25 Summer Picnic Recipes Perfect For Hot Days
These summer picnic recipes are sure to satisfy everyone and anyone while soaking up some sun this season! Whether you are with your friends, your family, your date, or just spending time outside, our list of recipes will help you plan the perfect summer picnic!
1. Picnic Pasta
This chilled summer picnic recipe is jam-packed with ingredients. To make it, toss together some cooked pasta, cooked chicken bits, peas, scallions, and red bell pepper. In a blender, combine mayonnaise, chili sauce, lemon juice, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour over the pasta mixture, stir, and refrigerate until it’s picnic time.
Get the full recipe at Mr. Food
2. Napa Cabbage Picnic Salad
Summer picnics need a good salad, and this one is it. After toasting almond slivers in a skillet until browned, combine cabbage shreds, snow peas, sliced radishes, sliced green onions, and chopped cilantro in a bowl. In another bowl, combine rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and cayenne pepper until the sugar dissolves, then add mayonnaise. Combine all ingredients and mix well, then pack it up and take it to your picnic!
Get the full recipe at Simply Recipes
3. Picnic Berry Shortcakes
One unique thing about some summer picnic recipes is they are made to pack and travel with, like this one. Begin by heating sugar and cornstarch on the stove, then add chopped strawberries and mash. Remove from heat once thickened, add lime zest, and refrigerate. Trim individual sponge cakes to fit into mason jars, set flat in jar bottoms, and load with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Coat with strawberry sauce and top with whipped cream. Put the lids on and take to your picnic destination.
Get the full recipe at Taste of Home
4. Picnic Potato Salad
This light summer picnic recipe is filled with tastes of summer. To make it, boil some potatoes until tender, then chop into bite sized pieces, leaving the skin on. Add celery, onions, dill, and parsley, then coat with a thin layer of Dijon mustard and olive oil. Zest with lemon, if desired, for that extra summer appeal.
Get the full recipe at Make Mine Lemon
5. German Picnic Salad
There are a lot of great ingredients in this summer picnic recipe, but it is still easy to make. Just combine chopped onion, cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, kidney beans, corn, and cheese cubes in a bowl and set aside. To make the dressing, combine avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, yellow mustard, parsley, chives, and marjoram. Pour over the dry ingredient mixture and stir to combine. Refrigerate for at least a half-hour before sweeping away to your summer picnic getaway.
Get the full recipe at Daring Gourmet
6. Sweet Barbequed Picnic Chicken
Chicken is good warm or cold, so packing it for your summer picnic is a no-brainer. This chicken dish is all legs, and they marinate in a wonderful concoction, infusing them with so much flavor. For the marinade, combine ketchup, soy sauce, honey, white wine, sunflower oil, minced onion, minced garlic, and mustard in a bowl. Cut slits into the chicken legs, place in a baking dish, and cover with marinade, letting sit in the refrigerator afterward for about an hour. Then, bake, rotating occasionally, and pack warm or cool for a finger-licking picnic dish.
Get the full recipe at All Recipes
7. Picnic Muffins
There are a lot of things you can do with muffins. This summer picnic recipe makes them a full meal! Combine flour, butter, eggs, and milk to make your muffin batter, then fold in feta, ham, tomatoes, and olives. Plop in a muffin pan and add a rosemary sprig on the top of each muffin. Then just bake, cool, and enjoy!
Get the full recipe at Taste
8. Blueberry Picnic Bars
If you like sweet summer picnic recipe treats, this has your name on it. To make, mix uncooked oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and melted butter in a bowl, then press half of it into a square baking pan. Next, simmer blueberries, cornstarch, sugar, and lemon juice for a few minutes. Spoon this onto the oat mixture in the pan, then crumble the remaining oat mixture on top. Bake, cool, and cut into squares.
Get the full recipe at Food.
