Don’t Plan a Summer Picnic Without One of These Side Dishes

Summer is the time for spending time by the pool, grilling outdoors, and enjoying all your favorite summer foods. It's also a great time for having a picnic, whether you prefer to do an elaborate spread or something simple like sandwiches. No matter what type of picnic you decide on, there are some side dishes you don't want to show up without.

June 18 is International Picnic Day, and what better way to celebrate than by having a picnic of your own? While you're planning the menu for your picnic, consider one of these tasty side dish recipes everyone will love.

Potato salad is a classic dish that's perfect for any summer picnic or barbecue. This simple yet delicious recipe includes potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, celery, and finely chopped onion. You can't go wrong with this filling and creamy potato salad.

Get the recipe: Potato Salad

Whether you're serving sandwiches, hot dogs, or hamburgers, baked beans go well with all the popular summer meals. Baked beans from a can are great when you're in a hurry, but this baked bean recipe takes minimal effort and is even more delicious.

Get the recipe: Baked Beans

There's nothing quite like fresh fruit on a warm summer day. This fruit salad recipe is a great way to enjoy all your favorite fruits, and it's kid-approved as well. Not only does it include favorites like blueberries, strawberries, and peaches, but it's also topped with a tasty fruit cream dressing.

Get the recipe: Fruit Salad

If you're looking for an alternative to the standard potato salad, this scalloped potatoes recipe is perfect. Even though they sound fancy, scalloped potatoes are relatively easy to make and come together in a little over an hour.

Get the recipe: Scalloped Potatoes

Salads are a great side dish for a picnic, but this layered salad brings a unique twist to your typical side salad. Complete with fresh romaine, carrots, bacon, and shredded cheese, it has an abundance of flavor that everyone will enjoy.

Get the recipe: Layered Salad

Macaroni salad is another classic option that completes any picnic. This macaroni salad is creamy without being too heavy. It's simple to make, even if you're in a rush, and it's bound to become one of your new favorite recipes.

Get the recipe: Macaroni Salad

If you're looking for something on the sweet side that still adds some valuable nutrition to your kid's meal, try this carrot raisin salad. This popular southern dish includes shredded carrots, pineapple, raisins, and some powdered sugar for sweetness.

Get the recipe: Carrot Raisin Salad

No picnic would be complete without a side of coleslaw. If you're a fan of the coleslaw from KFC, this copycat recipe will become a new favorite. It has the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, with just a couple of drops of Tabasco sauce.

Get the recipe: KFC Coleslaw

If you're looking for a tasty, but healthy, side dish to take to your picnic, try this green bean recipe. The onion and parsley give the green beans the perfect amount of flavor without adding a ton of calories.

Get the recipe: Sautéed Green Beans

This baked corn pudding is the ultimate comfort food, and it's perfect for a summer picnic. This pairs well with turkey sandwiches, chicken, or any other entree. It's also simple to make with Jiffy cornbread mix and canned corn.

Get the recipe: Baked Corn Pudding