57 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 is an off-the-cob version of the popular Mexican street food, Elotes. With roasted corn, fresh vegetables and herbs, creamy mayonnaise, and Mexican-style spices is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad comes together quickly and easily! The flavors of deviled eggs and pasta salad come together perfectly in this recipe, making it an ideal summer party dish. This Easy Coleslaw recipe is THE quick, creamy, delicious side dish you will be taking to every party, potluck or picnic this summer. It uses honey rather than sugar to balance the vinegar, and gives the dressing a bit of thickness without being overly sweet. This 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. Eat it with a spoon or scoop it onto a chip for the perfect bite! Ultimate Potato Salad is a classic potato salad that includes hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery, onion, and more tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. Prepare for everyone to ask you for the recipe, because it might just be the best potato salad they’ve ever had. Mexican Orzo Pasta Salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that combines the flavors of Mexican cuisine with the small, rice-shaped pasta called orzo. The small pasta is mixed with corn, onion, avocado, and tomatoes in a light vinaigrette sauce for a perfect pasta grilling side. This spicy take on Watermelon Salad includes juicy chunks of fresh watermelon, charred corn, lots of herbs, and a spicy jalapeño-lime dressing. It's a quick, fresh, and flavorful side dish on a hot summer day. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is an easy-to-make authentic Hawaiian side dish that’s cool and creamy with a tangy and subtly sweet taste! It takes just 20 minutes of hands-on time to prep and is perfect for BBQs. Olivier Salad is a delicious and easy potato salad with meat to serve at your summer BBQ! This Russian salad is made with ham (or chicken, or sausage), hard boiled eggs, peas, potatoes, carrots, and pickles, tossed in a simple mayo dressing with dill. This Italian Pasta Salad is the best homemade pasta salad recipe! It takes simple ingredients like vegetables, cheese, and pepperoni, and a homemade Italian dressing and turns them into the perfect hot weather side dish. Fiesta Corn Salad with Avocado is bright, tangy and filled with fresh summer vegetables. It’s a delicious way to serve a healthy and colorful, light side dish to a crowd. Dill Pickle Chopped Salad is the perfect healthy dish to satisfy those pickle cravings. It's briny, citrusy, and bursting with pickle flavor! The secret is the light & refreshing dill pickle dressing. Cornbread Salad has crumbled jalapeno cheddar cornbread layered with bacon, beans, and veggies for a delicious southern favorite. With just simple, easy-to-find ingredients, this crowd-pleasing salad is a no brainer. It looks impressive, and tastes even better. Pure summer in every bite, this Strawberry Spinach Salad is a classic you might make on repeat throughout the summer months. It’s perfect paired with simple proteins like grilled chicken or pork chops, and the Strawberry Vinaigrette gives you a double strawberry hit. Easy 5-ingredient Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make and is totally packed with flavor. With minimal cooking time, it keeps well in the fridge, so you can even make it ahead of time. Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula is a light refreshing salad with delightful contrasts in shape and texture. The peppery flavor of the arugula offsets the crunchy, sweet flavor of the carrots and the sliced almonds with the creaminess of the goat cheese. If you're not a fan of mayo or just want an alternative, this No Mayo Potato Salad with Bacon is for you. It has bacon and a tangy mustard dressing, so you won't miss the mayonnaise. Best of all, it can be made ahead and served cold, at room temperature, or warm. Transform your watermelon rinds into pickles! This unique, fun, and healthy recipe looks so colorful, and will definitely be a conversation starter at your gathering. This easy Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad has fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and cilantro mixed with cavatappi pasta and a fresh lemon dressing. It lends the perfect pop of summertime to any potluck or picnic. 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. You get crunch from the corn and red onion, and softness from the ripe mango. Use it as a dip with tortilla chips, a topping for grilled meats, or a side dish. Nothing says summer like a creamy, hearty potato salad, and when you're looking for a healthier potato salad option this quick Greek yogurt dressing is it. With a beautiful medley of sweet and savory flavors, Strawberry Cucumber Salad is a fresh take on traditional BBQ sides. The addition of pickled onions and fresh dill really make for a robust flavor! Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is made with pasta, dill pickles, and a bright creamy dressing. The tangy flavor of the dill pickles pairs perfectly with the 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. It’s so easy that you’ll be making it all season long. And trust me, no one will complain about that! Everyone needs a good House Salad recipe in their back pocket. You know when you go to a restaurant and enjoy a delicious tossed salad that you devour because it is so good? This is that easy salad recipe to make in your own home. Get your taste buds ready for a flavor burst with this quick, easy and delicious Mediterranean Orzo Pesto Salad. Made with plump, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny black olives, tender orzo pasta, red onions, feta cheese, cucumber and pesto, this salad is always a crowd-pleaser! This beautiful chopped Mango Avocado Salad is healthy, incredibly satisfying, and ready in 15 minutes. Sweet and salty, with a touch of heat and citrusy flavors, all come together with a creamy and crisp texture. It's mouthwatering! Liven up your picnic side dishes with sweet and creamy Amish Potato Salad. Better than Walmart’s Amish Potato Salad, it has a deliciously tangy dressing made of mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and smoked paprika. Roasted vegetables and pasta salad become the perfect union in this Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad. It tastes healthy and fresh, is a great way to use up extra summer produce, and can be made ahead of time for easy serving. This simple and refreshing TexMex Cucumber Corn Salad is so easy to prepare and packed with flavor! A refreshing twist on a Mexican elote corn salad, this dish combines cucumbers and corn with jalapenos, red onion, cilantro and a sour cream dressing you will love. Whether you are team creamy or team vinegar coleslaw, this Honey Lime Coleslaw is sure to be a hit. This 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! Easy Green Bean Potato Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto makes an outstanding side dish to take to a summer picnic or potluck because it has no mayo and only 5 ingredients. Plus, it has amazing, bold flavor compared to traditional potato salad. 