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    Home » Summer Recipes

    28 Summer Picnic Food Ideas

    Author: Amy Fulwood | Published: May 26, 2019 | Modified: Jul 19, 2023

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    There's nothing better than outdoor eating in the summer so try one of these picnic food ideas! These are great for making ahead and serving to a crowd at your next summer picnic.

    Picnics are one of my favourite things about summer. There is nothing better than enjoying the sunshine while tucking into some amazing food and there's so many different options for picnic food!

    Whether you keep it simple with sandwiches and salads or try something a bit different like savoury pastries or cold pasta dishes you're guaranteed to find something in this post which will fit perfectly in your summer picnic.

    Picnic food suggestions

    Of course there's picnic food classics like potato salad, sausage rolls and scotch eggs which are always a hit with kids and adults alike but below I've listed all kinds of other picnic recipes from healthy to quick and easy.

    Scroll down to find something for everyone this summer season 😎

    Pinterest image for picnic food ideas with text overlay

    Basic picnic foods

    Easy Roasted Tomato Pasta Salad
    This easy roasted tomato pasta salad is full of sweetness from the tomatoes and saltiness from the feta. It makes the perfect grab and go lunch or light dinner! 
    1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Serving dish of roasted tomato pasta salad
    Easy Homemade Baked Parmesan Crisps
    Quick and easy homemade Baked Parmesan Crisps make a simple snack or appetizer for wine pairing. Shredded Parmesan cheese with curry powder, baked into crunchy, golden brown crisps…all in about 10 minutes.
    Get the recipe
    Curried parmesan crisps
    Summer Salad with Pearl Barley & Feta
    This summer salad is bursting with fresh ingredients including cherry tomatoes and cucumber all topped off with a zingy lemon and mint dressing. 
    55 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Summer salad with pearl barley in a bowl with a spoon
    Easy Raspberry Mango Iced Tea
    Raspberry mango iced tea is the perfect cold drink for summer! This iced tea recipe uses fresh raspberries and mango, giving the iced tea a burst of refreshing fruit flavor.
    Get the recipe
    Raspberry mango iced tea in a glass with a straw
    Lighter Herby Baked Falafel
    Baked falafel is a perfect vegetarian meal and it's light and healthy as well! Serve with flatbread and some cucumber and tomato for added crunch.
    25 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Chickpea Recipes: Baked falafel in a flatbread with cucumber, tomato and feta
    The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
    This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever! No funny ingredients, no chilling time, etc. Just a simple, straightforward, amazingly delicious, doughy yet still fully cooked, chocolate chip cookie that turns out perfectly every single time!
    Get the recipe

    Picnic food for kids

    Veggie Wrap with Curry Roasted Cauliflower
    This veggie wrap is an easy, healthy lunch or dinner made with curry roasted cauliflower, spinach, quinoa and a herby yoghurt sauce. It's also a great meal prep option!
    40 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Veggie wraps in a wooden tray on a marble background
    Pizza Hummus
    Do you love pizza–and hummus? Then you are sure to love this Super Creamy Pizza Hummus. It's not just the melding of two uber popular comfort foods, but it's sesame-free and dairy-free too, making it great for almost anyone on a special diet too!
    Get the recipe
    White bowl of pizza hummus with bread
    Caprese Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing
    This caprese pasta salad has all the classic flavours of an Italian caprese salad but with the addition of pasta and pine nuts. It's the perfect summer dish
    20 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of caprese pasta salad on a grey background with a cloth and basil dressing
    Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls
    Cucumber pinwheels, or cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls, are always a huge hit, no matter where or when you serve them. Great for picnics, bbqs, school or work packed lunches, afternoon tea or even a light dinner!
    Get the recipe
    Cucumber sandwich rolls on a white plate
    Lime & Mint Roast Chicken Sandwich with Garlic Butter
    This lime & mint roast chicken sandwich recipe is a delicious weekend treat! Serve drizzled with garlic butter and topped with peppery rocket leaves.
    1 hour hour
    Get the recipe
    This lime & mint roast chicken sandwich recipe is a delicious weekend treat! Serve drizzled with garlic butter and topped with peppery rocket leaves.
    The Best Classic Potato Salad
    Summer Potlucks and BBQs don’t seem complete without a big bowl of this Classic Potato Salad.
    Get the recipe
    Classic potato salad on a white platter

