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    Home » Blog » Meal Planning

    What to Pack for a Picnic: 45 Easy Recipes

    Published: May 25, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage shows a picnic scene next to 4 recipe photos of dishes to pack.

    What to pack for a picnic? These perfect picnic food ideas are portable, fresh, and utterly delicious. Prefect for a picnic date or outdoor concert this summer.

    A wicker picnic basket with white flowers and a bottle of water with fresh fruit sits on a picnic blanket outside.

    Picnic time is here! As the weather warms up, it's time to take our romantic dates outside.

    My husband loves live music and with so many outdoor concert venues near us that allow guests to bring in a picnic dinner, I'm ready to level up my picnic game.

    Knowing what to pack for a picnic depends so much on who you plan to dine with but there are some key strategies that will help you plan the perfect picnic for your friends or special someone this season.

    Jump to:
    • How to Plan a Picnic Menu
    • Main Dishes
    • Charcuterie Board
    • Finger Foods
    • Sandwiches & Wraps
    • Pasta Salads
    • Healthy Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Fresh Fruit Salad
    • Chips & Dips
    • Potato Salad
    • Hard Boiled Eggs
    • Sweet Treats
    • Brownies & Bars
    • Cookies
    • Fruit Desserts
    • Beverages
    • Lemonade
    • Spritzers
    • Sweet Teas & Arnold Palmers
    • Fruit Infused Water
    • Essential Picnic Supplies
    • More Romantic Date Ideas
    • 💬 Comments

    How to Plan a Picnic Menu

    For all the recipes listed below, there are a few common needs they all satisfy:

    1. Portable: The food should travel well in neat containers or wrappings without getting crushed in the process.
    2. Easy to Eat: When dining outdoors and especially when sitting on the ground, you definitely want easy finger foods you can manage without using a knife or that would require too many dishes.
    3. Won't Spoil or Melt in the Heat: Many of the recipes are heat-friendly and will do just fine in the summer sun. The meats, cheeses, and dairy items listed are easy to pack in a cooler bag and will work as long as you have a short distance from your kitchen to the picnic site.
    4. Fresh and Seasonal: It is summer after all, focus on fresh produce for the best flavor and a refreshing way to dine outdoors.

    Main Dishes

    First, plan your picnic main dishes. A variety of finger foods or a snack board are ideal picnic foods because you and your friends can linger and nibble while chatting and relaxing together.

    The photo collage shows 3 delicious main dishes for a picnic menu.

    Charcuterie Board

    The most elegant and easy way to plan a picnic, especially for a romantic picnic date, is to grab a fresh baguette from your local bakery and pack a small charcuterie board with flavorful deli meats, cheeses, and fresh fruits.

    Chopping and slicing everything at home makes easy work of eating the snack board at your picnic site.

    Can't find a baguette? Pick up one or two different kinds of gourmet crackers or pre-baked crostini at the bakery instead.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Spreader Knife for Soft Cheeses or Jams
    • A Swiss Army Knife or Small Paring Knife for Hard Fruits or Sausages
    • A round snack board has sliced green apples, spreadable cheese, slices of cheese, ruffled slices of various meats, and a bowl of fresh blackberries.
      The Easiest Cheddar Snack Board
    • A bowl of homemade pimento cheese is served on a plate with butter crackers.
      Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread

    Finger Foods

    Sandwich pinwheels, fresh bruschetta, or stacked crostini bites make the perfect finger food for a picnic.

    You can assemble the pinwheels at home but for crostini bites you'll want to pack the elements separately and let everyone assemble their own at the picnic.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon for Each Topping
    • A plate of roast beef crostini with horseradish cream and cherry tomatoes.
      Roast Beef Crostini
    • A platter of spicy firecracker pinwheels appetizers shows the meat and veggies rolled up in the tortilla.
      Firecracker Cream Cheese Pinwheels
    • 2 crostini toasts are topped with diced strawberries and a sprinkle of fresh basil to show the strawberry bruschetta appetizer. A plate of crostini sits in the background.
      Fresh Strawberry Bruschetta
    • A plate filled with Monte Cristo crescent rolls and a little cup of strawberry jam for serving.
      Monte Cristo Sandwich Pinwheels

    Sandwiches & Wraps

    Picnic sandwiches are an easy way to prepare portable food on the go and have been a staple of picnic baskets for families forever.

    You could make pre-wrapped sandwich wraps in a variety of flavors to give your friends a few options or prepare 2 - 3 different finger sandwich recipes and package them in small containers for displaying at the picnic site.

    • A tiered sandwich tray has several finger sandwiches on display.
      30 Delicious Finger Sandwich Recipes
    • A pita is wrapped around chicken gyro meat with fresh tomatoes and slices of red onion. The sandwich sits next to some fresh lettuce.
      Easy Chicken Gyros Wrap
    • A perfect BLT sandwich sits on a white plate.
      Classic BLT Sandwich
    • A grilled ham, pear, and havarti sandwich is cut in half so you can see the layers of filling inside.
      Grilled Ham, Pear, and Havarti Sandwiches

    Pasta Salads

    A well picked pasta salad could easily work as a main dish if you wanted to add a little diced baked chicken breasts or roasted shrimp to the menu.

