A summer picnic is perfect because of the delicious food, the sunlight, and the pure air. Who, however, wants to spend hours cooking elaborate meals?
Give up fretting and appreciate easy, portable dishes that are perfect for outdoor pleasure. These fifteen delicious and simple picnic meal ideas will keep your taste buds happy and your tummy full.
With everything from light snacks to chilled finger foods, put together a picnic basket that will make everyone in the park envy!
1. Caprese Skewers
Beautiful, colorful, and quite easy to put together Thread fresh basil leaves, mozzarella balls, and cherry tomatoes onto skewers for a refreshing and light beginning that’s perfect for sharing.
2. Cream Cheese Cucumber Roll-Ups
An energizing and wholesome nibble Spread a cream cheese mixture studded with chopped herbs (dill, chives, etc.) over thin cucumber slices. Roll them up for a refreshing, tasty snack.
3. Thirteen Tiny Quiches
Excellent for finger food and really elegant! Make small quiche cups in a muffin pan for pre-portioned savory snacks. Stuff them with your favorite quiche ingredients, including cheese, vegetables, and cooked sausage, for a crowd-pleasing and substantial starter.
4. Cheese Deviled Eggs with Pimento
An oldie but with a Southern twist! Mix your favorite deviled egg filling with creamy pimento cheese for a tasty and unexpected take on this classic picnic dish.
5. Vegetable Skewers
Many flavors in each bite! Skewer cherry tomatoes, olives, salami slices, bits of provolone cheese, and marinated artichoke hearts for a simple to grab and serve antipasto meal on a stick.
6. Raw Vegetables and Hummus
Comfy and satisfying! Pack your favorite hummus flavor with a rainbow of colorful vegetables including carrots, bell peppers, cucumber slices, and sugar snap peas for a full and wholesome snack that everyone will love.
7. Fruit and Nut Mix Trail Mix
Tantalizing and portable! Mix your favorite nuts, dried fruit, granola and even a little bit of dark chocolate chips for a sweet and salty trail mix perfect for satisfying cravings while on the go.
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8. Sandwich Pinwheels
Interesting and colorful! Spread over a tortilla or flatbread hummus, cream cheese, pesto, or any other favorite sandwich filling. For a colorful finger food substitute, wrap it up tightly, cut it into pinwheels, and secure them with toothpicks.
9. Jar Salads
Shake, pour, then enjoy! Sort your preferred salad ingredients—dressing, chopped vegetables, protein (chicken, chickpeas, etc.) and lettuce—into a mason jar. Leave them separate until you’re ready to eat. Shake for a portable, well dressed salad after that.
10. Mint Melon Balls
Brilliant and energising! Using a melon baller, scoop off bits of watermelon or cantaloupe that are biting size. Along with fresh mint leaves, they make a refreshing, light snack perfect for a hot summer day.
11. Frozen Yogurt Bark with Berries and Granola
Amazingly good for you! Spread oats and your favorite fresh or frozen berries over a thin layer of yogurt on a baking sheet. Freeze until hard, then break into pieces for a refreshing and nutritious frozen treat that’s perfect to share.
12. Whipped Feta Dip Crudités
Perfectly lovely and light! Blend crumbled feta cheese with herbs, lemon juice, and a little olive oil for a thick, creamy dip. Present it as a light and nourishing snack accompanied with a rainbow of colorful vegetables.
13. Pasta Salad Caprese
Reworking a classic in a unique way Toss cooked pasta, fresh basil leaves, mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes and a simple olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing for a delicious and satisfying pasta salad perfect for sharing at a picnic.
14. No Bake Energy Bites
Filling, healthful, and on the move! Roll oats, nut butter, honey, and dried fruit to form small energy balls for a post-picnic pick-me-up. These no-bake sweets have readily interchangeable tastes and ingredients.
15. Tiny Fruit Pizzas
Pizza done fun and sweet! Dot small bagel or English muffin pieces with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting. Sliced fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi makes a delicious and refreshing little pizza perfect for satisfying a sweet need during your picnic.
These 15 easy-to-make but delicious picnic snack ideas will have you prepared to wow your fellow picnickers with your spread.
Cool finger foods and wholesome nibbles are just a few of the options on this list to keep everyone happy and satisfied in the summer heat.
Get your blanket and basket together, then prepare for a delicious and relaxing picnic!
