We tracked down the best picnic salad from every corner of America.
Hear me out: Salad is the best category of food, full stop. Whether you prefer green salad, potato salad or something else, a fresh and flavorful bowl is never more welcome than in a picnic spread. A salad travels well, holds up in a cooler and often tastes better after a few hours of sitting—exactly what you want when the food has to wait out a softball game or a long drive to the beach. And the best of salads are anything but rabbit food: Built on bold, robust ingredients, plenty of salads are hearty enough to be meals in themselves. So, we went looking for the one picnic salad that best represents each of the 50 states.
Narrowing each state to a single salad took some deliberation. A few of our picks are dishes that states simply do best. Other recipes were invented right where we placed them. Most, though, come down to a homegrown ingredient: Georgia peaches, Vermont maple, the sweet raspberries grown around Utah’s Bear Lake. These are the flavors locals know and love best, gathered into one salad bowl.
Southern Potato Salad
Alabama
Even if you’re not from the deep South, you most certainly find healing in southern comfort foods like this classic potato salad. The recipe is simple: Toss cooked potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green onions and sweet pickles with an easy three-ingredient dressing that comes together in seconds.
Smoked Salmon Egg Salad
Alaska
The waters of Alaska are well known for producing some of the best seafood you’ll ever taste, with salmon being one of the most famous fish found in the Last Frontier. You can use any smoked salmon in this recipe, but for a true taste of Alaska, order salmon straight from the source.
Grilled Southwestern Potato Salad
Arizona
The Grand Canyon State is well known for its fiery chile peppers. This potato salad features diced jalapenos to bring the heat and fire-charred poblanos for smoky spiciness, but the burn becomes balanced with sweet corn, tart limes and a cool, creamy buttermilk dressing.
Ham Salad
Arkansas
Smoked pork is the heart of Arkansas barbecue, from pulled pork shoulders to the Delta’s famous pig sandwich. This ham salad turns that salty, smoky tradition into an easy picnic spread option.
Blood Orange Avocado Salad
California
California grows the lion’s share of America’s avocados and most of its blood oranges. This salad pairs the two for a picnic dish that tastes like the Golden State’s produce aisle.
Southwest Corn Salad
Colorado
Southwestern cooking has deep roots in Colorado, where Pueblo’s famous green chiles—named the official state chile pepper—turn up in everything from stew to cornbread. This Southwest corn salad leans on that green chile heat for a side with real Rocky Mountain flavor.
Cheeseburger Salad
Connecticut
The steamed cheeseburger is pure Connecticut, a central-state specialty born in Middletown more than a century ago and still served around Meriden. This cheeseburger salad reworks that local icon into a fork-and-knife picnic dish.
Easy Seafood Salad
Delaware
Every summer, millions of people from the mid-Atlantic states flock to the beaches of the First State, and when it comes to cookouts, crab is king. This easy seafood salad tosses crabmeat with shrimp in citrus juice for a fresh side experience.
Citrus Salad
Florida
Florida is synonymous with citrus, from sweet Valencia oranges to Ruby Red grapefruit. This bright citrus salad puts that fruit front and center, with crunchy jicama—another crop that thrives in the state’s warm climate—also added for contrast.
Peach Caprese Salad
Georgia
Georgia isn’t called the Peach State for nothing. This fruity Caprese throws in juicy Georgia peaches alongside fresh mozzarella and basil for a sweet-savory picnic salad.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaii
Along with Spam, coconut and pineapples, macaroni salad is undoubtably one of Hawaii’s most famous foods. It’s great served alongside other Hawaiian delicacies like huli huli chicken and char siu pork, but this picnic salad is perfect for any party or potluck no matter what else is on the menu.
Golden Apple Potato Salad
Idaho
Officially, Idaho’s nickname is the Gem State, but when most people think of Idaho, they don’t think of gems—they think of potatoes! Idaho farms produce more potatoes than any other state in the nation, harvesting nearly 14 billion pounds of potatoes every year. They also grow a lot of apples, so this apple potato salad is quite fitting.
Popcorn Salad
Illinois
Illinois is one of the country’s top popcorn producers, ranking third in the nation. This classic midwestern potluck salad proves popcorn can be much more than a snack food.
Seven-Layer Gelatin Salad
Indiana
The Jell-O salad is a midwestern potluck institution, and a layered gelatin salad fits right in on an Indiana picnic table. This jewel-toned, seven-layer gelatin salad stacks bright, wiggly layers into one make-ahead dish.
Fresh Corn Salad
Iowa
The Hawkeye State is famous for its sprawling golden corn fields, and this fresh corn salad makes good use of Iowa’s most famous crop. In this midwestern salad, fresh shucked sweet corn is tossed with chopped onions, peppers and tomatoes, then everything is tossed in a slightly sweet cider vinegar dressing with bright fresh parsley.
