Aimee HerringWith the unofficial start to summer is just around the corner, parks and open green lawns are packed on weekends with blankets full of picnic-goers, happy to be eating in the sunshine and enjoying the milder May temperatures. Everybody loves a picnic -- but who wants to spend hours preparing your day's meals and figuring out how to package them when you really just want to get going and enjoy the outdoors?

We've compiled a menu of easy picnic recipes that can all be made in 40 minutes or less -- and most in under 20 minutes -- so you can get out the door more quickly. The recipes we've gathered here include a hummus and bean dip that are tastier than the straight-from-the-jar stuff, a better-for-you sesame noodle salad, deviled eggs that are extra spicy (seen above) and bite-sized sandwiches that kids (and let's be serious -- adults, too) will love. You'll recognize some of the recipe contributors names -- they come from star chefs like Curtis Stone, Gail Simmons and Marcus Samuelsson.

Click on the Gallery tab above to get the recipes.

Related Video

Want to make the deviled eggs pictured above? Gail Simmons makes them spicy with a little sriracha sauce.


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Quick Picnic Recipes

Deviled eggs are a picnic favorite - but Gail Simmons gives hers extra bite and an Asian flavor with sriracha hot sauce, toasted sesame oil and rice wine vinegar.
Get the Spicy Deviled Eggs recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

In just five minutes, prepare this bean dip with only four ingredients: salsa, cilantro, scallions and canned refried beans. Bring along a bag of your favorite tortilla chips.
Get the Zesty Bean Dip and Chips recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

Hummus can be very plain or punched up with lots of herbs and spices, such as in chef Curtis Stone's recipe, which contains fragrant ingredients such as shallot, cumin, cilantro and basil.
Get the Chickpea Hummus recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

Chef Marcus Samuelsson makes this "lemonade" using limes instead of lemons, and gives the frozen beverage a fizzy kick with ginger ale and mineral water.
Get the Lime Lemonade recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

A base of whole-wheat spaghetti makes this popular Asian salad healthier than one made with plain white noodles, and with a rich dressing of soy sauce, sesame oil, canola oil and rice-wine vinegar, you'll never know the difference.
Get Elise's Sesame Noodles recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

Black and white beans are loaded with protein, and when combined with peppers, onions, corn, and a dressing of vegetable juice, vegetable oil and garlic powder, make a healthy, tasty salad.
Get the Black and White Bean Salad recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

Serve a salad that surprises with an interesting combination of textures, such as chef Curtis Stone's recipe, which contains orzo pasta, feta cheese and pine nuts.
Get the Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Basil Vinaigrette

Quick Picnic Recipes

Gino Campagna knows how to prepare foods that kids love to eat (and make), like these tea sandwiches cut into bite-sized, fun shapes.
Get the Ham and Cheese Tea Sandwiches recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

This perennial favorite calls for precooked chicken, so it can be ready to pack and go in less than 10 minutes.
Get the Caesar Chicken Salad Sandwiches recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes

Adding freshly squeezed lime juice to peeled and cut seasonal fruit helps keep the mixture from browning and gives this salad a zesty flavor.
Get the Latino Style Fruit Salad recipe

Quick Picnic Recipes