23 Tips & Recipes for a Tastier Picnic

A great picnic is all about balance: the right mix of crunchy snacks, hearty mains, vibrant sides and a dessert that holds up in the sun. This lineup has you covered, from fried chicken (because, obviously) to fresh, make-ahead salads and crowd-friendly sweets.

Whether you’re packing up for the park, the beach or your backyard, these recipes deliver on flavor and transportation potential. Plus, we’ve got essential tips to keep everything fresh, mess-free and picnic-ready. Let’s get packing.

Our 5 go-to picnic tips

1. Think beyond food: Pack ice, cups, utensils, napkins, a Sandwich Knife, more trash bags than you think you need, a picnic blanket and umbrellas, if you need them. Bonus points for bringing a wagon for easy transport and reusable containers for any leftovers.

2. Room temp wins: Food that does well at room temperature is ideal for picnics. That means nothing frozen or anything that requires heat. (Goodbye, ice cream cake; we’ll see you at home.)

3. Mixing bowls with lids are a must: When you mix up a side in your Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls, there’s no need to transfer them to a travel container. Just put on the airtight lid and head out.

4. Lose the juice: As much as we love a saucy dish, it’s not ideal for a picnic. Opt for foods that travel well without getting soggy or messy.

5. Crisp > limp: Instead of packing delicate greens that wilt fast, build salads with heartier ingredients like cabbage, snap peas or green beans. Or use a sturdy green like kale that holds up under dressing. 

Snacks

Sweet and Spicy HexMix

Keep this crunchy, sweet-spicy snack mix within arm’s reach. A blend of nuts, pretzels and crispy rice cereal coated in a buttery maple-chile glaze, it’s impossible to resist.

DIY Dill Pickle Chips

Crunchy, tangy and a cinch to pack, these DIY dill pickle chips bring bold flavor to any picnic spread. They're ready for snacking or sneaking into sandwiches.

Mains

Grilled Chicken & Orzo Salad

Pasta salad is a picnic staple for a reason. This version uses orzo, leaving plenty of room for grilled chicken, olives, herbs and tangy feta.

Fried Chicken

Room-temperature fried chicken stays crisp, travels well and is just as delicious hours later. No wonder it's an al fresco essential. Depending what you’re in the mood for, our Korean-Style Fried Chicken, Fried Chicken With Spicy Honey Butter or Tee's Fried Chicken Wings would all fit the bill. P.S. You’ll want to grab your Splatter Screen when cooking any of these to save time on cleanup.

Hex Hoagie

A banging sandwich is a picnic MVP—portable, satisfying and packed with layered ingredients that get even better as the flavors meld. This hoagie delivers serious depth, mingling salty cured meats, sharp provolone and tangy giardiniera on a crusty roll.

Roasted Pepper & Potato Tortilla Española

A Spanish staple meant to be eaten at room temp, this hearty tortilla is stuffed with potatoes, roasted peppers and eggs. Bring aioli for dipping.

Hot Maple Glazed Ham

Sliced ham is a picnic powerhouse: It's great on biscuits, piled into sandwiches or eaten as-is. Savory, slightly sweet and effortlessly portable.

Sides

Vegetable Kabob with Aleppo-Lemon Butter

Grill veggie kebabs at home for a picnic-ready feast. They'reb easy to eat, packed with smoky char and full of spicy, buttery flavor.

Lemon-Tahini Slaw

This slaw skips the usual mayo, opting instead for earthy tahini, bright lemon and varied crunch in every bite. It's exactly what you want at a picnic.

Grilled Lemon Broccoli with Pistachio-Parmesan Sprinkles

This side dish refuses to be an afterthought. Grilling adds smoky depth, while pistachio-Parmesan sprinkles bring the crunch and richness you didn’t know broccoli needed.

Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad With Chile-Lime Vinaigrette

This sweet-savory salad shines at a picnic. Juicy tomatoes, peaches and burrata stay fresh. Just be sure to add the chile-lime vinaigrette on-site.

Grilled Sour Cream & Onion Potato Salad

This potato salad takes the best parts of sour cream and onion dip, then ups the ante with charred, crispy grilled potatoes. 

Creamy Broccoli Crunch Salad

We’re firm believers that broccoli salads can hold their own at a picnic, and this one delivers. Broccoli, toasted nuts and a Caesar-inspired dressing make every bite count.

Sweets

Lemon-Almond Cake with Raspberries & Whipped Cream

A picnic-perfect cake: light yet rich, with citrusy almond flavor. Bring whipped cream on the side (canned works!) or pack ice cream in a cooler.

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Why fuss with batches of cookies when one skillet does the job? Bake, slice and bring it along. Dessert doesn't get easier than this.

Red, White & Blue Mixed Berry Skillet Shortcake

Shortcake without the hassle: Bake it in a skillet, slice it up and bring it to the picnic. Pack fresh berries and whipped cream in a cooler for a crowd-friendly dessert.

And with that, your next picnic will be splendid, not soggy.