What to bring to a picnic, BBQ, or potluck? We have a mega list of over 100 simple picnic food ideas to get you through the summer and into autumn. Yum, the deliciousness of eating outdoors adds an extra je nais se quois. Maybe it’s the smell of a bbq or the ambience. If you are needing some recipe inspiration, we’ve got you covered from best submissions from all over.
For our family, it’s about easy and simple food ideas because I don’t really want to be in the kitchen whipping up a food storm like it’s Thanksgiving in the hot weather. I’ve listed some of the bulk ingredients next to the links to help you keep track of what link you’re on.
Picnic Cold Pastas
Quick and Easy Pasta Salad with Italian dressing, tomatoes, feta, and cucumber
Herbed Cheese and Veggie Macaroni Salad with mozarella, red pepper, red onion, celery, pickles, mayo, sour cream, and dill
Asian Pasta Salad with Asian Ginger Sesame salad dressing, dried cherries, canned mandarin, spinach
Salsa Verde Mexican Ramen Pasta with salsa verde, corn, avocado, chicken, queso fresco
Ranch Pasta Salad with mayo, dry ranch dressing, bacon, tomato, olives, chedder cheese
Amish Macaroni Salad with Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar, vinegar, hard boiled eggs, celery, onion, red bell pepper, sweet pickle relish
Pea Pasta Salad with frozen peas, mayo, chedder cheese, onion, bacon, ranch seasoning
Bruschetta Pasta Salad with balsamic vinegar, garlic, tomato, red onion, parmesan, fresh basil
Easy Vegan Macaroni Salad with red onion, red bell pepper, carrots, celery, peas, maple, dijon mustard, mayo
Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta with spaghetti, garlic, lemon, butter, parmesan, parsley
Pesto Orzo Salad with pesto, yogurt, tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, olives, arugula
Rainbow Pasts Salad with red pepper, savoy cabbage, carrots, celery, mayo, dill
Tuna Pasta Salad with mayo, sour cream, dijon mustard, sugar, dill, peas, celery, red onion, dill pickles
Zesty Jalapeno Top Ramen Salad with coleslaw mix, pepitas, green onions, jalapenos, vinegar, sugar, chipotle chili pepper
Sandwiches / Hoagies / Wraps
Instant Pot Chicken Ceasar Salad Wraps with bacon, broth, cream cheese, parmesan, Ceasar salad dressing
Easy Vegan Main Lobster Rolls with canned heart of palm, celery hearts, mayo, scallions, lemon, tarragon
Spicy Italian Turkey Pesto Sandwiches with olive oil, deli turkey, sopressata or deli meat, pickles veggie relish, tomato, mozzarella, arugala
Easy Parmesan Artichoke Chicken Salad with croissants, artichokes, mayo, parmesan
Chicken BLT Sandwiches with chicken, mayo, bacon, tomato
Chicken Salad Croissants with grapes, pecans, celery, onions, tarragon, dijon mustard
Chickpea Salad Sandwich with pinto beans, mayo, dijon, lemon, paprika
Pressed Italian Sandwiches with parsley, vinegar, oil, kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, capers, colby cheese, salami, deli meat, spinach
Chicken Salad with mayo, lemon juice, paprika, celery, onion, red bell pepper
Vegan “Tuna” Sandwich with chickpea, canned hearts of palm, mayo, garlic, dill, celery, red onion
Curried Tuna Wraps with celery, onion, daikon relish, mayo, curry, sesame seeds, radish
Easy Hummus Wraps with cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, carrots, hot sauce, salad
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with avocado, corn, red onion, lime, taco seasoning
Pimento Cheese Sandwich with Chedder cheese, cream cheese, mayo, garlic, cayenne, pimento peppers
Grain Free Flatbread with almond flour, arrowroot, baking powder, sea salt
Meat
Fantastic Pulled BBQ in the crockpot
Spicy Fried Chicken Legs with sugar, cayenne, smoked paprika, garlic, oregano
Pit Barrel Smoked Pulled Pork with Boston Butt roast, BBQ rub, Carolina sauce (or apple juice or beer)
Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Shrimp Skewers with pineapple chunks, sweet chili sauce, sambal
Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic
Chicken Muffins with sweet potato, almond flour, chicken leftovers, arrowroot, and tarragon
