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11 Picnic Food Ideas That Aren't Sandwiches!

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Who doesn't love a good picnic! These 11 picnic food ideas are perfectly portable - to make your picnic feel really special!
Collage of 6 images for picnic recipes

To be perfectly honest, I love a tasty sandwich as part of my picnic basket! But sometimes a special picnic calls for something a little bit different.

These are some of my favourite portable recipes:

Cornish Pasties

5 from 8 votes
Cornish Pasties - moist and tender traditional hand pies filled with steak, onion, potato and swede (rutabaga)
Cornish pasties on a black baking tray
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

5 from 2 votes
A simple pasta salad with mozzarella and veggies plus an easy Italian dressing. Customize with whatever you've got in!
Large bowl filled with pasta salad on a light background
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Grana Padano and Egg Stuffed Muffins With Prosciutto di San Daniele.

5 from 1 vote
Grana Padano and Egg Stuffed Muffins With Prosciutto di San Daniele. - These egg stuffed muffins are cheesy and delicious - perfect for a picnic!
These egg stuffed muffins are cheesy and delicious - perfect for a pi
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Easy Creamy Potato Salad

5 from 8 votes
Easy Creamy Potato Salad - My dad’s recipe that I’ve been eating (and making) for over 30 years!
Easy Creamy Potato Salad - My dad’s  recipe that I’ve been eating (and making) for over 30 years!
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Vegetarian Sausage Rolls That Meat-Eaters Love Too!

4.89 from 9 votes
A simple pastry treat for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Really easy to make at the same time as meaty sausage rolls - to keep all your guests happy.
Vegetarian sausage rolls piled up on a cooling rack
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Cheese and Tomato Tarts (Not Quiche!!)

5 from 2 votes
Cheese and Tomato Tarts with a rich tomato ragu and creamy béchamel sauce encased in shortcrust pastry. The best vegetarian lunch!
Cheese and Tomato Tarts with a rich tomato ragu and creamy béchamel sauce encased in shortcrust pastry. The best vegetarian lunch!
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Homemade Coleslaw

5 from 5 votes
A quick and easy creamy coleslaw with plenty of crunch - just like those luxury supermarket versions. Made at home in 5 minutes.
creamy coleslaw in a bowl. Cheese and cherry tomatoes in the background
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Chorizo Scotch Eggs with Smoky Wedges PLUS a Meal & Overnight Giveaway

5 from 2 votes
These Chorizo Scotch Eggs are epic! Crispy and smoky on the outside with a perfect runny-egg filling!
These Chorizo Scotch Eggs are epic! Crispy and smoky on the outside with a perfect runny-egg filling!
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Tear and Share Sausage Rolls

5 from 1 vote
These 3 ingredient sausage rolls are so simple and quick to make. Perfect for parties, BBQs, buffets and picnics.
These 3 ingredient sausage rolls are so simple and quick to make. Perfect for parties, BBQs, buffets and picnics.
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Portable Apple Crumble Jars

5 from 1 vote
Portable Apple Crumble Jars - with a custard core!! Eat them hot or cold for a fab picnic treat!
Portable Apple Crumble Jars - with a custard core!! Eat them hot or cold for a fab picnic treat!
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

Individual Berry No Bake Cheesecakes

5 from 5 votes
These blueberry and blackberry mason jar cheesecakes are so quick and easy! Great for picnics and packed lunches. Gluten Free instructions included.
Square image of individual blueberry and blackberry cheesecakes in mason jars on blue background.
Made by: Nicky Corbishley

That's my top 11 picnic food ideas! I Also need to do a special callout to my Easy Sausage Roll Recipe < it didn't quite make the top 11 but its a family favourite and alsoways on the list. Do you have any picnic favourites?

What if I want a sandwich recipe?

Do I need to bring cutlery on a picnic?

Only for the dessert recipes!

Can I make these recipes ahead?

Yes, all of these recipes can be made ahead.

 

This post was first written in July 2017. Updated in Aug 2020 with new recipe ideas.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

Hi I’m Nicky

I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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  1. Anne Grey says

    Absolutely lovely ideas...I can turn all the recipes into vegetarian ones apart from the chicken, which would end up as fish.

    Reply

  2. Floranet says

    Worth Appreciating. Great work.

    Reply

  3. 2pots2cook says

    Pinned the beauties to "popular" but to !for my office lunch" also 🙂 Amazing !

    Reply

  4. All That I'm Eating says

    A great set of picnic ideas! I love the sound of those doughnuts and those sausage rolls look amazing!

    Reply
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