Summer Picnic Recipe Ideas

Nothing is more suited for the dog days of summer than a picnic, but what should you eat on your summer picnic adventure? Here are a few recipes for picnic food that are guaranteed to make your next summer picnic stellar.

Picnic Potato Salad

You can't go wrong with potato salad. Easy to make and transport, this delicious, creamy picnic food is traditionally made of potatoes, celery, eggs and number of other ingredients.

Potato salad ingredients

6 cups peeled cooked potatoes
4 hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped sweet pickles
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1/2 teaspoons mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
Paprika

How to make it:

In bowl 1, toss in the potatoes, egg, pickles, celery, onions and radishes. In bowl 2, mix mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, milk, mustard and salt. Pour bowl 2 over bowl 1, stir, chill and then sprinkle with paprika if desired.

Baked beans

Baked beans are a scrumptious picnic food. Here's a zesty recipe guaranteed to fill your belly.

Baked beans ingredients

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound bacon, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon mustard
1/2 tablespoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 (16 ounce) can pork and beans, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (16 ounce) can Great Northern beans, rinsed an drained

How to make it:

Toss the beef, bacon, and onion into a large skillet and cook it until the meat is done. Drain the fat. Combine the rest of the ingredients, excluding the beans, and add this to the meat mixture. Finally, stir in the beans and place the entire mixture in a greased 2-1/2-qt casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Picnic Pasta Salad

Another favorite picnic food, pasta salad is easy to make and extremely delicious. Here's a simple version of this classic picnic fare.

Picnic pasta salad ingredients

1 pound seashell pasta
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1 cup chopped cucumber
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup prepared mustard
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

How to make it:

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Rinse with cool water. Drain well. Combine chopped vegetables, sugar, oil, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, and shredded Cheddar cheese in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Stir in pasta. Refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before serving.

Picnic Cole Slaw

Don't dare go on a picnic without Cole slaw. A bowl of refreshing picnic slaw will satiate hungry kids and other picnickers.

Picnic Cole slaw ingredients

1 medium head cabbage, shredded 1 large carrot, shredded
1 medium green pepper, julienned
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

DRESSING:
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
Dash pepper

How to make it:

Combine the first seven ingredients, then combine dressing ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour over vegetables; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight and stir before serving.