Salad recipes for a picnic outdoors

Prepare classic summer salads for an outdoor picnic: with potatoes, grains, cabbage, pasta, and more.

Salad with pasta, eggs and ham

The Neelys make a classic salad that pairs perfectly with barbecued ribs. Pasta and ham are combined with hard-boiled eggs, celery, relish, and mayo: experience the juicy flavors of summer!

Recipe: Salad with pasta, eggs and ham

Potato salad with chipotle peppers

Bobby's potato salad gets a little heat from chipotle pepper puree and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Recipe: Potato salad with chipotle peppers

Grilled Corn Salad with Lime, Chili, and Cotija Cheese

Bobby grills the corn in the husks to prevent it from burning. Then he cuts the kernels and tosses them with cotija cheese, lime juice and zest, ancho chili powder, and crème fraîche.

Recipe: Grilled Corn Salad with Lime, Chili, and Cotija Cheese

Panzanella with artichokes and tomatoes

"I love this salad," says Giada. "It's a great, foolproof recipe—I always have the right ingredients in my kitchen. The color and flavor of the tomatoes, artichokes, basil, and olives make it delicious and vibrant."

Recipe: Panzanella with artichokes and tomatoes

Broccoli Salad with Raisins

Trisha combines a variety of flavors and textures in one salad. Broccoli is coated in a mayonnaise-vinegar dressing that holds together the salty, sweet, and crunchy ingredients: chopped bacon, onions, raisins, and sunflower seeds.

Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Raisins

Roman Summer Salad with Olives and Tomatoes

Giada combines fresh summer tomatoes with briny olives and capers and dresses the salad with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Recipe: Roman Summer Salad with Olives and Tomatoes

Tricolor Salad with Orzo Pasta

Giada sets the table at the barbecue with a beautiful and delicious Italian-style pasta salad.

Recipe: Tricolor Salad with Orzo Pasta

Texas Coleslaw

This salad is sweet and savory: apples, mint, and pecans are added to kale. Toss the salad with a vinaigrette made with orange juice and hot pepper.

Recipe: Texas Coleslaw

German potato salad

German potato salad is dressed with a vinaigrette rather than mayonnaise and usually includes a bit of bacon. Bobby makes the dressing for this salad in bacon grease and adds it to the hot potatoes to infuse them with flavor.

Recipe: German potato salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Transform a classic sandwich into a picnic-ready macaroni salad: crisp bacon, ripe tomatoes, and fresh lettuce pair beautifully with tender spiralized macaroni.

Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad

Texas Potato Salad with Mustard and Pickled Onions

Homemade pickled red onions and their marinade are the secret ingredient in this salad from Bobby. For a bold flavor, they also add plenty of mustard.

Recipe: Texas Potato Salad with Mustard and Pickled Onions

Cabbage salad

Bobby's classic basic coleslaw is ready in 10 minutes and is sure to please a large group.

Recipe: Cabbage salad

Grilled zucchini salad with lemon-herb vinaigrette, cheese, and pine nuts

Grilled zucchini sliced lengthwise makes a beautiful dish. Add some Romano cheese, pine nuts, and a zesty vinaigrette, and you've got a side dish worthy of a professional.

Recipe: Grilled zucchini salad with lemon-herb vinaigrette, cheese, and pine nuts

Grilled Potato Salad

Grilled potatoes can be dry, but Rachel immediately tosses them with an herb vinaigrette to keep the vegetables moist and flavorful.

Recipe: Grilled Potato Salad

Black Bean and Corn Salad

Guy makes a hearty summer salad with grilled sweet corn, black beans, and other vegetables.

Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Salad

Quinoa salad with asparagus, goat cheese and olives

Instead of pasta salad, Bobby makes a simple quinoa dish with grilled asparagus and aged goat cheese, topped with a red wine vinegar dressing. Make the salad ahead of time and serve at room temperature.

Recipe: Quinoa salad with asparagus, goat cheese and olives

Israeli couscous (ptitim) with grilled ratatouille, mozzarella and French dressing

Israeli couscous is larger than regular couscous and is prepared similarly to pasta. Bobby mixes it with grilled vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella, and tops it with a balsamic reduction.

Recipe: Israeli couscous (ptitim) with grilled ratatouille, mozzarella and French dressing

Super-savory potato salad

What's the secret to Ann's amazing salad? Tender red potatoes, garlic, bacon, and homemade mayonnaise.

Recipe: Super-savory potato salad

Potato salad - classic

For a delicate, savory side dish, Aaron adds hard-boiled eggs and a tangy Worcestershire sauce mayonnaise dressing to his potato salad.

Recipe: Potato salad - classic

Asian-style cabbage salad

This simple coleslaw uses a ready-made mixed slaw from the grocery store. Asian-inspired ingredients add a unique flavor.

Recipe: Asian-style cabbage salad

Pasta Salad with Roasted Peppers

Roasted yellow bell peppers and mini mozzarella balls add a special touch to this summer salad.

