55 Best Picnic Food Ideas UK: Family-Tested Recipes (2025)

This easy pesto pasta salad recipe is delicious and easy to make. Perfect for your next picnic and a real crowd pleaser

These Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels are a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer, lunch, or snack option. Cream cheese, crumbled bacon, Cheddar cheese, and diced jalapeños rolled up in puff pastry dough and baked until golden and delicious!

This rhubarb bread is sweet, fluffy and delicious. Packed with deliciously tangy rhubarb and lightly spiced with ginger, with subtle notes of rose water - this is the perfect picnic sweet loaf to make.

Made with avocado, chickpeas, and red bell pepper tossed in a delicious cilantro lime dressing, this Chickpea Avocado Salad is a great side dish or vegetarian salad that's perfect for spring and summer

This easy kids charcuterie board is the ultimate snack hack. Fill it with healthy finger foods for snacks on the go to feed your hungry tribe.

If you love lemon bars like I do, but you don’t love all the eggs, this eggless lemon bar will satisfy and delight you.

This salad is for summer, when you need foods that cool you down and tantalize the tastebuds. The perfect side dish or potluck salad.

Spicy Curry Roasted Nuts are the perfect no-refrigeration needed snack! Slightly spicy and full of flavor, these healthy nuts will become a fan favorite!

With a delicious rich and caramel-y flavor, stovetop candied pecans are the ultimate sweet snack for picnics. They only take a few minutes to make and will have everyone raving!

This Taco Pasta Salad recipe is a refreshing twist on classic pasta salad combining the flavors of tacos and pasta for a delicious and easy meal. Perfect for summer barbecues, potlucks, or a quick weeknight dinner!

These make ahead pizza rolls are the perfect on the go dinner. They taste great both fresh and leftover.

Quick 10-minute Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad with Cotija cheese, fire-roasted corn, lime dressing, and fresh cilantro. A healthy, protein-packed meal with smoky flavors and a crunchy tortilla chip topping!

This easy Cake Batter Puppy Chow recipe is a no-bake treat made with Chex cereal, white chocolate, yellow cake mix, and rainbow sprinkles. Perfect for parties, birthdays, and snacking!

This Creamy Chickpea Salad is a tasty, simple to make side salad that is perfect for a summer picnic. It’s protein packed and easy to make a day ahead of time.

This Greek Quinoa Salad is an easy quinoa salad recipe that is great as a light lunch or side dish recipe and is quick to meal prep for the week in advance. Topped with a red wine vinaigrette dressing, you’re going to add this one to your favorites!

Mini flamiche-style quichettes made with leeks and gruyere cheese in a crunchy filo pastry cup is the way to go for picnics this summer.

A white bean cold salad made with grilled zucchini, feta, cherry tomatoes and a vinaigrette for a simple, yet flavourful bite in the sun!

A complete pasta salad filled with veggies, like broccoli, chicken and feta drizzled with olive oil for a simple and fulfilling picnic lunch!

This BBQ Ranch Chopped Chicken Salad is hearty and makes a great meal. Full of black, beans, corn, chicken, and crispy greens, it’s both delicious and nutritious.

This Mexican Quinoa is a flavorful dish that's chock full of healthy grains, protein, and southwestern flair! Perfect side or salad for all those get-togethers. Vegetarians will adore it. Be sure to rinse and drain well the quinoa before cooking.

Crunchy chickpeas tossed in buffalo sauce, wrapped up with fresh veggies and a creamy dipping sauce. It’s super satisfying and delicious - for vegans and non-vegans too!

A pasta salad packed with crunchy veggies and tossed in a creamy feta dressing you mix right in the bowl. Easy, fresh, and full of flavor!

Ensalada de Gallina (Venezuelan Chicken Potato Salad) reigns supreme as one of the best dishes in Venezuelan homes every December. This cold salad features chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, apples, and a creamy homemade dressing—a crowd-pleaser and perfect for any occasion.

This Strawberry Tres Leches Cake is a creamy, fruity twist on the classic Tres Leches. Made with a fluffy sponge cake, sweet strawberry milk mixture, and topped with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, it's the perfect dessert for gatherings, celebrations, or just treating yourself!

This Easy Chicken Shawarma Wrap with Creamy Garlic Sauce is gonna be your new love. Tender, well-marinated, succulent chicken mixed with creamy garlic sauce wrapped in soft pita bread to bring it all together just for YOU. This is such a wondrous exotic Middle Eastern dish!

This simple and delicious Mason Jar Keto Greek Salad is a perfect grab and go meal to stay on track, even on busy days! This easy make-ahead lunch recipe will make sure that you’re getting lots of delicious and healthy vegetables in your diet too!

These bite-sized veggie pinwheels are a nutrition-packed kids snack or lunchbox hit! They’re packed with protein and lots of nutritious veggies and taste amazing!

These lemon strawberry muffins are the perfect way to start your day. They’re moist, flavorful, and packed with fresh strawberries and lemon zest!

