22 Retro ’70s Picnic Foods We Totally Loved

Cue the vinyl and unfurl that checkered blanket, because these ’70s picnic classics are ready for a comeback. You remember the colors, the quirky textures, and the groovy flavors that somehow tasted like sunshine.

This list taps straight into nostalgia while giving you simple inspiration you can actually pack today. Get comfy, because you are about to crave a retro spread that feels familiar and fun.

1. Deviled Eggs With Paprika

Deviled eggs ruled every ’70s picnic, and you can taste why with that creamy, tangy bite. The filling is smooth, mustardy, and just salty enough, capped with a smoky paprika halo.

Set them on a retro platter and watch hands reach in fast.

You can add relish for sweetness or a dash of hot sauce for heat. They travel well if you nestle them tight in a covered tray.

Make a double batch, because these vanish before the lemonade even sweats.

2. Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad is sunshine in a bowl, fluffy and sweet with marshmallows and citrus. You get juicy mandarin oranges, pineapple, and coconut all cozy in creamy dressing.

It is dessert disguised as salad, which is a very ’70s mood.

Stir it cold and let it chill so the flavors meld. Add toasted pecans if you like a little crunch.

It sits happily on the picnic table right beside the fried chicken, winking at anyone who loves a nostalgic scoop.

3. Seven-Layer Salad

Seven-layer salad turned heads with those colorful stripes in a clear bowl. Crisp lettuce, peas, red onion, bacon, cheddar, and tomatoes stack up under a creamy dressing lid.

It looks like a party centerpiece and tastes like one too.

Layering keeps everything crunchy until you toss at the picnic. The sweet peas and smoky bacon balance beautifully.

Scoop big spoonfuls and let the dressing drip down, because this salad was made for passing around a blanket.

4. Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

Pimento cheese brought bold color and bigger flavor to picnic baskets everywhere. Sharp cheddar, jarred pimentos, and a whisper of mayo create a spread that hugs soft bread.

The result is creamy, tangy, and totally snackable.

Cut the sandwiches into neat triangles and tuck them beside chips. You can add a little hot sauce or grated onion for kick.

Wrap tightly so they stay cool, then watch them disappear while you pour sweet tea and pass the napkins.

5. Watergate Salad

Watergate salad is that pastel green fluff everyone pretended was a salad. Pistachio pudding, pineapple, marshmallows, and nuts combine into a sweet, airy scoop.

It is playful, chilled, and undeniably retro.

Serve it in a scalloped bowl with a cherry on top if you are going full throwback. The texture is cloudlike with little surprises in every bite.

Take one spoonful and you are right back at a backyard table with lawn chairs and laughter.

6. Cold Fried Chicken

Cold fried chicken packed a crunch that still sings under summer skies. The seasoned crust clings to juicy meat, somehow even better the next day.

It travels like a champ and makes every picnic feel complete.

Wrap pieces in wax paper and stack them in a basket. A little hot sauce packet on the side never hurts.

When you bite in, the crackle brings back lawn games, transistor radios, and that easygoing ’70s picnic rhythm.

7. Jell-O Mold Salad

Nothing says ’70s like a wobbling Jell-O mold sparkling in the sun. Sliced peaches and berries float inside like time capsules.

It is whimsical and strangely elegant on a gingham blanket.

Use a ring mold for drama and unmold with a quick warm-water dip. Serve slices cold with whipped cream if you want extra nostalgia.

That jiggle draws kids and grownups alike, ready to taste a sweet, chilled memory.

8. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad was the dependable friend of every blanket spread. Elbow pasta soaks up creamy dressing dotted with celery, onion, and pickles.

It is cool, a little tangy, and perfectly scoopable alongside everything else.

Make it the night before so flavors develop. A pinch of paprika on top looks delightfully old school.

Serve with a big spoon and let people pile it next to their chicken, because it plays nicely with every classic on the table.

9. Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad anchored the ’70s picnic scene with comfort in every forkful. Tender potatoes, chopped eggs, celery, and pickles swim in a mustardy mayo dressing.

It is familiar, filling, and always welcome.

Chill it thoroughly so it stays firm and bright. A little dill adds freshness, and paprika gives that vintage finish.

You will watch it disappear as quickly as the ice melts in the cooler, and you will be glad you made extra.

10. Antipasto Skewers

Antipasto skewers brought a groovy mix of Italian deli flavors to casual picnics. Salami, cheddar, olives, and tomatoes stacked on picks feel like party food you can walk around with.

They are salty, tangy, and endlessly customizable.