    Picnic food ideas for large groups

    Harissa Halloumi Salad with Couscous
    This harissa halloumi salad is so quick to make and is bursting with healthy ingredients! The salty halloumi is the perfect addition to this vegetarian dish. 
    30 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    This harissa halloumi salad is so quick to make and is bursting with healthy ingredients! The salty halloumi is the perfect addition to this vegetarian dish. #vegetarian #salad #healthy #halloumi
    Lemon Artichoke Vegan Pasta Salad
    Tangy and herby, this quick and easy dish is perfect for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, lunchboxes, and simple summer meatless dinners. It’s got texture and flavor and could easily feed a crowd.
    Get the recipe
    Glass bowl of vegan pasta salad on a blue background
    Chipotle Chicken Salad with Quinoa & Lime Crème Fraîche
    This chipotle chicken salad is a simple summer dinner with roasted tomatoes, quinoa, chorizo and baby spinach. It's the perfect way to celebrate summer produce.
    50 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Chipotle chicken salad with quinoa in a blue bowl on a white wooden background
    Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad
    Mexican Street Corn Potato Salad is a delicious and easy potato salad recipe. Bright and flavourful, the Mexican Street Corn element adds some fiesta to a classic potato salad.
    Get the recipe
    Mexican street corn potato salad in a white dish
    Greek Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing
    Throw together this simple Greek orzo salad for a quick summer dinner. With all the ingredients of a classic Greek salad but tossed with orzo pasta and herby dressing this is my favourite thing to serve as a side at a summer party.
    20 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of Greek Orzo Salad with Herby Dressing on a white wooden background
    Pea Salad with Bacon
    This pea salad with bacon recipe has the most delicious chipotle dressing that’s a fun twist on this southern American classic!
    Get the recipe
    Noodle Salad with Peanut Sesame Dressing
    This healthy egg noodle salad is great served cold for a quick vegetarian dinner or summer side dish with a peanut sesame dressing. Add chicken or tofu for an even heartier dinner!
    15 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of white bowl of noodle salad on a marble background

    Cold picnic food

    Sweet Potato & Quinoa Salad with Sesame Dressing
    Salads are only worth eating if they're going to fill you up and make you feel amazing. This sweet potato and quinoa salad does exactly that. Drizzle with a good helping of creamy sesame dressing and you've got a perfect lunch or dinner.
    40 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad with Sesame Dressing
    Baked Scotch Egg
    These baked scotch eggs are perfect picnic fodder, robust enough to rattle around in a picnic basket and tasty enough to raise smiles all round!
    Get the recipe
    Scotch eggs on a wooden board
    Simple Balsamic Pasta Salad
    What's a summer celebration without pasta salad? This balsamic pasta salad recipe is so simple, it takes just 6 ingredients but is bursting with flavour from roasted tomatoes, balsamic and rocket. It is the epitome of a summer dish!
    40 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of Simple Pasta Salad with Balsamic on a striped cloth with salad servers and cherry tomatoes
    Beet Hummus
    This beet hummus is as beautiful as it is tasty! Eat hummus with crackers, pretzels, vegetables, or slather it on a slice of bread for lunch. However you choose to eat it, you’ll have no regrets.
    Get the recipe
    Summer Orzo Salad with Roasted Vegetables
    This summer orzo salad with roasted vegetables is the perfect thing to take along to your next barbecue. A great mix of tangy capers and sweet roasted veg.
    45 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of summer orzo salad on a white wooden background with cloth, spoon and olive oil jug
    Smoked Salmon Spring Rolls
    Smoked salmon spring rolls are a quick and easy light recipe you can have ready in minutes! Great for those on low carb diets or for when you just don’t feel like bread or a tortilla.
    Get the recipe
    Smoked salmon spring rolls on a white plate
    Baked Aubergine with Tahini and Goat's Cheese
    This baked aubergine recipe is so easy to make and yet is impressive enough for a dinner party. Just a few ingredients like tahini, goat's cheese and olive oil make this an incredible meal. 
    55 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Overhead shot of baked aubergine with tahini and goat's cheese with lettuce leaves on a blue background
    Smoked Mackerel Pasta Salad with Asparagus
    Smoked mackerel pasta salad is a delicious fish dish with roasted asparagus, cherry tomatoes and rocket. It's the perfect summer dinner!
    20 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    White bowl of mackerel pasta salad with asparagus and cherry tomatoes on a marble surface
    Spicy Tofu Sandwich with Pink Pickled Onions
    This crispy fried tofu sandwich is full of spicy flavour. Stuffed with rocket, coriander and some pink pickled onions, these sandwiches make an incredible lunch or dinner.
    25 minutes minutes
    Get the recipe
    Side on photo of tofu sandwich with pickled onions and rocket

    More Summer Recipes

    • White bowl of food
      Chopped Prawn Salad
    • Salmon wraps piled on a blue plate
      Salmon Wraps with Watercress & Spicy Mayo
    • Blue and white bowl of potatoes and feta
      Honey Harissa Roast New Potatoes with Creamy Feta
    • Overhead featured image of garlic parmesan chicken pasta
      Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Salad

    Comments

    1. Christina Conte says

      May 28, 2019 at 2:48 am

      Great collection of recipes for a foolproof picnic! Thanks for including my roll up sandwiches!

      Reply
    2. Natasha @ Salt & Lavender says

      May 27, 2019 at 12:32 am

      Thanks for including my pea salad recipe! Great roundup! 🙂

      Reply

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    Hey, I'm Amy Fulwood!

    Recipe creator and photographer here at TheCookReport.co.uk.

    Over here we’re all about delicious healthy recipes to fit around busy schedules and celebrating the joy that comes from an amazing meal.

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