50 Easy Picnic Side Dishes to Make This Summer

50 Easy Picnic Side Dishes to Make This Summer

Read Time: 22 mins

50 Easy Picnic Side Dishes to Make This Summer2/49 Grilled Romaine Salad 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a great tasting salad, try this recipe on the grill! Add any dressing of your choice to complete the dish.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 98 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 30mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. 3/49 Summer Zucchini Pasta 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the

This simple and healthy summer zucchini pasta is one of my latest wins

Recipe Creator: I’m always experimenting when my garden is cranking out zucchini and summer squash. This simple and healthy summer zucchini pasta is one of my latest wins. It’s meatless, but you can add shredded chicken or grilled salmon for a heartier dish. —Beth Berlin, Oak Creek, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 254 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 505mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. Craving more? Dig in to these other summer salad recipes. 4/49 Cucumbers with Dill 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cucumbers with Dill Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total

Time 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Time 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sprinkling cucumber slices with salt and letting them stand in a colander draws out excess water so they stay crisp when set on a barbecue buffet. Try this cucumber dill salad alongside any grilled entree. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 35 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 480mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch. 5/49 Tangy Baked Beans 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Tangy Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 lean meat

of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Different, delicious and sized exactly right for two people, this easy, breezy home-style side dish is sure to please!—Dean Copeland, Ochlocknee, Georgia Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 213 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 741mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 7g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 lean meat. 6/49 Special Fruit Salad 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Dress up a sweet

These cold picnic recipes don’t need to be heated!

fruit salad with this drizzle of citrusy flavor.—Alice Orton in Big Bear Lake, California. Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 136 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 140mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein. These cold picnic recipes don’t need to be heated! 7/49 Oven Fries 58 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Oven Fries Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I jazz up these baked french fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a punch. The leftovers are

even good cold!

even good cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 12 pieces: 200 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 457mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein. 8/49 Caprese Salad 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Caprese Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I love Caprese salad, but not the high prices we pay for it in restaurants. Here, we created our own version which tastes incredibly close, if not better, than any restaurant version we’ve tried. —Melissa Pearson, Sandy,

This cheesy zucchini casserole is a great way to use up bumper crop

Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 256 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein. 9/49 Cheesy Zucchini Casserole 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Tender zucchini gets pleasant flavor from a cheesy sauce and cracker-crumb topping. This cheesy zucchini casserole is a great way to use up bumper crop. —Kathi Grenier, Auburn, Maine Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 136 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 508mg sodium,

9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein

9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 10/49 Italian Spaghetti Salad 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This attractive, fresh-tasting spaghetti salad can conveniently be made the night before. It makes enough for a crowd! —Lucia Johnson, Massena, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 158 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 168mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 11/49 Fiesta Red Potatoes Test Kitchen Approved Fiesta Red Potatoes Recipe photo by Taste of

My son-in-law, who is very creative, came up with these potatoes

Home Total Time 45 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My son-in-law, who is very creative, came up with these potatoes. Use only one jalapeno or serve these fiery potatoes with sour cream to cool them off a bit. —Pat Pennell, El Dorado Springs, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 146 calories, 4g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 15mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 12/49 Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon Recipe photo by Taste of

The bacon and thyme in my mom’s recipe make them extra special

Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A real Southern favorite, black-eyed peas are traditionally served on New Year’s Day to bring good luck. The bacon and thyme in my mom’s recipe make them extra special. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 361 calories, 19g fat (7g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 228mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 11g fiber), 15g protein. 13/49 Grilled Zucchini Salad with Mediterranean Dressing Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This grilled zucchini salad with

Mediterranean salad dressing is the perfect side dish

Mediterranean salad dressing is the perfect side dish. I also like to add summer squash, when it’s in season, for a variation, or crumbled goat cheese when I want creaminess. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 220 calories, 20g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 252mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 5g protein. 14/49 Quick Macaroni Salad 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You can’t go wrong with this time-tested winner. Here it is pared down for two.—Carma Blosser, Livermore, Colorado Nutrition Facts:

This festive side dish couldn’t be easier to throw together

1 cup: 276 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 544mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 10g protein. 15/49 Marinated Broccoli 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This festive side dish couldn’t be easier to throw together. But because it’s so pretty, it’s perfect for special occasions. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 119 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 315mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable. 16/49

I usually make it when I am grilling steak or chicken

Easy Grilled Squash 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is grilled butternut squash recipe is one of my favorite ways to cook with fresh produce. I usually make it when I am grilling steak or chicken. —Esther Horst, Monterey, Tennessee Nutrition Facts: 2 slices: 178 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 156mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 7g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat. 17/49 Strawberry Arugula Salad with Feta 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME

This comforting and creamy corn

Total Time 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The combination of peppery arugula, sweet strawberries and robust feta cheese may sound unusual, but one bite wins over taste buds.—Carala Horne, Meridian, Mississippi Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 106 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 3mg cholesterol, 88mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. 18/49 Creamy Jalapeno Corn 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Creamy Jalapeno Corn Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This comforting and creamy corn

side dish is appealing to almost everyone

side dish is appealing to almost everyone. It gets its spicy kick from jalapeno peppers.—Judy Carty, Wichita, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 251 calories, 16g fat (10g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. 19/49 Candy Bar Apple Salad 62 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This creamy, sweet snickers salad with crisp apple crunch is a real people-pleaser. It makes a lot, which is good, because it will go fast! —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 3/4

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

Refreshing Tropical Fruit Salad 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Want a family-friendly side dish?

Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.

⭐ Expert Tips

  • Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

  • Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

  • Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

  • These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

  • Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

  • Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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