20 Quick Picnic Recipes Because It’s a Beautiful Day for a Picnic

Last Updated on July 14, 2020 by Ellen Christian

These quick picnic recipes are perfect for our next picnic! Beautiful weather has returned to Vermont. It’s a gorgeous sunny day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. There’s a very gentle breeze and temps are right around 68F. Humidity is practically non-existent. Summer is here, and I want to celebrate! 

Quick Picnic Recipes

I am going to pack up the picnic basket and head outside to the back yard to have a picnic on the picnic table. I don’t want to spend hours inside cooking for our picnic so I’ve gathered a few easy summer picnic recipes together to get started. Of course, it’s always a good idea to toss in some carrot and celery sticks and a big bowl of fruit salad. Meat and cheese rolls from the deli work well as a main dish. Picnic finger foods are always popular. Don’t forget to add an ice pack if you’ll be traveling to your picnic spot. Food must stay cold to prevent spoilage.

• Cobb Egg Salad (with or without the buns)
• 20 Minute BLT Pasta Salad
• Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Chicken Ceasar Wraps
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Cranberry Zucchini Slaw
• Easy Southwest Salad
• Cranberry Waldorf Salad
• Watermelon Lemonade
• Cajun Spice Pasta Salad
• Chocolate Dipped Pineapple Slices

Camco 42805 60The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to BlanketJJ Cole Outdoor Blanket,Gray/Red, 5′ x 5′

• Lemon Cream Fruit Dip
• Loaded Tuna Mason Jar Salad
• No Mayo Apple Slaw
• Tomato Caprese Cups
• Tuna Macaroni Salad
• Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
• Fully Loaded Black Bean Salad
• Strawberry Jalapeno Salsa
• Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs
• Orzo Pasta Salad
• Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad
• Grandma’s Iced Rhubarb Tea
• Lemonade with Stevia

You’ll notice that I didn’t really include desserts in my list of quick picnic recipes. I don’t eat a lot of them (because carbs and sugar) and in the summer, I would much prefer to have a slice of watermelon or a big bowl of melon balls. They’re naturally sweet from nature without any extra work on my part.  If you must include a dessert, these easy mini berry tarts are delicious and quick to make.

I find that it’s easiest to use a picnic basket for our picnics. We have one that fastens the plates, cups, and silverware to the inside of the lid and the food fits in neatly inside the basket. With the addition of ice packs and cloth napkins, we are all set for a picnic. If you’re bringing the kids along, you might want to add some outdoor toys to keep them occupied. Remember a big blanket to sit on if you don’t have a picnic table and a good book to read.

If you’re bringing the kids along, you might want to add some outdoor toys to keep them occupied. Remember a big blanket to sit on if you don’t have a picnic table and a good book to read. Do you have any other picnic food suggestions?

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Ellen Christian

Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.