64 picnic recipes

Variety coleslaw: light yogurt-dressed slaw with cabbage, carrot, and green pepper plus chopped apple, pineapple, or raisins. A lighter spin on creamy coleslaw for picnics and BBQs.

Herbed potato salad with red-skinned potatoes, Dijon mustard, yogurt-mayo dressing, and plenty of scallion, dill, and parsley. A lighter picnic side that skips the heavy gloppy stuff.

No fat potato salad swaps mayo for a sweet-tangy cooked dressing made from egg substitute, sugar, and vinegar. A diet-friendly take on the picnic classic with all the texture and none of the oil.

A no-cook marinated string bean salad with mushrooms, cucumber, cauliflower, and pimentos in a tangy champagne vinegar dressing. Make ahead, fat-free, perfect for picnics and potlucks.

Stuffed rolls pack hollowed French rolls with a ground mixture of sharp cheddar, green olives, tomato sauce, and bell peppers. Retro picnic and tailgate favorite baked 45 minutes.

Overnight coleslaw uses a hot vinegar dressing instead of mayo, making it ideal for picnics and BBQs. Holds in the fridge for days without going soggy or weeping water.

Dilly beef salad with cubed cooked beef, stuffed olives, pickled onions, and green pepper in a beer and dill mayonnaise dressing. A tangy, cold meat salad for lunch or picnics.

Peanut butter dip with fruit jam, molasses, vinegar, and sesame seeds blended into a bold, sweet-tangy spread. A big-batch dip for parties, picnics, or snacking with fruit and crackers.

Sweet and sour pasta salad with kamut spirals, kidney and black beans, red pepper, scallions, and basil. A protein-packed vegan picnic salad that holds up beautifully for make-ahead lunches.

Bread Provencale is a Provençal stuffed baguette filled with sausage, tomatoes, olives, capers, and basil, then chilled overnight and sliced into rounds. A make-ahead picnic classic from the South of France.

Sweet-and-tangy overnight slaw with shredded cabbage, onion, and a hot vinegar-oil dressing poured over and chilled 24 hours. A no-mayo coleslaw that holds up at any picnic or barbecue.

BBQ Beans with molasses, chili powder, cumin, mustard, and tomato sauce, sauteed oil-free and ready in 30 minutes. Serve on buns like sloppy joes, over whole grains, or as a picnic side.

Fried chickpeas sauté cooked garbanzos with browned onions, lemon juice, parsley, mint, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, and cumin for a fragrant Middle Eastern side. Equally delicious hot from the pan or cold for picnics.

Potato and loaded vegetable salad is a mayo-free, vegan picnic salad: cubed potatoes, peas, carrots, celery and bell pepper tossed in a bright blended lemon-garlic dressing with a hint of coconut and hot sauce.

Peanut butter noodles toss cooked linguine with a quick peanut sauce of soy, sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of vinegar. Cold or room temperature, ideal for lunchboxes and picnics. Ready in 15 minutes.

Vegan BBQ beans simmered with molasses, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, and hot sauce. Water-sauteed veggies keep it oil-free. Serve on buns like sloppy joes, over grains, or as a picnic side.