What should you bring to your friend’s picnic? Or that barbecue you’re going to next weekend? Or Aunt Karen’s 64th birthday party? These are the questions we face constantly, because it is officially outdoor eating season.
You want to bring something low-maintenance, a dish that delivers on flavor without stressing you or the people hosting this outdoor function out. It should be able to be prepared in your own kitchen and transport pretty easily. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, sometimes it isn’t. But you don’t need to sweat this summer, because we put together this list of easy recipes that any and all will be quite pleased to eat on a picnic blanket. Here you go. Enjoy the sunshine.
Like the one you make with the packet of soup mix, but with no weird chemicals and 1,000 percent tastier.
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We firmly believe that a cookout is not really a cookout without some onion dip and a big bag of potato chips. This is an undeniable truth.
Jammy Eggs With Paprika Mayo
Like deviled eggs—but faster, easier, more delicious, and fancier-sounding.
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These are essentially the deviled eggs you already love, without the annoying step of whipping up those yolks. It’s about convenience, folks.
So easy you’ll never buy hummus again.
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Your friends don’t want the store-bought hummus. They want this hummus. Give it to them.
Starting with store-bought pizza dough makes the dream of weeknight calzones actually attainable.
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Calzones are pizzas that you can carry! And they’re good room temp! Which means you can take them to a picnic! Wonderful!
Marinated Olives and Feta
An appetizer you can have it ready within 10 minutes of walking in the door.
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Good olives deliver a touch of class to any outdoor meal. Garlic and feta? They just make everything taste better. Both are important.
Ooey, gooey, peanut butter-y perfection.
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If your friends don’t want peanut butter blondies at their picnic, you should probably just find some new friends.
The ultimate dinner-to-desk lunch dish.
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Cold noodle salads were invented for cookouts. Possibly. Actually, we’re not sure, but this cold miso dressing is so tangy, creamy, and refreshing we’ll accept that claim as truth.
Shredded brussels and kale, salty cheese, sweet-tart apple, and crunchy seeds make for a borderline addictive salad.
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Yes, its called a “winter crunch salad.” And no, it doesn’t have to be winter to eat it. This is great year-round, and won’t get sad and soggy in the heat.
To the Hand Salad Haters out there: BYE! Go look at some other recipe! Get your own food website!
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Hand Salad is a salad that you can eat with your hands. And we all know hand foods belong at picnics. Just do what feels right.
Roasted Eggplant and Pickle Dip
Plenty of creamy Greek yogurt keeps this baba ganoush-esque dip light and tangy.
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An eggplant dip gives all the pita freaks out there something to dip their bread in. This is for the pita freaks in your life.
Make-Ahead Broccoli and Quinoa Salad
The ideal bring-to-your-friend’s-dinner-party salad.
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You can make this broccoli and quinoa salad ahead of time, which gives you more time to do other things, like figure out which beer you’re bringing to the function.
Easy One-Bowl Upside-Down Cake
This cake is a breeze for bakers of all levels.
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Summer fruit. Simple cake. And whipped cream. This is the picnic dessert MVP, no contest.
If you’re not the kind of person who keeps canned fish in your pantry at all times, this is the recipe that will convert you.
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There needs to be avocado at your cookout. And there might as well be some seafood too. This smoky trout dip is all the right kinds of creamy.
Blackberry-Pistachio Crumble Bars
These easy crumble bars are the ultimate bring-over dessert. They’re incredible when made with blackberries, but any other berries that look good—raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or a even a combination—make a more than acceptable substitute.
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A blackberry bar is a dessert you can hold while playing badminton. That’s just good old-fashioned fun.
Cheesy Slice-and-Bake Crackers
Keep a log stashed in your freezer AT ALL TIMES.
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All those dips need a cheesy cracker for dipping. Be the person who brings the crackers. Be the hero.
Dining and Cooking