These summer picnic recipes are great for picnic sides when grilling, easy picnic lunch ideas, or easy make and take summer picnic food ideas for potluck recipes for a crowd.
I’ve included easy summer salads, picnic snacks ideas, refreshing summer drinks, easy summer dessert recipes, and cold picnic food ideas for refreshing summer recipes for summertime fun!
19 Easy Summer Picnic Recipes for Summertime Parties
These are some of my favorite easy summer appetizers, simple salad recipes, finger foods, no-bake desserts and summer drink ideas for casual family gatherings or picnic parties.
Summer Picnic Recipe Ideas
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Wheat Berry Salad Bowl
- Homemade Egg Salad
- Simple Cucumber Dip
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Orzo Spinach Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Creamy Artichoke Dip
- Homemade Guacamole
- Carrot Greens Pesto Dip
- Cold Asparagus Salad
- Chunky Salsa
- Creamsicle Orange Dessert Salad
- Sweet Fruit Dip
- Walking Fruit Salad In Waffle Cone
- Fruit Waters
- Sweet Sun Tea
- Homemade Lemonade
Get the links to the free recipe cards below.
Best Summer Picnic Recipes For A Group
These are super simple party recipes for picnics for a crowd.
Most of these recipes are easy to double or triple if you are having a large party.
Greek Pasta Salad With Feta Cheese
I like making this greek salad with pasta the night before because I think the flavor gets better overnight.
I use the rotini pasta for this salad recipe for party foods or picnic recipes, but you can use any short pasta that you have in your pantry stock.
Also, you can add in any fresh vegetables that you want!
Get the Greek Pasta Salad Recipe
Summer Corn and Black Bean Salad
Corn & bean salad is probably my go-to summer picnic dish or potluck recipe for summer because it’s a simple recipe for a side dish ora last minute dip ready in minutes.
Eat these black beans and corn with corn chips or tortilla chips like a chunky salsa, or serve it as a side with anything you’re grilling.
Recipe for Black Bean and Corn Salad Dip
Wheat Berry Healthy Salad Bowls
I love this wheat berry bowl for summer picnics because it’s good as a cold salad with fresh garden vegetables.
Add in your favorite oil-based dressing and toss for a super simple picnic salad recipe that’s always a hit when we serve it at parties.
It’s great as a side dish or a stand-alone salad because it’s so filling.
GET THE FULL RECIPE FOR WHEAT BERRY SALAD
Egg Salad Recipe
This egg salad recipe is another great go-to for easy summer recipes because you can make it ahead and leave it in the refrigerator for egg salad sandwiches or a on top of lettuce for a salad dish.
I like to pack mini croissants or crackers for easy eating at a picnic.
(I don’t make the sandwiches ahead because I don’t want them to get soggy.)
Be sure to keep this in the cooler or place the bowl of egg salad on top of a bowl of ice to keep it cool in the summer.
Simple Cucumber Dip
This cucumber dip is a refreshing addition to a party food table, especially if you can get fresh summer cucumbers.
You can make this easy dip in minutes with a couple of simple ingredients, which makes it the perfect last minute recipe.
I love this an alternative to a heavy creamy dip and is one of our new favorite appetizers.
The best way to serve this quick dip is with pita chips or fresh crunch vegetables for finger foods.
Also, for an outdoor picnic party, put the dip in a bowl and then sit the bowl in some crushed ice to keep the dip chilled.
Orzo Spinach Salad
This tasty orzo salad recipe with chicken, also called spinach florentine pasta salad, is a light and easy recipe to add to your family picnic party.
Plus, it gives guests a healthy recipe option among all the other party food.
You can add in grilled chicken or leave the chicken out for a vegetarian picnic recipe idea.
GET THE ORZO SPINACH SALAD RECIPE
Cold Italian Pasta Salad
This pasta salad recipe is one of my go-to party recipes because it’s an easy recipe that everyone loves.
This pepperoni salad is ready in just minutes – with just cold pasta (you can make ahead!), vegetables, and a dressing!
