There is something so effortlessly joyful about a French picnic. A wicker basket packed with simple, delicious dishes, a checkered blanket spread beneath the olive trees, and a glass of chilled rosé in hand — la belle vie! In the South of France, picnics are as much about savoring the moment as they are about the food. Long summer afternoons stretch lazily into evening, with conversation, laughter, and beautiful bites shared under the sun-dappled sky.
Inspired by my summers on the French Riviera and weekends spent picnicking along the sparkling shores of the Côte d’Azur, I’ve gathered my favorite French picnic recipes to help you recreate that magic wherever you are. From crisp, colorful salads and flaky savory tarts to tender grilled meats and sweet treats to finish, these dishes are made for leisurely dining en plein air. Best of all, they’re easy to prepare ahead and transport, so you can spend more time enjoying the day.
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Whether you’re picnicking in a city park, on the beach, or in your own backyard, this round-up will inspire you to pack a basket full of French flavors and embrace the art of joie de vivre. Let’s bring a little Riviera flair to your next picnic!Never miss a recipe: Sign Up for Le Chef's Wife Newslette
French Picnic Essentials: How to Pack for a Provençal-Style Picnic
There’s nothing quite like a French picnic—the soft rustle of a linen blanket under the shade of a tree, a glass of rosé in hand, and simple, flavorful dishes that celebrate the season. I like to begin with my Quick & Easy French Baguette, a few wedges of cheese, fresh fruit, and a jar of homemade Cherry Compote for a sweet finish. Cloth napkins, real plates, and a bouquet of lavender or wildflowers turn even the simplest outing into a Provençal moment.
15+ French Picnic Recipes to Inspire Your Outdoor Feast
Whether you're spreading out a blanket on the beach or dining in your backyard, these picnic-ready recipes are elegant, transportable, and full of flavor.
Refreshing Salads and Light Starters for Your Picnic Basket
- Peach Caprese Salad: A bright, summery salad with juicy peaches, creamy burrata, and fragrant basil.
- La Salade Tropézienne – Shrimp, Peach & Goat Cheese Salad: A light, show-stopping salad with grilled peaches, cucumber, and rosé vinaigrette.
Savory Tarts, Sandwiches & Breads to Savor Outdoors
- Quick & Easy French Baguette: Fresh-baked, chewy, and perfect for pairing with cheeses or pâté.
- Jambon Beurre Sandwich: Simply fill a baguette sliced lengthwise with butter and sliced ham. You can also add emmental cheese for a jambon fromage.
- Quiche Lorraine - A quiche travels really well, tastes delicious at room temperature and is oh so French.
Sweet Treats to Finish Your Picnic in Style
- Cherry Compote: Bright, luscious cherries cooked gently and perfect spooned over yogurt or cake.
- French Crêpes: Soft, buttery crêpes that can be rolled with jam or Nutella for a sweet picnic dessert.
French Riviera Picnic Tips: How to Set the Scene
- Bring a cozy blanket and cloth napkins for that effortlessly elegant feel.
- Use real plates, cutlery, and glassware to make even a park bench feel like a bistro.
- A portable speaker for soft French music, a bouquet of lavender, and a chilled bottle of rosé can instantly transport you to the Riviera.
More French Summer Recipes You’ll Love
French Picnic FAQs
A fresh baguette, cheeses, seasonal fruits, a colorful salad, a sweet treat, and rosé.
Salads like Peach Caprese or Taboulé, savory tarts or breads, cherry compote, and buttery crêpes.
All of these recipes are on lechefswife.com or saved on my Pinterest board for easy summer entertaining.
Bon pique-nique!
French Picnic Recipes
Grilled Peach & Shrimp Salad
Do you want to learn to make a salad that looks, and tastes like it comes from a Michelin starred restaurant in the South of France? Let's do it! Here is a step by step guide to making La Salade Tropezienne - a fancy Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette inspired by Saint-Tropez.
How to make a French Charcuterie Board
Everything you need to know about making a French Charcuterie Board. Whether it is for date night, a sit down dinner party, a potluck or an apéro dinatoire (also known as a cocktail dinatoire or heavy cocktail), here are some simple tips to making a perfect charcuterie board. The French call it a "planche de
Le Grand Aïoli, made simple
Le Grand Aïoli. This classic dish is everything I love about summer dining in the South of France. A sophisticated take on a dipping platter with summer vegetables, seafood and a delicious homemade garlicky mayonnaise. Each individual ingredient shines beautifully and the presentation is artful yet casual. Perfect for a luxurious picnic or a long lunch outdoors accompanied by chilled glasses of Provençal Rosé.
