17 Perfect Picnic Recipes For The Weekend
Michael Alberstat
Less packing, more snacking: these make-ahead recipes are perfect for al fresco dining and park-side picnics. Put together a menu for yourself this weekend!
Niçoise Muffuletta Sandwich
Layer Mediterranean ingredients into a hollowed-out artisanal loaf to make this oversized sandwich. Pack it whole and bring a serrated knife to cut it up on location. Get the Niçoise muffuletta sandwich recipe.
Green Goddess Smashed Chickpea Sandwiches
Zippy, creamy and a snap to make ahead, these picnic-ready green goddess sandwiches are packed with fibre and protein. Get this green goddess sandwich recipe.
Pinwheel Picnic Sandwiches
Instead of the same old sandwich, pack a batch of these fun pinwheels for your next picnic. We’ve even made the fillings for these swanky bites a bit more interesting: Egg salad gets a Spanish twist, while our tuna boasts Mediterranean flavours. Get our pinwheel picnic sandwiches recipes.
Crudités with Dip Duo
A few tricks can make a veggies-and-dip platter really sing. First, find the freshest, most seasonal veg; consider fennel wedges, endive, rainbow radishes and heirloom cucumbers. Next, sprinkle the veggies with flaky salt and give them a shower of spices and fresh or dried herbs, such as baby basil, za’atar or sumac. Serve with a homemade dip. These eggplant and red-pepper-muhammara dips are one-way tickets to Flavour Town. Get these dip recipes.
Tarragon-Chicken Sandwiches With Red Grapes
Not your typical chicken-salad sandwich! We added red grapes and fresh tarragon give this picnic sandwich a fresh look and taste. Get the tarragon-chicken sandwiches with red grapes recipe.
Pimm's Cup Jellies
Jelly cocktails! These charming little jars are easy to carry—and they give this picnic treat a retro-cool vibe. Get our portable Pimm's cup jellies recipe.
Bourbon-Pecan Blondies
Rich, buttery dessert bars that can be sliced at home. Wrapped with wax paper and a bit of simple twine, they’re the perfect finale for a lazy-day picnic outdoors. Get this bourbon pecan blondies recipe.
Watermelon Limoncello Lemonade
A refreshing mocktail (or cocktail — just add limoncello), this rosy limeade is picnic-perfect. Get our watermelon limoncello lemonade recipe.
Giant Mufaletta Sandwich
Piled high with deli meats then pressed down into a dense and delicious sandwich, this crowd-pleaser can be sliced into meal-sized servings or bite-sized appetizers. Be sure to dress the bread generously with olive oil when assembling; it helps the sandwich to settle and flavours to mingle while it chills. Get this muffaletta recipe.
Cucumber And Potato Salad
A picnic isn't complete without this classic salad. Potatoes, tossed in with cucumber, dill, parsley and dressing make this salad unforgettable. Get our cucumber and potato salad recipe.
Classic Pasta Salad
This summer staple combines chilled rotini, crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, fresh parsley and a bright vinaigrette. Get this classic pasta salad recipe.
Summer-Corn Pasta Salad
Pasta salad—another summer classic—is an easy make-ahead, ideal for taking to a weekend barbecue, or packing into your picnic baskets. Get the summer corn pasta salad recipe.
Wheat Berry Tabbouleh Salad
This hearty vegetarian salad lets your slow cooker to do all the heavy lifting, and is easily packed to go. Get our wheat berry tabbouleh recipe.
Crisp Melon and Tomato Salad
Fresh, colourful with a hint of sweetness, this salad is all about simple, seasonal ingredients. Get our crisp melon and tomato salad recipe.
Antipasto Salad
The test of a good picnic salad is whether it can make it to the main event without getting soggy. This one gets tossed right before it’s served, but the ingredients are safe to hang out in the cooler for hours. Packed with marinated vegetables, salami and cheese, it’s basically a meal in a bowl. Get this antipasto salad recipe.
White-Sangria Jellies
Sangria, meet dessert! This sweet treat is perfect for long weekends, picnics and hot weather. (They take about three hours to set, so make sure to plan ahead.) Get our white sangria jellies recipe.
Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Fresh chocolate chip cookies are a no-fail dessert, anytime. Get our brown sugar chocolate-chip oatmeal cookies recipe.
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