Cucumber Salad with Miracle Whip
Kansas
The Sunflower State is famous for its stick-to-your-ribs barbecue, and a cool, refreshing cucumber salad is a perfect side to serve with it. Pair this Miracle Whip-dressed salad with Kansas City-style ribs or grilled chicken slathered with sweet and sticky K.C. barbecue sauce.
Blackberry Balsamic Spinach Salad
Kentucky
The Bluegrass State named the blackberry its official fruit in 2004. This simple picnic salad is abundant with the berry, tossing 2 whole cups of sweet fresh blackberries with tangy cherry tomatoes, salty feta cheese, sharp scallions, crunchy almonds and baby spinach in balsamic vinaigrette.
Spicy Cajun Potato Salad
Louisiana
If a potato salad is from Cajun country, you know it’s got to be spicy! This spicy Cajun potato salad recipe from Sibley, Louisiana, livens up its dressing of mayonnaise, relish and mustard with a bold kick of Cajun seasoning, which you should add to taste depending on your tolerance for heat. Start with a light sprinkle if you’re sensitive to spice; add more than the recipe calls for if you like things hot and spicy!
Blueberry Salad
Maine
Outside of lobster, wild blueberries are arguably the most famous foodie export from the Pine Tree State. This blueberry salad recipe calls for fresh blueberries, but if you can’t pick blueberries, then use frozen wild Maine blueberries instead, which are readily available in most supermarkets.
Spicy Crab Salad
Maryland
One can’t help but think of crab as the Old Line State’s most obvious official state food … and it is! For a true taste of Maryland in this spicy crab salad, use fresh lump crabmeat picked from blue crabs. (Chesapeake blue crabs if you can!) If that’s not possible, canned, frozen or even imitation crab will work.
Cranberry Salad
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is cranberry country, with bogs across Cape Cod and the southeast making it one of the nation’s biggest producers. This cranberry salad celebrates the tart little berry that the Bay State helped make famous.
Michigan Salad
Michigan
The Great Lakes State doesn’t have an official state food, but if you ask any native Michigander what should be in the running, more than a few will mention utterly irresistible fresh Michigan cherries. This recipe for Michigan cherry salad doubles down on cherry flavor by using a combination of dried cherries and cherry preserves, but if you’ve got gorgeous fresh cherries on hand, feel free to use them!
Snickers Salad
Minnesota
Minnesota has a soft spot for “salads” that are really desserts in disguise served at church suppers and state fair booths alike. Snickers salad—chopped candy bars, apples and whipped topping—is one of the most beloved.
Potato Salad
Mississippi
Potato salad is a cornerstone of southern soul food and a fixture on any Mississippi cookout table. This simple potato salad recipe keeps it classic and creamy.
Barbecue Pork Cobb Salad
Missouri
The Show-Me State is home to not one but two cities synonymous with barbecue: St. Louis and Kansas City. But you don’t need to know how to smoke meat the Missouri way to make this barbecue pork Cobb salad—all you need is a slow cooker to make a pork loin that’s fall-apart tender and a spectacular barbecue sauce to dress it.
Steak Salad
Montana
Montana is cattle country and one of the nation’s biggest beef producers. This hearty steak salad puts that homegrown beef front and center. Sirloin strips get a Worcestershire marinade and a quick stir-fry with onion and green pepper before landing over shredded lettuce, with cherry tomatoes and optional salsa on top.
Barley Corn Salad
Nebraska
Because it’s also known as the Cornhusker State, corn would be a logical choice as Nebraska’s state vegetable. While Nebraskans haven’t made it official, they should! And while they’re at it, maybe they should name this tasty mix of barley and corn their official state salad too.
Shrimp Avocado Salad
Nevada
When you think of Nevada, you think of Las Vegas, and when you think of Las Vegas, you think shrimp cocktail! Rumor has it the shrimp cocktail was introduced to Vegas in the 1950s by a casino owner who was homesick for the seafood of his native California. Since California is also famous for its avocados, this shrimp avocado salad would be a perfect fit for a casino buffet.
Apple and Celery Salad
New Hampshire
Apples are New Hampshire’s signature fruit crop, grown across more than one hundred orchards in the Granite State. This crisp apple and celery salad makes the most of that fall harvest.
Antipasto Pasta Salad
New Jersey
New Jersey is home to some of the country’s best Italian-American delis, and antipasto is on every counter. This antipasto pasta salad gathers those deli-case flavors—cured meats, cheese, olives—into one potluck bowl.
Santa Fe Salad
New Mexico
This traditional southwestern Santa Fe salad is full of ingredients like green chiles and pinto beans. Serve it alongside other recipes from New Mexico, like grilled jalapeno-lime chicken.
