When the weather warms up and turns beautiful, there’s nothing better than a summer picnic in the backyard with family and friends! Food, drinks, music, games and good company – what more could you ask for?! It’s so simple and a good idea to pack up a picnic basket and go on a family picnic.
Once the warmer weather hits, it’s time to start planning out your perfect picnic menu. What I love most about picnic snacks is that they’re made using fresh ingredients that are perfect for last minute plans. Any of these easy picnic food ideas will take your picnic snacking to the next level of deliciousness! If you’re geared up for picnic season, the time is now to wash that picnic blanket and starting planning out your perfect picnic food recipes.
Having a yard full of people to enjoy our favorite easy picnic food recipes for a crowd is what summer is all about! I hope you’re looking forward to all the good times and good food that is straight ahead!
Best Picnic Food Ideas
The biggest thing to keep in mind about easy picnic recipes is that great recipes don’t have to be hard. You can make up great foods full of great ideas that take minimal work or effort on your part. Don’t forget that fresh vegetables and pasta salads make up some really simple and healthy picnic snacks as well. If you’re ready to plan your next picnic outing, check out my list of favorite picnic food options!
When the goal is to have a good time, you don’t need to be stuck in the kitchen while your guests are having a good time.
Picnics with friends always include easy dishes that keep kitchen duty to a minimum.
Most of these perfect picnic recipes can be prepared quickly with minimal cleanup!
If you’re wondering what to bring to a picnic, try some of my favorite go-to Crowd Favorite Picnic Recipes that are perfect for your next outdoor picnic! These recipes are great for special occasions are full of fresh fruit and other ingredients that are hearty, delicious, and certain to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Quick & Easy Crowd Favorite Picnic Recipes
Main Dishes – Fire up the grill and get ready for some outdoor fun with these main dishes.
Some of these picnic main dishes will be grilled, some you can make ahead and enjoy packed up to take to the picnic!
California Grilled Chicken
California Grilled Chicken – marinated chicken breasts, grilled to perfection and topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and avocado then drizzled with a balsamic reduction. Perfection!!
View Recipe
Baked Chicken Thighs
This one-pan, baked chicken thighs recipe is the easiest way to get moist, flavorful, crispy, chicken thighs every time with only a few ingredients.
View Recipe
Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos
Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos are one of the best easy chicken meals around! With just 4-ingredients tossed into the slow cooker, you can't go wrong!
View Recipe
All-American Burger
Make these All American Burgers for the Fourth of July and your backyard barbecue will be the neighborhood party of the season!
View Recipe
Crock Pot Pulled Pork
Crock Pot Pulled Pork! A delicious pork loin is slow roasted in the crockpot and topped with a delicious homemade barbecue sauce for an easy meal idea!
View Recipe
Ham and Swiss Sliders
Baked ham and cheese sliders are the perfect summertime recipe! Ready in just 25 minutes, these sliders are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
View Recipe
Grilled BBQ Chicken
This easy grilled BBQ chicken recipe is an easy way to grill chicken. This barbecue chicken recipe results in tasty and juicy chicken every time! Use your favorite bbq sauce and let that the flavor of the grill come through!
View Recipe
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken is the easiest 4-ingredient slow cooker chicken meal you can make that comes together with just 5 minutes prep!
View Recipe
Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork
You're going to love the taste of this Dr. Pepper Crock Pot Pulled Pork!
View Recipe
Chicken Salad Sandwich
This classic comfort recipe comes from my grandmother and includes chopped chicken, celery, boiled eggs, and pickle relish mixed in a mayonnaise/miracle whip "dressing" – Old Fashioned Chicken Salad!
View Recipe
Sloppy Joes
The best quick and easy homemade Sloppy Joe recipe made with real ingredients! This family-friendly recipe only takes a couple of minutes to make!
View Recipe
Crock Pot Hot Dogs
Crockpot hot dogs are an easy dinner recipe with an abundance of topping options! This easy recipe is perfect for parties to feed a crowd.
View Recipe
Mexican Corn
Mexican corn is also known as elotes or Mexican street corn, but whatever you call it, it's delicious! Charred grilled corn is tossed with a creamy, spicy sauce, cotija cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
View Recipe
Fried Chicken
Making fried chicken at home isn’t as hard as you think! Plus, extra crispy chicken fresh from the fryer is an experience that can’t be beat! Here’s how to make it.
