10 British Picnic Recipes for Outdoor Eating

Are you looking for British picnic recipes? We have some excellent ideas for you, ranging from picnic tarts to easy sausage rolls, quiches and pasties. And, of course, cake!

Wicker hamper? Check! Gingham rug? Check! Good weather forecast? Well, this is Britain, so let’s just cross our fingers. Now for the most important thing of all – the menu! We have 10 wonderful picnic recipes for you, ranging from vegetarian scotch eggs to traditional Cornish pasties and retro prawn cocktail. All of the recipes can be prepared in advance and served cold on the day.

Martha Collison's Pork & Chorizo Sausage Rolls

You can’t have a British picnic without a sausage roll! Martha Collison’s pork sausage roll recipe features chorizo and paprika alongside the sausagemeat, giving it a delicious smoky flavour!

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Smoked Chicken Quiche

We think quiches make for excellent picnic food, as they can be prepared in advance and taste great served cold, with a little salad on the side! This quiche is made with smoked chicken and parsley pesto; you can easily scale it up and make double if you’re going to a larger gathering!

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Edd Kimber's Peppermint Chocolate Slices

​If you’re looking for sweet picnic food, we highly recommend checking out Edd Kimber’s peppermint and chocolate slices. Not only is it a classic flavour combination, it’s also a very easy picnic recipe to make, as it’s a ‘no cook’ refrigerator cake!

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The Queen Elizabeth Sponge Cake

​Is it really a British picnic without a Victoria sponge in the mix? This easy-to-make sponge cake features two fluffy vanilla sponges sandwiching whipped cream and fresh summer fruits - your friends will love it!

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Cheese, Potato & Onion Pasties

If you’re looking for vegetarian picnic recipe ideas, we highly recommend this classic pasty. We love the classic combination of cheese and potatoes, and the addition of chilli jam is inspired.

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Pea & Mint Scotch Egg

Another vegetarian picnic idea is this striking scotch egg recipe. The pork sausagemeat casing around the egg has been replaced with a crushed pea and mint mixture, which is very evocative of British summer flavours!

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Crab & Artichoke Salad

Those in search of healthy picnic recipes will love this crab salad. The sweet crabmeat is paired with artichokes, bitter rocket and aromatic tarragon vinaigrette. We recommend waiting until you’re about to eat before dressing your salad, to prevent the leaves from getting soggy.

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Traditional Cornish Pasty

​A British picnic isn’t complete without a traditional Cornish pasty! This pasty recipe has a swede, carrot and beef filling, tastes which evoke memories of summer holidays on the coast.

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The Hairy Bikers' Cheese & Marmite Scones

The Hairy Bikers have some fabulous picnic recipes, and we particularly love their cheese scones, which are infused with a novel ingredient - Marmite! What’s more, they’re very easy to make.

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Posh Prawn Cocktail Sandwich Filling

If you’re looking for a slightly posher picnic idea, we love this idea for tiger prawn cocktail. It’s totally retro, and utterly delicious! This recipe adds a dash of sherry to the traditional recipe, which is served with slices of avocado as well. It can be eaten by itself but also works very well as a sandwich filling.

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