Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
Are you vegan and looking for some great picnic food ideas? After scouring the internet, I’ve discovered some of the best vegan picnic food recipes out there!
When it comes to gathering for a picnic, vegans don’t have to check there are people in their community who are not vegan. This can be enjoyable since there is no need to use a separate part of the table for the vegans. However, you might be still asking yourself what food do you get for this kind of occasion?
If you love animals, you also may love Vegan food. Vegan food can be very healthy for you and for the planet earth too. The following article is a few ideas that I’ve put together for your next picnic, which has been grown organically and locally
Picnic Food For Vegans

What makes for a good picnic? A nice, warm day, good friends and a green space, of course. But as for food, there are certain musts, too.
Green salads are generally a no-go, since they tend to wilt in the sun. And any foods that may get soggy or worse, go off, are also a no-no. Plus, a lot of typical picnic food is pretty stodgy: think potato chips, white bread sandwiches, lumpy potato salad and tub after tub of hummus. The best picnic foods are those which stay fresh for hours, are easy to eat with the fingers, and of course, are delicious and nutritious.
Of course, you don’t really need to cook to make most of these vegan picnic recipes. But if you don’t feel like hitting the kitchen at all, just pack some basics, like:
an assortment of nuts and fruits
store-bought dips
mixed raw veggies, crackers or breads for the dips
mixed olives and antipasti like artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes
store-bought cookies, chocolate, cake or muffins
some water, wine and juice
But while this will keep people from starving, no one’s about to ooh and ahhh over that awesome pack of nuts you brought.
Vegan Picnic Tips
Luckily for us, a bunch of well-known vegan and vegetarian bloggers and chefs have offered up some recipes to help inspire all of you with some food and drink recipes to really jazz up your picnic this year in a healthy and yummy way.
But PLEASE! Just make sure your picnic doesn’t end up being a garbage-fest. I mean, ending the day with a pile of landfill is not chic! But fear not, it’s easy to minimise your waste. My tips?
use Mason Jars (or recycled jam jars) for everything. They can store drinks, sauces, salads and more, and can also be used as glasses
use your hands to eat whenever possible. Take small cloths and a jar of soapy water in a Mason Jar to wash hands first if this is a concern
use old newspaper or waxed paper to wrap food like sandwiches instead of plastic or aluminium
take your normal forks with you. Wash them at home later. Disposable ones are so wasteful!
if you must use disposable cups and plates, ensure they’re made from recycled paper like these, and then recycle them again, if possible!
ensure you recycle all bottles, cans and paper you use, in fact
take everything with you in reusable canvas bags– avoid plastic ones!
take some gorgeous coconut bowls and utensils with you to serve food in, such as these ones below
of course, ensure you clean everything up after your picnic
All you need to do now is dust off the blankets, grab the picnic basket and pray for a sunny day!
Recipes For The Perfect Vegan Picnic
Vegan Picnic
- Grilled Tofu Shish Kebabs
If you think tofu tastes like a block of nothingness, then this will simply reinvent it for you! These skewers are so perfect for a picnic. You can either grill them up before and store them in a lock tight container to take alongside with you – or, if you’re a modern picnicker who is going to be grilling as well as chilling, you could cook them on the go. Jazz them up a little more by adding chunks of other veggies you love!
Get the recipe here.
Grilled Tofu Shish Kebabs
- Easy & Amazing Vegan Samosas
Following on with a little bit of an Indian vibe, these samosas are another fabulous picnic recipe. They’re super delicious – I defy anyone to tell me they’re not a samosa fan – and a great food to cook up and take along to a picnic. And because they’re baked, not fried, you can eat these with your hands and avoid greasy fingers! Some insist these should be hot, but I think this is one of the most perfect vegan picnic recipes for serving up at room temperature, too. With some chutney on the side, of course!
Get the recipe here.
easy samosa recipe vegan
- Raw Nori Wraps with a Spicy Dipping Sauce
Gone are the days of soggy and bland sandwiches – picnicking is now a time to get a little bit creative. These nori wraps are the ideal vegan picnic food! They’re also the perfect substitute for sarnies – and are way healthier. These guys are packed full of crunchy cabbage, carrot, cucumber and zucchini, but feel free to play around with the veggies you like most. Did I mention this also comes with a spicy dipping sauce? Just store the sauce in a little jar and take it along.
Get the recipe here.
- Soba Noodle & Raw Veggie Salad
When we think of salad, we tend to think of a bunch of leafy greens – but sometimes we just crave something a little bit more substantial. And this is where soba noodles are a great option. This is an Asian inspired dish, and even has added peanut butter. Can it get any better?
Actually yes, because this salad tastes great whether it’s hot or cold, meaning it will be just as enjoyable when you unpack it on your picnic and dive right in. You can take real forks (no plastic, please!) to eat these with, or reusable chopsticks.
Get the recipe here.
Soba Noodle & Raw Veggie Salad
- Hummus Avocado Pita Sandwiches
Okay, how could I not add a sandwich recipe? It’s the quintessential vegan picnic food! Some of us are fans of the old fashion sarnie when picnicking. But that doesn’t mean we need to have boring PBJ or potentially salmonella-infested egg sarnies (why, parents? why?). No way! This is packed full of fresh and tasty ingredients. Make it the night before and store in a container so it’s ready to go the next day.
Get the recipe here.
Perfect Vegan Picnic Recipes
- Crispy Pan Fried Falafels
How lovely does this plate look? This is one of the most perfect vegan picnic recipes for making an impression, if you ask me.
The best thing about falafel balls is that you can either eat them all wrapped up in a pita, stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions and tahini. Or, if you’re trying to kill the carbs, just place these tasty nuggets onto a salad, (or in the case of this recipe, Asian coleslaw) add some dressing, and enjoy!
Get the recipe here.
Crispy Pan Fried Falafels recipe
- Refried Bean Taquitos
Mexican food was just invented be vegan picnic food. These taquitos come in their own ‘wrappers’ – that is, a tightly rolled tortilla. So they’re easy to eat, and are delicious hot or cold. This easy, packable recipe features spicy beans packed into baked taquitos. Pack them up, then dip them into some salsa. This is sure to have everyone saying: ‘Ay, que rico!’
Get the recipe here.
- Simple Bruschetta with Tomato & Basil
Bruschetta is always a winner for me. Whenever I see it on a menu I have to have me some of that goodness! And what’s not to love? Crunchy toasted bread topped with delicious tomato and basil and a hint of garlic. To keep this picnic-fresh, simply store the bread and the topping in separate containers and then put together when ready to eat.
Get the recipe here.
Perfect Vegan Picnic Recipes
- Mushroom & Walnut Paté
Not only is this paté 100% vegan, it’s relatively simply to make as well, though it looks pretty fancy. Take a loaf of freshly baked bread or some gluten free crackers, or even the bruschetta rounds (above) and smear this on them and I guarantee it will be one of your picnic fixtures from now on.
Get the recipe here.
Mushroom & Walnut Paté vegan
- Indian Char-Roasted Eggplant Dip
Whilst I will forever love hummus in all of its various guises, I can see how people get tired of it. So this picnic season, why not try something new and exciting like this Indian dip? This would be delicious on top of some flat bread, rice cakes or some gluten free crackers.