    On their own, these fresh and flavorful pasta salads are delicious served room temperature and would be perfectly portable for a picnic.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • Plates or Bowls
    • Spoons or Forks
    • A Serving Spoon
    • A white bowl is filled with the lemon orzo pasta salad. Tomatoes and dill are sprinkled throughout.
      Lemon Orzo Salad with Tomatoes & Dill
    • A white bowl filled with couscous salad. Oranges and bell peppers are peeking out of the mix.
      Warm Couscous Salad with Oranges
    • A serving of grape and chicken pasta salad is on a plate with a fork.
      Chicken Pasta Salad with Grapes
    • The finished salad is in a white bowl with 2 chicken tenderloins on a bed of pasta salad with baby spinach.
      Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

    Healthy Salads

    Nothing tastes better in the heat than a juicy fresh piece of fruit or a ripe tomato. Plan your picnic around one of these easy salads that use simple dressings, crumbled bits of cheese, or fresh herbs for tons of flavor.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon
    • Plates or Bowls for Eating
    • Forks
    • A platter of sliced oranges with crumbled cheese, chopped pistachios, and seasonings.
      Simple Citrus Salad
    • A sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze on a plate with a fork.
      Caprese Salad {3 Fun Ways to Serve It}
    • A bowl filled with green lettuce, topped with buffalo chicken salad, fresh tomatoes, and drizzled with buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing sits in front of a serving bowl of lettuce with mason jars of dressing on the side.
      Buffalo Chicken Salad
    • A salad spinner basket holds freshly washed lettuce leaves.
      Caesar Salad Dressing & 3 Variations

    Side Dishes

    Keeping in line with our easy-to-eat finger foods, plan your side dishes around slow nibbles. Classic potato salads, veggies and dips, and other delicious items help slow your picnic down to a relaxing pace.

    The photo collage shows a pint of potatoes ready to be made into potato salad next to photos of 2 prepared dips with chips.

    Fresh Fruit Salad

    At the most basic level, you could absolutely get away with picking the most gorgeous looking produce that is in season and simply washing it or pre-cutting it to put in a pretty container.

    Grapes, slices of cantaloupe, fresh summer watermelon, berries of all kinds, these each make delicious picnic foods.

    If you feel the need to elevate the fruit, you could add a bowl of my creamy Piña Colada fruit dip or you could turn fresh strawberries into a strawberry mango salsa and serve it with cinnamon pita chips.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon
    • A bowl of strawberry mango salsa has a blue spoon and cinnamon pita chips on the plate next to it.
      Strawberry Mango Salsa
    • A ruffled bowl of pina colada dip has shredded coconut on top and is surrounded by fresh strawberries, pineapple, and gingersnap cookies.
      Creamy Piña Colada Fruit Dip

    Chips & Dips

    Bowls of crispy raw veggies like carrots, celery, and baby tomatoes or bags of gourmet potato chips or fancy crackers could be served with a veggie-based dip for light bites.

    Maybe try a brand new salsa like my chunky corn salsa or peach salsa, they both travel much more easily with less mess than a traditional restaurant style salsa would.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon
    • A Serving Container for the Chips
    • A creamy dip with corn, peppers, and cilantro sits in a bowl surrounded by wheat crackers.
      Poolside Dip
    • A bowl of cold spinach dip is served with bagel chips for dipping.
      Cold Spinach Dip
    • A bowl of homemade chunky peach salsa has a blue spoon for serving.
      Sweet and Spicy Peach Salsa
    • A jar of chunky corn salsa has fresh tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro. There's a plastic fork digging in.
      Chunky Corn Salsa

    Potato Salad

    Most potato salads are made with mayo which isn't the best idea for a picnic.

    My summer potato salad does have bacon but it is made with a mustard vinaigrette instead of mayo so it is the perfect dish to pack.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon
    • Plates or Bowls for Eating
    • Forks
    • A blue farmer's market carton holds little white potatoes next to a red pepper, ear of corn, and package of bacon.
      Summer Potato Salad with Bacon

    Hard Boiled Eggs

    Hard boiled eggs are actually a very easy picnic food and are much easier to pack than traditional deviled eggs would be. If you pack a paring knife, you could slice the eggs and add them to a green salad for protein.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Paring Knife to Slice Them if Desired
    • A basket of brown and blue eggs sit nexts to a towel.
      How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs

    Sweet Treats

    The finale of your delicious picnic menu should always be something sweet. There are so many portable, packable treats you can easily put in a picnic basket or hamper.

    The photo collage shows several packable treats for a picnic.

    Brownies & Bars

    Slice a pan of baked brownies or bars into squares before you head out on the picnic and pack them in a sturdy container to keep them from getting squished.

