A family picnic is a great way to get off our phones and press pause on our busy schedules in favor of fresh air and fun in the great outdoors. It’s an easy and inexpensive family activity that is all about togetherness—and, of course, yummy food.
But what should you pack and how do you keep kids entertained once you’re there? From simple picnic food ideas to fun picnic games for families, we’re here to make your next picnic a major hit for all ages. So, grab your basket. It’s time to unpack some of our favorite family picnic ideas.
Let’s start with the main attraction—food! Kids often love helping to plan the menu, make a dessert, pack up the basket, and set up the blanket area once you get there.
When you’re a busy family juggling school, work, and kids’ activities, it isn’t always realistic to plan an elaborate meal. Here are some simple picnic food ideas and easy picnic food to buy so you can avoid a ton of prep.
Picnic finger food. Minimize the need for utensils with picnic finger food that can be served at room temperature, like mini quiches, cocktail meatballs on toothpicks, and pigs in a blanket. Fried chicken is another classic picnic finger food that can be served hot or cold.
You can also serve cold picnic finger food that you pack in a cooler, like tomato and mozzarella skewers, deviled eggs, and watermelon feta kabobs.
Sandwiches. Since you’ll likely have a variety of food options, opt for mini sandwiches so that everyone has room to sample a little bit of everything. Try ham and cheese rollups made with tortillas, mini bagels with turkey and cheddar, or small flatbreads with your toppings of choice.
Grilled food. If your picnic site has a charcoal grill on hand, you can always cook up classic grilled food like burgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob. Don’t forget to bring the fixings!
Salads. A salad is always the perfect side dish. Make a green salad to get those veggies in or try a simple pasta salad made with a non-mayo-based dressing.
Here’s an easy pasta salad recipe that kids can help with: Mix tri-color rotini pasta with Italian dressing, parmesan cheese, and your choice of add-ins such as halved cherry tomatoes, sliced bell pepper, and olives.
If you opt for mayo-based salads such as potato salad, macaroni salad, or coleslaw, just be sure to pack them in a cooler and keep them out of the sun.
Snacks. You’ll also need snacks for a family picnic to munch on before or after the main meal or while you’re playing games. Look for easy picnic food to buy, like chips, mini muffins, and kid-approved Welch’s® Fruit Snacks.
Desserts. No family picnic is complete without a sweet dessert to cap off the experience. We recommend items that aren’t covered in frosting to minimize mess. Try brownies, blondies, oatmeal raisin bars, or chocolate chip cookies. Bonus points if they’re homemade!