Drizzle a little Italian dressing before packing. They hold up well on ice and sparkle next to chilled wine or lemonade.

If you like nibbling as you chat, these are your jam, giving every bite a quick vacation vibe.

11. Submarine Sandwich Loaf

The sub loaf felt epic on a picnic blanket, heavy with meats and cheese. Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and a generous oil and vinegar splash kept it juicy.

Unwrap and the smell alone brings on a crowd.

Press it in the fridge for an hour so flavors meld. Slice thick and pass napkins, because this is a two-hand situation.

Every bite tastes like road trips, radio hits, and the easy confidence of the ’70s deli counter.

12. Tabouli Salad

Tabouli rode the health-food wave right onto picnic tables. Bulgur, parsley, tomatoes, and lemon make a refreshing, herb-forward scoop.

It is bright, clean, and a welcome break from creamy salads.

Serve chilled with pita triangles for scooping. The lemony zing cuts through fried chicken and cheese, keeping everything in balance.

You will love how light it feels while still tasting fully satisfying, especially under warm summer skies.

13. Carrot Raisin Salad

Carrot raisin salad adds cheerful color and gentle sweetness. Shredded carrots mingle with raisins and sometimes pineapple in a creamy dressing.

It is refreshing, crunchy, and sunshine-friendly.

Pack it cold so it stays crisp. A squeeze of lemon keeps flavors bright and prevents heaviness.

Scoop it beside your sandwich and feel that wholesome ’70s vibe, the kind that made even simple sides feel special at a blanket feast.

14. Pasta Primavera Salad

Pasta primavera salad brought color and crunch to the decade. Tri-color pasta tossed with peas, peppers, and zucchini soaks up zesty dressing.

It is garden-fresh and ready for big scoops.

Make it the day ahead so the noodles absorb everything. Add parmesan and a pinch of herbs for flair.

When the breeze lifts the napkins, you will be glad this vibrant bowl anchors the middle of the spread.

15. Tuna Macaroni Salad

Tuna macaroni salad was the hearty cousin everyone counted on. Elbows, tuna, peas, and celery wrapped in creamy dressing make a cool, filling scoop.

It bridges the gap between salad and sandwich beautifully.

Chill it hard so the flavors marry. A splash of pickle juice perks everything up.

You will find yourself returning for seconds because it hits that savory, nostalgic note that feels like a hug from a vintage kitchen.

16. Cucumber Dill Sandwiches

Cucumber dill sandwiches whisper cool elegance on a hot day. Paper-thin cucumbers, a dill spread, and soft bread create a delicate, refreshing bite.

They are simple, stylish, and very picnic friendly.

Keep them chilled until the moment you serve. Trim the crusts and cut into tidy fingers.

These little beauties slide right in between bolder flavors, giving you a crisp pause before the next nostalgic favorite lands on your plate.

17. Three-Bean Salad

Three-bean salad brings vinegary snap and beautiful color. Green, wax, and kidney beans soak in a sweet-tart dressing with onions.

It is sturdy, travels well, and gets better as it sits.

Pack it in a jar and let it chill on ice. Serve with a slotted spoon so the dressing does not swamp the plate.

You will appreciate the zing between bites of richer classics, keeping every taste bright and lively.

18. Coleslaw With Celery Seed

Coleslaw cooled things down with crunch and creamy tang. Shredded cabbage and carrots tossed with mayo, vinegar, and celery seed feels timeless.

It snuggles perfectly into a chicken sandwich or sits happily on its own.

Make it hours ahead so it softens slightly but stays crisp. Celery seed gives that unmistakable classic flavor.

Expect people to ask for seconds while you pass the pickles and smile at the familiar crackle of paper plates.

19. Cheese and Cracker Tray

Cheese and crackers were the come-and-go snack that never stopped calling. Cubed cheddar, colby, and pepper jack lined up beside buttery crackers make grazing effortless.

Grapes and olives add a little flair.

Cover it with a plastic dome to travel. Keep a small knife handy for extra slices.

You will love how this tray encourages conversation, letting everyone nibble as the playlist spins and the sun dips lower over the park.

20. Stuffed Celery Sticks

Stuffed celery sticks gave crunch with a creamy surprise. Pimento cheese, herbed cream cheese, or even olive spread tucked into celery grooves was pure retro delight.

They are tidy, refreshing, and easy to grab.

Chill them in a covered tray so they stay crisp. A sprinkle of paprika looks charming.

Slide the tray between salads and sandwiches, and watch guests thank you with quick smiles between bites and sips of lemonade.