4 Bean Salad is a fresh, easy, and nutritious salad that is perfect for summer potlucks or barbecues. It is filled with a variety of fiber filled beans, crunchy vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Crack Corn Salad is crunchy, creamy, sweet, sour, and savory all at the same time! Make it with fresh or frozen corn, Ranch dressing, bacon, and cheddar cheese, it’s ready to serve in just about 15 minutes. Old Fashioned Ambrosia Salad is a vintage marshmallow fruit salad made with Cool Whip, coconut, and canned fruit. It’s sweet, creamy, light, and fluffy, just like Grandma used to make! Crunchy, tangy, and subtly sweet, the lovely thing about this Broccoli Salad is how easy it is to throw together. Four main ingredients, a quick dressing, toss it in the fridge, and 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. It’s the perfect way to eat your favorite Italian pasta dish flavors on hot days. 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. It is so easy to make and is a unique and unexpected side dish to serve at your barbecue or summer potluck. Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad is so fresh and crunchy. Shaved Brussels sprouts tossed with parmesan cheese and a light vinaigrette make it an easy, foolproof dish with restaurant quality results. No picnic is complete without this sweet and creamy Amish Macaroni Salad. 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 a strong nod to the southern Italian island of Capri. With fresh mozzarella, extra tomatoes and extra basil, it’s extra-delicious and just screams summer. If you are a potato salad and pickle lover, this Dill Pickle Potato Salad will be right up your alley! Red potatoes tossed in a creamy dressing, with a pleasant pop of texture from crunchy dill pickles. It might even become your new go-to potato salad recipe! No summer meal is complete without this green bean salad recipe! Each bite is filled with healthy ingredients and is bursting with flavor. Delicious green beans drizzled in a balsamic vinegar and dijon mustard sauce paired with greens, black eyed peas, squash and walnuts. Plus, a little bit of lemon to bring all the flavors together. Coleslaw Pasta Salad has all the crunch and flavor of coleslaw in a delicious pasta salad. With celery, green bell pepper, cucumber, and a coleslaw dressing, it creates a substantial side dish that makes enough to feed a crowd. Light and refreshing, Cucumber Pomegranate Salad is full of flavor with sweet berries paired with fragrant mint. Equally perfect for summer BBQs and holiday celebrations, this fresh fruit salad has zero cook time and takes just 10 minutes to come together. Get ready to dig into a delicious twist on the classic pasta salad! 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 dish perfect for summer picnics, BBQs and potlucks. A tasty and fun mango slaw without mayo, it uses an oil-based dressing, and comes together in just ten minutes. Lemon Basil Orzo Salad is fresh, bright, and healthy. Orzo, Northern beans, and veggies get tossed in a delicious dressing. The combination of flavors and textures is so good! Loaded Potato Salad is made with creamy gold potatoes, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions, sour cream, mayonnaise, seasoned salt, and pepper. It tastes like your favorite loaded baked potato, in summer salad form. Vibrant and fresh Mexican quinoa salad is essentially a party in a bowl. Loaded with quinoa, bell peppers, red onions, black beans, and combined with a fresh cilantro lime dressing for tons of bold flavor. If you’re a fan of light and refreshing summer salads, you’re in for a treat with this Mango Cucumber Salad. The simple natural flavors of ripe mangoes, crisp cucumbers, creamy avocados, and cooling mint steal the show in this colorful salad. This easy-to-make Avocado Black Bean Salad is loaded with fresh summer veggies and bright colors, and full of vitamins and nutrients. It’s crisp and the best part is it couldn’t be easier to make! Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad has it all. Quick and easy to make? Yes! Lots of fresh veggies? Yep! Tons of flavor? You bet! It’s such a great option for potlucks, picnics, BBQs, or even as a light summer meal. Chimichurri Potato Salad has no mayonnaise and no fuss. Full of fresh herbs and garlic, a little bit of heat from the red pepper, it's an easy to prepare side dish that is delicious served warm, cold, or at room temperature. Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad Salad is one of our favorites! With all the fresh summer flavors, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella pearls, and a basic balsamic vinaigrette, along with orzo pasta, this is a delicious and filling salad. Chickpea Salad with fresh lemon is packed with fresh flavors including juicy cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, and fresh mint and parsley. This is an easy side ready in less than 20 minutes! 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. This simple dish takes only five minutes to make and is perfect for picnics, potlucks, and summer holidays. Shredded Carrot Salad is not just a sidekick, but a superstar in its own right! Picture crunchy shredded carrots mingling with sweet raisins and tangy dressing. Whip up this shredded carrot salad that’s not just good for you, but is also packed with flavor. 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
Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan 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
Easy 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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