This Fresh Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Ball Salad is the perfect picnic dish! Light, refreshing, and full of flavor, it’s easy to pack and will brighten up any outdoor gathering. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s as simple as it is delicious!

This Creamy Red Skin Potato Salad is the ultimate side dish for any barbecue or gathering! With its rich, tangy dressing and tender potatoes, it’s a comforting classic that everyone will love. Perfect for summer picnics, family dinners, or just because!

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is the ultimate picnic dish! Tender pasta, shredded chicken, crunchy celery, sweet corn, green onions, and creamy avocado all come together in a tangy, creamy buffalo mayo dressing. Served cold, it's deliciously bold, satisfying, and perfect for sharing at summer picnics, cookouts, or casual lunches. If you love buffalo flavor, this fresh and flavorful salad is guaranteed to be a hit!

These colourful Watermelon Skewers with a balsamic reduction drizzle are a quick and easy Watermelon Appetizer, salad on a stick or side perfect for BBQs, Game Day, Picnic, outdoor eating and more. No hot summer day gathering is complete without this colourful treat.

These veggie pinwheels are easily made with everyday ingredients like soft tortillas, cream cheese, and fresh vegetables. They can be made ahead as an easy appetizer, snack, football game day party food, and lunch when you need to feed a crowd.

Simple additions can transform this pasta salad into a more vibrant and texturally interesting dish, offering extra color, a satisfying crunch, and enhanced flavor. Feel free to get creative with the pasta shape for added fun

This Rainbow Quinoa Summer Salad is a quick and easy way to enjoy a burst of vibrant color and fresh summer flavors. Loaded with plant-based protein and ready in under 30 minutes, it's a fantastic side for grilled dishes, picnics, or a light and refreshing meal anytime.

These Chicken Caesar Pinwheels are the perfect bite-sized snack, lunch, or party appetizer! They’re packed with juicy chicken, crisp romaine, and creamy Caesar dressing, all wrapped up in a soft tortilla. These pinwheels deliver all the classic Caesar flavors in a fun, handheld roll-up.

This quick and easy to make Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe is packed with flavor and makes the perfect anytime meal! Perfect when served on bread, a croissant, or bed of lettuce!

Discover a delectable summer pasta salad, the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad! Packed with flavorful diced chicken, crispy bacon, tender pasta, French Fried Onions, and creamy Ranch dressing. Ideal for BBQs, potlucks, summer gatherings, and picnics

Try this easy cookies and cream popcorn recipe, made with white chocolate and crushed Oreo cookies. Perfect for movie nights, parties, or anytime you need a delicious, crunchy snack!

This loaded cottage cheese potato salad is a protein packed spin on everyone’s favorite cookout side dish. Perfect for Labor Day cookout menus!

This bowtie pasta salad is perfect for a picnic. Everyone will love this dish and it's just perfect for summer.

This easy low carb chicken salad recipe comes together quickly using already-baked rotisserie chicken. Seasoned simply with dill, salt, and fresh ground black pepper, this classic recipe comes together in less than ten minutes. This best chicken salad recipe is perfect for picnics and potlucks.

This Lemon Herbed Potato Salad (No Mayo!) is the perfect side for picnics, Made with baby potatoes, fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and heart-healthy olive oil, it’s a delicious and nutritious twist on classic potato salad

This Caprese Pasta Salad combines pasta, sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and garden fresh basil all drizzled with an easy five ingredient balsamic vinaigrette. Summer is the ideal time for cold pasta salads with garden fresh vegetables and herbs. I love to serve this pasta salad with grilled chicken, pork, or shrimp. Or serve it for lunch or a light supper during the hot summer months. It is ideal for potlucks, picnics, and family reunions

Summer Orzo Pasta Salad is a great addition to any summer get together! This summer salad recipe mixes together orzo pasta, chickpeas, feta cheese, crisp summer vegetables, fresh herbs and is topped with a light vinaigrette.

Delicious by its own and AMAZING with a slice of Danish rye bread, this Frittata Cavolo was “the perfect food” for me during my healing journey. Enjoy!

Veggie loaded bagel sandwiches, no cooking needed, just assemble it over creamy hummus to enjoy!

Turn your leftover chicken into a ooey gooey Chicken sandwich melts, perfect for travel and summer picnics.

​Cheddar chive scones make an excellent choice for a picnic due to their delightful combination of flavors and convenient portability. The savory sharpness of cheddar cheese paired with the mild onion-like taste of chives creates a satisfying snack that can be enjoyed on its own or complemented with various spreads.

This Greek pasta salad is an excellent choice for a picnic due to its vibrant flavors, nutritional balance, and ease of preparation. Combining ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese with pasta, this dish offers a refreshing and hearty option that can be enjoyed by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.

This sourdough focaccia with caramelized onions is a combination of airy, chewy bread and the rich sweetness of caramelized onions. It’s perfect as a side dish, snack, or (my favorite!) a base for sandwiches.