Easy picnic food ideas
Stay home and take your picnic to the next level with salt beef bagels and chicken katsu scotch eggs, apricot cheesecake bars and summery pre-bottled cocktails, and plenty more besides
Check out our best picnic food ideas. From fun sandwich recipes to portable dips, pork pies, savoury picnic recipes, and a selection of summery salads. Our picnic ideas are quick to make and easily portable to your favourite outdoor spot. We also have a range of picnic desserts to try including brownies, cheesecake bars, muffins and more.
Ingredients
- We use summery ingredients to make our picnic recipes seasonal
Picnic sandwiches and wraps
Our sandwich recipes are easy to follow, we have cut muffuletta and focaccia into squares so they're portable.
The Cubano sandwich
Take a look at this golden and crisp sandwich idea from the US which uses Cuban mojo pork and is oozing with Swiss cheese. It takes a while to make, but it's a great picnic idea in the summer. Check out our best sandwich recipes here.
Muffuletta squares
This New Orleans muffuletta looks and tastes great, the zingy olive salad layer really makes this sandwich. Just cut into squares before packing up you're picnic and you'll be good to go.
Italian picnic loaf
Our door-wedge sandwich idea is simple and quick to make. Simply stuff ciabatta bread with an olive salad, salami, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and you've got the perfect picnic loaf.
Black bean crunch wraps
Looking for a vegetarian picnic wrap? Try our toasted crunch wraps with black beans, crunchy tortilla chips and avocado. Wrap in foil and take on your next picnic.
Salt beef and Swiss bagel melts
Our easy picnic bagel recipe is packed with a delicious combination of salt beef, melting Swiss cheese, gherkins and a generous dollop of sweet American mustard.
Stuffed focaccia
Stuff a classic Italian bread with mozzarella cheese and antipasti for an instant crowd-pleaser at your next picnic with friends. Learn to make this delicious bread recipe with our easy step-by-step guide. Many more bread recipes here.
Vegan burrito with black beans
A colourful, vegan burrito recipe, rammed with tomatoes, black beans, sweetcorn, lime, coriander, avocado and red chilli. This is a super quick picnic idea and can be ready to eat in just 30 minutes.
Picnic dips
Whip up a batch and pop into jars for a tasty sauce that you can use for dipping in your favourite crisps and breadsticks.
Beetroot, yogurt and lime dip
This vibrant, tangy dip is ideal served with slices of grilled halloumi. A great one to pack in that basket for your alfresco spread.
Green goddess and red devil dips with homemade breadsticks and veg
These green goddess and red devil dips will complement your picnic snacks and drinks perfectly.
Beetroot hummus
Make the most of beetroot in this earthy hummus recipe, ready in 10 minutes for a last-minute picnic idea.
Picnic dip jars
Not only are these snacks packed with flavour, but they're also a great alternative to the usual picnic food. These simple picnic dip jars are sure to become a family favourite in no time.
Red cabbage kimchi
One of the best-known ferments is this gloriously spicy kimchi from Korea, serve it as part of your next picnic spread.
Picnic pies
A pie is a must at a picnic, try one of our ideas from cute pork pies to a picnic pie jam-packed with flavour.
Quiche lorraine
Take your quiche lorriane to the next level with our ultimate recipe packed with crispy pancetta and wilted green veggies. It serves six, so it's perfect for a picnic served cold. More quiche recipes here.
Mini pork and chorizo picnic pies
Looking for a traditional picnic recipe with a twist? These mini pork and chorizo picnic pies have a hidden quail's egg in the middle and make a great snack.
Mini chicken filo pies
If you like pies, you’ll love these individual portable ones, filled with chicken and broad beans in a cream sauce and held together in flaky filo. Perfect for a picnic!
Picnic pie
You'll need to put in some extra effort for this picnic pie recipe, but the payoff will be great. This meaty pie also makes a hearty meal. Check out our best pie recipes here.
Picnic snacks
Go the extra mile with your picnic and add some savoury snacks to enjoy alongside your sandwiches. From summery Vietnamese rolls and bitesize muffins to frittata.
Salmon sushi sandwiches
A new way to eat sushi! Fill your nori wraps with sushi-grade salmon, red pepper, cucumber and sushi rice, then dip in soy sauce for best results.
Hot-smoked salmon and courgette mini quiches
These little wonders look striking, are gorgeously crunchy and easy to put together. Great for an early summer picnic.
Prawn and avocado Vietnamese summer rolls
Our Vietnamese picnic recipe is filled with prawns, avocado, chilli and ginger, shredded carrot and noodles. If you're a fan of spice, serve with chilli sauce for a dip.
Chicken katsu scotch eggs
Jazz up your next picnic with our impressive chicken scotch egg with katsu curry. This picnic recipe is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. Our method gives you a perfectly cooked yolk, juicy sausage meat filling and a crunchy breadcrumb coating. We also have a classic scotch eggs recipe here.
Mini picnic frittatas
Check out our frittata idea for a last minute picnic treat. Make a large batch and you can also enjoy throughout the week for a snack or with a salad. Check out our best frittata recipes here.
Fennel-spiced sausage plait
This fennel-spiced sausage plait is a grown-up take on everyone's favourite picnic snack. Made with an added kick of chilli and mustard with a crunch of sesame, this makes for a comforting midweek meal. Many more sausage roll recipes here.
