Summer Vibes Only: 21 Refreshing Picnic Recipes to Savor

Sandwiches Galore

Gather your favorite ingredients and get creative with these mouthwatering sandwich recipes:

• Veggie Extravaganza: A symphony of sliced cucumber, carrot, tomato, avocado, shredded cabbage, and sprouts comes together in perfect harmony.
• Vegetarian Muffuletta Magic: This New Orleans-inspired masterpiece features a mixed olive salad, layered with colorful eggplant, peppers, artichokes, and Swiss chard. Smoked provolone adds a touch of creaminess, making this sandwich a must-try.
• Chicken and Veggie Pinwheels: Bite-sized pinwheels are the perfect picnic companion. Fill them with red and yellow bell peppers, baby spinach, purple cabbage, shredded cooked chicken, and a sprinkle of dry ranch powder for a flavorful punch.
• Smoked Salmon Lavash Wrap: Swap traditional wraps for whole-wheat lavash and fill it with arugula, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, smoked salmon, and a hint of lemon-dill spread. A refreshing twist on a classic wrap.

Salads to Savor

These refreshing salads are perfect for a summer picnic:

• Herby Potato Salad: A bright onion and herb vinaigrette replaces thick mayo, adding crunch from chopped apples and nutty flavor from chickpeas. A delightful twist on a classic potato salad.
• Lentil Cauliflower Delight: Lentils and cauliflower come together in a filling, healthy salad, tossed with turmeric, cilantro, and coriander for added flavor.
• Shaved Beet, Carrot, and Radish Salad: Thinly sliced raw carrots, beets, and radishes create a crunchy, fresh-tasting salad, packed with antioxidants. The dressing is a perfect balance of acidic and spicy.
• Black Rice With Mango and Cashews: Black rice, sweet mango, and toasted cashews combine for a stunning salad, flavored with apple cider vinegar, Dijon, and coriander.
• Spiralized Carrot Salad: Crunchy, spiralized carrots take center stage in this simple salad, tossed with a tart lemony-ginger dressing and sprinkled with parsley.

Snacks to Munch On

These easy-to-make snacks are perfect for a summer picnic:

• Melon, Prosciutto, and Mozzarella Skewers: Sweet cantaloupe and salty prosciutto complement each other perfectly, with mozzarella adding a creamy touch and balsamic reduction bringing in a hint of acidity.
• Avocado Mango Brown Rice Sushi: Vegetable-based sushi is a great picnic option. Try filling rolls with fresh mango, avocado, cucumber, and carrots for a delightful treat.
• Caprese Fruit Skewers: Add some fruit to the classic caprese combo – chunks of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew pair perfectly with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves.
• Mojito Fruit Salad: Mix and match seasonal fruits with a tangy lime dressing, featuring stone fruits like nectarines, plums, and peaches, along with berries, kiwi, grapes, and melon.

Desserts to Delight

These sweet treats are perfect for a summer picnic:

• Banana Cream Pie Jar Parfaits: Layer coconut sugar-sweetened vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and granola for a portable, personal dessert that tastes like banana cream pie. Top with chocolate chips for an added treat.
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: Combine two classic cookies and give them a healthy spin. Mix quick-cooking oats with whole-wheat flour and honey, plus dark chocolate chips, for a cookie packed with texture and flavor.
• Mango Fruit Roll-Ups: Relive childhood picnics with a healthier spin. Blend and bake fresh mango to create delicious fruit roll-ups that will impress your friends.

Refreshing Drinks

Quench your thirst with these refreshing drinks:

• Strawberry Basil Watermelon Aqua Fresca: Basil and fruit make a surprising yet delicious pairing in this simple juice. Perfect for hot picnic days.
• Meyer Lemon and Jasmine Iced Tea: Mild Jasmine tea and tart lemon juice combine for an incredibly refreshing drink, perfect for warm evenings spent picnicking.
• Strawberry Lemonade: This honey-sweetened strawberry lemonade is essentially fancy pink lemonade – but way tastier.
• Raspberry Peach Iced Tea: Combine plain black tea with fresh peach and raspberry purée for a naturally flavored and sweet liquid treat.
• Basil Cucumber Gin Cooler: Cucumber, basil, gin, lemon, and sparkling water come together in the ultimate summer picnic cocktail. Refreshing and hydrating, this drink is sure to please.