Grilled Brats and Sauerkraut with Granny Smith apple, red potato, beer, onion, dill, caraway, brown sugar
Easy Tuna Salad with celery, tomatoes, mint, Greek yogurt, lemon
Spam Musubi with Egg: rice, sugar, soy sauce, egg, Spam, seaweed
Spicy Prawn Mango Summer Salad with red onion, red chili sauce, lime juice, red chili powder, mint leaves, cilantro
Potatoes
Grilled Potatoes in Foil with butter, Ranch seasoning powder, chedder cheese, bacon,
Vegan Southern Potato Salad with vegan mayo, mustard, vinegar, sweet onion, sweet pickle relish
French Potato Salad with no mayo, white wine, champagne vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, dill, parsley, onions
Lemon Dill Potato Salad with lemon, olive oil, garlic, onions, dill
Creamy Potato Salad with red potatoes, red wine vinegar, mayo, sour cream, red onion, celery, red bell pepper, dill pickle, green onions
Italian Potato Croquettes with mozzarella, parmesan, Russett potatoes, oregano, basil, paprika
Pizza / Charcuterie / Jars
Easy Fresh Tomato Pizza with flour, yeast, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil leaves
Easy Jarcuteries with jars filled with crackers, sliced meat, pretzels, cheese, nuts, individualized
Easy Summer Charcuterie Boards
Sides and Salads
Creamy Cucumber Salad with mayo, cucumber, sweet onion, sugar, and vinegar
Southern Deviled Eggs with Relish, pickle juice, mayo, sweet relish, dijon, Worcestershire
Asian Green Bean Salad with soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, sesame seeds, ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes
Watermelon Berry Salad with cherries, strawberries, watermelon, raspberries, lime juice, maple, mint leaves
Avocado Corn Salad with frozen corn, red bell pepper, onion, olives, avocado
Corn Avocado Black Bean Salsa with tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime, cumin, cayenne powder
Kale, Apple Slaw with broccoli, cabbage, apple, red onion, tahini, dates, mayo, yogurt
Chickpea Salad with chickpea, red onion, tomatoe, cucumber, cilantro, cumin, lemon
Easy Quinoa Caprese Salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, tomatoes, mozzarella, basil
Broccoli Apple Salad with broccoli florets, chedder cheese, apple, carrot, green onion, raisins, lemon juice, sunflower seeds, yogurt, vinegar
Old Fashioned Fruit Salad with whipped cream, creamed cheese, powdered sugar, canned mandarin, fruit cocktail, various fresh fruit
Quick Stone Fruit Salad with Mint and Goat Cheese: peaches, nectarines, plums, lime, mint, honey, goat cheese
Crunchy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with broccoli, cauliflower, grapes, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, garlic, thyme
Quinoa Salad with red onion, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, mint, olive oil
Barley Salad with Lemon Dressing: pearl barley, tomato, cucumber, chickpeas, parsley, red onion, lemon zest, dijon mustard
Tofu Panzanella Salad with tofu, soy sauce, red chili flakes, cucumber, tomato, red bell pepper, red onion, lettuce, maple, cilantro, mint
Corn Fritters with flour, cornmeal, garlic, corn, red bell peppers, green onions
Super Easy Crab Salad with imitation crab, mayo, almonds, celery, curry, edamame, peas, and lettuce
Easy Taco Salad with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, kidney beans, Thousand Island with bacon dressing, nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips
Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad with jalapeno, chives, lime zest, feta, lime juice, Tabasco, honey
Dips
Feta Dip with cream cheese, feta, Greek yogurt, garlic, dill
7 Layer Dip with salsa, refried beans, cream cheese, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, olives
Avocado, Olive, and Jalapeno Dip with onions, jarred jalapeno, avocado, green olives, lemon, parsley
Easy Pico de Gallo with tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime
Fresh Pineapple Avocado Salsa with red and green pepper, jalapeno, cilantro
Spicy Mango Habanero Salsa with cumin, chili powder, black beans, red bell pepper, red onion, habanero, cilantro, lime
Snacks
