There’s just something about the warm weather that always draws me outside. I love taking my family on picnics and during the warm weather months, we often eat outside at least once a week. Today I’m sharing a collection of summer salads perfect for picnics. Finding the perfect picnic recipes is an important part of the experience!
Originally written: July 2020. Updated June 2021.
Our family loves to enjoy the outdoors all year round. In the summer time, it’s so much fun to spend the day at a park and enjoy a picnic together.
A couple weeks ago we took Marlowe out to our county’s lake. It’s not real big and it’s often very quiet. Kind of like a secret treasure in the mountains. After our meal, Hannah and I decided to show Marlowe the water. I’d like for her to love playing with us in the lake! Marlowe is about 20 weeks old now – so she was 18 weeks when we took her for the first time.
She wasn’t too sure about the water! Hopefully as we take her more often, she’ll start to enjoy it!
We had several of our extended family members come out to the picnic and we enjoyed a very simple picnic meal. Really nothing fancy. Just some of our favorite sandwiches, this macaroni and pea salad, and fruit snacks. But it was filling and tasted good and the kids had fun!
Picnics can be as simple as you like, but having some great picnic recipes and family favorites definitely makes it more fun and memorable!
In our household, we’re vegetarian. In fact the large majority of our extended family is vegetarian as well. Sometimes I make vegetarian dinners that are just you know, naturally vegetarian. However, sometimes I take recipes that call for meat and replace the meat with a vegetarian option.
Being a vegetarian has many health benefits.
Vegetarian substitutions for meat:
You’ll find these products in the freezer aisle or health food section of your local grocery store. You can also find these products at most health food stores like Whole Foods.
- ground beef or turkey > vegetarian burger crumbles
- chicken > Quorn Meatless Pieces
- chicken breast > Quorn Meatless Filets
- shredded chicken or pork > canned jackfruit
- beef, chicken, or pork > black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas
- deli meats > Lightlife Deli Slices
- sausage > Gimme Lean Breakfast Sausage, Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage
- tuna > chickpeas
- bacon > Morning Star Farms Veggie Bacon
- pepperoni > Veggie Pepperoni
46 Summer Salads Perfect for Picnics
I’m excited to share this collection of summer salads for you to look through and try. If you find a picnic recipe you love, be sure to leave and comment and let me know!
Quick and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Quick & Easy Pasta Salad, the perfect side dish for every picnic!
Summer Fresh Orzo Salad - Housewives of Frederick County
A great pasta salad for any gathering. Use your homegrown basil & tomatoes for a fresh taste of summer!
Healthy Chickpea Salad: 4 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
This is a yummy, hearty salad recipe with chickpeas & feta cheese as the main ingredients. Very refreshing!
Macaroni and Pea Salad
This macaroni salad is a family favorite. We eat this year round, but it makes a great side dish for any picnic!
Easiest Creamy Coleslaw Recipe
This easy classic coleslaw recipe is so creamy and delicious! Whip it up in 10 minutes flat, and it’s the perfect side to a burger or as a topping for a pulled pork sandwich.
The Best Cowboy Caviar Recipe: A Healthy Obsession
I'm asked to make this recipe every gathering I attend. It's addictively delicious served with tortilla chips.
White Bean Tomato Cucumber Salad
Everyone will enjoy this fresh, flavorful salad made with creamy white beans, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, tender spinach, and a super easy homemade dressing. Makes a nice side or heartier option for non-meat eaters. Perfect for picnics and potlucks alike!
OPA! Ultimate Greek Salad (with mini sweet peppers!)
This ultimate Greek salad with mini sweet peppers is sure to impress! It’s filled with a variety of colorful veggies, feta cheese, olives, and topped with homemade Greek salad dressing with lemon.
Tomato, Cucumber, & Onion Salad w/ Homemade Dressing (Better than Cracker Barrel)
This cucumber tomato onion salad recipe is a delicious summer veggie salad for your next picnic! Served with homemade lemon garlic dressing, it’s the perfect side dish for any summer day.
Strawberry, Watermelon and Basil Salad
This simple salad is a summer staple in my house. So simple to make and it travels well for picnics. Just keep it cold!
Classic American Macaroni Salad (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Cold Italian Pasta Salad (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)
A Classic Italian Pasta Salad that’s gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! The cold pasta salad you love, with tri-colored pasta, fresh veggies, and a healthy homemade Italian dressing! A super easy and quick meat-free vegetarian and dairy-free recipe that’s a perfect side dish to feed any crowd!
Vegan Watermelon Feta Salad
Vegan watermelon feta salad is incredibly refreshing, light, and super easy to throw together in less than 15 minutes. Use my easy vegan feta cheese or store-bought vegan feta for a delicious summer salad that’s perfect for sharing… or not.
Asian Slaw with Sesame Ginger Dressing
This zesty Asian slaw made with crisp veggies in a sesame ginger dressing. Packed with flavor and whips up in minutes!
Dijon & Herb Potato Salad
This scrumptious mayo-free potato salad is made with tender red potatoes and fresh herbs dressed in a refreshing Dijon vinaigrette. Perfect for cookouts, this easy side dish comes together in a flash and is full of flavor!
Macaroni Salad with Tuna – 4 Ingredients
A simple 4 ingredient Macaroni Salad with tuna, that can be thrown together last minute or made ahead. It's served cold so is perfect for feeding a crowd, or bringing along to a potluck, picnic or BBQ!
Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad | Retro Recipe Box
A simple salad full of amazing flavors with vegetables, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and topped with a very tasty dressing. A delicious Mediterranean vegetable side dish salad.
Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe | Retro Recipe Box
Broccoli Grape Salad has bacon and other tasty ingredients, and also has a delicious dressing. You can make this wonderful broccoli salad recipe for picnics, parties, and potlucks.
