50 Easy and Delicious Vegan Picnic Ideas
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This collection of my favorite picnic foods will help ensure your vegan picnic is absolutely delicious. This is all you need for a smooth and stress free experience!
When we are bored of the same old meal indoors, we take it outside. Picnics are like fun meal parties outdoors! Planning a vegan picnic is much like planning a vegan dinner party…except outside!
Vegan Picnic Ideas
When you decide you want to host a picnic there are many things to consider such as location, timing, potential theme, invite list, etc. But of course, the most important part of a picnic is the food!
Vegan Picnic Food
These vegan picnic recipes include a wide variety to meet everyone’s individual tastes. No one will go home hungry!
Vegan Picnic Appetizers and Snacks
Vegan 7 Layer Dip
When I think of the ultimate party dip, this Vegan 7 Layer Dip always comes to mind. It’s creamy, flavorful, and packed with healthy ingredients, perfect for scooping up with tortilla chips or piling onto a plate with crunchy veggies. It’s 100% plant-based, incredibly easy to make, and a total crowd-pleaser.
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Pineapple Salsa Recipe
This vibrant Pineapple Salsa recipe with creamy cilantro sauce is one of my favorite dishes to make during summer. It's sweet and tangy and takes just 10 minutes to prepare using fresh pineapple, red bell pepper, and cilantro.
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Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes
This is my favorite recipe for the softest, fluffiest healthy chocolate cupcakes. I’ve lightened them up with Greek yogurt, avocado, and coconut oil, and they’re incredibly easy to make. They’re the perfect feel-good treat my whole family loves, and best of all, they come together in just over 30 minutes.
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Vegan Picnic Finger Food
Baked Vegan Corn Dogs
These soft and delicious Baked Vegan Corn Dogs have become my favorite finger food for every party! They’re baked for a healthier result, made with veggie hot dogs, cornmeal, and almond flour, and the best part is they’re ready in just under an hour.
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Baked Veggie Tots
These easy Baked Veggie Tots are one of my favorite ways to get my kids to eat both broccoli and cauliflower in one bite. Since they’re baked instead of fried, they’re a healthier and super tasty option that babies, toddlers, and even older kids really enjoy. I always serve them with my creamy chive dip, and definitely helps encourage even the picky eaters to give them a try.
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Vegan Picnic Sides
Vegan Cornbread Muffins (Gluten-Free)
My vegan cornbread muffins are not only gluten-free but they are so easy to make and taste just like traditional cornbread but with no dairy, wheat, or eggs!
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Mexican Coleslaw With Cilantro Lime Dressing
An easy to make no mayo Mexican coleslaw that pairs well with anything! Eat it in tacos, as a side salad or even as a main dish piled with toppings.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw usually wins in my house, but this quick 15-minute Apple Cider Vinegar Coleslaw has been stealing the show lately. It’s made with a mix of shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a bright, tangy dressing, and it’s now our favorite side dish for barbecues and picnics.
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Creamy Vegan Coleslaw
I've got the perfect 20-minute coleslaw recipe just in time for BBQ season, and it’s vegan! My Creamy Vegan Coleslaw, made with cabbage, carrots, and a tangy mayo dressing, is the perfect side dish to add crunch and flavor to any summer gathering.
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The Best Easy Homemade Pinto Beans
Learn how to cook pinto beans from scratch in just over an hour with my easy-to-follow recipe! Whether using my stovetop, Instant Pot, or crockpot, my delicious pinto beans have tons of flavor from red peppers, onions, and aromatic spices, perfect for adding to wraps, salad bowls, and tacos.
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The Best Easy Homemade Black Beans
I make this Vegan Black Beans recipe with dried beans, red onion, bell peppers, and garlic for a rich, hearty dish. It simmers on the stove for about an hour, allowing the flavors to deepen with seasonings and herbs. This nourishing meal is perfect to serve any time of the day for my family.
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4 Ingredient Cilantro Lime Rice (Rice Cooker Recipe)
With 4 simple ingredients, my rice cooker cilantro lime rice is an easy recipe to whip up any day of the week. Ideal for anyone looking for a quick, flavorful side dish, it's a perfect match for so many foods – great as a base for taco bowls, a filling for burritos, or a side for fajitas! Vegan, gluten-free, and ready in about 20 minutes.
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Vegan Picnic Salads
Vegan Macaroni Salad
Enjoy my easy, creamy vegan macaroni salad, made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Naturally gluten-free and perfect for picnics and barbecues, it delivers all the classic deli-style flavors you love—only healthier, thanks to its plant-based twist. The homemade dressing takes it to the next level, making it truly irresistible!
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Vegan Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
The fresh flavors and vibrant colors of this Vegan Greek Salad, also known as Horiatiki, have everything I want in a summery side dish. It is loaded with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty vegan feta, and comes together in just 10 minutes.
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Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
My easy Kale Salad with lemon dressing is my go-to trick for getting more greens into my kids’ meals! It's ready in under 10 minutes using kale, crunchy apples, vegan parmesan, and a zesty lemon dressing to tie it all together.
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Vegan Elote Salad Recipe
My vegan Elote Salad recipe, also known as Mexican Street Corn, is a must-try for your next cookout. It takes me just 20 minutes to prepare and is made with roasted sweet corn, jalapeño, and crumbled feta. The mix of savory and sweet flavors, along with the bright colors, makes it the perfect summer salad to pair with just about anything.
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Watermelon Feta Mint Salad
This refreshing watermelon feta mint salad is my favorite summer side dish! It’s juicy, salty, crisp, and slightly spicy, with just the right balance of sweet and tangy. It’s ready in minutes, easy to customize, and always a hit at barbecues, picnics, and summer potlucks.
