60 Delicious Spring Picnic Ideas

With light and fresh Middle Eastern flavour profiles of tahini, garlic and mint, you can whip up this delightfully bright and cheery dip in minutes. You can even use frozen peas for an impromptu picnic dip if you don't have any fresh peas on hand.

Salty prosciutto, sweet figs, creamy goat cheese and some added crunch with fresh arugula leaves – these elegant and simple little picnic starters can be made well in advance or even the day before. If figs aren't in season, use dates, prunes or even melon for the added sweetness.

No need to wait for your spring garden to ripen to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Try this green tomato salsa as a quick and delicious picnic dip, pop it inside a picnic taco, or on top of grilled meats—a very versatile spring picnic recipe.

For an Asian inspired spring picnic dish that is fresh and a little bit fancy, look no further than a rice paper roll. We have gone with slices of smoked duck with fresh crispy veg for a little bit of sophistication for this version, but feel free to fill as you please to suit the season.

For another salty-sweet spring picnic starter, look no further than pears and blue cheese for a delightful spring finger food idea. We have paired grilled pears and blue cheese with fresh figs but feel free to use dried figs, dates, prunes or even apricots as a finishing sweet touch.

Hummus makes the cut on all of our seasonal picnic lists because it is such a great all-round healthy, delicious and versatile picnic dip.

Serve it as part of a Mediterranean platter, with pitas or crispy vegetables. Lather it on sandwiches and wraps, or serve it as a side to grilled meat dishes. And there is no reason to settle for inferior store-bought hummus when it is so easy to make at home.

We did say hummus was versatile. These fresh cucumber hummus bites are an easy make-ahead snack that will brighten any spring picnic spread. Make them the day before or bring your bits and pieces to build in situ; they are that easy.

Did you know that asparagus makes the best refrigerator pickles? Pickled in a wine brine, these asparagus pickles are perfect for snacks, on a charcuterie board or as a side dish.

It's the little touches that make a picnic fancy, and these crackers are sure to impress. Crackers that have the perfect "crack" and an enhanced flavour thanks to sourdough discard (another great reason to get into sourdough). Make your cheese and wine spread or pre picnic snack platter the talk of the picnic scene this spring.

Such a simple and elegant spring picnic dish – Fresh and zesty Whipped Lemon Ricotta with Grilled Bread makes a tasty picnic appetizer or a great addition to a finger food picnic. Best of all, you can whip this little spread up in less than 20 minutes.

Roasted red peppers are one of the easiest and most adaptable ingredients you can have in your picnic arsenal.

They keep well, travel well, and work well with so many dishes – add them to mezze platters, put them in salads, sandwiches, or tarts; they make a great side to grilled meats and even whip up nicely into a dip or sauce. They’re also delicious, are so good for you and come in a myriad of colours if you want to stray from classic red to brighten any picnic dish.

Another great go-to ingredient in your picnic arsenal is slow-roasted tomatoes. They also keep well, and travel well and can bring a whole new flavour profile to so many picnic dishes - add them to salads or sandwiches, use them in tarts and frittata's or serve them on a mezze plate with dips and, of course, roasted peppers. Fresh tomatoes are lovely; roasted tomatoes are a whole other world.

The roast beef sandwich is another one that makes it in all of our seasonal picnic lists - why? Because it's a classic, of course, and it has no seasonal boundaries. A well made roast beef sandwich can be a thing of magic. A perfectly rare roast beef sandwich is a thing of beauty, and this little beauty has slow-roasted tomatoes to make it even better.

Nothing says spring more than a bright spread of grilled spring vegetables. Add a fragrant and zesty dip made with avocado, herbs and greek yoghurt in the centre and you have a gorgeous no-fuss spring picnic snacking centrepiece.

Make the most of fresh spring veg with these simple, yet delicious raw veggie wraps with avocado. Super convenient and easy to manage, these wraps make a fresh and healthy alternative to traditional sandwiches.

While available all year round in different varieties, spring is one of the best times of year for cauliflower.

In a low carb nod to a classic potato salad, this creamy cauliflower and sundried tomatoes salad is a heart spring salad addition to any picnic.

