Easy Picnic Food Ideas |

These Easy Picnic Food Ideas make for a great summer afternoon buffet. From cheese to cold meats to treats…there is something for everyone on this picnic foods ideas list. And let’s be honest…sometimes making lunch can feel like a job…when you just lay it out and invite everyone to DIY their own lunch…well, sometimes that just makes life easier!

Easy Picnic Food Ideas

As always, keep food sensitivities and food allergies in mind when you do your grocery shopping and picnic planning. You may want to go totally nut-free, vegetarian, dairy-free or not. I tend to offer things in their own containers and that way those who might have sensitivities can opt to take things or not (except when it comes to nuts…if I know someone has a nut allergy then nuts are off the menu completely!)

Picnic Food Ideas

Baguette
croissants
crackers
french toast strips
buns
wraps
cheddar cheese
swiss cheese
brie
gruyere cheese
oka cheese
black forest ham
oven roasted chicken
sausage bites
salami
pickles
olives
nuts (if no allergies)
raw cut carrots
cut cucumber
celery
raw broccoli florets
tomatoes
raw cut red peppers
mini salad bowls
humus
tzatziki
chips
popcorn
corn chips
brownies (click here for the BEST BROWNIES RECIPE EVER)
cookies
grapes
watermelon
orange slices
apple slices
juice
water
wine (if at home and not driving – and adults only)

Picnic food layout tips

If you are going on a picnic…aim to pack things in containers which lock air out in order to keep them fresh longer. Add ice packs and thermal containers to keep things cold (no one likes cut meat which has been sitting in the sun all day…you can get sick from that sort of thing).

You might want to use…

muffin tins to separate foods
picnic blanket
fold-able camping picnic table
paper plates
serving spoons
napkins
insulated containers

Have a buffet in the backyard!

I am getting a little tired of making lunch for everyone. Thus, I highly recommend taking some of the foods mentioned above…put them on a big tray…and have a DIY your own lunch buffet in the backyard. It makes lunch so much more casual and fun!

Easy Picnic Food Ideas