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Vegan Picnic Sandwiches
Lentil Veggie Burgers
These easy Lentil Veggie Burgers are a solid, protein-packed swap for meat. I make them with black beans, lentils, and leftover sautéed veggies, they taste great and come with all the health benefits of those wholesome ingredients, so I don’t mind making them often. And they’re ready in just 35 minutes.
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Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich
My vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich is hearty and savory, made with shredded jackfruit simmered in smoky barbecue sauce and browned until the edges are slightly crisp. It has everything I want in a sandwich, and yes, it’s completely plant-based and ready in just 30 minutes.
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Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich
My Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich is a meal I make all the time. It’s creamy, crunchy, and full of delicious taste, ready in just 20 minutes and completely mayo-free. My kids love it, and I do too! Whether I need a protein-packed lunch or just want a fresh, easy sandwich, this one always works.
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Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
This strawberry smoothie bowl is naturally sweet, filled with fruit, and so simple to make. With just 4 ingredients, you can easily customize this creamy smoothie bowl for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack. Vegan, gluten free, and perfect for any smoothie lover!
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Vegan Picnic Desserts
Vegan Chickpea Blondies With Chocolate Chips (Gluten-Free!)
Get ready to indulge in my super easy vegan chickpea blondies! Made with oat flour, maple syrup, and almond butter, this is the best guilt-free dessert that comes together in just 35 minutes with a few simple steps. It's ideal for anyone looking for a plant-based treat that accommodates multiple dietary needs: these tender, gooey blondies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free so nearly everyone can enjoy them!
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Vegan Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
My vegan gluten-free peanut butter cookies are so easy to make and only 5 ingredients. They are both grain free and done in under 30 minutes!
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Vegan Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
My vegan gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies are made with wholesome ingredients, delivering a comforting and warm flavor in every bite. Perfect for winning over any cookie lover, they’re ready in under 30 minutes—making them the ideal dessert or sweet snack!
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Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread
This Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread has been a family favorite in my kitchen for ages. I make it with ripe bananas, oat flour, and a handful of nuts for crunch, and it’s ready in under an hour for the perfect anytime treat.
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Vegan Apple Muffins
These vegan Apple Muffins are so fluffy, and ready in just 30 minutes. I make them with basic ingredients like apples, applesauce, maple syrup, and dairy-free milk. They’re perfect for breakfast, a quick snack, or even a gluten-free dessert my whole family loves.
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Planning a Picnic
When it comes to picnics, anything really goes. All you really need is good food and yummy drinks! Good company matters too, but I am good on my own with yummy food!
If you want to invite company and make your next picnic a social event, there are definitely fun ways to do so. Your guests can be friends or even just your family!
Here are some of my best tips:
- Go the extra mile and send a fun invite. Even a digital version makes it fun, texts and ecards are great. If you’re just including your at home family, printing out a sign and posting it keeps family life exciting!
- Pick a place and time, keeping the weather and sun in mind. Having a picnic at high noon on a hot day may not be as desirable.
- Gather important things like tables to put the food on, blankets, pillows to sit on, etc.
- Make sure to pack your food in containers that are easy to transport.
- Don’t forget ice! Keeping beverages cool is important on a warm day.
- Make sure your picnic spot has shade.
- Keep the menu simple yet delicious. Make sure you have something everyone likes.
Tips for Packing a Picnic
When it comes to packing a picnic, it’s important to get the foods right. You definitely want delicious food. But you don’t want it to be too hard to prep and pack. Here are some go to tips for your next picnic:
- Stick to foods you can prep ahead and that taste as good the next day as they do fresh.
- Avoid super stinky food.
- If it doesn’t travel well, don’t bring it.
- Bring plenty of water. The heat dehydrates you.
- Separate ingredients that could make food soggy. Mason jars or plastic containers are great for this.
- If you can use biodegradable plates and serving utensils, do it. That way in case something blew away you won’t feel so bad.
- Make sure your food travels well. While some apps are amazing, if they fall apart during travel, or you can’t easily put it together at your destination, then ditch the idea.
- Make a good variety of food. It’s fun to taste lots of different things!
- Finger foods are great choices.
- Keep it to foods that serve great at room temperature.
- Lastly, don’t forget a cozy blanket and your fave beverage!
How to Keep Picnic Food Safe
They key with food, whether you are at a picnic or not, is to keep it cool so that bacteria doesn’t form.
Because all of these recipes are vegan and therefore free of dairy and meat, there isn’t as much of a worry. But safe practices are still important.
- Keep food in a cooler if possible. This helps because a cooler is more of a controlled environment.
- If it’s hot out, find a shady spot for your food. You don’t want the sun beating on it.
- Keep flies and bugs away by keeping food covered. Whether it’s tin foil, plastic wrap or a netted like covering.
- Keep ice for food and ice for beverages separate. You don’t want cross contamination.
Common Questions
What food is good to bring to a picnic?
Foods that can be made ahead of time and served chilled are ideal for picnics. Sandwiches, salads, and finger foods are classic options. See above for plenty of ideas!
How can I make my picnic more special?
Send out a cute invite, even online, before the event. You can set up cute blankets and pillows for everyone to sit on, even choose a theme and decorate! Make a variety of dishes instead of one simple sandwich.
What time is best for a picnic?
The best time will greatly depend on your local weather. For the most part, Spring and Summer are ideal for hosting picnics. Generally the hottest part of the day is around 3 in the afternoon, so try to avoid that. A late morning brunch picnic, or early evening will be the most comfortable times of day.
What do you do during a picnic?
Eat of course!! I mean, there is more to it than that, but food is the main event. The only difference is that it’s eating outdoors.
I love changing up the scenery. And eating in nature can be super fun. The key is to be organized so you have that perfect combo of yummy food and fun activities like scavenger hunts, relay races and just plain good old fun.
So many great ideas!