When summer arrives, eating outdoors with friends is our idea of heaven. Looking to put together the perfect picnic spread? Want the very best sandwich recipes and top-notch easy summer salad recipes? Try our vegetarian ideas below for a picnic basket filled with goodies, then try our easy vegetarian recipes for stunning meat-free mains.

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Easy vegetarian picnic recipes

Caprese pasta salad

Kick off your picnic spread with a colourful pasta salad. Combine sweet baby plum tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and shredded basil for a simple, flavourful dish you can throw together in minutes. Check out our best pasta salad recipes for even more prep-ahead picnic saviours.

Caprese pasta salad recipe

Avocado hummus, falafel and broad bean baguettes

Check out our quick and easy veggie-friendly baguettes. These simple sandwiches are packed with creamy hummus, vibrant broad beans and flavoursome falafel, a perfect portable picnic bite.

Falafel with Avocado Hummus Recipe and Broad Beans served in a crispy white baguette on a dark blue tray and table

Courgette muffins

A super-simple savoury muffin recipe, made with grated courgette and cheddar – make a batch using just six ingredients in two simple steps. These are perfect picnic fodder, being easy to share and transport. Get stuck into our easy savoury muffin recipes for more mouthwatering veggie flavour combinations.

A batch of courgette muffins in a tin

Cheese and onion quiche

Use spring onions and ready-made pastry to create this classic veggie tart. Serve up slabs of this rich cheddar-filled quiche and keep everyone happy. Once it's cool, package up slices for essential picnic sustenance. Searching for pastry perfection? Take a look at our best quiche recipes.

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Cheese and Onion Quiche Recipe

Picnic dip jars

Not only are these snacks packed with flavour, they're also a great alternative to the usual picnic food. Simple and quick to prepare, these will become an al fresco feasting staple.

Picnic Dip Recipes with Pea Guacamole

Spiralized summer rolls

Spiralized veg takes the place of noodles in these super-healthy, Vietnamese-style vegan rolls. Pack for a posh picnic.

Summer Rolls Recipe With Courgetti

Jam jar salads

Deliciously healthy and packed with fresh ingredients, this salad can be made in advance and is ideal for picnics. Need ideas for dressing? Rapeseed oil is a good choice, as it is low in saturated fat and rich in omega 3.

Jam Jar Salad Recipe

Tex-Mex-style sweetcorn salad

Sweet, crunchy, creamy and zingy – this is great served with pittas. Pickled jalapeños bring a little heat, balanced out by crumbly feta and soured cream. Full of texture, colour and flavour, this salad has it all.

Crunchy Tex-Mex-style sweetcorn salad

Stuffed focaccia

Why put up with boring sandwiches when you can have chunks of our stuffed focaccia? This classic Italian bread is full to bursting with tasty antipasti like roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts. Cut into squares so everyone can help themselves.

Stuffed Focaccia Recipe

Green goddess and red devil dips with homemade breadsticks and veg

Go the extra mile and make a batch of homemade breadsticks to enjoy with fresh veg and chunky dips. The creamy green goddess dip is made with ripe avocado and a touch of fresh mint, and the red devil uses a jar of roasted red peppers.

Vegetarian Dip Recipes With Homemade Breadsticks

Burritos with black beans, sweetcorn and quinoa

We've got your picnic lunch all wrapped up. A colourful, veggie burrito, crammed with tomatoes, black beans, sweetcorn, lime, coriander, avocado and red chilli. Rolled and ready to go, these handy burritos are perfect for feeding a crowd.

Vegan Burrito with Black Beans Recipe

Classic tortilla

Take some inspiration from a classic tapas spread and serve up tasty morsels of tortilla, cut into perfect squares. This recipe uses just four ingredients and is delicious served both hot and cold, so great for packing in your picnic hamper.

Classic tortilla

Elderflower and raspberry mocktail bottles

Don't forget the drinks! No picnic would be complete without a cooling beverage filled with fruity flavours. This elderflower and raspberry mix screams summer. Pop the bottles in your cool bag and serve with a few whole raspberries.

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Elderflower Mocktail Recipe

Lemon and blueberry bars

Round off the perfect picnic with a little something sweet. These simple lemon and blueberry bars are crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Cut into blocks and pack into a tin, ready to dish out to lucky friends and family.

Lemon and Blueberry Tray Bake Recipe

Authors

Janine Ratcliffe Portrait
Janine RatcliffeFood director

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