Now that picnic season is here, I wanted to share some of my favorite healthy and easy picnic food ideas with you!
From tasty finger food to crunchy, tangy salads, you’ll be putting that picnic basket to good use this summer. 🙂
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Healthy Summer Picnic Ideas
Is there anything more peaceful than a picnic in the summer sunshine? I think not!
It’s an awesome family activity or date idea, plus it involves getting out into nature. Just pack up your favorite picnic foods and away you go! Don’t forget the refreshments: water, lemonade, sparkling wine, etc.
Read on for some delicious, easy picnic food ideas and recipe inspiration!
Main Dishes for Picnics
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is the quintessential summer picnic food! It’s easy to make ahead and pack up, plus it’s flavorful and refreshing. This version is packed with veggies like artichokes, bell peppers, and greens, and the salami is optional if you want to keep it vegetarian!
Grilled Pork Tenderloin Tacos with Homemade Salsa Verde
These easy pork tacos make a delicious picnic meal that’s easy to easy with your hands! Just prep ahead the pork, salsa verde, and slice the veggies, and you have yourself a fancy picnic meal – all that’s left is the assembly.
Healthy Egg Salad with Avocado
Egg salad is so comforting, and goes great on its own, on a sandwich, or served with crackers. This healthier, lightened-up version features avocado instead of mayo, plus fresh herbs for a punch of flavor.
(Not feeling eggs? Check out this healthy tuna salad recipe!)
Lentil Veggie Burgers
Looking for a vegan meal idea to enjoy at your picnic? These lentil burgers are another great main dish you can make ahead and assemble later! They’re extra tasty topped with mixed greens, sliced avocado, and hot sauce.
Pesto Pasta with Chickpeas & Broccoli
This veggie-packed pesto pasta is easy to make ahead, and is just as tasty cold as it is hot! Plus, you can easily swap out the broccoli for your favorite vegetables, or whatever you have in your vegetable drawer. Chickpeas add protein, but white beans (or chicken) can be swapped in as well!
Easy Picnic Finger Foods
Healthy Deviled Eggs
This is a lightened-up (but just as flavorful) version of the classic finger food. No mayo needed – Greek yogurt provides plenty of creamy texture and tangy flavor for the filling!
Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza Bars
It’s like pizza, but crunchier and in bar form! These savory granola bars are easy to make and pack up to go. They’re packed with cheesy goodness, along with sun-dried tomatoes, seeds, oats, and eggs for a snack that keeps you satisfied.
Hard-Boiled Egg & Cheddar Muffins
These portable muffins are packed with protein and flavor! A filling, savory snack that’s fun to cut into and discover a hard boiled egg hiding inside!
Ham & Pear Crostini
Need inspiration for your epic picnic charcuterie spread? This sweet and salty crostini would make a delectable addition. It’s simple to make, with salty ham, sweet-tart pear, and a creamy cheese spread over crusty bread. You can even just bring the ingredients along and assemble them at your picnic!
These kale chips are a crispy, flavorful snack to munch on! Plus, you can choose between four different flavors to make (such as nacho cheese and everything bagel seasoning) for your ideal snacking pleasure. 🙂
Healthy Picnic Salads & Sides
Crunchy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This raw broccoli & cauliflower salad is super tangy (thanks to the creamy Greek yogurt dressing!). It’s the perfect cold salad to enjoy on a warm day! Wonderfully crunchy, lightly sweet, and so easy to throw together – no cooking required!
Grilled Steak & Strawberry Salad
Grilled steak and strawberries pair with greens, goat cheese, fluffy quinoa, and a homemade strawberry vinaigrette to make a drool-worthy salad. It’s filling enough as a meal on its own, especially served with crusty bread!
Watermelon Salad with Feta
This crunchy and refreshing watermelon salad features juicy watermelon flesh, crunchy watermelon rind, salty feta cheese, and more deliciousness. A perfect side dish for a picnic lunch!
Plus, it only takes a few minutes to make, and doesn’t require any cooking. Easy peasy! It’s topped with fresh mint and chopped pistachios for even more flavor.
