There is something undeniably joyful about a proper picnic, where good food, fresh air and fun people come together in perfect harmony. Over the decades, picnic spreads have evolved far beyond the predictable, embracing bold flavours, clever twists and dishes from all over the world, so ditch the sad sandwiches and soggy salads, and think delectable dips, brilliant bakes and hand-held happiness. This is the UK, so sunshine may not be guaranteed, but these picnic recipes certainly deliver.
Delicious Dips
No picnic spread is complete without something to scoop, swipe or dunk, and dips are the ultimate low-effort, high-impact addition to any outdoor feast. Designed for sharing and endlessly adaptable, they travel well, hold up in warm weather and go brilliantly with everything from crusty bread and crackers to crudités and crisps.
From Middle Eastern marvels like a smoked aubergine dip with toasted flatbreads, a smoky harissa tzatziki dip, and a classic hummus, to creamy Mediterranean icons like a Tuscan bean dip and a French onion dip, and punchy modern twists like mango guacamole, supreme pizza dip or a green goddess dip with prawns, these delectable dunkers bring bold flavour without the need for knives and forks!
Banging Bakes
Few things feel more reassuringly picnic-ready than a well-made bake, neatly sliced, easy to pack and just as delicious from a picnic basket as it is fresh from the oven. From golden savoury tarts, like onion and goats cheese tartlets and mini spinach and mushroom quiches, to hearty loaves like homemade baguettes and Sophie Grigson’s focaccia Barese, and flaky pies and pastries like spanokopita, superstar chef Tom Kerridge’s individual venison pies, and Michelin maestro Marcus Wareing’s sobrasada sausage rolls with sun-dried tomato ketchup*, these bakes will have your guests reaching into the picnic basket for more!
*We know we said no sausage rolls, but these ones are special!
Sensational Sandwiches
Is it even a picnic without sandwiches? Surely that’s unthinkable, but forget the pre-packed supermarket offerings, and instead explore the amazing world of flavour and variety we’ve got for you. Perfectly portable and endlessly customisable, sandwiches are the backbone of any alfresco spread, but the key lies in the exciting fillings, thoughtful textures and breads sturdy enough to hold everything together from kitchen to countryside.
From classic British combinations like coronation chicken and roast beef with watercress and horseradish mayo, to globally inspired creations like falafel in pitta with yoghurt sauce, the classic Cuban sandwich with roast pork, Swiss cheese and pickles, the iconic Vietnamese banh mi with pork and picked vegetables, as well as Indian-inspired aachari salmon wraps, our sandwiches are reliable crowd-pleasers for all ages and appetites.
Spectacular Salads
Salads are where a picnic can really come alive! Perfect for making ahead, they can be leafy and elegant, hearty and grain-based, or rooted in classic picnic comfort, from potato and pasta salads to vibrant combinations of seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruit and cheese.
We've got some mouthwatering make-ahead marvels, like spicy pasta salad with smoked gouda, tomatoes and basil, or an American-style corn and pasta salad with homemade ranch dressing. How about a Moroccan potato salad with olives and warm spices, a Japanese potato salad with rice vinegar and Japanese mayo, an Indian potato salad with the flavours of turmeric, cardamom and curry leaves, and a French-style potato salad with Dijon mustard and French beans.
We’ve also got lots of delicious coleslaw recipes, as well as some global gourmet greats, like a stunning Spanish summer butterbean salad with hot sauce vinaigrette, a tasty Thai green papaya salad with prawn & pork, a great Greek meatball salad, and an irresistible Italian lentil salad. The key is to think beyond limp lettuce and focus on salads with personality, texture and flavour that work well outdoors.
Chilled-Out Chicken
If you’re looking for some old-school picnic charm, look no further than the humble chicken! These picnic staples are easy to share, easy to eat and full of nom-nom nostalgia, but we’re not talking about plastic packs of chicken from the supermarket, these take your childhood memories and ratchet them up a notch or three!
There are chicken legs, and then there are chipotle mango barbecued chicken legs, and roasted lemon chicken legs. You can literally taste the sunshine with our jerk chicken and pineapple kebabs, and nothing beats a big bowl of crispy crunchy chicken nuggets! Chicken and spinach samosas, chicken and vegetable spring rolls, and chicken and bean puff pastry empanadas bring a global feel to proceedings, and it’s not a British picnic without a slice of chicken and ham pie with a dollop of piccalilli! And of course we’ve not forgotten the wings, but what to choose? Korean buffalo wings? Classic hot wings? Crispy chicken wings with citrus five-spice salt? Sticky onion crunch wings, or lime marinated wings with an avocado dip?
All you need is a napkin and a decent spot in the sun!
Vegan & Veggie Victories
You’ll find vegetables at most picnics, but the best veggie and vegan dishes go far beyond a simple box of carrot, cucumber and celery sticks. From vibrant veggie bites and hearty grain bowls to shareable platters and comforting bakes, these plant-powered plates are designed to satisfy all kinds of appetites while keeping things light and easy to eat outdoors.
Whether you are catering for strict vegans, casual meat-eaters looking for something new and exciting, or simply want to add more variety to your spread, these recipes offer plenty of inspiration. Rice bowls with veggie flowers and hoisin are pots or pure joy, and if you’re looking for baked brilliance, how about cheese-stuffed arepas (South American flatbreads), green bean rolls with a cheesy mustard dip, crispy baked tofu nuggets, or crunchy baked cauliflower tots.
Baba ghanoush, almond hummus, restaurant-style salsa, and a creamy potato and roasted red pepper dip are great with homemade pitta bread, spiced pitta chips, or veggies, and a courgette frittata, or a tomato, olive and rosemary crustless quiche are slices of scrumminess!
Perfect Puds
A picnic without something sweet feels incomplete, and the best picnic desserts are the ones that are easy to carry, hard to resist and happy to sit out in the sunshine for a while. This is where you can lean into classic British bakes, bars, cookies and globally inspired sweets that bring a little (or a lot of) indulgence to the blanket! A fresh fruit and mint salad certainly brings respite on a hot day, but nothing beats a box of fudge brownies, chocolate chunk blondies, or peanut butter and jelly bars!
For some fruity fabulousness, how about lemon thyme, strawberry oatmeal, or raspberry crumble bars, and for pure indulgence, we’ve got some joy-on-a-stick cheesecake pops, fried apple pies, blueberry-lemon muffins, and banoffee cupcakes.
And as for cookies, where to start? Brownie cookies? Fruitcake cookies? Chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies? Buttery almond cookies? How about cookies with ready salted crisps for a sweet-salty sensation? Or alternatively, you go old-school with a batch of classic chocolate digestive biscuits!
