65 picnic recipes

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.

Orzo salad with sun-dried tomatoes, red bell pepper, olives, and scallions in a mustard red wine vinaigrette. A light, Mediterranean-style cold pasta salad for potlucks and picnics.

Peanut butter noodles toss cooked linguine with a quick peanut sauce of soy, sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of vinegar. Cold or room temperature, ideal for lunchboxes and picnics. Ready in 15 minutes.

Dilly beef salad with cubed cooked beef, stuffed olives, pickled onions, and green pepper in a beer and dill mayonnaise dressing. A tangy, cold meat salad for lunch or picnics.

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.

Poppy seed fruited slaw tosses shredded cabbage and carrots with juicy orange segments, halved red grapes, and a tangy poppy seed-cider vinaigrette. A sweet-savory summer side for picnics and barbecues.

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.

Flour tortillas spread with a SPAM and cream cheese filling flavored with fresh dill and green onions, then rolled up with cucumber, sunflower seeds, and sprouts. A no-cook wrap that's great for lunches and picnics.

Bread Provencale is a Provençal stuffed baguette filled with sausage, tomatoes, olives, capers, and basil, then chilled overnight and sliced into rounds. A make-ahead picnic classic from the South of France.

No-mayo Tuscan potato salad dressed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs. Served at room temperature, this light Italian side dish is a refreshing swap for heavy picnic potato salads.

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.

No fat potato salad swaps mayo for a sweet-tangy cooked dressing made from egg substitute, sugar, and vinegar. A diet-friendly take on the picnic classic with all the texture and none of the oil.

Potato and loaded vegetable salad is a mayo-free, vegan picnic salad: cubed potatoes, peas, carrots, celery and bell pepper tossed in a bright blended lemon-garlic dressing with a hint of coconut and hot sauce.