12 Picnic Sandwich Recipes to Enjoy Outdoors

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated May 12, 2020
Bryan Gardner
They're easy to transport, easy to make, and easy to love.
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Bryan Gardner

Once the warm weather hits, get ready to head outside for a 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. For the main course, bring sandwiches. All of the picnic sandwich recipes here can either be made well in advance or put together just before you head out the door—either way, they won't take much time to prepare.

Our most kid-friendly option is Triple Decker PB & J Tea Sandwiches. Spread peanut butter and your favorite kind of fruit jelly between two different layers and slice into individual portions. It's an upgrade on the classic that feels just right for this summer occasion.

For the adults, make a Muffaletta. It has multiple layers of Italian cured meats and cheeses layered in a round loaf. This classic New Orleans sandwich should be prepared the day before your picnic to allow time for the flavors to mingle; after everything is layered between the bread, wrap it in plastic, place in the refrigerator, and cover with heavy cans or a cast-iron skillet in order to compress the ingredients for a more manageable sandwich.

We also have two recipes for chicken club sandwiches that are just right for your picnic—one features breaded chicken cutlets and the other is made with roasted chicken. Both include bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise for a simple but satisfying picnic lunch.

Before your next picnic outing, prepare any of these sandwich recipes and get ready to enjoy a fantastic lunch.

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Muffaletta

Bryan Gardner
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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

Justin Walker
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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

Kristine Foley
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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

Marcus Nilsson
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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

Bryan Gardner
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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

Bryan Gardner
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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

Kristine Foley
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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

Bryan Gardner
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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

David M Russell
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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

Brian Doben
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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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