40 Recipes for a Perfect Brunch Picnic (2024)

Home Recipes Meal Types Brunch

Updated: Sep. 28, 2023

What could be better than a picnic brunch? These dishes are portable, delicious and perfect for an outdoor morning meal.

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Italian Brunch Torte

We always serve this impressive layered breakfast bake with a salad of mixed greens and tomato wedges. It is one of our most requested dishes and can be served warm or cold. —Danny Diamond, Farmington Hills, Michigan

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Pear-Berry Breakfast Tarts

When my kids were small, I could never get pancakes on the table while they were all still hot. Then I got the idea for these breakfast tarts. They're a good and simple recipe for any busy family. —Joan Elbourn, Gardner, Massachusetts

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Egg Biscuit Breakfast Casserole

Determined to come up with a brunch dish that didn’t keep me in the kitchen all morning, I created this biscuit breakfast casserole made with everyone’s favorite ingredients. Preparation is minimal, and then it goes right into the oven, so you can spend more time with the ones you love. Simply serve with a fruit salad for a hearty weekend breakfast guests will love. —Jenny Flake, Gilbert, Arizona

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Sunny-Side-Up Herbed Tart

Feel free to be creative with this versatile egg tart. Try Canadian bacon or ham as the meat ingredient, and add toppings such as thyme, chopped spinach or goat cheese. —Diana Neves, Lafayette, California

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Blueberry Turnovers

While you can make them a little in advance, these blueberry turnovers are best served the day they’re made. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Muffuletta Frittata

I’m a sucker for Italian sub sandwiches and olives. I wanted those flavors but in a low-carb dish, so I created this frittata. Use fresh spinach in place of the arugula if you don’t love arugula’s peppery flavor as I do. —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky

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Quick Crunchy Apple Salad

Pair crunchy toppings with smooth vanilla in this apple salad with yogurt recipe. You'll love this creative combination! —Kathy Armstrong, Post Falls, Idaho

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Sausage Bacon Bites

These tasty morsels are perfect with almost any egg dish or as finger foods party guests can just pick up and pop into their mouths. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnuts

Guests will have a touch of nostalgia when they bite into one of these old-fashioned doughnuts. Accents of nutmeg and cinnamon, along with a subtle burst of lemon, make them hard to resist. —June Jones, Harveyville, Kansas

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Breakfast Parfaits

The combination of pineapple, raspberries and banana in these yogurt treats makes a bright and cheerful morning breakfast. —Adell Meyer, Madison, Wisconsin

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My husband grew up in Southern California and loves chorizo. We use the spicy sausage in these chorizo and egg wraps that our children call Daddy’s Eggs. —April Nissen, Yankton, South Dakota

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Orange-Apricot Mimosa Punch

We make this punch for our annual Christmas brunch, and everyone loves it! I usually triple this recipe for a bigger crowd and garnish the punch with an orange-tangerine ice ring made several days ahead of time. —Kathy McKay, Acworth, Georgia

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Apple Dumpling Pull-Apart Bread

I converted a basic sweet dough into this incredible apple-filled pull-apart loaf. The results are anything but basic. It takes time but I guarantee it's worth it. Using both sauces is twice as tasty. —Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado

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Mini Sausage Quiches

These bite-sized quiches are loaded with sausage and cheese—and all nestled into easy crescent roll dough. Serve the cute muffinettes at any brunch or potluck gathering. —Jan Mead, Milford, Connecticut

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Blueberry Streusel Coffee Cake

This blueberry coffee cake smells wonderful as it bakes and tastes even better. The moist cake filled with juicy berries and crunchy pecans is a family favorite. It never lasts long at our house. —Lori Snedden, Sherman, Texas

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Strawberry-Lime Quinoa Parfaits

When I serve quinoa with strawberries and Key lime pie yogurt, friends scrape the bottom of the parfait glass to get every delectable bite. —Bev Jones, Brunswick, Missouri

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Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Scones

Chocolate, hazelnuts and the tangy taste of buttermilk—these delicious scones are easy to make. They come together fast. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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Hash Brown Quiche Cups

Quiche cups are my showstopper potluck dish. Hash browns and Asiago cheese make up the crusts. Eggs, spinach and bacon do the rest. —Nicole Stone, Gilbertville, Iowa

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Double Cranberry Banana Bread