9. Picnic Quiches
These individual mini quiches are fantastic for picnics, and can really be filled with whatever you like. For this recipe, spread out a layer of ready rolled puff pastry, thin with a rolling pin, and cut out circles to line muffin pan cups. After adding pastry to pan, refrigerate to let the pastry set. Once set, remove from refrigerator and layer with cheese, then chorizo, then more cheese, then an egg and milk mixture, and topped with slices of tomato and bell peppers. Bake until pastry is cooked and cool.
Get the full recipe at Fab Food 4 All
10. Picnic Macaroni Salad
This is not at all a traditional macaroni salad, but it is definitely exciting and so good. It is pretty simple to make, too. Just prepare a box of macaroni and cheese per box directions, then add mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, onion, tomato, and bacon bits. Stir well, then refrigerate until your picnic departure.
Get the full recipe at My Food and Family
11. Crescent Veggie Pizza
Another super easy summer picnic recipe, this one is loaded with cool summery toppings. Unroll a tube of crescent rolls onto a cookie sheet, press the cuts together, and mold over all the top surfaces of the sheet. Bake until cooked, then spread a mixture of sour cream, cream cheese, dill, and garlic powder on top. Cover with whatever vegetable toppings you want, like fresh broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onion, and either slice to pack or leave on the cookie sheet, cover, and transport to your picnic.
Get the full recipe at Pillsbury
12. Blueberry Lemonade
Of course, you need a fun in the sun drink for your summer picnic, so why not mix up some special lemonade? To make, simmer fresh blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan for several minutes. Then, remove from heat, cool, strain out the blueberries, and refrigerate the liquid. Once chilled, pour into a pitcher over ice and add lemon juice and water. You can either divide into bottles to hand out at the picnic, or transport in a resealable pitcher or jug.
Get the full recipe at Gather for Bread
13. Fruit Infused Water
If you are wanting a less sweet and sugary drink option for your list of summer picnic recipes, try flavoring water with fruits and veggies. For this specific recipe, slice lemon, cucumbers, and strawberries and add to an empty pitcher. Fill the pitcher with water and refrigerate for around two hours to make sure the flavors infuse. You can use any fruit and veggie combo you want, but this one is quite crisp and refreshing.
Get the full recipe at Copy Kat Recipes
14. Caprese Picnic Sandwiches
Sometimes when you are hot, you just want fruits and veggies to help you cool down. These sandwiches cater to that, as they contain no meat. Buy some ciabatta rolls and cut in half along the side for your sandwiches. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise and basil pesto, then spread on all sandwiches pieces. On the sandwich bottoms, layer spinach, then mozzarella, then tomatoes, then basil, then balsamic vinegar drizzle, all topped with the other sandwich half. Now your sandwiches are picnic-ready.
Get the full recipe at Tablespoon
15. Picnic Baked Beans
Some summer picnic recipes just go together, and you cannot have barbeque chicken without some baked beans. This recipe uses a can of pork and beans in tomato sauce and dresses it up. Add the can of beans to a baking dish and stir in onion, green pepper, chili sauce, molasses, and mustard. Bake for about an hour, then cool and pack up for your picnic!
Get the full recipe at ifood.tv
16. Picnic Egg Salad
This recipe is easy, and you can eat it with crackers, in a sandwich, or in a wrap at your picnic. For this dish, hard boil eggs, then cool and peel them. Chop up the eggs and mix with mayonnaise, lemon zest, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate until you are ready to depart for your picnic adventure.
Get the full recipe at Mr. Food
17. Pasta And Tuna Picnic Salad
There are just too many good ingredients in this summer picnic recipe. To prepare, soft boil two eggs, then peel and mash with capers. Next, add red chili, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, olive oil, semi-dried tomatoes, olives, cherry tomatoes, canned tuna in oil, cooked pasta, and fresh basil. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are coated with liquids. The recipe says this dish is best served at room temperature, so you can leave this dish out and use the vacant space for more picnic dishes!