Honeyed fig and curd cheese tart
Our recipe for honeyed fig and curd cheese tart is easy to make and ready in under an hour – simply slice up for a treat at your next picnic. Check out more of our fig recipes here.
Gruyère, spring onion and marmite muffins
Fancy a picnic muffin recipe with a cheeky twist? We've added marmite to this fun recipe to give a delicious savoury flavour to these cheese and onion muffins. Perfect for a quick on-the-go snack. More muffin recipes here.
Classic Cornish pasties
What's more fitting at a picnic than a Cornish pasty? Take a look at our pasty recipe which sticks close to the tradition and only contains onion, swede, potato and skirt steak.
Pickled onion and rarebit flatbreads
These simple pickled onion and rarebit flatbreads are quick and easy to make. Cook at home then take along to a picnic for a posh savoury snack.
Classic tortilla
A well-made tortilla is the best addition to a tapas-style picnic. This Spanish classic only needs four ingredients for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Cheddar, leek and amaranth flapjack
This herby flapjack recipe makes a filling and wholesome snack that would go well as an easy, healthy snack or for a weekend picnic with friends.
Spiralized summer rolls
Spiralized veg takes the place of noodles in these super-healthy, Vietnamese-style vegan rolls. They're great to pack for a posh picnic idea.
Picnic salads
Make a large salad to share out at your next picnic. We have some refreshing, summery ideas, and even a handy way of carrying your salad to your favourite picnic spot. Going on a picnic last minute? Here are our favourite 15 minute salad recipes to try.
Jam jar salads
Deliciously healthy and packed with fresh ingredients, this salad recipe can be made in advance and is ideal for picnics. Need ideas for dressings? Rapeseed oil is a good choice – it's low in saturated fat and rich in omega-3.
Thai watermelon salad
Watermelon stands in for green papaya in this update of a Thai classic. It’s best to buy a whole watermelon for this picnic idea as the flesh closest to the skin tends to be firmer.
Kale waldorf salad with buttermilk dressing
Make our kale salad recipe with buttermilk dressing for a clever update on a classic and with a good amount of crunch and tangy dressing, it makes for a really useful picnic side dish.
Sweet picnic treats
You can't have a picnic without some sweet treats. Retro brownies, coffee cupcakes, delicious loaf cakes – we have it all. We've even made it possible to carry cheesecake to your picnic, with our portable apricot cheesecake bars.
Lemon and blueberry bars
This simple picnic dessert recipe is seriously moreish; the lemon and blueberry bars are gooey on the inside and crunchy on the out, making them the ideal summertime picnic treat.
Apricot cheesecake bars
Check out these bright summery cheesecake bars for a delicious picnic snack. We've used fresh seasonal apricots and crunchy amaretti biscuits. What's more, they're perfectly portable so you can satisfy your cheesecake craving on the move!
Butterscotch and pretzel millionaire shortbread
Take your millionaire shortbread up a notch with decadent butterscotch and salty pretzels. The butterscotch gives this classic childhood favourite a real grown up taste – an ideal treat for a picnic with friends.
Coffee and walnut cupcakes
Coffee and walnut cake is a teatime favourite. With this picnic recipe, we've given it a modern makeover by giving it the cupcake treatment. Pipe the icing sky-high for maximum cake drama. More cupcake recipes here.
Salted peanut and honeycomb rocky road
These salted peanut and honeycomb rocky road squares are a great twist on a classic and will please everyone. Plus, this picnic dessert recipe only takes 15 minutes of work – what's not to love?
Custard cream blondies
Ever thought of adding custard creams to your blondie mixture? It's genius! Have a go at our picnic dessert idea this weekend.
Pink pickled turnips
These pink pickled turnips look stunning and make a great, easy-to-make addition to any picnic collection.
Picnic drinks
Drinks are often an afterthought at a picnic, usually resorting to shop-bought drinks. Make your picnic extra special with our refreshing summer drinks recipes, from iced tea cocktails to super healthy smoothies and portable cocktail bottles.
Homemade lemonade
When temperatures rise, nothing beats an ice-cold glass of sweet-sour lemonade. Make your own using four simple ingredients (including a sprig or two of thyme).
Elderflower and raspberry mocktail bottles
Make a batch of these summery portable mocktails in just ten minutes and pop in your picnic hamper.
Contessa cocktail bottles
Pre-made cocktails are all the rage at the moment, and they're definitely a picnic must-have. Think of the contessa as a summery version of a negroni. The orangey Aperol and dry vermouth help lighten things up.
Iced mint and apple tea
This refreshing summer cocktail of apple (and brandy)-infused iced tea is easy to make and perfect for a balmy summer evening. This picnic drink idea is a great cocktail to share with family and friends.
Berry smoothie
Our best berry and banana smoothie, made without yogurt. This picnic smoothie uses avocado for extra creaminess, plus apple juice and fresh lime juice to pack in more flavour. For more healthy smoothie recipes, click here.
Blackberry vodka
Fancy something a little stronger? There's no better way to make use of a glut of blackberries than to make blackberry vodka. Be sure to experiment with different amounts of sugar for this picnic drink recipe, but we would suggest using a little sugar to sweeten the tart blackberries.
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