Home Picnic
ByAllison T.S. Robicelli
Updated: Feb. 23, 2024
You can share all of these picnic salads at a summer potluck! These 50 regional recipes from across the country celebrate the best ingredients and traditions each state has to offer.
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Alabama: Southern Potato Salad
Even if you’re not from the deep South, you most certainly find comfort in their comfort foods, like this classic Southern-style potato salad. The recipe is simple, tossing cooked potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green onions and sweet pickles with an easy three-ingredient dressing that comes together in seconds.
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Alaska: Smoked Salmon Egg Salad
The waters of Alaska are well known for producing some of the best seafood you’ll ever taste, with salmon being one of the most famous fishes found in The Last Frontier. You can use any smoked salmon in this recipe, but for a true taste of Alaska, order salmon straight from the source.
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Arizona: Grilled Southwestern Potato Salad
The Grand Canyon State is well known for its fiery chile peppers. This potato salad features diced jalapenos to bring the heat and fire-charred poblanos for smoky spiciness, but it balances the burn with sweet corn, tart limes and a cool, creamy buttermilk dressing.
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Arkansas: Curried Chicken Salad with Pineapple and Grapes
Turn leftover chicken into picnic perfection with this easy five-ingredient recipe from the Natural State. To add a touch of crunch, add a handful of chopped toasted pecans, the official state nut of Arkansas.
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California: My Favorite Avocado Salad
Tangy lime dressing is the perfect topper for this avocado salad. Toasted walnuts make for crunchy goodness, but try it with any kind of nut you like. —Ilia Kaku, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Colorado: Berry Tossed Salad
Many of the lambs raised in America come from the Centennial State, and this tangy, creamy and tart tossed salad is a perfect pairing for it.
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Connecticut: Dandelion Salad
Yes, dandelions are edible, and if you’ve never tasted their greens before, you’re in for a treat! Dandelion greens are bitter and peppery (much like arugula), and in this picnic salad, their bite is complemented with pieces of citrus fruit and fresh lemon juice.
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Delaware: Easy Seafood Salad
Every summer, millions of people from the mid-Atlantic flock to the beaches of the First State, and when it comes to cookouts, crab is king. This picnic salad tosses crabmeat with shrimp in citrus juice for a fresh salad experience.
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Pack up easy-to-eat beach picnic recipes, including snacks, sandwiches and pasta salads.
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Florida: Onion Orange Salad
Any picnic salad that’s going to represent for the Sunshine State must feature sweet Florida oranges. In this recipe, slices of fresh orange are tossed with red onion, blue cheese, slivered almonds and fresh spinach leaves, then coated in a fresh orange juice vinaigrette for an extra layer of Florida orange flavor.
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Georgia: Grilled Peach Couscous Salad
Georgia’s official nickname is the Peach State, so of course peaches would need to make an appearance in this picnic salad. Grilling peaches caramelizes their natural sugars, giving them an intense depth of flavor that make this couscous salad unforgettable.
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Hawaii: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Along with Spam, coconut and pineapples, macaroni salad is undoubtably one of Hawaii’s most famous foods. It’s great served alongside other Hawaiian delicacies like Huli Huli chicken and char siu pork, but it’s a great picnic salad for any party or potluck no matter what else is on the menu.
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Idaho: Golden Apple Potato Salad
Officially Idaho’s nickname is the Gem State, but when most people think of Idaho, they don’t think of gems—they think potatoes! Idaho farms produce more potatoes than any other state in the nation, harvesting over 13 billion pounds of potatoes every year. They also grow a lot of apples, so this apple potato salad is quite fitting.
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Illinois: Popcorn Salad
Did you know that the Prairie State is a top grower of popcorn? It’s an important part of Illinois’ agricultural production, and as this classic Midwestern potluck salad proves, it can be so much more than a snack food.
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Indiana: Bacon Macaroni Salad
This pleasing pasta salad by way of the Hoosier State is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser!
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Iowa: Fresh Corn Salad
The Hawkeye State is famous for its sprawling golden corn fields, and this fresh corn salad makes good use of Iowa’s most famous crop. In this Midwestern salad, fresh shucked sweet corn is tossed with chopped onions, peppers and tomatoes, then tossed in a slightly sweet cider vinegar dressing with bright fresh parsley.
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Kansas: Kansas Cucumber Salad
The Sunflower State is famous for its stick-to-your-ribs barbecue, and a cool, refreshing cucumber salad is a perfect side to serve with it. Pair this Miracle Whip-dressed salad with Kansas City-style ribs, or grilled chicken slathered with sweet and sticky K.C. barbecue sauce.
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Kentucky: Blackberry Balsamic Spinach Salad
The Bluegrass State named the blackberry its official fruit in 2004, and this simple picnic salad is abundant with them, tossing two whole cups of sweet fresh blackberries with tangy cherry tomatoes, salty feta cheese, sharp scallions, crunchy almonds and baby spinach in balsamic vinaigrette.
