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14 perfect picnic recipes for the weekend

Taking lunch on the road this weekend? From potato salad to chicken sandwiches, coleslaw and limeade, here are a few of our most portable recipes.
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easy picnic recipes: wrapped sandwiches, hummus veggies in jar

Michael Alberstat

Picnic recipes

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.

Niçoise muffuletta sandwich on a sheet of parchment paper next to a picnic spread; the sandwich is made with hard-boiled eggs; green beans; tuna; dijon mustard; mayonnaise; kalamata olives; anchovies; garlic; Italian bread; olive oil; arugula; tomato and red onion for a post on an easy nicoise muffuletta sandwich recipe for a picnic(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

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.

Spanish egg-salad pinwheel lunch sandwiches with pimiento-stuffed or manzanilla olives and Mediterranean tuna pinwheel picnic lunch sandwiches for two recipes and a post on how to make perfect pinwheel picnic sandwichesSpanish egg-salad lunch sandwiches (with olive) and Mediterranean tuna lunch sandwich (bottom left) (Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Crudite jar with moroccan hummus

These jars of hummus make packing and serving easy. (Bonus: It keeps for a week in the fridge, so give yourself some extra time by making it a day or two ahead.) Get the recipe.

14 perfect picnic recipes for the weekendPhoto, Michael Alberstat.

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.

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Tarragon-chicken sandwiches with red grapes on a baguette; made with chicken breasts; salt; mayo; fresh tarragon; lemon juice and lemon zest; celery; red seedless grapes; red onion; and romaine lettuce for a post on a tarragon chicken sandwich with red grapes recipe for picnicsPhoto, Michael Alberstat.

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.

Pimm's cup jellies, made with Pimm's liqueur, gelatin, lemon juice, lemon-lime soda; canned mandarin orange segments, chopped cucumber; and sliced strawberries and mint for a post on an easy picnic dessert: Pimm's cup jellies(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

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 the recipe.

Bourbon-pecan blondiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Watermelon Limoncello Lemonade

A refreshing mocktail (or cocktail — just add limoncello), this rosy limeade is picnic-perfect. Get our watermelon limoncello lemonade recipe.

Two glasses of pink watermelon limoncello lemonade cocktail garnished with slices of lemon next to a serving jug of watermelon lemonade and a bowl of sliced watermelon

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.

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A cucumber and potato salad with fresh dill and parsley and fingerling potatoes on a white platter with a blue border with two white salad tongs resting in it.

Nutty ramen slaw

A great picnic (or barbecue) starts with the sides, and no summer picnic would be complete without coleslaw. Try our fun take on a classic for your next outdoor gathering. Get the recipe.

Nutty ramen slawPhoto, Erik Putz.

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.

Summer corn pasta salad in a white bowl with red trim, topped with edamame, green onions, jalapeños and fresh basil, next to a pallet of red and white straws and a bottle of rose lemonade on a picnic table(Photo: Angus Fergusson)

Wheatberry tabbouleh salad

This hearty vegetarian salad lets your slow cooker to do all the heavy lifting, and is easily packed to go. Get the recipe.

Wheatberry tabbouleh saladPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Crisp melon and tomato salad

Fresh, colourful with a hint of sweetness, this salad is all about simple, seasonal ingredients. Get the recipe.

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Crisp melon and tomato salad.Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Watermelon and cucumber salad

Add a refreshing no-cook mint salad to the picnic menu for added colour and crunch. Get the recipe.

14 perfect picnic recipes for the weekendPhoto, John Cullen

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.

White Sangria Jellies in small white cups topped with fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries on a patterned cloth napkin(Photo: Michael Alberstat)

Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Fresh chocolate chip cookies are a no-fail dessert, anytime. Get our brown sugar chocolate oatmeal cookies recipe.

chocolate chip oatmeal cookies served with coffeeBrown sugar chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Photo, Roberto Caruso.

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