If you’re thinking about packing up a picnic and enjoying a sunny day, you’re in the right place! We’ve gathered the best picnic food ideas to make your planning easy.
From sandwiches to pasta salads, packable appetizers, snacks, and of course desserts… this collection’s got it all covered.
Thanks to our weekends at our little modern lake house, we have become picnic experts of sorts.
We’ve mastered the best boat snacks, and we love packing easy, delicious bites that we can enjoy on the dock or out on the water. Don’t get me wrong, we love enjoying all the Table Rock Lake restaurants, but there’s something really fun about doing it ourselves, too.
While we spend our summers on the water, we enjoy the area during fall, winter and spring too. Most weekends, we pack lunches and snacks to go hike or bike the trails at one of the many beautiful parks in the Table Rock lake area.
See our guide for all the best things to do on Table Rock Lake, in fact!
This collection of the best picnic recipes is sure to inspire you for a day out, enjoying the sunshine with friends and family. Let’s making something delicious and pack it up for a picnic!
25 of the Best Picnic Food Ideas
We’ll start with a few great sandwiches, because who doesn’t love those for a picnic? At the end of this collection, we’ll share the recipe card for our favorite picnic sandwiches, too!
Grinder Sandwiches
Dinner & Lunch
Grinder Sandwich
Make a grinder sandwich at home – it’s a viral recipe for a reason! We’re updating the classic, with a salad layer for an extra zesty crunch. Read More
20 mins
Italian BMT Sandwiches
Dinner & Lunch
Italian BMT Sandwich
An Italian BMT sandwich is an iconic flavor combo you’re going to love. Made famous by the Subway version, you can now make it at home! Read More
10 mins
Chicken Wrap
Dinner & Lunch
Chicken Wrap Recipe
Keep it light with this easy and delicious chicken wrap recipe. It’s filled with fresh lettuce, grated cheese, juicy chicken, tomato, red onion, optional cilantro, and more! Read More
30 mins
Snackle Boxes
Appetizers
Snackle Boxes
If you love to snack, you’re going to love snackle boxes! They are everything you love about charcuterie board, wrapped into the cutest container for travel. Tackle box charcuterie for the win! Read More
15 mins
Jarcuterie
Appetizers
Charcuterie Jars
Jarcuterie is the cutest spin on the ever-popular charcuterie boards that are forever loved by families and party-goers across the world! Charcuterie Jars make for the most delicious way to entertain. Read More
10 mins
Deviled Eggs
Appetizers
The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe
Get the secrets to the best deviled eggs recipe. Once you try this fluffy, creamy, tangy recipe, you’ll never go back. They are devilishly good, and perfect for parties, picnics, Easter and so much more. Read More
30 mins
Cheese and Crackers
Appetizers
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are a classic snack with so many fun variations! This timeless combination is so easy to customize. It’s fast, easy and nutritious, and makes an effortless appetizer. Read More
5 mins
Trail Mix
Recipes
Trail Mix Without Raisins
Learn how to make the most delicious trail mix without raisins! In fact, this trail mix with M&Ms is so easy to customize with sweet and salty flavors, you’ll never miss them. Read More
5 mins
Vanilla Fruit Salad
Side Dishes
Vanilla Fruit Salad
This vanilla fruit salad is a family favorite with a perfectly sweet vanilla dressing. It’s easy to customize for snacks, sides + picnics! Read More
5 mins
Prosecco Soaked Grapes
Desserts
Champagne Grapes
Celebrate something special with sweet, sparkling Sugared Champagne Grapes – a poppable appetizer or dessert that will have everyone raving! Prosecco grapes are fresh, vibrant, and bursting with the flavor of your favorite bubbles! Read More
12 hrs 2 mins
Drunken Strawberries
Recipes
Drunken Strawberries
Recipe for Drunken Strawberries, Rosé Strawberries or Wine Marinated Strawberries – whatever you want to call them, you’ll be calling them the perfect summer treat! Read More
10 mins
Fruit Skewers
Appetizers
Fresh Fruit Skewers
These darling fruit skewers are the ultimate way to serve festive fruit for every occasion! Perfectly bite-sized and oh-so-charming, you’ll have your guests oohing and aahing over your clever display. Read More
10 mins
Mini Cheese Tarts
Appetizers
Mini Cheddar Cheese Tarts
These little cheddar cheese tarts are delicious and perfectly portioned for entertaining! They are exploding with rich cheddar flavor and so easy to make – ideal for brunch or served as an appetizer. Read More