Fresh spinach and marinated artichokes come together with a splash of lemon for a light lemony spinach artichoke dip. This delightful spring concoction makes an excellent picnic starter or even a delicate addition to wraps or sandwiches.

These fresh and tasty spring morsels are a picnic delight. Not your average falafel but just as satisfying, pack them in the hamper as a nibble with a dipping sauce, load them into wraps or toss them over a salad. There are so many possibilities with these delicious bites.

Sweet pears and the distinct flavour of fennel with creamy ricotta and salty blue cheese on flaky puff pastry is an easy picnic dish that will always impress.

A simple tart to make, it will hold its own for so many picnic occasions. Serve it with a salad for a romantic picnic or cut into small slices to add to a wine and cheese platter. It is also a great finger food idea for large group picnics when you want to venture beyond dips and chips. 

From classic Italian flavours to tuna macaroni, chicken and vegan. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to great pasta salads. Expand your spring salad repertoire with these delicious and easy to make pasta salad recipes.

A fresh and creamy Lemon Tarragon Chicken Salad with extra crunch thanks to almonds is a great picnic addition for wraps and sandwiches. Or, even serve it as a stand-alone salad - it's that good.

A salad that is oh so pretty – a spinach and mandarin orange salad tossed in a simple Dijon vinaigrette and topped with almond slivers is a quick and easy spring side dish that will brighten any picnic spread. (Add the dressing just before serving for a picnic salad)

Pack a beautiful spring crudité style platter with fresh slices of radishes, cucumbers, bright green spring peas, carrots, broccolini and eggs for an easy yet delicious DIY open sandwich platter. Serve it on pre-toasted slices of bread - sourdough is great for this, or have it with fresh bread or baguette. Pair it with some herb butter or any dip - our favourite hummus is perfect.

From the Italian province of Reggio-Emilia, this delightfully portable pie is perfect for a spring picnic. Silverbeet sautéed with onion and enriched with parmesan cheese is encased in a simple crust made with flour, water and olive oil to make a delicious savoury pie. While this is a vegetarian version, traditionally, bacon is also used, so feel free to add some for extra flavour and saltiness. Delicious served hot or cold.

Asian coleslaw is so fresh, zesty and crunchy it is perfect for a spring picnic. It's also a nice break from traditional creamy coleslaw.

Full of delicious ginger and sesame flavours, this salad can be made well in advance and will only get better with time. 

For another fresh spin on traditional coleslaw, try this crunchy cabbage and cucumber slaw tossed in a zesty avocado dressing for a cool and refreshing side or main salad—it also makes a great addition to wraps or burgers.

Green Bean Potato Salad is a beautiful spring-summer side dish that can be served warm or chilled. Perfectly soft potatoes with crispy green beans make a fresh potato salad statement, but it is in the dressing where this salad shines.

This robust salad brings together some wonderful spring produce for a very pleasing dish on its own or as a small side.

A delicious combination of baby potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and red onion with a delicious dill and buttermilk dressing create a fresh, crunchy and very satisfying picnic salad.

Embrace the arrival of fresh seasonal basil with this deliciously creamy Pesto Potato Salad. All the goodness of a traditional creamy potato salad bursting with fragrant basil.

I don't know anyone who doesn't love summer rolls. Wonderfully fresh, vibrant, crunchy, and portable, they make a great picnic dish.

These vegetarian summer rolls with avocado, tofu, and fresh rainbow veggies have three dipping sauces - peanut, hoisin & Vietnamese dipping sauce for a complete Asian style spring picnic spread.

Spring is the best time for asparagus and artichokes so why not bring them together in a gloriously creamy quiche. A buttery crust filled with sautéed asparagus, chopped artichoke hearts, eggs and Gruyere cheese. Serve it hot or cold.

Beetroot is often associated with the middle of winter, but it's in spring and summer that it is at its best and sweetest.

Simple to make, this quinoa beet salad works well as a main salad or as a side dish. Shredded beetroot, crunchy carrot, vibrant greens, aromatic herbs and a zesty vinaigrette dressing with delicious mustard seeds give the salad a fresh finish.