View Recipe
Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Garlic Butter Steak Bites are absolutely packed with flavor! Your whole family will love them, and you’ll love how easy they are to make.
View Recipe
Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
Cheeseburger Sliders
These easy cheeseburger sliders are a single-handed version of a classic burger! They’re perfect for a party or for a kid-approved dinner.
View Recipe
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
This roasted pork tenderloin is tender, juicy, and full of flavor thanks to the addition of smashed garlic and fresh herbs. Perfect for a special occasion!
View Recipe
Finger Food – No picnic is complete without finger food! These appetizers will have people coming back for more!
It’s always a good idea to have finger foods for your picnic!
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip is a delicious, lighter, no-guilt version of your favorite game day appetizer!
View Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
This Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe is the perfect easy appetizer to enjoy in the crockpot or oven! Filled with chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch, and cheese for the ultimate Buffalo Chicken Dip to enjoy anytime!
View Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Nachos
If you’re looking for a quick and easy appetizer recipe, this Buffalo Chicken Nachos recipe is it!
View Recipe
Chili Cheese Dip
With only 2-ingredients, this Chili Cheese Dip is always a hit! Make this quick & easy appetizer in the slow cooker or microwave for a crowd-pleasing dip!
View Recipe
Spicy Sausage and Cheese Crock Pot Dip
This Sausage Cheese Dip full of two kinds of cheese, black beans, corn, tomatoes and green chilis that is sure to please any crowd!
View Recipe
Million Dollar Tortilla Roll Ups
Million Dollar Tortilla Rolls Ups are about to become your latest appetizer craze. With just 6 ingredients – mayonnaise, bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, almonds, and tortillas – they'll be a favorite appetizer in no time!
View Recipe
Beer Cheese Dip
Beer Cheese Dip — packed full of so much cheesy goodness and ready within 15 minutes making it a great option for parties and game day!
View Recipe
Sausage Balls
Sausage Balls are the perfect easy appetizer made with just 4 simple ingredients – sausage, Bisquick, shredded cheddar cheese, and milk.
View Recipe
Meatball Sliders
This Meatball Sliders Recipe is the perfect party appetizer or game day snack! Quick + easy, you'll come back to this recipe again and again! #meatball #appetizer #gameday #recipe
View Recipe
Million Dollar Dip
Million Dollar Dip is made with only 5 ingredients – Mayonaise, cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, and almonds.
View Recipe
Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
Fruit Salsa is a perfect summer dessert dip! Loaded with fresh fruit and a side of baked cinnamon chips, this is the ultimate party dip! All you need for this delicious fruit salsa is fresh fruit, tortillas, cinnamon, and sugar.
View Recipe
Veggie Pizza
Veggie Pizza is an easy appetizer for potlucks, tailgate parties, showers, and picnics – using crescent rolls and your favorite veggies!
View Recipe
Pizza Sliders
Pizza sliders are the ultimate appetizer for pizza lovers! Easy, cheesy, and made with sweet Hawaiian rolls, you’ll make this recipe again and again!
View Recipe
Queso Dip
Queso dip is the ultimate appetizer for cheese lovers everywhere! Infused with Tex-Mex flavors, this homemade queso dip is easy to make and perfect for a party.
View Recipe
Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are a favorite restaurant appetizer, but I think they’re even better when you make them at home.
View Recipe
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These Ham and Cheese Pinwheels roll sliced ham and Swiss cheese with tender crescent dough. The pinwheels are brushed with garlic butter to amp up the flavor for an easy appetizer or quick dinner!
View Recipe
Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a Blanket is a classic party appetizer that pairs buttery crescent roll dough with little smokies sausages. I give mine a flavorful twist by adding everything bagel seasoning!
View Recipe
Side Dishes – These side dish recipes are easy to make and guarantee no leftovers!
There are so many picnic side dish recipes below that you’re going to have a hard time choosing which ones to pick!
Cheesy Potatoes Recipe
Cheesy Potatoes is a crowd-pleasing side dish that goes by many different names but never has any leftovers! Comfort food at its best!