We love quick breads, and I've found that they freeze nicely if properly wrapped. This is a scrumptious recipe to make before the holidays and freeze for last-minute guests or gifts. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Apple-Sage Sausage Patties

Apple and sausage naturally go together. Add sage, and you’ve got some standout patties. They’re freezer friendly, so I make them ahead and grab when needed. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia

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Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

These sandwiches contain a hearty combo of eggs, Canadian bacon and cheese will keep you fueled through lunchtime. —Christine Rukavena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Richard’s Breakfast Bars

My chewy fiber bars with a complex taste are extremely addictive. For clean slices, spray a pizza cutter with cooking spray before cutting. —Richard Cole, Richmond, Texas

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Easy Biscuits

Whip up this buttery, easy biscuit recipe to serve with breakfast or dinner. The dough is very simple to work with, so there's no need to roll with a rolling pin; just pat to the right thickness. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Layered Fresh Fruit Salad

People always pass on compliments when I take this salad to covered-dish suppers. It's nice on a hot day...with a winter meal...or as a dessert! We live on a small farm where my garden gives me lots of possibilities for fresh food. —Page Alexander, Baldwin City, Kansas

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Refrigerated crescent roll dough make these savory breakfast pockets a snap to prepare. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Strawberry Apple Parfait

I know I can always feel good about eating this healthy parfait for dessert! I enjoy the extra kick of cinnamon stirred in with the vanilla yogurt before layering. —Jennifer Warner, Huntertown, Indiana

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Slow-Cooker Breakfast Burritos

Prep these tasty, hearty burritos the night before for a quick breakfast in the morning or let them cook while you are away on a weekend afternoon for an easy supper. —Anna Miller, Churdan, Iowa

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Coastal Carolina Muffin-Tin Frittatas

Incorporating the flavors of a low country South Carolina crab boil, these tasty frittatas are easy to make and fun to eat. If you have leftover cooked potatoes (roasted or boiled), try dicing them and substituting them for the refrigerated shredded potatoes in this recipe. —Shannon Kohn, Summerville, South Carolina

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Maple Morning Granola

Here, salty and sweet ingredients combine for an easy, wholesome breakfast or snack. Hosting a kids holiday party? Pack the granola into treat bags and present them as take-home favors. —Elizabeth Godecke, Chicago, Illinois

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Air-Fryer Puff Pastry Danishes

These simple jam-filled pastries are perfect for a holiday brunch spread. They were my dad's favorite, so the recipe will always be close to my heart. —Chellie Helmke, Jackson Center, Ohio

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Southern Brunch Pastry Puff

My family just about jumps out of bed when the smell of eggs, sausage and buttery pastry hits their noses. This recipe is morning magic. —Misty M. Leddick, Chester, South Carolina

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Overnight Maple Oatmeal

I tasted muesli on a trip to Switzerland, and when I came home, I made it my way. Keep things interesting (and avoid midmorning munchies) by adding different fruits and nuts every day. —Maddie Kirk, Springfield, Pennsylvania

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Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

I like to try different fun fillings in these soft rolls, and each one is packed with cinnamon flavor. They are definitely worth the overnight wait. —Chris O'Connell, San Antonio, Texas

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Sausage-Egg Burritos

My husband and I try to eat healthy, but finding new meals for breakfast is a challenge. By adding tomatoes, spinach and garlic to traditional eggs and egg whites, we can have a dish that is both light and satisfying. —Wendy G. Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan.

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Coffee Lover's Coffee Cake

I had this cake at a friend's brunch and she graciously shared the recipe. Now people always request it from me, too. It's so tasty, it's always a hit. —Gale Lalmond, Deering, New Hampshire

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Breakfast Egg Muffins

After enjoying scrambled egg muffins at a local restaurant, I came up with this breakfast egg muffins recipe that my husband likes even better. They're pretty, hearty and fun to serve, too. —Cathy Larkins, Marshfield, Missouri

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Breakfast Banana Splits

I can’t brag enough about this recipe. It’s elegant enough for a formal brunch, yet simple and nutritious. With different fruits and cereals, there are endless potential variations. —Renee Lloyd, Pearl, Mississippi

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Bacon Swiss Squares

Not only does this savory breakfast pizza come together easily, but it's also a cinch to double the ingredients when I'm hosting a large event. Biscuit mix makes it convenient, and the combination of eggs, bacon and Swiss cheese keeps guests coming back for more. —Agarita Vaughan, Fairbury, Illinois

Originally Published: July 02, 2020