Make the most of the end of the broccoli season with this delicious no mayo picnic potato salad. An easy to make roast potato salad with broccoli, nuts, and just a little salty feta; it is a great make-ahead salad that travels well and gets better with age. Serve as the central dish at a picnic or as a side to meats or antipasto ingredients.

A classic Tuscan Panzanella salad is an Italian bread salad made with stale bread, tomatoes and onions dressed in olive oil and vinegar. There are no hard and fast rules with this salad; traditionally, the vegetables and herbs used were whatever was in season or on hand. This spring version of the Panzanella is with grilled zucchini, ripe tomatoes, croutons,  mozzarella and fresh basil.

A spinach salad loaded with fresh greens, tart green apple, crunchy celery and walnuts, offset with sweet cranberries, this salad is so fresh. Finish it with a delicious and easy apple vinaigrette for a delicious and healthy spring picnic salad.

We love savoury tarts because they make super portable picnic dishes that are just a little different from the standard picnic fare. This delicious Spring Vegetable Tart is so easy to make - pull it together in under an hour for a delightful picnic dish without the fuss.

Spring is the time for deliciously sweet fresh peas. This creamy pea salad recipe is a vegetarian take on a salad popular in the southern United States, often called English Pea Salad. It is so easy to make and a lovely change from the standard leafy salad. It is also very forgiving if you can't get fresh peas; frozen work just as well.

We did say beets are at their sweetest and best in spring and summer, and who doesn't love a gorgeous tart as a picnic centrepiece. This sweet and salty savoury Roasted Beet and Feta Tart with a thyme-infused pastry crust certainly won't disappoint.

Crisp spears of asparagus, sweet peas, spring salad mix, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, thinly sliced radishes, and avocado tossed in a light lemon tarragon vinaigrette. Finish with hard-boiled eggs, crunchy nuts and a sprinkle of goat cheese for a deliciously vibrant spring salad.

This Vietnamese noodle salad is light, refreshing, and full of crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs. It's a great cold noodle salad to serve as a side or a main.

A versatile recipe, you can be customized to your liking adding any choice of protein to bulk it out or switching out vegetables to suit the season.

You can't go wrong with this French take on potato salad. This salad makes a great stand-alone dish with fluffy potatoes, perfectly al dente green beans, and hard-boiled eggs.

However, the magic happens in this salad with the dressing – anchovies, olive oil, and herbs with a sprinkle of capers and green olives for a salty punch.

Fresh lemon, feta, and grape tomatoes compliment zucchini spirals for a light and easy veggie spin on a noodle salad. Whip it up in under 10 minutes.

These perfectly cooked crispy green beans soaked in a super easy Asian marinade are incredibly moreish. Serve them as a snack on a platter or as a stand-alone salad.

Spanakopita – the much loved Greek Spinach Pie with filo pastry, spinach, feta cheese and herbs is a delicious dish for vegetarians and meat-eaters. What makes this pie, so picnic worthy is it is a great make-ahead picnic dish that transports well and is equally delicious hot or cold.

Spring is a celebration of fresh produce, so there is no better way to get on board than with bright, fresh Crudité Platter. There is nothing overly complex about this dish; sometimes you just need the inspiration. Choose your veggies and team with whatever dips you prefer. There are no rules on this one.

Make a big picnic statement with these delicious little tasters of chilled fresh pea and mint soup – a perfectly portable appetiser for a picnic. Pack this fresh pea gazpacho in a thermos and serve it in small glasses for a healthy, delicious starter.

Soup is an incredibly underrated picnic dish, in my opinion, no matter the season. It's portable, it's delicious, and you can choose your recipe to suit the seasons. You can't get a better spring seasonal soup than creamy asparagus. So easy to make, serve it on its own with crusty bread or with a spring crudité platter.

There is nothing more stylish than bringing homemade lemonade to a picnic. This quick and easy Lavender Lemonade takes the refreshing homemade sipper up a notch with the addition of seasonal lavender for some extra aromatics.