View Recipe
Pasta Salad
The perfect easy pasta salad! Loaded with veggies and a creamy dressing that comes from a bottle! This is a classic, go-to summer sidedish that never goes out of style!
View Recipe
Zucchini Casserole
This Zucchini Casserole is an easy, side dish that goes with any meal. Zucchini and tomatoes topped with cheese and a crunchy panko/parmesan breadcrumb topping makes for the perfect accompaniment to any meal!
View Recipe
Corn Casserole
Whole kernel corn, cream-style corn, sour cream, butter, and Jiffy Corn muffin mix makes this yummy Corn Casserole Recipe amazingly good…and EASY!
View Recipe
Scalloped Potatoes
This easy scalloped potatoes recipe is a family favorite! Tender Yukon Gold potatoes in an easy creamy, cheesy sauce make the best potato side dish! These thinly sliced potatoes covered in a creamy, cheddar cheese sauce bake up creamy on the inside with a cheesy crusty on top.
View Recipe
Broccoli Salad
This Broccoli Salad is a great addition to your summer salad menu! With Bacon and cheddar cheese, it’s a soon-to-be family favorite!
View Recipe
Macaroni Salad
If you’re looking for a dish to make for a cookout, potluck, picnic, or summer get-together, you can’t go wrong with classic macaroni salad with creamy mayo dressing.
View Recipe
Pea Salad
Simple Pea Salad is a delicious southern side dish that is filled with frozen peas, bacon, chopped red onions, and cheddar cheese.
View Recipe
Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy bow tie pasta salad recipe is quick and pleases everyone! It’s perfect for potlucks, picnics or as a side dish to any weeknight meal.
View Recipe
Potato Salad
This is literally the best potato salad recipe, ever. Packed full of flavor, you're going to love how simple this summer side dish recipe is.
View Recipe
Summer Pasta Salad
This summer pasta salad is the perfect side dish for warm summer days! Crisp, fresh veggies, tangy artichoke hearts, and salty feta are tossed with rotini and Italian dressing for a light, easy summer pasta salad.
View Recipe
Corn Salad
This corn salad is the perfect summer side dish! Fresh corn is tossed with cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, onions, avocado, tangy feta, and fresh herbs, all in a sweet-and-tangy red wine vinaigrette.
View Recipe
Baked Beans
Sweet, smoky baked beans are the best side dish for a backyard barbecue, but you'll love this baked beans recipe any time of year!
View Recipe
Mac and Cheese Bites
These easy Mac and Cheese Bites are perfectly portioned cheesy goodness! Inside a crispy panko crust is melty cheddar and macaroni. Just add your favorite sauce for dipping!
View Recipe
Homemade Cornbread
Try this easy homemade cornbread recipe made using cornmeal, sugar, flour, butter, milk, and eggs for a southern-style side dish ready in 30 minutes or less! It's easy, inexpensive, and perfect for holiday meals.
View Recipe
Jalapeño Popper Dip
This jalapeño popper dip is easy, cheesy, and baked until bubbly, warm, and toasty on top. Serve it at your next party and watch it disappear!
View Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Sliders
These Buffalo Chicken Sliders are a hit for game day or any day of the week! They're spicy, cheesy, and perfect served on sweet Hawaiian rolls.
View Recipe
Desserts – Be the star of the picnic when you bring any of these quick and easy dessert recipes!
Any of these dessert recipes would be perfect for a picnic! They’re simple and fast to make and are great for crowds, family, and friends!
Marble Brownies
Marble brownies are the dressed-up version of a classic box mix brownie – swirls of cream cheese and brownie combine to make a treat that looks good and tastes even better!
View Recipe
No-Bake S’Mores Bars
S'Mores Bars made with only 4-ingredients – Golden Grahams cereal, Hershey chocolate bars, marshmallows, and butter! It's the EASIEST no-bake dessert bar recipe ever!
View Recipe
7UP Cake Recipe
For a moist and flavorful bundt cake try this 7UP Cake Recipe the next time you need an easy and delicious cake recipe from a box mix!
