All of Our Best Picnic Salads | Chris Cooks

One of my favorite things about summer is eating (and cooking) outside. Who doesn't love a picnic? It's the ultimate grab-and-go meal. Yes, there's some prep involved, but that always makes the food taste even better. And to me, it's not a real picnic unless you have a salad or two. It's nice to have something fresh that can hold up to a bit of transport time. I love a vegetable salad, a starchy salad — like potato salad or pasta salad, and a fruit salad. The key is to make everything bite-sized so you don't have to use knives. Those make the best picnic salad recipes!

Most of these recipes are grain-free and dairy-free (here are my favorite dairy substitutes), but you can always switch in your favorite pasta or dairy product if you're so inclined. Each of these would be great alongside grilled pork, kebabs, burgers or hot dogs. I hope this gives you some summer salad ideas for the Fourth of July or upcoming beach trips — they may just be the star of the show.

Broccoli Salad

Grilled Corn Salad

Roasted Potato Salad

Mom’s Taco Salad

Quick Garden Chicken Salad With Spicy Thousand Island

8-Layer Salad – No Grain, Dairy, Pork, Or Egg

Panzanella Potato Salad

My Most Requested Fruit Salad

Four Delicious Tuna Salad Recipes

Shredded Veggie Salad With Sweet Vinegar & Orange

Cucumber Crunch Salad

Italian Summer Pasta Salad

The Best Potato Salad Recipe