From cheesy rolls to handheld desserts: 50 easy picnic recipes
Celebrate the warmer weather with our favourite picnic recipes.
As soon as the sun comes out, we're looking for any excuse to eat outdoors. Whether you're spreading out a blanket in the park, heading to the beach or hosting a relaxed garden gathering, a great picnic is all about delicious food that's easy to pack, share and enjoy.
From colourful salads and picnic-perfect sandwiches to savoury bakes, sausage rolls and crowd-pleasing sweet treats, we've rounded up our favourite recipes for making the most of the warmer weather. There are lighter seasonal dishes for hot days, alongside heartier options that travel well and keep everyone happy.
And if you're planning something a little more special, don't miss our afternoon tea recipes for even more summer entertaining inspiration.
Strawberry Fluff Brownies
Freeze-dried strawberries add a real punch of flavour to the squidgy homemade marshmallow fluff layer in these amazing brownies.
Recipe: Strawberry Fluff Brownies
Red Leicester & Jalapeno Rolls
Sometimes we find ourselves eating 2 of these in one go - with lots of thick butter spread inside. They are perfect when still slightly warm.
Recipe: Red Leicester & Jalapeno Rolls
Nectarine Melba Froyo Bark
This frozen treat is easy to make and fun to eat, and you can try it with different yogurt flavours and fruits.
Recipe: Nectarine Melba Froyo Bark
Pimm’s Scones
Inspired by a favourite summer cocktail, these decadent scones up the ante of any afternoon tea.
Recipe: Pimm’s Scones
Toasted Coconut Cake
Anything coconut flavour and we are sold. So when this delicious toasted coconut cake featured at a recent picnic we couldn't stop going back for more. Decadent, fudgy and so coconut-y.
Recipe: Toasted Coconut Cake
Asparagus Romesco Tart
This easy tart only takes 15min of prep and makes the most of in-season asparagus (which is one of our favourite ingredients in spring).
Recipe: Asparagus Romesco Tart
Coronation Chicken Pies
Guests will love these individual pies with a mellow curried filling. Be as creative as you like with the decoration, we’ve gone with pastry crowns, or keep them plain, if pushed for time.
Recipe: Coronation Chicken Pies
Lox Brioche Rolls
A speedy pickled cucumber adds freshness to this classic combination. Use sliced white bread, if you prefer.
Recipe: Lox Brioche Rolls
Parisian Sausage Rolls
Recipe: Parisian Sausage Rolls
3 ingredients is all you need to make the most addictive and fun picnic snack. We're sure the French wouldn't enjoy us calling these Parisian - but we promise they are very tasty.
‘Chuna’ Mayo Sandwiches
A vegan version of the ever-popular tuna sandwich. Remember to check your bread choice is suitable too.
Recipe: ‘Chuna’ Mayo Sandwiches
Pastrami Bagel Quarters
Quick to assemble and packed with flavour. If you don’t like Jarlsberg, you can use any sliced hard cheese.
Recipe: Pastrami Bagel Quarters
Sticky Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
Simple ingredients combine to make a moreish barbecue classic. These sticky drummers can also be cooked in the oven.
Recipe: Sticky Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
Mixed Bean Falafel and Sweet Potato Hummus
The falafel and hummus can easily be doubled for a tasty lunchbox treat.
Quinoa and Chimichurri Steak Salad
Toasting the quinoa first gives it a nutty taste and slight crunch in this steak salad recipe
Chicken and Pineapple Satay Skewers with Rainbow Salad
Nutty, sweet and oh-so good, we’ve paired these moreish skewers with a refreshing, crunchy salad.
Recipe: Chicken and Pineapple Satay Skewers with Rainbow Salad
Pesto Potato Salad
Super simple and packed with flavour: you’ll never buy potato salad again!
Recipe: Pesto Potato Salad
Mini Watercress and Salmon Pies
These little pies are perfect for a garden party celebration this Jubilee season. If you don’t like watercress, try baby spinach instead.
Recipe: Mini Watercress and Salmon Pies
Ploughman’s Scones
We’ve taken this traditional lunch and turned it into an easy and delicious scone recipe.
Recipe: Ploughman’s Scones
The GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Our GH Kitchen Manager Linzi Pucino is our very own Italian food expert (originally hailing from the North East of Scotland!) and can be found working her way through midweek recipes that cover all bases, from haggis to ragu! Our Kitchen Editor Nadine Brown loves digging into the stories behind her favourite foods and enjoys applying her eclectic tastes to more modern, flavour-forward recipes - just don't give her too much chilli! Our Junior Food Content Produce Frankie Prichard combines a love of beautiful presentation and flavour-led, seasonal cooking in her recipe development, along with a passion for bringing people together through food. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time
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