Get the full recipe at SBS
18. Picnic Roll-Ups
These nice little finger foods can be filled with all sorts of sandwich combinations. For this recipe, lay out tortillas and spread cream cheese on them. Sprinkle with dill, then add chopped roasted red peppers, thinly sliced cucumbers, and thin;y-sliced turkey. Roll up tightly, leaving no air space, wrap, and chill for about an hour. Then, remove from refrigerator, unwrap, cut each roll into five slices, and skewer each with a toothpick.
Get the full recipe at Mr. Food
19. Pineapple Coleslaw
The sweet tropical pleasure of pineapple means you should definitely add this one to your summer picnic recipes. To make, combine a bag of coleslaw mix, shredded carrots, crushed pineapple in juice (include juice in mixture), golden raisins, and mayonnaise. Mix well, and that is it!
Get the full recipe at We Heart This
20. Picnic Cake
Another easy one, this summer picnic recipe will definitely bring on the summer vibes. For this recipe, dump an entire can of sliced peaches in juice into a baking dish. Then, sprinkle a pack of dry yellow cake mix on top, followed by a layer of sprinkled coconut, a layer of sprinkled nuts, and a hefty drizzling of butter on top. Bake until browned, then let cool for your picnic.
Get the full recipe at Food.
21. Fruit Cocktail Drop Cookies
If you were not feeling the picnic cake, maybe these fruity desserts will be more up your alley. Combine shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves, then add to wet mixture. Then, fold in raisins, walnuts, and a can of drained fruit cocktail. Spoon onto a cookie sheet, bake, cool, and bag up to take for your sweet picnic treat.
Get the full recipe at All Recipes
22. Jerk-Spiced Turkey Picnic Loaf
I know this one sounds a little out there, but it is so, so good. Sliced in sandwiches, this dish is a must-have on your list of summer picnic recipes. To make this loaf, saute mushrooms and onion in oil, then add salt, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper, stirring for a couple minutes. Then add vinegar and molasses, stirring until the liquid evaporates. Transfer to mixing bowl and combine with flour, ground turkey, chicken broth, egg, and pickled onions.
Line a loaf pan with prosciutto slices, leave pieces sticking out over top, add turkey mixture, then fold top prosciutto pieces over turkey. Bake, cool, and slice for a sandwich option that mixes up the traditional burger routine.
Get the full recipe at Sunset
23. Mason Jar Cheesecakes
These individual cheesecakes are easy to make and easy to transport. Grease mason jars and place in a baking dish. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter, then divide among mason jars and press down. Next, mix cream cheese, sugar, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and lemon juice, and divide among jars. Fill the baking pan with water, and bake until the cheesecake tops are golden. Remove from baking dish and allow to fully cool for several hours. Feel free to throw on some toppings for an extra little something.
Get the full recipe at Let’s Dish
24. Summer Salad Jars
Yes, more jar recipes. They are just great because servings are already prepared and they are so easy to pack. To make this one, begin by cooking sliced red and yellow bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant on the stove for a few minutes after mixing them in olive oil and Italian seasoning. After cooked to tenderness, toss the hot vegetables in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and minced garlic, then allow to cool.
Blend half of the red bell peppers in blender with olive oil and a little boiling water, then add some vinegar and Italian seasoning, making the dressing. In jars, layer spinach leaves, then parsley leaves, then cooked veggies, then cubed goat cheese, then sliced roasted chicken, then pine nuts. Take dressing to add at the picnic.
Get the full recipe at Tesco
25. Shrimp Picnic Jars
I know, enough with the jars. Or maybe you are excited, like me, for yet another awesome summer picnic jar recipe. To make this beachy dish, combine a pack of coleslaw, chopped fresh coriander, and sliced shallots in a bowl, then divide among jars. Layer on top corn, then combine cooked and peeled shrimp with chopped kaffir lime leaves, season with salt and pepper, and layer on corn. Finally, mix together vegetable oil, lime juice, and wasabi paste, then drizzle on top.
Get the full recipe at Taste
