Fun & Easy Picnic Salads for a Crowd
Easy picnic salads for a crowd! These delicious cold picnic side dishes are perfect to eat at the park, beach, or right in your own backyard.
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There’s just something so enjoyable about a picnic.
Maybe it’s the novelty of eating outside, soaking in the sunshine and fresh air.
Or perhaps it’s all the fun picnic foods you can munch on!
Some foods work better than others, because you wouldn’t want anything messy or hard to eat.
I put together a list of the best cold picnic salad recipes, so you have tons of inspiration for what to make and serve.
This list of cold picnic salads includes:
- Unique pasta and potato salad ideas
- Fun twists on classic recipes
- Make ahead veggie salads
- Healthier versions of your favorites
There’s a salad for every kind of picnic, whether you’re taking the kids to the park, or are having a romantic date outdoors.
Simply pack up your classic picnic basket or fun backpack cooler bag, bring along your cute picnic blanket, and don’t forget the travel utensils.
Okay, let’s check out these tasty picnic salads!
(🌻 Stay tuned at the end of the post, because I share 5 essential tips for a successful picnic.)
Mexican Street Corn Salad features roasted corn, fresh vegetables and herbs, creamy mayonnaise, and Mexican-style spices. It's basically a delicious off-the-cob version Elote. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad has the flavors of both deviled eggs and pasta salad, making it an ideal summer party dish. This Easy Coleslaw is quick, creamy, and delicious, and uses honey to balance the vinegar, and gives the dressing a bit of thickness without being overly sweet. Easy Cowboy Caviar is a colorful bean salad made with a mix of black beans, black-eyed peas, fresh veggies, and a tangy lime dressing. Ultimate Potato Salad is a classic potato salad that includes hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery, onion, and more tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad is delicious and refreshing, with corn, onion, avocado, and tomatoes in a light vinaigrette sauce. Refreshing Spicy Watermelon Salad includes juicy chunks of fresh watermelon, charred corn, lots of herbs, and a spicy jalapeño-lime dressing. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is an easy, authentic Hawaiian side dish that’s cool and creamy with a tangy and subtly sweet taste! Olivier Salad is a popular Russian salad is made with meat, hard boiled eggs, peas, potatoes, carrots, and pickles, tossed in a simple mayo dressing with dill. Italian Pasta Salad uses simple ingredients like vegetables, cheese, pepperoni, and a homemade Italian dressing and to create the ideal cookout side dish. Light and colorful Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado is bright, tangy and filled with fresh summer vegetables. Dill Pickle Chopped Salad is the perfect healthy dish to satisfy those pickle cravings. It's briny, citrusy, and bursting with pickle flavor! Cornbread Salad has crumbled jalapeno cheddar cornbread layered with bacon, beans, and veggies for a delicious southern favorite. Pure summer in every bite, this Strawberry Spinach Salad is a classic you might make on repeat throughout the summer months. Easy 5-ingredient Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make and is totally packed with flavor. Carrot Ribbon Salad features the peppery flavor of arugula with the crunchy, sweet flavor of carrots and sliced almonds, paired with creamy goat cheese. No Mayo Potato Salad with Bacon has a tangy mustard dressing, so you won't miss the mayo, and served cold, at room temperature, or warm. Transform your watermelon rinds into pickles for a unique, fun, and healthy recipe that doubles as a conversation starter at your gathering. Easy Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad has fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and cilantro mixed with cavatappi pasta and a fresh lemon dressing. Quick and easy Mango Corn Salsa is a flavorful, fresh, and healthy salsa that is the perfect combination of sweet and savory with a little kick. When you're looking for a healthier potato salad option this quick but tasty Greek yogurt dressing version is it! With a beautiful medley of sweet and savory flavors, Strawberry Cucumber Salad features pickled onions and fresh dill for a robust flavor. Tangy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is made with pasta, dill pickles, and a bright creamy dressing. It’s always a crowd favorite! Old-fashioned Fruit Salad with Cool Whip has fresh sweet and juicy fruit folded with creamy whipped topping. Everyone needs a good House Salad recipe in their back pocket, and this one tastes like restaurant quality. Easy and delicious Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad is made with juicy cherry tomatoes, briny black olives, orzo pasta, red onions, feta cheese, cucumber and pesto. Sweet and salty, with a touch of heat and citrus flavor, beautiful chopped Mango Avocado Salad is healthy, incredibly satisfying, and ready in 15 minutes. Better than Walmart’s Amish Potato Salad, this has a tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and smoked paprika. Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad is healthy and fresh, and a great way to use up extra summer produce. It can be made ahead of time for easy serving. A refreshing twist on Mexican elote corn salad, TexMex Cucumber Corn Salad combines cucumbers and corn with jalapenos, red onion, cilantro and a sour cream dressing you will love. Honey Lime Coleslaw is the perfect balance of tang and sweetness. Ditch the pre-made coleslaw dressing, and have this on your table in under 10 minutes! Flavorful Green Bean Potato Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto is the perfect side dish for a summer picnic or potluck because it has no mayo and only 5 ingredients. 4 Bean Salad is a fresh, easy, and nutritious salad filled with a variety of beans, crunchy vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Crack Corn Salad is made with fresh or frozen corn, Ranch dressing, bacon, and cheddar cheese, it’s ready to serve in just about 15 minutes. Creamy and light Old Fashioned Ambrosia Salad is a vintage fruit salad made with Cool Whip, coconut, and canned fruit. Crunchy, tangy, and subtly sweet, Broccoli Salad has 4 main ingredients and a quick dressing. Just toss it in the fridge until you're ready to serve! An authentic Southern Italian pasta salad, Crudaiola Barese combines the flavors of a caprese salad into a delicious cold pasta side dish. Cajun Coleslaw is fresh and crunchy with a creamy dressing. It has lots of bold flavor with jalapeños and a sweet and spicy cajun seasoning. Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad is fresh and crunchy, with shaved Brussels sprouts tossed with parmesan cheese and a light vinaigrette. This Pennsylvania Dutch recipe is better than Walmart’s Amish Macaroni Salad with a tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and smoked paprika. Panzanella Toscana is a Tuscan-inspired, bread and vegetable salad with fresh mozzarella, extra juicy tomatoes and fresh basil. Dill Pickle Potato Salad features red potatoes tossed in a creamy dressing, with a pleasant pop of texture from crunchy dill pickles. Summer Green Bean Salad features delicious green beans drizzled in a balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard sauce paired with greens, black eyed peas, squash and walnuts. Coleslaw Pasta Salad has the crunch and flavor of coleslaw in a delicious pasta salad, with celery, green bell pepper, cucumber, and a coleslaw dressing. Light and refreshing, Cucumber Pomegranate Salad is full of flavor with sweet berries paired with fragrant mint and takes just 10 minutes. BLT Pasta Salad is loaded with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and tender pasta, all tossed in a creamy dressing. Tropical Mango Coleslaw is a fun and fruity no-mayo side dish perfect for summer picnics, BBQs and potlucks. Lemon Basil Orzo Salad is fresh, bright, and healthy. Orzo, Northern beans, and veggies get tossed in a delicious dressing. Loaded Potato Salad is made with creamy gold potatoes, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, mayo, and tasty seasonings. Vibrant and fresh Mexican quinoa salad is loaded with quinoa, bell peppers, red onions, black beans, and fresh cilantro lime dressing for tons of bold flavor. Light and refreshing Mango Cucumber Salad has ripe mangoes, crisp cucumbers, creamy avocados, and cooling mint for a colorful summer salad. Easy-to-make Avocado Black Bean Salad is loaded with fresh summer veggies and bright colors, and full of vitamins and nutrients. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad has it all. Quick and easy to make, with lots of fresh veggies and tons of flavor. Chimichurri Potato Salad is full of fresh herbs and garlic, a little heat from the red pepper, and it's delicious served warm, cold, or at room temperature. Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad Salad has all the fresh summer flavors, with juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella pearls, and a basic balsamic vinaigrette. Chickpea Salad with fresh lemon is packed with fresh flavors including juicy cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, and fresh mint and parsley. Old-fashioned Peach & Raspberry Fluff is a fluffy jello fruit salad made with peaches, mangos, raspberry jello, shredded coconut, cottage cheese, marshmallows and whipped cream. Shredded Carrot Salad features crunchy shredded carrots mingling with sweet raisins and tangy dressing.Picnic Salad Ideas
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
Easy Creamy Coleslaw
Cowboy Caviar
Ultimate Potato Salad
Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad
Spicy Watermelon Jalapeno Salad
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Olivier Salad
Italian Pasta Salad
Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado
Dill Pickle Chopped Salad
Cornbread Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula
No Mayo Potato Salad with Bacon
Pickled Watermelon Rind
Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad
Mango Corn Salsa
Greek Yogurt Potato Salad
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Old Fashioned Creamy Fruit Salad
House Salad
Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad
Mango Avocado Salad
Amish Potato Salad
Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad
TexMex Cucumber and Corn Salad
Honey Lime Coleslaw
Green Bean Potato Salad with Sundried Tomato Pesto
4 Bean Salad
Crack Corn Salad
Ambrosia Salad
Broccoli Salad
Crudaiola Barese Pasta Salad
Cajun Coleslaw
Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad
Amish Macaroni Salad
Panzanella Toscana Caprese
Dill Pickle Potato Salad
Summer Cold Green Bean Salad
Coleslaw Pasta Salad
Cucumber Pomegranate Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
Tropical Mango Coleslaw
Lemon Basil Orzo Salad
Loaded Potato Salad
Mexican Quinoa Salad
Mango Cucumber Salad With Avocado
Avocado Black Bean Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken
Chimichurri Potato Salad
Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad
Lemony Chickpea Salad
Peach & Raspberry Fluff
Shredded Carrot Salad
5 Tips for a successful picnic
1. Don’t forget the essentials
Once you have your picnic recipes planned, you’ll need somewhere to put the food, and something to sit on.
Here are the essential picnic supplies:
- Pretty picnic basket – to hold everything you’ll need
- Backpack cooler bag – easy to carry and keeps food cold
- Picnic blanket or mat – with easy to carry handle
- Unbreakable travel utensils and plates
- Small foldable picnic tray or table to set everything out
2. Be prepared for the end
Bring along wet naps – or at least plenty of napkins – to ensure no one is annoyed by sticky fingers after the meal.
A small grocery or garbage bag will come in handy for trash as well.
3. Consider the wind
A blowing wind can get annoying fast at a picnic.
If your picnic mat or blanket is super light, consider bringing or placing a few heavier objects on the corners so it doesn’t flap about.
An extra sweater or blanket will be helpful if the day could turn cooler as you sit and relax.
4. Plan the spot in advance
Take the stress out of picnic arrival by choosing a spot you’re familiar with.
If it has a pretty view, all the better!
Having an alternate idea is helpful too, in case someone has already chosen your favorite spot.
5. Bring something to do
Packing a little game or two can make your picnic extra memorable.
Outdoor games and travel games work really well.
Conversation cards help to inspire fun discussions, and can help you get to know each other better.
Ready to try some new picnic foods?
I hope this list of easy picnic food ideas and recipes has given you tons of inspiration for what to serve at your fun outing.
Remember not to overthink it – even the simple act of eating outdoors is novel enough to make the day fun!
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