Waldorf Salad
New York
The Waldorf salad was born at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, created for an 1896 charity ball. Apples, celery and walnuts in a creamy dressing make this an enduring picnic classic.
Seafood Pasta Salad
North Carolina
North Carolina’s sounds and coastline support a thriving fishery, with blue crab and shrimp leading the catch. This seafood pasta salad brings that Tar Heel bounty to the picnic table.
Macaroni Coleslaw Salad
North Dakota
What do you do when you’re in the mood for macaroni salad but craving coleslaw too? You make macaroni coleslaw salad, of course! This recipe from the Peace Garden State brings the best of both worlds to any picnic, potluck or summer shindig.
Cherry Tomato Salad
Ohio
Tomatoes go gangbusters in Ohio—so much so that they’re the Buckeye State’s official fruit. (Yes, tomatoes are a fruit!) This ultra-flavorful cherry tomato salad recipe is a one-bowl wonder: Simply add all your ingredients, give them a stir and refrigerate overnight to let the magic happen.
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Oklahoma
Black-eyed peas are one of the official foods of the Sooner State, and this vibrant black-eyed pea salad does a spectacular job of letting them shine. If you somehow end up with leftovers, get excited: This is a salad that gets better and better as it sits in the fridge.
Pear-Blueberry Ambrosia with Creamy Lime Dressing
Oregon
Oregon grows nearly all the country’s hazelnuts, along with an abundance of pears and berries. This salad brings that trio of Pacific Northwest crops together in one bowl.
Pennsylvania Dutch Cucumbers
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Dutch are legendary for their potlucks, and this easy-to-make cucumber salad is absolutely perfect for sharing. To bring even more Pennsylvania to your picnic, check out these recipes for chicken potpie and shoofly pie.
Calamari Salad
Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state, but it manages to have over 400 miles of coastline—making it absolute heaven for seafood lovers! This fresh calamari salad also features briny anchovies and is a great representation of the Ocean State’s large Italian-American community.
Cornbread Salad
South Carolina
Cornbread is a southern staple, and South Carolina cooks layer it into one of the region’s most beloved potluck dishes. This cornbread salad stacks crumbled cornbread with crisp vegetables and a creamy dressing.
Black Bean Salad
South Dakota
Corn is South Dakota’s number one crop, planted across millions of acres each year. This black bean and corn salad, from a South Dakota recipe contributor, gives the state’s signature grain a fresh, colorful turn.
Creamy Coleslaw
Tennessee
Memphis is a barbecue capital, and no Tennessee barbecue plate is complete without a scoop of creamy coleslaw alongside it. This mayo-dressed slaw is the cool, crunchy counterpoint to a plate of smoked ribs.
Tex-Mex Potato Salad
Texas
The Lone Star State is legendary for its Tex-Mex cuisine. This potato salad mixes red potatoes with sweet corn, avocado, salsa and pickled jalapeno slices for a potluck dish that’ll disappear fast.
Ruby Raspberry Slaw
Utah
Bear Lake, straddling the Utah-Idaho border, is famous for sweet raspberries, celebrated each summer at Garden City’s Raspberry Days. This ruby raspberry slaw works those berries into a bright, tangy picnic side.
Apple Maple Pecan Salad
Vermont
The apple is Vermont’s official state fruit and maple is its official state flavor—the only one in the country. This apple maple pecan salad brings both together, tossing crisp apples and toasted pecans in a maple dressing.
Ham Pasta Salad
Virginia
Virginia is famous for its salt-cured country ham, a smoky southern specialty with centuries of history in the state. This ham pasta salad folds that signature ham into a hearty, portable picnic dish.
Northwest Salmon Salad
Washington
This brings multiple ingredients native to the Pacific Northwest—baked salmon, blueberries and hazelnuts—into one irresistible recipe for Northwest salmon salad. If you don’t have a picnic or potluck where you can share this salad, the salmon and sour cream dressing are scrumptious in a sandwich.
Dilly Potato & Egg Salad
West Virginia
West Virginia is famous for its natural beauty; for your next picnic in the woods, bring this salad to eat while you enjoy the view. Potato and egg salads are picnic faves, and both are magnificent when they’re mixed with lots of fresh dill. This recipe for dilly potato and egg salad combines the best of both worlds to make the ultimate picnic salad for your next hike.
Make-Ahead Hearty Six-Layer Salad
Wisconsin
Any recipe that’s going to represent the great state of Wisconsin needs to be loaded with cheese, and this make-ahead hearty six-layer salad has just that! Sure, there are vegetables, like peas, lettuce and parsley, but the real star of the show is a whole cup of shredded cheese—preferably Wisconsin cheese.
Steak & New Potato Toss
Wyoming
Wyoming is wide-open cattle country, where raising beef is a way of life. This steak and new potato toss is a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs salad built for a Cowboy State appetite.
