34 Picnic Food Ideas and Recipes

As the weather warms up, it’s time to head outdoors and enjoy a refreshing picnic! Whether you’re enjoying a date in the park, hosting a family picnic with the little ones or just want to enjoy some Vitamin D, we’ve gathered 34 picnic food ideas perfect for any picnic. Read below to find your perfect picnic setting.

Light and Refreshing

Pack a light meal for a day at the park, or a refreshing snack at a vacation hotspot. We recommend Greek salad kabobs you can easily store in a cooler. With a splash of lemon juice and olive oil, these are the ultimate summer snack on a warm afternoon. Don’t forget to pair with delicious fruit kabobs for dessert!

Greek Salad Kabobs

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of feta cut in cubes
• 1 garlic clove pressed
• 2 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of minced oregano
• A pinch of salt/pepper
• 24 cherry tomatoes
• 24 pitted kalamata olives
• 12 cucumber halves, ½ inch thick

How-to:

1. In a small bowl combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and oregano.
2. Sprinkle salt and pepper and toss feta until it is fully coated in the marinade.
3. Assemble skewers in the following order: tomato, olive, feta, cucumber, olive, tomato.
4. Right before serving, use extra marinade for drizzle.

More Recipe Ideas:

A homemade roasted lemonade from The Cookie Writer

Tricolor potato salad from Tablespoon

Blueberry, nectarine and shiso salad from Saveur

Ice cream cone fruit cups from Giggles Galore

Melon caprese skewers from What’s Gaby Cooking

A European Afternoon

Take a trip to Italy or France, at a much more affordable cost! With yummy crackers and delicious cheese and fruit, enter a European afternoon without the plane ride. Follow our bruschetta recipe to escape reality and indulge in a plethora of flavors.

Raspberry Goat Cheese Crackers

Start to finish: 15 minutes 

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces of soft goat cheese
• 2 tablespoons of raspberry jam
• 1/2 package raspberries
• 6-10 crackers
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh rosemary
• 4-5 mint leaves

How-to:

1. Put softened goat cheese in a bowl and whip until light.
2. Add honey, rosemary and a pinch of salt if desired and beat until combined.
3. Once ready to serve, spread each cracker with a half tablespoon of the whipped goat cheese and raspberry jam.
4. Top with a raspberry and small piece of mint.
5. Garnish with rosemary and a drizzle of honey if desired.

More Recipe Ideas:

A charcuterie board from Gifts.com

Egg-stuffed grana padano muffins from Kitchen Sanctuary

Muffuletta sandwich from Epicurious

Paloma fizz mocktail from Local Eclectic

Cheese gougères from Kitchn

Kid-Friendly and Mess-Proof

If you are taking the kids to the local park, or you’re on vacation and want to enjoy the sunshine, consider this kid-friendly and mess-proof recipe. These floral sandwiches are not only easy to make, they are the perfect picnic snack for a summer day or a chilly fall afternoon.

All of the lunch meats listed are low in sodium and you can interchange the recipe with bread or nut butter that fit each child’s dietary needs. Pair these with orange slices and a low-sugar fruit juice to give them a boost of Vitamin C.

Flower Sandwiches

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 18 slices of whole wheat or white bread
• 3 slices of low sodium ham
• 3 slices of low-sodium turkey
• 3 slices of cheddar cheese
• 3 slices of provolone cheese
• 2 tablespoons of jelly
• 2 tablespoons of nut butter

How-to:

1. Make three kinds of each sandwich: nut butter and jelly, turkey and provolone, ham and cheddar.
2. With 2-3 cookie cutters, make sandwiches into your favorite shapes.
3. Cut center of the top bread slices so fillings show.

More Recipe Ideas:

Rainbow veggie pinwheels from Dinner at the Zoo

Corn dog nuggets from Lil’ Luna

Peanut butter and banana roll-ups from Ready Set Eat

Baked cheese animal crackers from Hello, Wonderful

DIY yogurt tubes from Art From My Table

Romance by the Seashore

Plan a romantic date night with a picnic at the beach. Show your loved one your mixology skills and a delicious drink you two can enjoy amongst the sea breeze. Prepare your drinks before departing for the beach, keeping the mixture in a thermal container. Bring a bag of ice in a cooler to add to your drinks once you hit the sand.

Floral Rosé Cocktail

Start to finish: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces rosé
• 6 oz gin
• 12 oz red grapefruit juice
• 1 teaspoon of white sugar
• Edible flower blossoms

How-to:

1. Combine 12 oz of rosé, 12 oz grapefruit juice, 6 oz gin and ice in cocktail shaker.
2. Strain into a thermal container and place in a cooler.
3. Once at the beach, pour mixture into two glasses.
4. Top with flowers and enjoy.

More Recipe Ideas:

Chicken pesto pasta salad from The Beach House Kitchen

Watermelon-mint agua fresca from Garlic and Zest

Raspberry ripple doughnuts from Kitchen Sanctuary

Strawberry pie hearts from Lovely Little Kitchen

Tiki snack mix from Popsugar

7 Essential Tips for the Perfect Picnic

1. Check the weather. Before preparing your picnic, make sure to check the weather. 
2. Plan ahead of time. Shop for groceries a few days in advance and have food prepped the night before/morning of the picnic.
3. Pick your picnic blanket carefully. Bring a large, thick picnic blanket that will fit you and your guests, along with other picnic items.
4. Prepare for critters. Keep animals and other vermin out by keeping a garbage bag close, tying it up whenever possible.
5. Don’t fill beverages to the top. This is important especially when bringing cups without lids. Fill your drinks about ¾ of the way to the top to prevent spillage.
6. Stay dry. Prevent your picnic basket from getting soaked from grass by placing a shower curtain under your blanket to act as a barrier.
7. Pack smart. Place heavy items on the bottom to prevent squishing. Wrap any bottles in your picnic blanket and place napkins in between plates to prevent clicking.

No matter the occasion, a picnic is the perfect excuse to get some Vitamin D and enjoy the fresh air. With all these picnic food and drink ideas, you can plan a romantic sunset date or a weekend trip to the park with the little ones. Transport all your picnic goods with a personalized picnic backpack you can bring anywhere!