Opinion Best vegan picnic food: crowd-pleasers for your next gathering

Looking for easy yet impressive picnic food ideas to elevate your next outdoor social event? These sweet and savoury plant-based treats are all quick to whip up — and guaranteed crowd-pleasers.

When picking plant-based recipes to take along to your next family gathering or sunny get-together, there are a few key qualities you’ll want to look for. Ideally, any picnic food ideas should be: 

• Quick and stress-free to make
• Easy to pack and transport
• Robust enough to make it there in one piece
• Sun-proof and shareable
• Aesthetically pleasing (obviously ✨)
• Guaranteed to get you that coveted “is this really vegan?” seal of approval from everyone who tries it

Lovely weather and company aside, social gatherings like picnics and BBQs are prime opportunities to blow people away with how delicious plant-based treats can be. What could be more satisfying than that? 😉

To help you find some vegan picnic food ideas and recipes, we’ve rounded up a whole picnic rug’s worth of tried and tested plant-based favourites. From sweet treats and pull-aparts to pastries, cakes, and dips, these dishes are all easy, wholesome, and sure to complement any spread.

You can’t go wrong with any of these plant-based crowd-pleasers — take your pick!

1. Herbed Mushroom & Lentil Sausage Rolls

Ah, the trusty sausage roll — the ultimate crowd-pleasing number! This ‘meaty’ recipe uses mushrooms and lentils to create the hearty filling, but you could also use plant-based mince if you prefer.  

2. Lamington Loaf

The only thing better than lots of little lamingtons is one comedically giant one! Making this iconic Aussie classic in slice form rather than individual serves also makes the process a whole lot less fiddly.

3. Roasted Cauliflower Dip

You can never have too many dips! This nutty roast cauliflower dip has a lightness to it that makes it a brilliant addition to any snack spread. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of fresh herbs on top for presentation. 

4. The Ultimate No-Knead Garlic Focaccia

Focaccia is a reliable winner and usually the first thing to disappear from the snack table. Note: This recipe does require the dough to be prepared ahead of time, so start the process the day before to avoid a rush. The end result is well worth it!

5. Brown Butter Choc Chip Cookies

They might seem like an obvious choice for a baked good, but these are no ordinary choc chip cookies. Adding browned vegan butter into the mix makes them taste like decadent butterscotch.

6. Cafe-style Mixed Berry Muffins

Cafe-level quality and cute as a button, these delectable muffins are bursting with sweet berries (not to mention the potential to wow all your friends) — perfect finger food, whether you’re dining inside or out. 

7. Sun-dried Tomato, Spinach & Olive Muffins

Savoury muffins are so underrated as a simple, satisfying picnic treat. Not only do they hold up beautifully, but they also feel a little fancy somehow. Hot tip: Add vegan bacon bits for even more culinary pizazz. 

8. Smoky Baba Ganoush

This addictively luscious baba ganoush recipe is one of our all-time favourites for entertaining. For (optional) extra smokiness, add a couple of drops of liquid smoke or a whole head of roasted garlic. 

9. Banana, Walnut & Chia Bread 

This nutty, chia-seed-laden banana bread recipe is an even more wholesome and cosy twist on everyone’s favourite afternoon tea classic. Serve each slice with some vegan butter for bonus points.

10. Vegan Tim Tams

Tim Tams are totally possible to make vegan (take note, Arnotts!) and terrifically tempting. Need help choosing a meltable milk-style chocolate to coat them in? Keep an eye out for these vegan chocolate brands at the supermarket. 

11. Pizza Pockets

We can’t be the only ones who get hit with bi-weekly cravings for these classic school-tuckshop snacks! They’re pockets of pure nostalgia and are easier than you’d think to make. Best transported in a tray covered with alfoil to keep the filling warm and gooey. 

12. Spinach & Feta Rolls

Grab some vegan cheese (we recommend the Biocheese feta!) and get ready to sink your teeth into these spanakopita-inspired spinach rolls. This recipe always gets a lot of love, and no one ever suspects it’s plant-based.

13. Jammy Dodgers

You’ll be dodging a flurry of hungry hands just to secure one of these jammy beauties for yourself! Probably best to make a double batch… 

14. Rainbow Rice Paper Rolls

Fresh, flavorful, and pretty as a picture, these marinated tofu rice paper rolls make a deliciously filling vegan centrepiece for a relaxed gathering in the sunshine. 

15. Savoury Scrolls

These pizza-inspired savoury scrolls are irresistibly cheesy and infinitely customisable. If you don’t have time to make your own dough, frozen puff pastry works a treat.