Coleslaw Orzo Salad
A crunchy, light twist on orzo salad – this Coleslaw Orzo Salad is made with a light and tasty citrusy dressing, toasted almonds for crunch, and dried cranberries for a touch of sweetness.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
All the great flavors of buffalo chicken dip, in a satisfying tortellini pasta salad! It’s perfect as a main dish salad, or as a hearty side, and it’s easy to prep ahead and can even be served without the chicken for a vegetarian option!
Amish Macaroni Salad - A delicious salad for summer cookouts and picnics
Amish Macaroni Salad is a favorite picnic classic. The combination of creamy noodles and sweet + tangy flavor are sure to make everyone happy.
Superfoods Brussels Sprout Salad
Lots of nutritious superfoods, plus irresistible mix-ins like crunchy pistachios and sweet-tart dried cranberries … all tossed with a delicious Maple-Balsamic Dressing! And it's ready in about 5 minutes flat!
Classic Macaroni Pasta Salad (vegan, wfpb)
A lighter version of the traditional macaroni pasta salad loaded with veggies and dressed in a white bean sauce.
Chicken Strawberry Avocado Salad | Cold Lunch Idea
Refreshing and bright, this Chicken Strawberry Avocado Salad is a not-boring salad that works as the perfect cold lunch idea, light dinner, or as a potluck dish!
Cold Chicken Spinach Pasta Salad
Marinated Salad
This make-ahead Marinated Salad is perfect picnic food. The variety of canned veggies marinated in a delicious sweet + tangy sauce makes this a great pantry recipe. It's easy and yummy!
Kraft’s Italian Pasta Salad Copycat Recipe
Italian pasta salad with tricolor noodles, Zesty Italian dressing, and Italian spices. Customize with your choice of veggies, cheese, or mini pepperonis. It’s the perfect cold dish to bring to a picnic!
Southern Potato Salad
Southern Potato Salad is creamy, starchy, and a little crunchy. It is the perfect summer cookout side dish.
Simple & Easy Pasta Salad for Summer!
This easy pasta salad recipe with italian dressing is perfect for your next backyard barbecue, picnic or to simply enjoy during the summer months.
Easy & Delicious Refreshing Cucumber Salad Recipe
The long hot days of summer are upon us and light dishes are on the menu. A refreshing cucumber salad is the best summer salad side dish for a light meal on a hot day.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
So creamy and tasty with all the flavors you love from a classic Caesar salad.
Ultimate Non-Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe
This flavourful pasta salad with a non-creamy homestyle vinaigrette dressing is quick to make and makes a perfect picnic addition.
Greek Orzo Salad
Greek orzo salad is so simple, but so flavorful and filling. Made with fresh ingredients, this pasta salad is packed with nutrients and flavors.
Summer Fresh Salad
This summer fresh salad is sooo yummy! Perfect for a light lunch or serving as a picnic recipe. I know you'll enjoy it!
Kid-Friendly Pasta Salad
Healthy, colorful, and delicious kid-friendly pasta salad that your kids will love!
Mexican Quinoa Salad -An easy Vegan & Gluten-free Summer Salad
This Mexican style Quinoa Salad is a must-try vegan and gluten-free summer salad. A medley of textures and flavors, it can be served as a side dish, enjoyed as a lunch, stuffed in the wraps, or added to vegan bowls.
Easy Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Corn
This Orzo Pasta Salad is loaded with roasted corn, tomatoes and basil then seasoned wit the perfect light lemon dressing.
Cucumber Salad Recipe
A light and refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect summer side dish. It’s quick and easy to make, with simple ingredients. This Cucumber salad recipe has a mix of zesty seasonings and oils that make a delicious dressing to perfectly coat your crisp cucumbers and chopped red onion.
Broccoli Salad
This classic broccoli salad is an easy, healthy side dish that brightens up any table. It’s loaded with cranberries, sunflower seeds, almonds, and bacon — a perfect mix of sweet and crunchy.
Creamy Macaroni Salad {Easy Recipe}
Simple and quick, this easy macaroni salad is a breeze to make from scratch. This classic side dish combines tender pasta, a quick homemade sauce, and fresh, crunchy veggies. You’ll love how tasty it is!
Asian Pasta Salad {Easy Lunch Box}
This Asian pasta salad is my daughter Laura's favorite pasta salad! It's so simple to make and would be great for a picnic!
Mediterranean Bean Salad
This Mediterranean Bean Salad is a fantastic side dish for outdoor bbqs and picnics.
Easy Egg Salad with Fresh Sweet Apricots
This recipe goes beyond the basic old-fashioned egg salad. In this seriously filling dish, the eggs compliment the crunchy vegetables and add a deliciously creamy texture to the sweet and hearty flavors. Pair it with sprouted corn tortillas for a full and satisfying lunch.
Sweet Broccoli Apple Pasta Salad
When spring and summer are in full swing, this sweet broccoli apple salad with pasta makes the perfect side dish for all your BBQ’s, potlucks. This healthy but still creamy side dish is fresh and deliciously full of sweet honey crisp apple, carrots, broccoli and raisins all mixed with pasta.
Taco Salad
This simple taco salad is great for crowds and makes a perfect easy picnic recipe. Just be sure to add the dressing right before serving so the tortilla chips don't get soggy!
Peppercorn Ranch Pasta Salad
I've been making this salad for over 25 years. It's so yummy and easy to make. Perfect for picnics. Serve as a side or main dish!
How often does your family have picnics? We have one at least once a week. I hope you enjoy this collection of picnic recipes. Summer salads are also great for serving with any meal. I hope you find one you like!
Be sure to download my free printable picnic checklist and be sure to check out my simple guide: How to Plan a Picnic.
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