25 mins
Peanut Butter Fruit Dip
Recipes
Peanut Butter Fruit Dip
This is a delightfully easy and creamy peanut butter fruit dip recipe. It’s a three ingredient peanut butter dip that is excellent for an after school snack and so much more! Read More
2 mins
Bacon Popcorn
Appetizers
Bacon Popcorn
Bacon popcorn is the ultimate savory snack. It feels like such a treat but it’s so easy to make with just 2 ingredients! It’s so easy to add a little extra flavor to your homemade stovetop popcorn. Perfect for movie night and Super Bowl entertaining! Read More
10 mins
Ranch Dip
Hummus
Recipes
Easy Hummus Recipe
A classic hummus recipe made with a few simple ingredients in minutes! It’s fresh, flavorful and easily adaptable! Read More
10 mins
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Game Day
Garlic Parmesan Wings
Crispy, sticky, and perfectly salty, these garlic parmesan wings are sure to be the hit of any party! They are the perfect game day food, and they might even put your favorite buffalo sauce to shame. Read More
55 mins
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Pasta
Tortellini Pasta Salad
This tortellini pasta salad is jam packed with zesty Mediterranean flavors. A homemade Greek dressing perfectly complements the textural pasta and veggies in this amazing cold side dish! Read More
25 mins
Veggie Pasta Salad
Side Dishes
Veggie Pasta Salad
This veggie pasta salad recipe is bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors! Overflowing with nutrients thanks to an array of fresh veggies, it’s a vegetarian pasta salad side dish you can feel good about! Read More
20 mins
Homemade Boursin Cheese
Recipes
Boursin Cheese
This homemade Boursin cheese is a soft, creamy cheese blended with garlic and herbs – the most delicious herb cream cheese! This Boursin cheese is so irresistible, you’ll want to dip on repeat. Read More
2 hrs 5 mins
Whipped Goat Cheese
Appetizers
Whipped Goat Cheese Spread
Goat Cheese Spread is an easy goat cheese appetizer made with whipped goat cheese, honey, herbs and fresh cracked pepper. It takes less than 5 minutes to make and is always a crowd pleaser! Read More
5 mins
Jalapeño Dip
Game Day
Creamy Jalapeño Dip
This Creamy Jalapeño Dip is an easy dip recipe to throw together and serve a crowd! It’s a stand out dip that’s perfect for parties, tailgates and will have everyone talking! Read More
25 mins
Cookie Bars
Cakes Cupcakes & Bars
Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
These salted caramel chocolate chip cookie bars are the ultimate combination of sweet and salty flavors, and just as easy as a sheet of cookies. A decadent caramel sauce creates a chewy, buttery flavor that combines with a burst of sweet chocolate chips for a treat your family will inhale! Read More
40 mins
Kitchen Sink Cookies
Cookies
Kitchen Sink Cookies
Kitchen sink cookies are made with toffee, pretzels and white chocolate chips. They are perfectly crunchy and delightfully chewy, sweet and salty. Read More
25 mins
Last but not least, we’re sharing our favorite picnic sandwich recipe! These sandwiches are such a great way to upgrade a classic picnic food – plus they’re wholesome, filling, and so easy to eat on the go.
Best Picnic Food Ideas: Make the BEST Picnic Sandwiches
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Slice bread to size and in half, longways, and place on baking sheet. Bake bread 8-10 minutes or according to package directions.13 ounces take and bake loaf
- Remove from oven and immediately add sliced cheese to each sandwich (to make it slightly melted).¼ pound havarti cheese
- Brush butter onto top of bread while it’s warm and sprinkle with fresh cracked sea salt.2 tablespoons butter, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Add lunch meat and any additional toppings to the sandwich. Close the top and serve or wrap for a picnic lunch.½ pound deli meat
Julie’s Tips
- While these sandwiches don’t *need* condiments, you can add them! To keep the bread from getting soggy, add condiments between the layers of meats, cheese or any lettuce, onions or tomato slices that you add. Just try not to let the condiments touch the bread – it’s such a great trick to avoid soggy packed sandwiches!
- Packaging these picnic sandwiches like your favorite sandwich shop adds an extra special touch. Wrap in parchment paper and tie with a ribbon for guests for a gorgeous presentation!
- Look for take and bake bread in your grocer’s bakery department.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