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Louisiana: Spicy Cajun Potato Salad
If a potato salad is from Cajun country, you know it’s got to be spicy! This potato salad recipe from Sibley, Louisiana livens up its dressing of mayonnaise, relish and mustard with a bold kick of Cajun seasoning, which you should add to taste depending on your tolerance for heat. Start with a light sprinkle if you’re sensitive to spice; add more than the recipe calls for if you like things hot and spicy!
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Try these cold picnic foods that don’t require any heating before serving.
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Maine: Spinach Blueberry Salad
Outside of lobster, wild blueberries are arguably the most famous foodie export from the Pine Tree State. This recipe calls for fresh blueberries, but if you can’t pick blueberries, then use frozen wild Maine blueberries instead, which are readily available in most supermarkets.
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Maryland: Spicy Crab Salad
One can’t help but think of crab as the Old Line State’s most obvious official state food… and it is! For a true taste of Maryland, use fresh lump crabmeat picked from blue crabs. (Chesapeake blue crabs if you can!) If that’s not possible, canned, frozen or even imitation crab will work just as well.
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Michigan: Michigan Cherry Salad
The Great Lakes State doesn’t have an official state food, but if you ask any native Michigander what should be in the running, more than a few will mention utterly irresistible fresh Michigan cherries. This recipe doubles down on cherry flavor by using a combination of dried cherries and cherry preserves, but if you’ve got gorgeous fresh cherries on hand, feel free to use them!
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Minnesota: Northwoods Wild Rice Salad
Wild rice is an important crop in the North Star State. It adds a spectacular, slightly nutty flavor to this salad, which is inspired by a vintage German slaw that’s popular at church suppers.
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Mississippi: Layered Cornbread Salad
Think of this salad like a savory trifle: layers of crumbled cornbread alternated with chopped veggies, crumbled bacon and pinto beans, all drizzled with a simple two-ingredient dressing. This recipe calls for boxed cornbread mix, but to go the extra mile, use homemade cornbread instead.
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Missouri: Barbecue Pork Cobb Salad
The Show-Me State is home to not one but two cities synonymous with barbecue: St. Louis and Kansas City. You don’t need to know how to smoke meat the Missouri way to make this barbecue pork Cobb salad, though—all you need is a slow cooker to make a pork loin that’s fall-apart tender and a spectacular barbecue sauce to dress it.
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Montana: Strawberry-Blue Cheese Steak Salad
Montana is one of America’s biggest producers of beef, and the complementary flavors in this salad—like sweet strawberries, sharp red onion and blue cheese—do a fantastic job of making red meat shine.
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Nebraska: Barley Corn Salad
Because it’s also known as the Cornhusker State, corn would be a logical choice as Nebraska’s state vegetable. While Nebraskans haven’t made it official, they should! And while they’re at it, maybe they should name this tasty mix of barley and corn their official state salad, too.
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Nevada: Shrimp Avocado Salad
This salad can be served as a cool and satisfying dinner or lunch. The delicious taste and smooth texture of avocados mixed with the crisp shrimp salad is heavenly. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
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New Hampshire: Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Orange Dressing
The official fruit of the Granite State is the pumpkin, an item many people don’t even realize is a fruit! Fresh pumpkins are available all year round, but if you have trouble finding them outside of autumn, make this salad using fresh cubed butternut or frozen winter squash instead.
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New Jersey: Potluck Antipasto Pasta Salad
New Jersey is home to some of the greatest Italian-American delis in the nation, and you’ll find a version of this picnic pasta salad—full of cured meats, cheese, olives, tomatoes and more—at just about all of them.
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New Mexico: Santa Fe Salad
This traditional Southwestern salad is full of ingredients like green chiles and pinto beans. Serve alongside other recipes from New Mexico, like grilled jalapeno-lime chicken.
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New York: Crunchy Waldorf Salad
Waldorf salad gets its name from the place where it was invented: the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was created by the hotel’s maître d’ for a charity ball in 1896; originally made with apples, celery and mayonnaise, our version jazzes up this classic with raisins, walnuts and tart lemon juice.
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North Dakota: Macaroni Coleslaw
What do you do when you’re in the mood for macaroni salad, but craving slaw, too? You make macaroni coleslaw, of course! This recipe from the Peace Garden State brings the best of both worlds to any picnic, potluck or summer shindig.
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Ohio: Cherry Tomato Salad
Tomatoes go gangbusters in Ohio—so much so that they’re the Buckeye State’s official fruit. (Yes, tomatoes are a fruit!) This ultra-flavorful recipe is a one-bowl-wonder: simply add all your ingredients, give it a stir and refrigerate overnight to let the magic happen.
