11 Classic Picnic Recipes: Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Brownies And More

When the sun is out and there's a light breeze in the air, it's a lovely day for a picnic. And while we love a good variation on a picnic, it's sometimes best to stick to the classics. When thinking about what to pack for a picnic, consider foods that are lightweight, easy to carry, not too messy and won't spoil quickly in the heat. So pack your red and white checkered blanket, sunglasses, extra bottles of water and of course, these dishes.

Though it may be tempting, it's probably not a good idea to serve a mayo-based potato salad at a picnic when it's warm outside. This German potato salad recipe is one of our favorite potato salad recipes and, since it's vinegar-based, it will hold up in the heat.

For the German Potato Salad recipe, click here.

This Italian pasta salad recipe is a flavor-packed side and is ready in less than 30 minutes. Pack your salad with fresh summertime vegetables like bell peppers and cucumbers and then toss it all with your favorite Italian dressing.

For the Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe, click here.

Don't forget to pack the deviled eggs! These savory finger foods are a crowd favorite that only requires a few ingredients. Make sure you know how to hard-boil an egg perfectly. The rest of the steps are a breeze to follow. You can always add your own touch to the recipe by adding bacon bits, paprika or olive on top.

For the Easy Deviled Eggs recipe, click here.

Coleslaw is one of the best no-cook side dishes to bring to a picnic. It tastes great with fried chicken or on top of a burger. This recipe is delicious and adds color to the spread, thanks to green and red cabbages and orange carrots.

For the Creamy Tricolor Slaw recipe, click here.

Fried chicken is a great finger food that is easy to travel with and tastes great hot or cold. With this recipe, you'll be able to make fried chicken with a lovely, crunchy exterior and moist, tender meat on the inside.

For the Krispy Fried Chicken recipe, click here.

Give your classic ham and cheese sandwich a makeover with this delicious slider recipe. Cooked chicken smothered in teriyaki sauce is layered with sliced ham, cheese and pineapple between soft Hawaiian rolls before baking in the oven for 30 minutes. Now you have the perfect upgraded summertime sandwich to enjoy.

For the Ham and Cheese Sliders recipe, click here.

This recipe will add sweet and earthy flavors to your classic chicken salad. Prepare this a day in advance so the flavors have time to come together. You can also pack a few slices of bread to use it in an amazing sandwich.

For the Apple and Curry Chicken Salad recipe, click here.

Watermelon is one of the best things to eat on a hot day. Instead of bringing plain watermelon slices, you can make a container of watermelon salsa or the ultimate hydrating dish, watermelon and cucumber salad.

For the Watermelon and Cucumber Salad recipe, click here.

Not your typical fruit salad, this healthy bowl of summer berries, kiwi and pineapple comes with an extra something-something, thanks to a few teaspoons of vanilla extract.

For the Very Vanilla Fruit Salad recipe, click here.

Dessert anyone? How about two desserts in one? Everyone at the picnic will gobble up this chocolate chip cookie and brownie mashup. This dessert may be even better if the heat melts some of the gooey chocolate chips.

For the Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies recipe, click here.

You're going to need something to wash down all the food, which is where this freshly squeezed lemonade comes into play. If you have extra lemons on hand, maybe you bring along one of these lemon delights.

For the Easy, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade recipe, click here.

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