34 picnic recipes

Chilled garbanzo and potato salad tosses boiled red potatoes with chickpeas, roma tomatoes, red onion, and spinach, then marinates for hours in the fridge. A lighter twist on picnic potato salad.

Southwest ham and black bean rice salad with crunchy jicama, bell peppers, olives, and a cumin-chili vinaigrette. A sturdy one-bowl lunch or picnic-ready side.

Sautéed scallops or shrimp with vegetables and couscous, chilled and stuffed into pita bread. A make-ahead seafood sandwich that's picnic-ready and packed with Mediterranean flavor.

Three-bean salad tossed in a blended herb dressing with nutritional yeast and molasses creates a protein-packed vegan side for potlucks, picnics, or meal prep.

Cold chicken pasta salad loaded with creamy avocado, tangy sour cream dill dressing, and Parmesan. Make it ahead overnight for potlucks, picnics, or easy summer meal prep.

A no-cook marinated string bean salad with mushrooms, cucumber, cauliflower, and pimentos in a tangy champagne vinegar dressing. Make ahead, fat-free, perfect for picnics and potlucks.

Vegan pasta and red kidney bean salad with diced zucchini, green pepper, tomato and green olives, bound in eggless mayonnaise with chili powder, coriander, paprika and sage. A protein-rich room-temperature salad for picnics and potlucks.

Herbed potato salad with red-skinned potatoes, Dijon mustard, yogurt-mayo dressing, and plenty of scallion, dill, and parsley. A lighter picnic side that skips the heavy gloppy stuff.

Cold pasta salad with smoked turkey, corn, red onion, and a tangy barbecue-tomato dressing. Tossed with rotini and topped with sliced green olives. Great for picnics and potlucks.

Marinated bean salad with five beans (yellow, green, kidney, lima, garbanzo) and bell peppers tossed in a sweet-and-tangy brown sugar vinaigrette. Make ahead for picnics, potlucks, and barbecues.

Flaky homemade hand pies stuffed with chopped ham, tomato sauce, mustard, and a kick of horseradish. A great way to use leftover holiday ham, perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, or game day.

Peanut butter dip with fruit jam, molasses, vinegar, and sesame seeds blended into a bold, sweet-tangy spread. A big-batch dip for parties, picnics, or snacking with fruit and crackers.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Fried chickpeas sauté cooked garbanzos with browned onions, lemon juice, parsley, mint, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, and cumin for a fragrant Middle Eastern side. Equally delicious hot from the pan or cold for picnics.

Vegan BBQ beans simmered with molasses, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, and hot sauce. Water-sauteed veggies keep it oil-free. Serve on buns like sloppy joes, over grains, or as a picnic side.

One of the better known dishes of Uttar Pradesh cuisine, this is a favorite at occasions ranging from a wedding buffet to a family picnic. It goes exceptionally well with Deep Fried Wheat Bread, a raita and Pumpkin with Onions and Fenugreek.