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Oklahoma: Vibrant Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Black-eyed peas are one of the official foods of the Sooner State, and this vibrant picnic salad does a spectacular job of letting them shine. If you somehow end up with leftovers, get excited: this is a salad that gets better and better as it sits in the fridge.
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Oregon: Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia Salad
Most of America’s pears come from Oregon, so it’s the chosen state fruit. The Beaver State is also well known for fresh berries, and this salad has them both, tossing them in a creamy lime dressing.
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Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Dutch Cucumber Salad
The Pennsylvania Dutch are legendary for their potlucks, and this easy-to-make cucumber salad is absolutely perfect for sharing. To bring even more Pennsylvania to your picnic, check out these recipes for Pennsylvania Dutch coleslaw, tangy bacon green beans and chocolate shoofly pie.
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Rhode Island: Calamari Salad
Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state, but it manages to have over 400 miles of coastline—making it absolute heaven for seafood lovers! This fresh calamari salad also features briny anchovies, and is a great representation of the Ocean State’s large Italian-American community.
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South Carolina: Brown and Wild Rice Salad
South Carolina’s low country is famous for its wild rice which, technically, isn’t actually rice! In fact, it’s not even related to rice; it’s harvested from a tall grass that grows along the banks of waterways, and unlike nearly all the other grains we eat, wild rice is native to North America.
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South Dakota: Mom's Stupendous Potato Salad
The eastern part of South Dakota has become known for producing some of the best potatoes in all of America. Waxy red potatoes are the star of this picnic salad; less starchy than Russets, red potatoes are firmer and hold their shape when cooked, creating a hearty potato salad that eats like a full-blown meal. Bring it to a picnic along with South Dakota Frito Treats.
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Texas: Tex-Mex Potato Salad
The Lone Star State is legendary for its Tex-Mex cuisine. This potato salad mixes red potatoes with sweet corn, avocado, salsa and pickled jalapeno slices for a potluck dish that’ll disappear fast.
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Utah: Special Sesame Chicken Salad
This tantalizing salad is from a reader in Utah, a state where they know a thing or two about potlucks. With its delicious mix of crunchy peanuts, tangy dried cranberries and mandarin oranges, this colorful Asian chicken salad is a definite crowd-pleaser. Water chestnuts and a teriyaki dressing give this main dish a touch of Asian-inspired flavor.
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Vermont: Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Maple Vinaigrette
If there’s one food that absolutely screams Vermont, it’s maple syrup. The Green Mountain State produces over 2 million gallons every year—more than 50% of the country’s maple syrup! This picnic salad makes the best of it, whisking it into a tangy apple cider vinaigrette that gets tossed with apples, cranberries, pecans, blue cheese and, of course, sweet potatoes.
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BLAIR LONERGAN FOR TASTE OF HOME
Virginia: Southern Ham Salad
The Old Dominion State is happy to be known for its cured country ham—the perfect addition to a breakfast plate full of eggs, biscuits and gravy and, yes, salad. With salty, smoky ham, celery, green onion and toasted nuts in a creamy mayonnaise dressing, this salad is delicious on sandwiches, crackers or lettuce.
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Washington: Northwest Salmon Salad
This brings multiple ingredients native to the Pacific Northwest—fresh salmon, blueberries and hazelnuts—into one irresistible recipe. If you don’t have a picnic or potluck to make this salad for, the salmon and sour cream dressing are scrumptious in a sandwich.
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West Virginia is famous for its natural beauty; for your next picnic in the woods, bring this salad to eat while you enjoy the view. Potato and egg salads are picnic faves, and both are magnificent when they’re mixed with lots of fresh dill. This recipe combines the best of both worlds to make the ultimate picnic salad for your next hike.
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Wisconsin: Hearty Six-Layer Salad
Any recipe that’s going to represent the great state of Wisconsin needs to be loaded with cheese, and this picnic salad does just that! Sure, there are vegetables, like peas, lettuce and parsley, but the real star of the show is a whole cup of shredded cheese—preferably Wisconsin cheese.
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Wyoming: Spicy Beef Salad
Wyoming is cowboy country—a great expanse of the Wild West well known for raising cattle. Any picnic salad from the Cowboy State needs to feature beef; in this one, thinly sliced sirloin is stir-fried and tossed with Asian-inspired flavors, like garlic, ginger and soy sauce.
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Originally Published: August 12, 2020
Author
Allison T.S. Robicelli
Formerly the chef-owner of Robicelli’s Bakery, Allison is a James Beard-nominated food writer. At Taste of Home, she tests kitchen tools with the hands-on insight she gained from her time as a professional chef. Her cookbook “Robicelli’s: A Love Story, With Cupcakes” was published in 2013 and appeared on several Best Cookbooks of the Year l...
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