If you've never drunk Hibiscus, you don't know what you are missing. A beautiful crimson herbal beverage made from dried roselle flowers, this sassy sipper also comes with several health benefits. Refreshingly tart and sweet, this drink is a lovely addition to a spring or summer picnic. Pack it in a thermos with lots of ice for a perfectly refreshing drink.

Who doesn't love an Aperol Spritz?

Looking to add a touch of sophistication to your picnic scene? This five-ingredient easy champagne cocktail is a lovely drink for slightly more grown-up picnics or a sunset affair on the rug.

Think of this as the grown-up sister of lavender lemonade. Modern Love is a light lemon, pear, and lavender vodka cocktail that is perfect for a spring or summer picnic. Because you can make it in batches, you can pre-make them at home and transport them in an insulated pitcher and serve in insulated tumblers.

Another picnic-perfect spring cocktail you can pre-make and easily transport – A Peach Bourbon Smash. Made with fresh peaches and thyme, it makes a great pre picnic sip when the weather starts to warm.

Fudge is a great picnic dessert any time of year. This easy White Chocolate Fudge recipe is quick to make with only 4 ingredients and it makes a very elegant and portable picnic sweet treat.

Use this recipe as the base and switch out almonds for any nut of your liking or feel free to experiment with different additions to suit the season.

If you want a scrumptious and easy picnic dessert made with fresh ingredients, look no further than this lemon blackberry crumb cake. Serve it with tea or coffee at the end of the picnic or with one of our yummy spring cocktails as part of an afternoon tea picnic.

Add a little healthy chocolate decadence to your spring picnic with these oh so simple dark chocolate avocado balls. Sweet, creamy chocolate balls, you would never know that avocado steps in for heavy, unhealthy cream in this no bake recipe.

Cheesecake is a lovely spring dessert but doesn't always transport well for a picnic – until now. These gorgeous little no-bake matcha cheesecakes with a white chocolate crust are bundled into perfectly portable individual serve mason jars to make them picnic perfect. Feel free to switch fruit toppings to suit the season.

You can whip up these little picnic lovelies in under half an hour for a flaky, creamy sweet season picnic dessert. Topped with spring plums, you can use any stone fruit your heart desires.

Early spring is peak rhubarb season so why not make light and fluffy rhubarb muffins as a picnic sweet treat. With a hint of vanilla and a crispy sugar finish on top, these portable picnic treats won't last long.

Every spring picnic deserves and elegant touch without the fuss – this Apricot Galette with Elderflower Whipped Cream is one of the easiest and most elegant desserts you'll find. It also doesn’t need to be refrigerated, which is always a win for picnic desserts.

Somewhere between a fluffy layer cake and a dense pound cake, you will find the bunt cake. With notes of vanilla and the freshness of orange and lemon zest, these individual serve indulgences are perfect with a post picnic cup of tea or, better, perfectly paired with a glass of prosecco.

Want a sweet picnic treat but not quite a whole slice of cake? We have you covered with these delicious carrot cake bliss balls. These little bite-sized treats are like a carrot cake snack with carrots, oats, cinnamon, and orange.  

Easy to make, easy to transport, super delicious and just a little bit healthy. Whip up these chocolate chip and tahini bites for a quick and easy snack or post picnic treat. They also have some delicious variations and are vegan gluten-free friendly.

There is no better celebration of spring than a plate full of floral cupcakes. We give you step by step knowhow on how to recreate these decadent sweet blooms for your next spring picnic. It's not as hard as you might think.

Strawberry shortcake is another wonderful spring dessert that doesn't necessarily travel well. Unless, of course, you make them in individual serve mason jars, then they become a gorgeous spring picnic idea. These strawberry treats may want to stay a little cool, so be sure to check out tips for keeping food cold for a picnic. Feel free to swap strawberries for the fruit of your choice.

When we think of energy bars, we often think of fitness. These energy bars are so decadent they make a wonderful portable dessert.

This no-bake recipe features lush coconut cream with fig paste on a rolled oat base topped with fresh figs and a cheeky drizzle of chocolate.

Muffins are always a great picnic staple, and these soft, fluffy oatmeal strawberry banana muffins bursting with strawberry flavour and gooey chocolate chunks are no exception.