Easy 3-Day Meal Plan with Picnic-Perfect Recipes (MM#7)

Picnic season is here, and that means it’s time for meals that are easy to prep, taste great cold, and can travel anywhere from the backyard to the ball field. This simple 3-night meal plan is packed with family-friendly dinners that don’t require reheating and won’t break your budget.

Whether you’re heading to a local park, packing dinner for a busy evening, or just want to skip the stove, these make-ahead picnic meals are fresh, filling, and perfect for summer nights.

As a bonus, we were able to get all the items at Walmart for under #30. We do assume you have some basic pantry items like mayo, white sugar, oil, and favorite seasonings.

Grocery Items Needed for the Mini Menu

If you want to see the full shopping list on Walmart in your area, all you have to do is click my Walmart Grocery list and change the zip code to your area. *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*

**** Please note, that every once in a while, an item that I pick turns out to be regional. This means that it may be a much higher price in some areas. Always double check the list and if you see an item that is much higher than normal, just adjust as needed.

Roast Beef Sandwiches with Coleslaw

The horseradish mayo adds a flavorful kick, and the coleslaw brings a creamy crunch that balances the richness of the beef. Don’t have horseradish? Swap it with spicy mustard or leave it out for a kid-friendly version. The coleslaw can be made ahead of time, and the sandwiches quickly assembled in time for dinner!

Greek Orzo Salad with Rotisserie Chicken

This pasta salad travels like a champ and tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge. It’s light, flavorful, and packed with protein and veggies, making it a complete meal in one bowl. Make it the night before your picnic and store in an airtight container. Don’t have feta? Crumbled goat cheese or shredded mozzarella works too. It’s also a great way to use up leftover chicken from another meal.

Asian Chicken Salad

Crunchy, cool, and full of flavor, this salad is perfect for a warm weather picnic. The romaine and cabbage base stays crisp even after dressing, especially if you toss it just before serving. Prep ahead by shredding the chicken, slice the veggies, drain the mandarins, then store them in separate containers or layer in a large bowl (dressing on the bottom, lettuce on top). You can skip the oranges if you like and replace them with pineapple or dried fruits like cranberry for variety.

Possible Variations

This week we are using a rotisserie chicken for convenience, but you can easily bake or air fry chicken breasts ahead of time to use for these dishes. Personally, I am trying to get in the habit of freezing already cooked meats like chicken so they can easily be defrosted quickly for meals just like this!

If you are not a fan of roast beef, you can easily swap this out for deli ham slices or even roasted turkey slices! You may be able to find a better deal on a creamy horseradish sauce instead of prepared horseradish, so keep an eye out!

Free Printable List & Recipes

Here is a 1-page cheat sheet that includes the grocery list as well as all the recipes you need to make this budget mini menu work!

Don’t forget to check out our full week menus, as well as join our email newsletter for more fun and affordable meal ideas!