Best Picnic Side Dishes For Spring and Summer Fun

With warm weather quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to go outside and picnic! But what are some great side dishes to bring along?

Here are a few of our favorite dishes that can make any outdoor gathering even more special.

Potato salad is always a classic for picnics. Serve it up chilled alongside grilled meats or sandwiches for a simple but delicious meal. For something a bit more exotic, try making a couscous salad – simply cook couscous according to package directions, then add whatever vegetables and seasonings you like for bursts of flavor in each bite.

Macaroni salads are also fantastic picnic sides. You could go traditional and mix in mayonnaise and herbs, or try something a little different by adding olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese for an olive-feta salad that’s sure to please everyone’s palate!

Don’t forget about desserts either! Fruity cobblers or pies make wonderful additions to any picnic spread – they’re easy to make ahead of time and transport easily. Or how about grilling fruits like pineapple slices with cinnamon sugar for something sweet and unique?

Whatever sides you choose, with these delicious recipes your picnic is sure to be a hit!

So what picnic side dishes should you serve during your next big event? Whether your planning a Memorial Day even, Summer barbecues, Birthday party, or Fish fry I know one thing for sure, you can't go wrong if your menu contains some of the all time favorite picnic dishes.

When I sit down to plan which picnic side items I'm going to serve I always consider three things:

  •   The preference of my guest...what they like to eat
  •   How much time do I have to prepare for the picnic
  •   My budget...I don't want to break the back

As far as my personal preference and that of my guest I always plan on including what I call universal side dishes and menu items such as:

Also, what's a picnic with some mouthwatering fried chicken?  Don't forget to serve some homemade desserts like sweet potato pie, peach cobbler or pecan pie.  When you get a chance leave us a message telling us all about the favorite side dishes you serve at picnics.