Vegan Cheezy Spinach Triangles with cashews, tofu, miso, dill, garlic, filo pastry
Crunchy Chunky Granola with oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, almonds, pecans, dried cranberry, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax, chia
Orange Cranberry Yogurt Muffins with maple, sugar, almond extract, dried cranberries, orange, Greek yogurt, flour, butter
No Bake Carrot Cake Energy Balls with Medjool dates, carrots, walnuts, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla
Gluten Free Banana Cake with brown rice flour, tapioca walnuts, chocolate chips
Apple Pie Energy Bites with oats, walnuts, cashews, Medjool dates, apple pie spices, apple, coconut
Greek Sesame Bars with honey, sesame seeds, lemon zest, cinnamon
Mini Bacon and Onion Pasties with puffed pastry
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter and Jelly Energy Bites with oats, peanut butter, banana, freeze dried strawberries, maple syrup
Muffin Tin Sushi Cups with sushi rice, edamame, tamari, lemon juice, avocado, carrot, red pepper, toppings
Dark Chocolate Hummus with chickpeas, cocoa powder, maple syrup, olive oil, vanilla
Dessert Yummies
Banana Pudding in a Jar with banana, vanilla pudding, vanilla wafer cookies, and whipped topping
Orange Fluff with orange Jello, vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, mandarin oranges, and mini marshmallows
No Bake Chocolate Raspberry Brownies with rolled oats, nut butter, maple, vanilla, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, milk, raspberry jam
Streuselkuchin (coffee cake) with butter, sugar, flour, jam, almonds, eggs
Keto Peanut Butter Pie with cream cheese, whipping cream, peanut butter, erythritol, almond flour, butter
Cherry Pie Bars with canned cherry pie filling, cream cheese, powdered sugar, over a bottom crust
Biscoff Brownies with Biscoff cookies, Biscoff spread or Nutella, cocoa, dark chocolate
Easy Mini Plum Tarts with puff pastry, cream cheese, powdered sugar, lemon zest, plums, rough grain sugar
Lemony Lemon Bars – a classic!
Easy 10 minute Pumpkin Spice S’mores Trifles with graham crackers, butter, pumpkin spice, Nutella, marshmallow creme
Strawberry Rice Crispy Treats with strawberry gelatin, mini marshmallows, vanilla pudding, oreos, marshmallow fluff, dried strawberries
Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (or raisin) Cookies with vegan butter, coconut sugar, almond milk, oats, chocolate chips
Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes with lemon, sour cream, cream cheese, strawberries, sweetened condensed milk
White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies with butter, brown sugar, sugar, flour, raspberries, white chocolate
Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies with peanut butter, egg, and sugar
Coconut Ice No Bake Slice with sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, shredded coconut, powdered sugar
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes with strawberries, strawberry jam, lemon zest, flour, butter, sour cream, whipped cream
Rhubard and Strawberry Crumble with flour, sugar, lemon zest, butter
Cocunut Rice Krispie Treats with marshmallows, coconut extract, butter, coconut oil, unsweetened shredded coconut
Vanilla Pancake Mix Cake with pancake mix, sugar, sour cream, milk, egg, butter, vanilla
Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats with marshmallows, butter, peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped peanuts
Cheesecake Fruit Salad with cheesecake pudding, milk, Cool Whip, bananas, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries
Layered Peach and Raspberry Crisp with cardamom, cinnamon, sugar, cornstarch, granola, flour, butter, lemon juice, brown sugar
Scotcheroo Bars with brown rice crisp cereal, honey, coconut sugar, peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips
Triple Chocolate Marshmallow S’mores Cookies with chocolate chunks, mini marshmallows, Hershey chocolate bars, graham crackers
Excellent ideas! Pasta salads, pizza, fruit salads and mini desserts are a few of my favorite picnic foods. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the list!