Recipe: Pasta Salad with Roasted Peppers

Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Potato Salad Dressing

You'll hardly notice there's no potato here. Celery adds crunch to this light, savory salad, and horseradish adds a touch of tang.

Recipe: Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Potato Salad Dressing

Salad with green and white beans

Make a hearty summer side dish by combining fresh green beans with canned white beans, fresh herbs, and apple cider vinegar.

Recipe: Salad with green and white beans

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

This cheerful salad features tricolor bow-tie pasta and a host of Mediterranean ingredients like feta, oregano, and black olives—a garnish full of vibrant flavors.

Recipe: Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Cucumber salad with pickled peppers

Serve this quick and easy salad as a cold appetizer at a picnic.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with pickled peppers

Pasta Salad: Salad Builder by Ingredients

Create your perfect picnic salad with this guide.

Recipe: Pasta Salad: Salad Builder by Ingredients

Salad with grilled corn, tomatoes and vinaigrette dressing

Use two favorite seasonal ingredients, tomatoes and corn, and top them with an almond vinaigrette and crumbled goat cheese.

Recipe: Salad with grilled corn, tomatoes and vinaigrette dressing

Meat salad with pasta, bell peppers and green beans

Make a hearty version of the summer's ultimate salad by adding steak and bacon to pasta shells. The creamy dressing is made with mayonnaise, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Meat salad with pasta, bell peppers and green beans

Pasta salad with tuna, celery, white beans and olives

Try a new salad option: pasta wheels with tuna, beans and a creamy dressing of sour cream, lemon juice and herbs.

Recipe: Pasta salad with tuna, celery, white beans and olives

Salad with tortellini pasta, sausage, carrots, green peas and roasted peppers

Make a picnic treat by combining diced salami with tortellini pasta, green peas, carrots and roasted red peppers.

Recipe: Salad with tortellini pasta, sausage, carrots, green peas and roasted peppers

Pasta, Asparagus, Corn and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad

The dressing and other ingredients for the salad can be prepared in advance, and just before serving, boil the pasta and mix everything together.

Recipe: Pasta, Asparagus, Corn and Sun-Dried Tomato Salad

Grilled potato salad with bacon and green onions

Grill the potatoes until crisp and smoky. Then gently toss with Dijon mustard, parsley, and bacon vinaigrette.

Recipe: Grilled potato salad with bacon and green onions

Watermelon and cucumber salad

Sliced watermelon makes a savory salad with cucumber, green onions, chopped jalapeño and feta cheese.

Recipe: Watermelon and cucumber salad

Orzo Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Feta Cheese

Toss orzo pasta with shrimp, lemon zest, feta cheese, and olives for a salad ready in just 25 minutes.

Recipe: Orzo Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Feta Cheese

Salad of marinated tomatoes with herbs

In Ree's summer salad, the flavor of fresh tomatoes is enhanced by a simple balsamic dressing and fresh herbs. The dish is ready in 10 minutes, then chilled before serving.

Recipe: Salad of marinated tomatoes with herbs

Potato salad with bacon and eggs

Robert Irvine tosses red-skinned potatoes with mayonnaise, then stirs in crispy bacon and crumbled hard-boiled eggs.

Recipe: Potato salad with bacon and eggs

Potato salad with prosciutto and mayonnaise dressing

Sunny's Tri-Color Potato Salad offers a contrasting texture thanks to crisp prosciutto and creamy mayo.

Recipe: Potato salad with prosciutto and mayonnaise dressing

Grilled Sweet Potato and Green Onion Salad

Bobby grills sweet potatoes until tender, then crisps them up on the grill. A mustard vinaigrette brings out the rich flavors.

Recipe: Grilled Sweet Potato and Green Onion Salad

Salad with potatoes and green beans

Ann's secret to this salad is adding garlic, salt, olive oil, and vinegar to the still-warm potatoes to infuse them with the spices. Then let the salad sit for an hour, which will infuse the flavor even more.

Recipe: Salad with potatoes and green beans

Grilled Romaine Lettuce Stuffed with Blue Cheese and Anchovy Dressing

Grilled romaine lettuce leaves are surprisingly delicious. Alex grills them for 3 minutes per side, until hot and tender, then tops them with vinaigrette and crumbled blue cheese.

Recipe: Grilled Romaine Lettuce Stuffed with Blue Cheese and Anchovy Dressing

Potato salad with cucumber and celery

This lightened-up version of classic potato salad is dressed with a yogurt-low-fat mayonnaise mixture and loaded with fresh cilantro and parsley. Carrots and cucumber add crunch.

Recipe: Potato salad with cucumber and celery

Salad with chickpeas, tomatoes and olives

Bobby tosses avocado, tomatoes, olives, and chickpeas with an olive oil and vinegar dressing that's flavored with cumin, paprika, and parsley. Serve with crispy corn chips.

Recipe: Salad with chickpeas, tomatoes and olives

Kale and Spelt Salad

Make a simple salad with Tuscan kale, farro, aged goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds for a filling lunch or a summer party starter.

Recipe: Kale and Spelt Salad