GET THE COLD PASTA SALAD RECIPE
Carrot Greens Pesto
Hear me out: the greens from carrot tops make the best pesto dip!
It can be used for crackers or chips, but is really great on sandwiches and on a warm bread, too.
My daughter BEGS me to make this summer dip with fresh carrot tops from the garden every year now.
This recipe does take a little longer than some of the other recipes. If you have the time, it’s definitely worth it.
Plus, it’s different from all the other party dips everyone else will be serving.
Learn How To Make The Carrot Top Pesto Recipe
Cold Asparagus Salad
This asparagus vegetable salad drizzled with an easy balsamic vinaigrette is one of our favorite summer salads.
I also make this salad if we have leftover grilled asparagus the next day.
GET THE FULL RECIPE FOR ASPARAGUS SALAD
Mexican Corn Dip (Hot Corn Dip)
This Mexican street corn off the cob is sometimes called elote salad, but it can be used as a tortilla chip dip, too!
It’s one of our favorite dip recipes or even cookout sides to go with anything that you’re serving or grilling for your backyard family party.
Get The Mexican Street Corn Dip Recipe
Easy Artichoke Dip
This artichoke parmesan dip is a baked dip, but it’s good when it cools, too.
This is a family favorite recipe that we make for easy picnic party recipes or holiday dips all the time.
If you like traditional spinach artichoke dip, you’ll love this dip too.
Easy Guacamole Recipe
I love this homemade guacamole dip as a summer picnic appetizer.
We eat it with tortilla chips and it’s a perfect dip recipe for parties because you can easily double it for large dip recipe for crowds.
How To Make Homemade Guacamole Dip
Pico De Gallo Dip (Easy Chunky Salsa Recipe)
This homemade pico de gallo recipe or salsa fresco is a another of our favorite easy dip for summer parties.
It’s really refreshing on a hot summer day for picnics or cookouts, especially if you can use fresh vegetables from your garden or summer produce from the farmers market.
Mandarin Orange Dessert Salad
If you’re looking for a summer picnic dessert, make this orange creamsicle salad.
This old fashioned orange salad fluff recipe is an easy dessert recipe that my mom has made for easy family cookout foods for as long as I can remember.
It’s a picnic recipe that you can throw together last minute!
Picnic Party Fruit Dips
This sweet, creamy, fluffy fruit dip recipe has just a few ingredients, making it quick and simple summer day treat.
Add in fresh berries and even cookie dippers for a an easy picnic dessert.
Learn How To Make Easy Fruit Dip Recipe
Walking Fruit Salad
This easy fruit salad is perfect for easy picnic recipes for kids and adults and is refreshing and simple dessert for outdoor cookout parties.
I love this recipe for picnics because it’s easy to pack in the cooler with fruit salad in one container, stack of ice cream cones, and then a can of whipped cream for topping. That’s it!
Here’s How To Make A Walking Fruit Salad Recipe
Fruit Waters
I like to serve different waters with fruit and vegetables at parties because not only are they refreshing, these easy drink recipes are a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.
Make the fruit drinks ahead of time or have a fruit drink bar where you provide flat water and bubbly water with a variety of cut up fruits and vegetables where people can make their own drinks.
If you only add one drink idea to your easy party foods list, make it this because they’re perfect drinks for kids and adults.
GET FRUIT IN WATER RECIPE IDEAS
Summer Sweet Sun Tea
Sun tea is a fun an easy party drink, especially if you’re having a cookout party or backyard picnic party.
Just let the tea brew in the sun and let everyone add their own tea mix-ins by providing a cute tea tray full of ice, sugar, honey, fresh herbs and flowers, lemon slices, and more!
Best Homemade Lemonade
This homemade lemonade recipe makes the best DIY drink ever!
It is an easy summer drink or picnic party drink recipe you can easily double for big group recipes, so definitely add this fresh lemonade recipe!
I hope you enjoy these summer drinks, summer desserts, and summer picnic recipes!
