Picnic Sides With Pizazz

Chicken, corn, black beans and tomatoes make for a hearty side dish that could easily pass as a main. Drizzle on a creamy barbecue ranch dressing and toss in some crispy onion straws for a memorable meal.

To make: My Life as a Mrs.

Brussels sprouts are generally though of as a fall or winter vegetable, but there are dozens of ways to dress them up for warmer weather. Try this simple preparation, which relies on lemon juice and Parmesan.

To make: Shutterbean

Quiche may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think picnic side dishes, but it's wonderful to take on the go: It can be eaten at room temperature just as easily as right out of the oven.

To make: Edible Sound Bites

MORE: Fresh and Delicious Spring/Summer Salads

Summer fruit salads are always healthy, but can often land on the expected side of things. This coconut quinoa version is far from that, though. It lets fruit remain the stars of the dish while folding in quinoa cooked in coconut milk for a more substantial warm-weather side dish.

To make: Citron Limette

Macaroni salads are typical picnic fare, and they're often laden with mayonnaise and include just a few minor veggies. This salad goes way beyond all of those. With its creamy avocado-lime dressing and quick, simple preparation, it's bound to become a summer go-to.

To make: Norikoburky

This may look a bit complicated for a summer picnic, but in reality, you can bring the few elements along separately and put it together on site. It's a simple, healthy dish that everyone—not just vegetarians—will welcome.

To make: Bev Cooks

With all the elaborate salads and fluffy desserts at most picnics, it's nice to also have a few simple dishes that really highlight the main ingredient. When you can find sweet and delicious carrots, this is the recipe to use.

To make: Turntable Kitchen

Cumin, coriander, tahini and lemon help pack the flavor into these falafel bites. Beyond flavor, their small size makes them picnic-perfect, as friends can walk around while eating one (or two).

To make: Peachy Palate

MORE: Sugar Snap Salad

Couscous is virtually made for picnics: It cooks up incredibly fast and is super versatile. This warm-weather salad pairs asparagus, peas, oranges and feta with a bright citrus vinaigrette.

To make: Virtually Homemade

You often see spinach salad with sliced strawberries, but how about swapping in kale, adding a few sliced almonds and folding in a bright lemon poppyseed dressing? Hands down, this is the new summer salad.

To make: Two Peas and Their Pod