10 Best Picnic Food Ideas
Do you enjoy spending time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air? It's summer, so it's time to get outside and have fun!
The summer is a great time to have picnics, but choosing the right food can be challenging.
The best picnic food ideas are easy to transport, don't require much prep work, and don't need refrigeration.
Here are 10 of our favorite and best picnic food ideas:
Sandwiches
A classic! You can make a sandwich with just about anything, so this is a great way to get creative and try something new.
It's not just because they're easy to pack and eat but also because they're quick and easy to make. You can go for a traditional sandwich with ham, turkey, or pastrami or try something new like grilled cheese or an Italian sub.
If you're having a potluck-style picnic, you'll want to serve sandwiches that are easy to assemble. Cut your bread into squares, and then prep the fillings in advance so they're ready to go when it comes time to assemble the sandwiches.
Nachos
Whether you're looking for something savory or sweet, nachos are always crowd pleasers. They're easy to customize with different kinds of cheese, beans, meat, and veggies—and they travel well! Just don't forget the guacamole!
Fruit Salad
Bananas, strawberries, oranges… What's not to love? Fruit salad is the best picnic food. It's healthy, easy to make, and will keep you full and energized throughout the day.
To make it, mix any combination of fresh fruits and berries that you like; raspberries are always a good choice. You can try some mint leaves or vanilla extract to give it a little extra flavor.
Do not forget to chill it in the fridge until you're ready to go!
Chips And Dip
Chips are always good for snacking on when you're hungry, but when paired with dip, they're even better! Dips can be anything from salsa to ranch dressing.
Baked Potato Bar
Baked potatoes are another best picnic food because they are easy to prepare ahead of time and require very little cooking on the day of your picnic. To prepare a baked potato bar, cut up potatoes into several pieces before you bake them so that guests can choose from many different shapes and sizes of potatoes.
If you want to add variety to your potato bar, you can include toppings like sour cream or salsa for guests to dip their bites into!
S'mores
This classic campfire treat is a picnic favorite for a good reason. It's easy to make and can be easily adapted to suit your taste buds. You can use marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, or even try different kinds of fruit instead of chocolate!
Veggie Platter
If you've got some veggies in your crisper drawer that need eating up ASAP, put them on display on a platter at your next picnic!
It's time to take your picnic game to the next level.
Your veggie platter is going to be the star of your picnic. It's easy to make and much better for you than other options like potato chips or pretzels.
To make this easy, pick out a few different types of vegetables, like carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and celery sticks. Then add some dips such as ranch dressing or hummus for dipping. You can add a few pickles for extra flavor and crudités for a crunchier texture!
Hamburgers And Hot Dogs
Not only do hamburgers and hot dogs taste great, but they're also easy to make and flexible enough that you can twist and change the toppings depending on your mood.
Chicken Shawarma Wraps
Chicken shawarma wraps are a delicious, easy-to-eat meal perfect for picnics. It won't leave you feeling hungry or unsatisfied.
The great thing about chicken shawarma wraps is that they can be customized to your liking—you can choose how much meat and veggies you want on each wrap.
The shawarma sauce is also customizable: You can make it with any barbecue sauce or marinade or even use a store-bought mix if that's what you have lying around. It's really up to you.
Cookies
When you're headed out on a picnic, cookies are the perfect food to take along.
They're great for snacking on while you're walking. You don't have to worry about leaks with a cookie tin; grab a few cookies and go!
Bottom Line
We hope you've enjoyed the list of 10 best picnic food ideas!
As we mentioned, picnics are a great way to spend time with your family or friends. If you're hosting the event, you must have plenty of fun foods for everyone to enjoy.