Quick Easy French Baguettes (Baking Baguettes for Beginners)
Quick, easy French baguette recipe. Deliciously simple yet crusty and crackly, homemade French Baguettes. Follow this recipe for easy French Baguettes even first time bakers can make and with only a couple hours.
Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad
A fresh, crunchy and satisfying summer salad with just 2 ingredients - raw fennel and tomatoes! The perfect side to serve with grilled meat or on its own as a light summer salad.
French Salade Niçoise Recipe
Here is an authentic, tasty French Salade Niçoise recipe that you will love! One of my all-time favorite salads that is full of protein (eggs, tuna and possibly sardines) and with lots of good veggies butter lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes fava beans, radishes and basil. It is simple to make yet impressive to serve and is perfect for picnics or long lunches in the sun.. Serve with a fresh baked baguette and a glass of Rosé for the perfect French Riviera lunch.
How to make a French Cheese board
This post includes everything you need to make a perfect French Cheese board. With a focus on quality, not quantity, a French board is simple to make with a few tips! 3 well chosen cheeses, a few slices of apple and some dried fruits, a little bowl of honey and perhaps some fig jam et
Authentic Olive Tapenade
Authentic Provençal Olive Tapenade is a delicious spread of olives, garlic, capers and anchovies, that is served in the South of France.
Fig and Prosciutto Tartine
This fig and prosciutto tartine recipe is perfect for a special light lunch or an elevated appetizer. The saltiness of the prosciutto, the decadence of the fresh figs and the creaminess of the goat cheese over grilled sourdough baguette is a memorable combination. Add a drizzle of honey and few fresh basil leaves and each
Lemon Thyme French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
This Lemon and Thyme French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti au thym et citron) with Roasted Garlic is one of our family's favorite dishes. The meat is juicy and tender with the delicate perfume from the lemons, garlic and thyme. The skin is crispy and flavorful. Simply exquisite as well as super easy to make!
La Salade Mentonnaise - a delicious Fennel, Orange and Artichoke Salad with Pine Nuts
La Salade Mentonnaise is a delicious fennel, orange and artichoke salad with pine nuts and a citrus vinaigrette. Perfect with grilled fish.
The best Tomatoes Provençale Recipe
This Tomatoes Provençale recipe is incredible. Melt in your mouth, velvety tomatoes with a vibrant pesto, made from scratch, and vegan too!
Tomato Burrata Salad with Basil and Orange Zest
A fresh twist on a familiar favorite - this Tomato Burrata Salad recipe with basil and orange zest is beautiful to serve and has a delicious, decadent flavor from the creamy burrata and the orange zest that will surprise and delight.
Peach Caprese Salad
Fresh Peaches take the classic caprese salad to the next level! Sweet peaches, juicy tomatoes, creamy burrata and tangy basil drizzled with olive oil. The taste of summer.
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad Recipe
This salad is a meal in a bowl and has all the textures and tastes I crave in a perfect summer dish. A rich meatiness from the roasted plums and crunch from the toasted almonds and pine nuts. A tangy zing from the lemon thyme and lime zest. Indulgent creaminess from the fresh goat cheese and that little touch of “oh la la” from the Prosecco & honey citrus vinaigrette.
Taboulé: Couscous Salad
This Taboulé, or Cous Cous Salad is super simple to make, is full of healthy vegetables and stores very well in the fridge. The perfect side for a summer BBQ that you can continue eating all week long as a hearty and satisfying meal in a bowl.
Merguez Sandwich
Merguez sandwich is the French Riviera equivalent of the American Hot Dog. You will find them at every BBQ and picnic from May to September. The spicy, juiciness of the Lamb Merguez sausage hot off the grill, the sweet smokiness of a freshly made Piperade sauce and the crunch of a toasted baguette. A perfect bite if you ask me! Truly an awesome sandwich.
Garlic Aioli Sauce
This homemade Garlic Aioli recipe is nothing like like the store-bought version. The creamy texture is thick and unctuous, and the garlic flavor is sweet and aromatic. This is not your average garlic mayo!
Just a spoonful of this decadent, creamy, aromatic sauce can elevate even the most humble plate of roasted vegetables, turn a sandwich into something utterly decadent, or become the star of an apéro at home.
ABOUT LE CHEF'S WIFE
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (7 and 4) and I work full time in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
Look inside our Kitchen with this recent Washington Post Article. We were recently featured on the TODAY SHOW for our recipes of French Onion Soup Gratinée and Moelleux au Chocolat. You can watch our full segment here:
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