Just in time for summer, this list of Easy Picnic Food Ideas is loaded with recipes and tips to help you pull off the perfect picnic. You’ll find recipes for pasta salads, sandwiches, snacks, and yummy desserts that are easy to enjoy al fresco.
Easy Picnic Food Ideas
Summer is upon us, meaning outdoor dining season has almost officially begun. While I love BBQs on the patio, and back porch dinner parties with friends, there is so much summer magic in a good old fashioned picnic.
With that magic comes extra considerations like packing the food, bringing utensils, and making sure you have the perfect picnic blanket. This list takes all of these considerations and makes things simple for you. Pick and choose what you like, then read on for more tips on how to pack the perfect picnic!
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What Makes Good Picnic Food?
- Finger foods – picnic food should be easy and portable, with very few additional toppings or sauces needed.
- Food that can sit out – save the heavy mayo potato salads and coleslaws for another time. When it comes to picnics, you want to pack foods that can sit out without getting gross after 30 minutes. Also think about temperatures—something like chicken drumsticks taste great whether they are hot, cold, or room temperature.
- Foods that are good for sharing – salads, sandwiches, chicken drumsticks, and cookies are all easy to share. Choose foods that are either individually portioned already or easy to share with just a serving spoon or fork, like salads.
Tips for Packing the Perfect Picnic
- Bring a bag of supplies. Depending on what you are bringing, you may want to pack a small cutting board and knife, wet wipes or napkins, a bottle opener, straws for drinks, and ice packs. Hand sanitizer is always a good idea, too!
- Don’t forget the waterproof picnic blanket. Being comfortable is key, so make sure you and your picnic companions aren’t going to get soggy sitting in the grass!
- Do as much prep ahead of time as you can. This includes cutting sandwiches in half, cutting quiche into small wedges or squares, packing salad dressings in separate containers, and prepping all fruit and veggies in advance. Better yet, bring fruits and veggies that don’t need to be cut at all!
- Keep things cool. Especially if you plan to serve something like meat, fish, or dairy, be sure to add plenty of cool packs and plan to eat once you reach the picnic spot.
- Make cleanup simple. Pack a garbage bag, along with a separate bag for dirty dishes that you will need to bring home with you.
Picnic Sandwiches and Wraps
The key to making sandwiches for picnics is to use sturdy breads, and to make sure that they are well-wrapped and durable. You don’t want to open up the picnic basket and find that egg salad has leaked out!
Wedge Salad Wrap
Everything you love about a steakhouse wedge salad tucked into a soft tortilla. You get the crispy lettuce, smokey bacon, ripe tomatoes, a sprinkle of blue cheese and some creamy dressing in one easy bite.
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
This chicken salad is full of tender rotisserie chicken, creamy dill dressing, and crunchy apples and celery. You can also serve as chicken salad sliders, with sandwich bread, or in a bowl with crackers
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Each wrap is filled with crispy breaded chicken tenders covered in buffalo sauce and rolled up in a flour tortilla with shredded cheese, ranch dressing, lettuce, and more.
Egg Salad Sandwich
This is the best Egg Salad Sandwich recipe—creamy, crunchy, tangy, and served on a buttery croissant. It’s the perfect light lunch at any time of the year.
Salads and Side Dishes for Picnics
When picking salads for a picnic, the biggest consideration is what can sit out for a decent period of time. Chicken salad and egg salad actually taste better with a little time. Green salads can be packed with the dressing separate so that they don’t get soggy.
Dill Chicken Salad
This Dill Pickle Chicken Salad is made with rotisserie chicken, crunchy celery, and red onions covered in a creamy fresh dill, pickle juice, and mayo sauce. It’s a quick recipe to throw together and tastes great on toast, sandwiches, or with crackers.
Thai Chicken Salad
This loaded Thai Chicken Salad has fresh, crunchy veggies, delicious marinated chicken, and a simple homemade peanut sauce dressing. It’s the perfect healthy, filling, and flavorful lunch that is easy to make at home.
Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
This cold Italian Tortellini Salad with homemade Italian dressing is filled to the brim with chopped veggies, cheese, salami, and chewy tortellini pasta. For a little extra protein, try adding shredded chicken It’s a perfect pasta salad to bring to potlucks and picnics that can even be made the night before.
Greek Pasta Salad
This easy Greek Pasta Salad with feta is perfect for making during the warm summer months. It’s light, fresh, easy to make, and loaded with veggies, tender pasta, fresh basil, and feta cheese.