    Want to really impress your friends? Make 2 or more and cut them into bite-sized squares so they don't feel guilty about sampling them all.

    • A batch of butterscotch brownies have been cut into squares on a piece of foil.
      One-Bowl Butterscotch Brownies
    • A round platter of a pile of chocolate brownies with a bite taken out of the one on top and a sprinkle of chocolate chips to the side.
      The Best Homemade Brownies for Kids
    • A metal baking pan is filled with hello dolly bars topped with shredded coconut and chocolate chips.
      Quick and Easy Hello Dolly Bars
    • A stack of shortbread pecan pie bars on a cake plate for serving.
      Shortbread Pecan Pie Bars

    Cookies

    A classic cookie is a sturdy packable treat that almost no one can turn down.

    If you're planning a romantic picnic, I suggest you find a way to pack a thermos of ice-cold milk to go with this homemade treat! It's a "marry me now" move for sure.

    • A platter of crunchy peanut butter sandwich cookies next to a scattering of peanuts.
      Crunchy Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
    • Baked chocolate chip walnut cookies with chocolate chips sprinkled over the top.
      Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

    Fruit Desserts

    If you want to end things on a fresh and fruity note, these elegant desserts are shockingly easy to pack for a picnic.

    Package the sliced strawberry shortcake biscuits and pack them separately. Put the berries in a separate container and bring a container of whipped cream in a cooler bag.

    Pack a container of homemade lemon curd and a package of shortbread cookies for dipping.

    Make a batch of roasted sweet cherries and add an orange liqueur to the mix for a grown-up treat.

    Or for an old fashioned picnic staple, the creamy grape salad with brown sugar and pecans is always a hit.

    Don't Forget to Pack:

    • A Serving Spoon
    • Plates or Bowls for Eating
    • Forks or Spoons as Needed
    • A classic strawberry shortcake has been split in half with fresh berries and whipped cream.
      Classic Strawberry Shortcake
    • A piece of lemon pie with lemon curd filling.
      Make-Ahead Lemon Curd
    • Roasted cherries in a baking dish.
      Roasted Cherries {Sweet OR Savory!}
    • A big blue bowl is filled with a creamy grape salad with cream cheese, covered in brown sugar and pecans.
      Chicken Salad Chick Grape Salad {Copycat Recipe}

    Beverages

    As you're planning what to pack for your picnic, don't forget to think about the drinks you plan to bring. The beverage makes all the difference between a fancy grown-up picnic and a haphazard one.

    The photo collage shows several options for festive picnic beverages.

    Lemonade

    THE Classic picnic drink is a glass of ice cold lemonade. Impress your picnic guests with an easy homemade version you can tote in a beverage cooler.

    Add fresh mint and/or chunks of fresh fruit to take your lemonade to the next level.

    • A glass of rosemary peach lemonade has lots of ice and a green striped straw. There's a fresh peach wedge on the glass for garnish. A pitcher of lemonade sits in the background.
      Rosemary Peach Lemonade
    • A glass of strawberry lemonade has a fresh sprig of mint on the top for garnish and sits next to several slices of fresh lemon.
      Easy Strawberry Lemonade

    Spritzers

    A bottle of wine is never a bad option and requires the least amount of effort.

    If you want something just a little "more," plan a simple wine spritzer with a bubbling bottle of white wine or rose and fruit juice.

    You could plan mimosas, or combine white wine with the lemonades above.

    Sweet Teas & Arnold Palmers

    Bring your favorite sweet tea and lemonade to give your friends options. Then you can easily make a 50-50 Arnold Palmer drink if you desire.

    Pack some lemon slices for dropping in each glass.

    Fruit Infused Water

    Plan ahead and infuse fresh water with citrus, berries, and/or mint. It is an easy way to upgrade plain water for a picnic that impresses.

    Essential Picnic Supplies

    While this list of ideas focuses mainly on the best picnic food to pack, learn what to pack for a picnic date, including supplies, fun picnic location ideas, and more picnic planning tips to make it all go smoothly.

    More Romantic Date Ideas

    • A photo collage shows a man pouring two glasses of champagne alongside a collage of recipe ideas.
      40 Delicious Date Night at Home Dinner Ideas
    • A husband and wife wear Christmas slippers and sit in front of a Christmas tree.
      20 Ways to Date Your Spouse During the Holidays
    A photo collage shows a picnic scene next to 4 recipe photos of dishes to pack.

    More Meal Planning Tips and Lists

    • The photo collage shows several one pot dinner ideas using a skillet or dutch oven.
      55 One Pot Dinner Ideas for Busy Nights
    • A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey is in a photo collage next to 3 recipes it could be used in.
      20 Hot Honey Recipes You Have to Try
    • A pennant of American flags in a photo collage next to 3 fresh salads for a Memorial day party.
      35 Fresh Memorial Day Salad Recipes
    • A baking pan lined with foil has finished baked chicken breasts on top.
      12 Easy Baked Chicken Breast Recipes

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

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