Plant-based picnic food doesn’t mean settling for second best—it means colourful, creative dishes that everyone can enjoy. From tasty salads to savoury bakes, wraps, and sweet treats, these recipes are packed with flavour, easy to transport, and perfect for sharing. Whether you’re fully vegan, vegetarian, or just looking for some meat-free options, these vegan and vegetarian picnic food ideas are ones you’ll be using again and again. For more summer ideas check out these easy Vegan and Vegetarian BBQ Ideas and Top Summer Meat-Free Dinner Recipes.
For other portable vegan snack ideas, check out these 20 Vegan Savoury Snack Ideas and Vegan Sweet Treats. Or if you’re staying outdoors, try these Vegan and Vegetarian BBQ Ideas.
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Why Meat-Free?
Meat has a much higher carbon footprint than plant-based dishes, so reducing your meat intake can really help. Avoiding meat outside of your main meal is an great place to start. Check out this simple guide for more tips on how to reduce your meat.
Picnic Friendly Salads & Slaws
No picnic spread is complete without a few vibrant salads or crunchy slaws. They’re the cool, refreshing counterpoint to sandwiches and bakes—easy to prep and scale up and endlessly versatile. From protein-packed bean salads to tangy slaws and herby grains, these dishes hold up well in the sun and are easily portable.
Fruity Moroccan Couscous Salad is quick and easy to prepare and makes a perfect picnic food idea. The nutty texture of couscous combines with the sweetness and tanginess of dried fruits, spices, and fresh herbs to give a colourful and tasty salad in less than 15 minutes.
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This summer salad is a beautiful combination of strawberries, mandarin oranges, asparagus, feta, almonds, and spring greens in a lovely honey and apple cider vinaigrette. Looks amazing and tastes totally delicious.
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Photo credit: https://www.chewoutloud.com
A simple 3-bean salad recipe made with canned beans, celery, onion, and parsley in a light vinaigrette dressing. Easy to make in advance and perfect for a picnic.
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Photo credit: https://theforkedspoon.com
Italian Quinoa Salad is a fresh and healthy summer salad. It’s tossed with rocket (arugula), tomatoes, hazelnuts, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
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Photo credit: https://www.therusticfoodie.com
This quick and flavourful Vegetable Couscous is the perfect light and refreshing side dish for your picnic or potluck. Fluffy couscous and fresh seasonal vegetables are tossed together with a zesty Mediterranean dressing.
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Photo credit: https://thealmondeater.com
A great accompaniment to your picnic, this vegan coleslaw comes together in just 10 minutes.
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Photo credit: https://mygoodnesskitchen.com
Sandwiches & Wraps
Picnic food doesn’t get more classic than a good sandwich or wrap. Easy to pack, easy to eat—no cutlery, no mess, no fuss. Whether it’s stacked with roasted veg, stuffed with chickpeas, or slathered with hummus, these sandwiches and wraps are tasty and simple. Wrap them up, toss them in the basket, and you’re good to go.
Ready in just 10 minutes, load these flatbreads up with your favourite toppings or leftovers. You can even use them as mini pizza bases. Perfect for picnics!
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This Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich recipe is easy to make and perfect for picnics! It’s vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and full of flavour.
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Photo credit: https://www.therusticfoodie.com
Make this delicious vegan wrap recipe and eat the rainbow! This hummus veggie wrap takes just minutes to make, is bright, fresh, and tasty, and packed with nutrients.
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Photo credit: https://happykitchen.rocks
Picnic Ideas served in bowls
Some picnic foods just belong in a bowl. These colourful salads are filling, easy to share, and pile high. Bowl-friendly recipes are perfect for prepping ahead, travel well, and only get better as the flavours mingle. Whether you’re bringing one big serving to share or packing individual portions, these recipes are fresh, filling, and look great.
Vegan fajita bowls are a tasty, easy, and healthy meal to enjoy on a picnic. With seasoned tempeh, colourful bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms topped with avocado and coriander leaves, serve with rice or quinoa or in a wrap.
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Photo credit: https://melissatraub.com
This cold ramen noodle salad is packed with fresh veggies, edamame, and tender noodles. With a lovely Asian dressing, this is a great option for a picnic.
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Photo credit: https://myquietkitchen.com
This colourful Thai Noodle Salad is packed with tender noodles, fresh veggies, and a creamy homemade Thai peanut sauce. An easy, healthy, and refreshing salad perfect for a picnic.
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Photo credit: https://thealmondeater.com
Savoury Bakes, Muffins & Quiche
When you’re eating alfresco, portability is key—and savoury bakes deliver every time. Whether it’s a flaky sausage roll, a veggie-packed muffin, or a classic quiche, these picnic staples hold their shape and travel well. Designed for sharing, they’re easy to pass around.
These vegan sausage rolls use mushrooms and lentils flavoured with rosemary and wrapped in puff pastry for a delicious homemade meat-free alternative. Perfect finger food for a picnic.
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Photo credit: https://mygoodnesskitchen.com
With a chickpea flour base and chopped broccoli, shredded carrot, and onion, these savoury muffins are a lovely alternative to sandwiches for a picnic. Ready in just over 30 minutes.
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Photo credit: https://www.resplendentkitchen.com
Cheese and courgette (zucchini) muffins with chives make great finger food for picnics. The subtle sweetness of the courgette goes beautifully with the tangy flavour of cheese and sharpness of the chives.
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Quiche is a great food for picnics and perfect for using up leftovers.
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These easy tomato tarts are made with garden-fresh herbs, summer tomatoes, soft cheese, and golden puff pastry.
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Photo credit: https://champagne-tastes.com
An easy alternative to quiche, this savoury cheese and egg flan is a great picnic item. A crispy shortcrust pastry base filled with a delicious cheese and egg mixture and baked until golden brown.
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Picnic Perfect Sweet Treats to Finish…
A picnic isn’t complete without something sweet to finish with, and these simple snack ideas pack easily into picnic hampers.
This moist tea loaf travels well, is fat-free, and has just a small amount of sugar making it a healthier sweet treat, perfect for picnics.
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A lovely sticky flapjack made with dried fruit – a great portable snack.
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Ready in just 30 minutes, these muffins are the perfect sweet treat for picnics and a great way to use up overripe bananas.
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A portable version of lemon loaf, these soft and moist vegan lemon muffins have an intense real lemon flavour and a buttery lemon crumb topping.
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Photo credit: https://addictedtodates.com
These easy peanut butter and banana brownies need just 3 ingredients and are a healthy sweet treat, perfect for picnics.
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Granola Flapjacks or Oat Bars made with just 5 ingredients are great for picnics and packed with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits.
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Vegan and vegetarian picnic food ideas are a great way to reduce your meat intake without compromising on taste. Using fresh ingredients, many of them are healthy, and they are all full of flavour. For more al-fresco meat-free ideas, don’t forget these vegan and vegetarian BBQ Ideas!