Berry Salad
This Berry Fruit Salad is slightly sweet and oh-so-refreshing. Made with fresh berries and tossed in an orange juice glaze, it is the perfect simple side dish or light dessert for your next summer barbecue or potluck.
Mojito Salad
This Mojito Fruit Salad is the perfect summer salad, filled with three kinds of melon and a refreshing mint and lime glaze. Enjoy at your next BBQ, party, or dinner at home.
Veggie Roll Pizza
This Crescent Roll Veggie Pizza is an easy cold appetizer that’s perfect for packing in your picnic basket. It starts with a Pillsbury crescent roll crust that is baked until golden brown and topped with a cream cheese and ranch spread followed by an assortment of fresh veggies.
Broccoli Salad
This classic Broccoli and Bacon Salad is the perfect 15 minute side dish to make for picnics. It’s filled with raw broccoli, bacon, onions, apples, sunflower seeds, and Craisins all tossed in a creamy homemade dressing.
BLT Pasta Salad
This creamy, crunchy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is based off of the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. We’ve swapped out spinach for the lettuce, and added in mozzarella cheese, avocados, and parsley before covering the whole thing in ranch dressing. Try adding a little shredded chicken to make this easy and irresistible summer side dish even better!
Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks are the perfect portable finger food to bring to picnics. You can make things super simple and buy some already cooked from the store! Or make some of mine ahead of time and pack them cold.
Wedge Salad Kabobs
These Wedge Salad Skewers have all the flavors you love about the classic salad arranged on individual sticks. They make the perfect side dish or appetizer for picnics because they’re portable. and pre-portioned.
Veggie Cups
These Mini Veggie Cups are a perfect no-mess appetizer or snack for picnics. They’re fun, healthy, fresh, and super simple to prep.
Snacks for Picnics
Picnics are meant to be leisurely, and leisurely outings require lots of snacks! I like to pack chips and crackers and bring along salsa or guac for dipping. We’ve also got some fun snacky ideas like power balls or crispy crescent roll pinwheels.
Peach Salsa
This Peach Salsa recipe is loaded with sweet, spicy, and fresh summer flavors. In just about 10 minutes, you can have the perfect salsa to enjoy with tortilla chips or add to tacos, sandwiches, burgers, and more.
Corn Salsa
This Easy Corn Salsa is sweet, crunchy, zesty and oh-so-easy to make. Full of sweet corn, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and crisp veggies, it’s the perfect summer salsa to serve with tortilla chips, or to add to tacos, burrito bowls and more.
Charcuterie Cups
These Individual Charcuterie Cups are an easy to prepare, super versatile picnic snack. Filled with all of the meats, cheeses, fruits, and snacks you might find on a traditional charcuterie board, these portable versions are already packed and ready to serve.
Homemade Guacamole
This Simple Guacamole Recipe is quick, easy, and just as good as anything you’ll find at a restaurant. With a few simple ingredients (and no cooking), you can have the zestiest, fresh, and flavorful party dip in no time—just add chips!
Coconut Power Balls
These no bake Peanut Butter and Coconut Balls are a quick and easy snack that is packed with healthy fats and proteins to keep you and your family going. They are perfect for picnics, lunch box desserts, or even breakfasts on the go.
Pesto Pinwheels
These Pesto Pinwheels are made by spreading pesto and cheese inside buttery, crisp crescent roll dough. They are the perfect bite-sized snack that takes just minutes to prepare and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Dessert For Picnics
Picnic desserts should be easy and fun! Think individually portioned bars and cookies. If you want to get a teeny bit fancy, try our mini parfaits served in little mason jars.
Mini Parfait
These Lemon and Raspberry Parfaits are like springtime in a glass. They’re light, bright, creamy and bursting with fresh raspberries, lemon curd, whipped cream and graham crackers in every bite. For picnics, you could pack inside mini mason jars!
Oreo Rice Krispies
These thick and gooey Oreo Rice Krispie Treats are filled with crushed Oreo cookies and extra marshmallows. This recipe is a fun twist on the classic that is seriously delicious and great parties, school lunches, and more.
Lemon Cookies
These Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are an easy treat with an intense lemon frosting. They are perfectly chewy, sweet, and tart and great for just about any occasion.
Fruit Kabobs
These Fresh Fruit Kebabs are a fun and healthy snack, dessert, or kid’s project. Fill each skewer with fresh fruit chosen by the colors of the rainbow.
Caramel Popcorn
This Homemade Caramel Popcorn is sweet, salty, buttery, crisp, blows away any store-bought caramel corn, and is so simple to make. It’s made with freshly air-popped popcorn with a simple caramel made with sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, sugar, butter, and Karo syrup.