View Recipe
No Bake Oreo Cheesecake Dessert
The perfect patriotic 4th of July no-bake dessert to serve up your guests. Golden Oreos, topped with a creamy cheesecake filling, and whipped cream and fresh berries.
View Recipe
Oreo Dessert
This No-Bake Oreo Dessert is a quick and easy no-bake dessert you're gonna love! This chocolate dessert is made up of pudding, cream cheese, cool whip, and Oreos, of course.
View Recipe
No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake
No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake is the perfect quick and easy, no-bake dessert!Made with light, simple ingredients – cream cheese, cool whip, sour cream, and sugar, this no-bake Cherry Cheesecake Graham Cracker Crust Pie guarantees to be a hit!
View Recipe
Vanilla Custard Cheesecake
Rich and creamy custard like cheesecake. Graham cracker crust and a fresh strawberry sauce.
Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
This Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake is the most delicious and easy dump cake recipe you’ll ever try! Made with only 4-ingredients – just dump all the ingredients into a baking pan, bake and eat!
View Recipe
Banana Split Pie
Banana Split Pie? Yes! Because the only thing better than a banana split from your favorite ice cream shop is an easy, no-bake Banana Split Pie from your very own kitchen.
View Recipe
Chocolate Cream Pie
Made with a pre-made crust, instant chocolate pudding, and whipped topping this Chocolate Cream Pie recipe is a chocolate lover's dream!
View Recipe
Coconut Cream Pie
This Coconut Cream Pie is a coconut lover's dream! Creamy, rich instant coconut pudding is mixed with whipped topping and sweetened coconut flakes and folded into a pre-made pie crust for the ultimate easy, decadent dessert.
View Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie is a quick and easy no-bake dessert that only requires a premade graham cracker crust and 4 ingredients!
View Recipe
No Bake Peanut Butter Pie
This No Bake Peanut Butter Pie is a quick and easy no-bake dessert that only requires a premade graham cracker crust and 4 ingredients!
View Recipe
Old Fashioned Banana Cake
This Homemade Old Fashioned Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is the most flavorful moist cake that is topped with an easy cream cheese frosting. Banana Cake a delicious twist on banana bread – perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
View Recipe
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake
Strawberry Jello Poke Cake is light and fluffy, filled with strawberry jello, and topped with Cool Whip for a delicious summertime treat!
View Recipe
Strawberry Cobbler
Strawberry cobbler is the perfect recipe to make in spring, when fresh strawberries are cheap and plentiful! Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream while it’s still piping hot and you’ve got yourself a winning dessert.
View Recipe
Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake
This Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake is perfect for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any patriotic occasion! The light, fluffy cake is infused with red and blue Jello for a fruity, colorful easy dessert!
View Recipe
Pistachio Cake
This pistachio cake is super moist, full of nutty flavor, and the prettiest pale green color! Best of all, it's so easy to make, it's practically effortless!
View Recipe
Pistachio Salad
This pistachio salad recipe is sweet, creamy, and loaded with all different kinds of textures, from crunchy pecans to pillowy soft marshmallows and pineapple. It’s perfect for a potluck!
View Recipe
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Blondies
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Blondies are a dessert bar made for chocolate and peanut butter lovers! They're chewy, rich, and a little bit like a Reese's peanut butter cup in the form of a bar!
View Recipe
Yellow Cake Mix Cookies
Yellow cake mix cookies take all the fuss out of making homemade cookies! Customize them with your favorite mix-ins or toppings.
View Recipe
Ambrosia Salad
This Ambrosia Salad recipe is a classic! It combines pineapple, mandarin oranges, and coconut with creamy dressing and mini marshmallows.
View Recipe
Kentucky Butter Cake
This Kentucky butter cake is a decadent Bundt cake recipe that's super moist and full of rich buttery flavor. Just add fresh berries or whipped cream and enjoy!
View Recipe
Dirt Cake
This dirt cake recipe is a cinch to make and it’s always a crowd-pleaser! No one can resist the layers of Oreo crumbs and fluffy cream cheese pudding.
View Recipe
Strawberry Icebox Cake
You’re only three ingredients away from the perfect strawberry icebox cake! Layer Cool Whip, strawberries, and graham crackers and pop it in the fridge for the most magical no-bake dessert!
View Recipe
