15 Picnic Sandwich Recipes to Enjoy Outdoors (2024)

Warm weather calls for more time spent outdoors, and what better way to soak up mother nature than with a delightful picnic in the park or the garden? Armed with a wicker basket filled with fresh fruit, snacks, individual desserts, and maybe a bottle of wine (or two), you're on your way to a complete and delicious lunch al fresco.

For the main course, consider bringing a tasty sandwich. We’ve compiled a roundup of our favorite picnic sandwich recipes here, which range from kid-friendly triple decker PB&J to a Muffaletta featuring layers of Italian cured meats and cheeses. We also have two recipes for chicken club sandwiches that are just right for any picnic—one features breaded chicken cutlets and the other is made with roasted chicken.

Whichever of these picnic sandwich gets your taste buds salivating at the thought of a big bite, you're in store for a scrumptious and idyllic lunch on the grass.

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Avocado-and-Boursin Sandwiches

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To wow your picnic partner, whip up this flavorful avocado and Boursin sandwich that sits between slices of savory pumpernickel. Carrot ribbons and shredded cabbage offer a crunch, lemon and olive oil drizzle provide zing, and the avocado and Boursin lend creaminess.

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Heirloom Tomato Tartines with Garlic-Parsley Aioli

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Beautiful heirloom tomatos are the star of this picnic sandwich, which only takes 10 to 15 minutes whip up. It also features a homemade spread of Dijon, mayonnaise, lemon zest, and minced garlic. Spread it over thick slices of brioche, top with sliced tomato, and add sea salt and sprouts for more flavor.

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Pressed Picnic Sandwich

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This pressed picnic sandwich saves room in your basket and tastes divine. Flavor abounds with layers of grilled peppers, cured meats, marinated artichokes, and a spread of goat cheese with fresh herbs.

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Muffaletta

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Stuffed with about every kind of deli meat and cheese you can imagine (think mortadella, soppressata, salami, and fontina), this pressed sandwich packs a punch. Prep a day in advance and store in the refrigerator—pressed down panini-style using a cast iron pan—until serving time.

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Chicken Club Sandwich

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What makes this sandwich stand out from others like it are the breaded chicken cutlets, which add extra crunch in each bite. They make the perfect, hearty center of this BLT-inspired recipe.

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Pressed Sandwich with Prosciutto and Broccoli Rabe

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Every single ingredient in this sandwich brings something to the picnic (literally!). Goat cheese, peppadews, sautéed broccoli rabe with garlic, and a salty olive tapenade offer layer after layer of flavor.

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French Ham and Cheese Sandwich

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Go Gallic on your picnic and upgrade a basic ham and cheese sandwich with a few extra-special ingredients. This recipe features a homemade chive remoulade (think: the most flavorful mayo ever), sliced hard-cooked eggs, frisée lettuce, and dill pickles.

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Turkey Cobb-Salad Sandwich

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Whether you make this sandwich because you have turkey leftovers or are just craving something delicious, it's sure to satisfy. In between two pieces of rustic bread are thinly sliced turkey breasts, cooked bacon, sliced hard-boiled egg, avocado, lettuce, and basil.

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Chipotle-Glazed Meatloaf Sandwiches

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Serve last night's meatloaf dinner in a totally new and unexpected way—as a lunch picnic sandwich! You can eat it hot or at room temperature for a simple, low-maintenance meal.

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Roasted Chicken Club Sandwich

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Juicy chicken breasts are paired with slices of tomato and avocado, mayonnaise, bacon, lettuce, and pickles in this easy-to-love sandwich that's perfect for a picnic.

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Italian Salami Sandwich

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This picnic sandwich doesn't have a lot of ingredients or need a lot of prep, but that doesn't mean we've compromised on flavor. It's stuffed with soppressata, fontina, arugula, and shaved fennel.

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Turkey-Salad Sandwich

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Instead of a traditional chicken salad sandwich, try this fresh take that features turkey, plus diced green apple, golden raisins, and sliced cucumber. To make this sandwich easier to transport for a picnic, don't serve it open-faced—put a lid on it!

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Perfect BLT Sandwich

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It's one of the most popular picnic sandwiches around: the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato. We use homemade mayonnaise to make it taste extra special, but feel free to use store-bought if you're in a pinch.

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Turkey Caprese Sandwich

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Add a bit more heft to this classic picnic sandwich with thinly sliced turkey cutlet. It joins the party with tomato slices, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves.

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Triple Decker PB & J Tea Sandwiches

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Kids and adults alike will cheer for this all-time classic sandwich that you can bring to a picnic. But this is no ordinary PB & J. There are three layers of bread and two layers of the nutty and fruity filling for an epic bite.

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