Quinoa Taco Salad
Quinoa taco salad is one of my blog’s most popular recipes, and for good reason!
It’s super quick to throw together, it’s nutritious, and it’s full of tasty goodness like cheese, bell peppers, and avocado. Use your favorite salsa as the dressing! It’s super versatile, too – feel free to mix up the add-ins based on what you have on hand!
Green Goddess Bowl with Honey Herb Vinaigrette
This crunchy, nutritious salad is made even tastier with a delicious homemade raw honey herb vinaigrette. It’s full of spring veggies like asparagus and sugar snap peas, with a bulgur grain base and plenty of fresh herbs.
Apple Cabbage Slaw with White Beans
This white bean cabbage slaw is inspired by fall flavors (hence the apple), but it’s just as delicious and refreshing in the summer! It’s easy to prep ahead and bring along in your picnic basket.
If it’s going to be a while before you dig in, though, I’d recommend waiting until you’re ready to eat to slice and add the apple (so it doesn’t get brown). Or, you can leave it out – up to you!
Heirloom Tomato & Peach Caprese Salad
Heirloom tomatoes and juicy peaches come together for a refreshing salad that screams summer. The sweetness of the peaches pairs perfectly with the mild savoriness of the fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette. Quick and easy to make, too!
Quinoa Salad with Orange Vinaigrette, Avocado & Arugula
This portable quinoa salad is easy to make and packed with flavor – a great picnic side dish! Creamy avocado, salty feta cheese, peppery arugula and fluffy quinoa are a delicious combination, especially with the zesty citrus vinaigrette!
Mediterranean Bulgur Salad w/ Lemon Mint Vinaigrette
I’m a big fan of grain salads, and this bulgur salad features Mediterranean flavors like cucumber, feta, and lemon. If you’re grilling out, toss a grilled protein on top – or enjoy the salad as-is!
If you have leftover watermelon rinds, this is the perfect opportunity to use them. They’re actually super refreshing (similar to cucumber) and tasty!
This easy slaw recipe features grated watermelon rind, bell peppers, grated carrots, fresh herbs, and a flavorful mustard vinaigrette dressing.
Tasty Picnic Dessert Ideas
No Bake Vegan Lemon Bars
These lemon bars would make a fabulous picnic dessert. They’re creamy and zesty, made with a cheesecake-like coconut milk filling with a no-bake date crust. Plus, they happen to be vegan and dairy-free!
Fruit Salad with Yogurt Honey Lime Dressing
Fruit salad is always a good idea, and with this zesty lime yogurt dressing, it’s even more crave-worthy. I love how versatile this recipe is, too. You can use any fruit you like, from berries to melon to citrus and beyond!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
These peanut butter cookies are packed with protein, super peanut-buttery, and sweetened only with maple syrup! A healthy, tasty treat that’s easy to take on the go. Plus, they happen to be gluten-free and vegan as well, made with oats and almond flour.
Cranberry Yogurt Scones
These scones are soft and delicious, made with yogurt for a perfect texture. They’re amazing on their own, but feel free to top with butter and/or jam if you’re feeling extra fancy. 😉
Vanilla Protein Balls with Figs
These little protein bites taste like Fig Newtons, but are made with wholesome ingredients and don’t require any baking! They’re naturally sweetened with dried figs, and have a lovely hint of vanilla. A healthy treat that’s also kid-friendly!
Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bars
If you’re a chocolate lover, these quinoa bars with dark chocolate chips are a perfect portable dessert. They’re gluten-free, too! I love the texture – they’re crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside, with melty pools of chocolate.
Vegan Zucchini Lemon Muffins
The zucchini and lemon combination in these muffins just screams summer! Plus, they’re moist and full of flavor, with hidden veggies and wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour and applesauce.
I hope these easy picnic food ideas have you inspired to get out and enjoy the sunshine (while eating some yummy food, too)!
Tell me: what’s your favorite picnic dish? Where do you like to picnic in the summer?
