesto and rotisserie chicken.

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Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs

Recipe: Salted Caramel-Apple Hand Pies

These mini desserts let you enjoy your favorite apple pie to-go.

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Ranch Snacker Crackers

Ranch Snacker Crackers
Sheri Castle

Recipe: Ranch Snacker Crackers

If you can't get enough of ranch dressing, this simple snack will be your new favorite.

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Red Potato Salad

Red Potato Salad
Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Red Potato Salad

This potato salad is perfect for picnics because it tastes just as good at room temp as it does warm.

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Crispy Cheese Wafers

Crispy Cheese Wafers

Recipe: Crispy Cheese Wafers

Make your picnic a snack lunch featuring these homemade cheese crackers.

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Raspberry Crumble Bars

Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Raspberry Crumble Bars

Fresh or frozen raspberries will work for these bars that are both gooey and crunchy.

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Smoky Chicken Panini with Basil Mayo

Smoky Chicken Panini with Basil Mayo
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Smoky Chicken Panini with Basil Mayo

This panini recipe calls for freshly grilled chicken, but you could use the rotisserie chicken from the fridge to save time.

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Sweet and Salty Snack Mix

Sweet-and-Salty Snack Mix
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs

Recipe: Sweet and Salty Snack Mix

Your family will beg you to make this snack mix all the time.

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Puppy Chow Snack Mix

Puppy Chow Snack Mix
bhofack2/Getty Images

Recipe: Puppy Chow Snack Mix

This classic snack mix will be a forever-favorite.

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Bacon Bites

Bacon Bites
Oxmoor House

Recipe: Bacon Bites

You can't stop going back for more once you try this two-ingredient snack.

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Italian Beef Sandwiches

Italian Beef Sandwiches
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Italian Beef Sandwiches

These savory sandwiches start in the slow cooker so hands-on time is minimal.

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Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham
Jen Causey

Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

This make-ahead dish is reminiscent of the cold layered pasta salads of our childhoods.

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Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies

Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies
Skyler Burt

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Hand Pies

We love chicken pot pie so much that we found a way to make it totally portable.

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Turkey Salad

Turkey Salad
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Turkey Salad

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.

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Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese

Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese

Two Southern favorites—fried chicken and pimiento cheese—meet in these mini sandwiches that everyone will love.

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Blueberry-Lavender Hand Pies

Blueberry-Lavender Hand Pies
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Blueberry-Lavender Hand Pies

A touch of lavender brings a floral note to these portable pies.

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Tuna Pasta Salad

Tuna Pasta Salad
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad

We gave Mama's vintage tuna pasta salad a modern makeover with this fresh recipe that's delicious chilled or at room temperature.

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