16. Anzac Biscuits

This childhood favourite is an easy win for little and big kids alike. So quick and fool-proof you could practically make them in your sleep!

17. Oreo Cupcakes

Not that every picnic should be treated like a bake-off, but hypothetically, if you were feeling competitive, these fancy-looking Oreo cupcakes would win you first place every time. 

18. Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip

Featuring notes of lemon, chilli, walnuts, and that distinctive char-grill flavour of roasted red peppers, this textured dip is equal parts smoky and zingy. It pairs well with crusty bread or homemade crackers. 

19. Tomato Filo Tart with Pesto

It doesn’t get more summery and satisfying than this! Serve up a pastry-wrapped tray of Italian indulgence with this tomato-studded pesto tart. 

20. Easy Baklava Fingers

These delicately spiced, nutty baklava rolls are gorgeously flaky and deceptively simple to make. True Mediterranean-style magic that’s sure to be a hit with the sweet tooths. 

21. Tangerine & Poppy Seed Polenta Biscuits

For something uncomplicated but just a little bit different, you can’t go past these citrusy poppyseed biscuits. The polenta base gives them a delightfully melt-in-your-mouth and crispy bite.

22. Scones with Jam & Vanilla Coconut Cream

For a quaint, English high tea vibe, you can’t go past the traditional scone, jam, and cream combo. To make it dairy-free, we’re using coconut cream whipped up with vanilla and maple syrup as the dollop on top.

23. Creamy Homestyle Tzatziki

Combined with parsley, mint, lemon, and plenty of dill, vegan yoghurt makes a velvety and refreshing base for Greek-style tzatziki. Serve it with cucumber sticks, sourdough bread, quick-pickled red onion, and tomato slices to bulk out your picnic platter.

24. Carrot Cake Slice

A handy vegan baking recipe to keep in your back pocket: Just as delicious as regular carrot cake, only easier to transport and serve up at the park! 

25. Mixed Berry Pull-apart

Why bother buying an expensive pull-apart from a bakery when you can impress your fellow picnic-goers with one you made yourself? Ideal for sharing (and tearing, and devouring).

26. That Super Easy White Bean Dip

Considering how low-effort this creamy white bean dip is, it always amuses us that it gets such rave reviews! Sometimes the simplest recipes really are the best – and this one’s no exception. 

27. Vegan ‘Snickers’ Bars

Sure, there are plenty of vegan-friendly candy bars you can buy if you’re in a hurry – but if you have the time, why not turn yourself into a pro chocolatier and DIY your own?

28. Choc, Banana & Macadamia Balls

Chocolatey, fruity, and nutty in all the right ways, these no-bake bliss balls are gloriously moreish. And it only takes 15 minutes to whip up a whole batch!

29. Chai & Raspberry Cupcakes

Chai spices and tart raspberries are a duo dreamed up in heaven. This sweet but unexpected pairing makes these fluffy egg-free cupcakes utterly irresistible.

30. Spicy Chilli Maple Nuts

This trusty little snack has to be tasted to be believed. Only then will you understand why it’s likely to be gobbled up by the handful as soon as you set it down!

There are more plant-based picnic ideas where these came from…

Other easy “bring a plate” ideas include meat-free snags for the BBQ, a summery salad, or an assemble-when-you-get-there vegan cheese platter complete with crackers and marinated veg. (Cheese platters are one of those things that are ridiculously easy to put together but always get an inordinate amount of appreciation once everyone gets snacking!)

In a real pinch, you could pick up some vegan lollies, chocolates, packaged snacks like popcorn or chips, or one of the many plant-based desserts at Coles and Woolies. 

So often, the way to people’s hearts is through sharing beautiful food, whether you’re picnicking, BBQing, or just catching up with some pals. We hope we’ve given you some great picnic food ideas and opened your eyes to the delicious range of vegan options out there, perfect for any occasion. 

Who knows, you might even open someone’s mind to vegan food for the first time — or unwittingly start a new tradition. The first time I took mushroom and lentil sausage rolls to a family event, they disappeared so quickly that I instantly knew they were a hit. And sure enough, I’m now forbidden from rocking up to an afternoon tea without them. 

We’d love to hear what your picnic favourites turn out to be. Let us know what dishes you have success with so we can keep adding to this collection of crowd-pleasers!

Looking for something more substantial to make for a dinner party or potluck? Browse our mouthwatering selection of entertaining recipes – all 100% plant-based and guaranteed to impress.