There's nothing better on a warm summer's day than heading to the countryside for a quintessential British picnic – especially one packed full of delicious homemade dishes. Featuring all the old favourites, like sausage rolls and scones with jam and cream, here is a selection of picnic recipes to enjoy on your next outing.
If you're after picnic spot ideas, why not take a look at our pick of the best picnic spots in the UK countryside and family-friendly beaches that are ideal for a feast? And make sure you're kitted out with one of our favourite picnic rucksacks and all the picnic essentials you'll need.
Tasty picnic bakes for sharing
Tomato lunchbox tarts
This simple recipe is perfect for a summertime trip into the countryside. Ruby-coloured, sweet and highly versatile, the tomato is the star of the show in these fresh and tart lunchbox staples.
- Get the recipe: Tomato lunchbox tarts
Smoked trout, watercress and horseradish quiche
Quiches are a classic picnic food, and this smoked trout and horseradish quiche is really easy to make at home, then pop into the picnic basket to serve in slices. As tasty cold as it is hot, quiche is a nice and filling picnic addition to fuel the whole family.
- Get the recipe: Smoked trout, watercress and horseradish quiche
Pork and pickle pies
These pork pies are designed for a picnic - they have pickle inside the pastry so it doesn't slide off your plate. You may never have made your own pork pies, but don't be deterred – these are easier than you think to whip up!
- Get the recipe: Pork and pickle pies
Moroccan lamb and quince sausage rolls
Whether it's a picnic or a somewhat snazzy lunchbox, these lamb sausage rolls put a spicy twist on a classic recipe. From Stuart Ovenden's The Orchard Cook, they're best enjoyed with a delicious mint and yogurt dip.
- Get the recipe: Moroccan lamb and quince sausage rolls
Apple, goat’s cheese, honey and hazelnut tarts
These tarts are quick and easy to make and ideal for a summer picnic. The recipe can easily be adapted using different cheese or herbs.
- Get the recipe: Apple, goat’s cheese, honey and hazelnut tarts
Vegan ‘sausage’ rolls in coconut pastry
These gluten, vegan ‘sausages’ rolls, made of cooked red lentils and roasted pepper, are perfect for packed lunches – you can swap the filling for sausagemeat, if you prefer.
- Get the recipe: Vegan ‘sausage’ rolls in coconut pastry
Savoury stilton scones
These savoury scones are best made the day you eat them (with scones, it’s always a case of the fresher the better), but they do freeze very well if you want to make them in advance. The butter needs time to chill and firm, so it's always good to make them the day before.
- Get the recipe: Savoury stilton scones
Refreshing and colourful summer salads
Broad bean, potato and radish salad
This fresh, green salad has all the tastes of spring and summer - crunchy greens and radishes, sweet broad beans and new potatoes.
- Get the recipe: Broad bean, potato and radish salad
Tomato and raspberry salad
This easy-to-make salad is a real taste of the English summer. Zingy, fresh, sweet, sour… and who doesn’t like raspberries? I’ve always had a rhyming Spanish saying in my head ‘mas color, mas sabor!’ which means more colour, more flavour! And it’s so true in this dish.
- Get the recipe: Tomato and raspberry salad
Summer garden salad
Rejoice in the fresh tastes of early summer with a garden salad with a recipe from Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford on their Somerset smallholding.
- Get the recipe: Summer garden salad
Best sweet treats
Little cherry and almond cakes
An incredibly quick, one-bowl bake that you can whip up in minutes and tastes fresh and sweet, perfect for after your main course. Extract taken from The Botanical Kitchen by Elly McCausland.
- Get the recipe: Little cherry and almond cakes
Apple and blackberry crumble squares
Like classic fruit crumble but in a cuttable, transportable bar, use up your hand-picked blackberries to make these delicious crumble squares.
- Get the recipe: Apple and blackberry crumble squares
Classic scones
Whip up a fresh batch of homemade scones for a cream tea with this easy recipe. So maybe scones aren't the most practical for a picnic, but who can resist this typical British favourite.
- Get the recipe: Classic scones
Whip up a homemade beverage
Homemade elderflower cordial
Enjoy a fresh and fragrant drink with easy and delicious elderflower cordial recipe - the perfect summer drink.
- Get the recipe: Homemade elderflower cordial
Gooseberry soda
Make a refreshing, fruity summer drink with a recipe from Kathy Bishop and Tom Crowford on their Somerset smallholding.
- Get the recipe: Gooseberry soda
