45 Picnic Food Ideas for a Mouth-Watering Summer

Picnics, one of our favourite pastimes, are an easy way to enjoy the great outdoors during the warmer months. Whether you’re planning a feast with friends or a family occasion, there’s something wholesome about gathering on a picnic blanket to enjoy a lovingly prepared meal. There's something extra special about sitting on the ground with the wind rustling your hair while you eat, making summer memories to last a lifetime.

From healthy picnic ideas to heavenly desserts, you can use this list as inspiration to create your ideal picnic basket full of tasty options.Take your summer to another level with these easy yet impressive picnic food ideas and recipes.

1. A charcuterie board

For a spread that’ll impress any fellow picnic goers, a charcuterie board is the way to go. Pack the ingredients and assemble at your chosen picnic spot. The best charcuterie board includes your favourite foods, but here are some suggestions:

• Dried fruit
• Nuts
• Cured meats
• Flavoured bread
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Cheese
• Crackers
• Olives
• Dips and spreads

2. Smoked butternut squash salad

A hearty yet healthy salad with butternut squash, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, mixed beans, and plenty of flavour.

3. Savoury gruyère bread with ham

You don’t need to be a star baker to make this deliciously savoury ham and cheese bread.

4. Simple homemade hummus

Hummus is incredibly easy to make, nutritious and the great accompaniment to veggie sticks on a picnic.

5. Single serving picnic quiches

Make serving a summer food staple simple with these individually portioned quiches. You can, of course, adjust the fillings as you desire. Caramelised onion, goat’s cheese, chorizo and leek are good alternatives.

6. A selection of vegetable sticks

Carrots, celery, cucumber, peppers, radishes and even fresh green beans are perfect for eating alongside dips and hummus.

7. Tandoori grilled chicken with red cabbage slaw

Beautifully grilled chicken on a bed of brown rice with homemade red cabbage slaw on the side. A nutritious and tasty picnic meal to make ahead of time.

8. Curried bulgur wheat salad

A healthy side dish and easy to pack for a picnic.

9. Simple hummus wraps

You can prepare these in advance or make them during the picnic, they really are that simple.

10. Picnic loaf

Fill a beautifully baked loaf of bread with your favourite fillings for an easy-to-transport picnic idea.

11. BLT pasta salad

This crowd pleaser is simple to make, easy to store and sustaining so great for an active day outdoors.

12. Hard-boiled eggs

Full of protein and perfect for adding to a salad or eating on their own, hard-boiled eggs are an often-forgotten staple picnic food.

13. Apple-glazed pork and apricot sausage rolls

A twist on the picnic classic, these flavoured sausage rolls are a delight and keep really well in an airtight container.

14. Rice krispie treats

Whether it’s a treat for the kids or a bit of well-deserved indulgence for yourself, remember to pack something tasty like these classic rice krispie treats.

15. Antipasto skewers

Anything on a skewer is easy to eat during a picnic and these antipasto skewers are fancy looking and tasting!

16. Halloumi and mint muffins

This classic Cypriot flavour combination is perfect for a picnic in the UK sunshine.

17. Coronation chickpea sandwich filler

Vegetarian picnic foods like this coronation chicken alternative are easy to prep and transport. It’s a great way to get extra goodness into kids too.

18. Caramelised onion dip

Perfect for spreading on sandwiches or for dipping crisps, vegetables, or bread.

19. Fresh fruit salad

Cut up a selection of your favourite fruits, such as bananas, strawberries, melon, orange slices, peaches, grapes and kiwis and keep them fresh in a reusable food container, ready to serve at your picnic.

20. Watermelon feta salad

When the temperature soars, there’s nothing more refreshing than this watermelon salad.

21. Watermelon pops

Nothing but watermelon here, a great treat for the kids.

22. Classic cheese scones

 

Deliciously savoury scones are perfect for spreading with butter or eating with one of the dips on this page.

23. Chocolate courgette cake

 

For a sweet treat that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser, this courgette cake is ideal.

24. Baked vegetable samosas

 

Picnic food can be both tasty and easy to make, these baked vegetable samosas are packed with flavour.

25. Potato salad

 

Potato salad is a picnic classic and easy to make. You can also make this vegan with dairy-free mayonnaise.

26. Healthy strawberry oat squares

 

These healthy oat squares can be made with strawberries or any other fruit of your choosing. They’re super easy to pack up in reusable containers and a winner with both kids and adults.

27. Bacon and egg pies

 

If the classic pork pie isn’t for you, these individual bacon and egg pies are easy to make, filling and tasty.

28. Spinach and feta wraps

 

For a healthy wrap idea, spinach and feta make a great combination. Wraps are great for picnics and you can make them in advance, roll them up and wrap them tightly to transport.

29. Berry skewers

 

Buy a selection of your favourite berries and carefully stack them up on skewers for an easy way to eat fruit during your picnic. Anything on a skewer looks fancy but requires minimal effort.

30. Jam jar salads

An easy way to transport a whole single serving salad, including the dressing. You can make these days in advance and store in the fridge.

31. Smoky carrot dip

Sweet and full of goodness, this healthy dip is a great alternative to plain hummus.

32. Chocolate concrete

A real throwback to school dinners, this chocolate concrete always goes down will with sweet treat lovers.

33. Veggie rainbow picnic pie

Part tortilla, part pie, this veggie-packed picnic idea looks just as good as it tastes.

34. Crunchy peanut satay coleslaw

Making your own coleslaw is surprisingly easy, and you can add a flavour twist like with this satay version.

35. Double chocolate chunk brownies

Chocoholics unite, these are a must after your savoury picnic feast.

36. Chicken and pineapple satay skewers

Make your protein nothing but delicious with the picnic favourites.

37. Easy blueberry muffins

If you want a pudding option but aren’t a big chocolate fan blueberry muffins are a great idea.

38. Melon and prosciutto skewers

Sweet and salty, always a winning combination.

39. Picnic pies

Sausage, stuffing, apple and rosemary are the main flavours in these delightful mini picnic pies.

40. Flapjacks

Easy to make and cut into individual portions, flapjacks are an energy-boosting treat to add to any picnic.

41. Corn on the cob

With butter, salt and your favourite seasoning, corn on the cob is a mouth-watering addition to any picnic.

42. Lemon drizzle cupcakes

A twist on the much-loved lemon drizzle cake, these individual cupcakes are fresh and delicious, ideal for the warmer months.

43. Apple, blue cheese and walnut salad

A great side salad to go with all of your picnic favourites.

44. Ham and cheese wraps

A classic sandwich combination turned into wrap form. Add pickle for a flavour boost.

45. Peanut butter cookies

For a sweet treat that can be made and easily stored in an airtight container, these peanut butter cookies are brilliant. Not just great for your picnic but for keeping around all summer long.

View more food ideas or holiday inspiration for your summer in the great outdoors.