I love picnic food and all things picnic food ideas! The weather has finally really turned and summer is well on its way. With the change in weather and school winding down, I’ve been starting to make our plans for summer. That typically consists of splash pads, parks, and lots of glorious sunshine. Along with all of our outings, I usually end up throwing some peanut butter sandwiches into the diaper bag, which tends to get old fast! Plus, while my kids love peanut butter sandwiches, I’m not a huge fan. So, here are eight summer picnic recipes that are amazing!
Summer Picnic Recipes
1. Chilled Spanish-Style Tomato Soup
Okay, so I get the whole “soup should be hot” thing, but hear me out. There’s nothing more satisfying on a hot day than a chilled soup! This tomato soup is full of flavor and completely customizable to whatever your preferences are. Adding in cheese, bacon, or sour cream can help take this soup up a notch!
2. Skirt Steak and Corn with Chimichurri
This is a lunch fit for queens! The steak can be grilled a day ahead of time and can be served cold or room temp. So, if you’re feeling the need to treat yourself, this is the lunch for you! I love picnic food that can be saved for later!
3. Grilled Ratatouille and Bulgur Salad
This dish comes together easily in 25 minutes. It’s packed with lots of veggies and flavor, and it makes a great dish for a picnic in the sunshine.
4. Roast Chicken with Broiled-Vegetable-and-Bread Salad
This dish is a little more intense than the rest-it takes about two hours from start to finish. The result is definitely worth the effort though! The chicken has a deliciously crispy skin and the flavor is deep and delicious.
5. Tortilla Espanola Romesco Sauce
Talk about a summer picnic recipe! This is made with zucchini, potatoes, onions, and a yummy romesco sauce. You should cook it in a skillet like this one for the best flavor and consistency.
6. Potato-Cabbage Slaw
This is a great side dish for a summer picnic! The cabbage provides a lovely crunch while the potatoes mellow the dish. This is one that needs to cool for at least an hour, and definitely gets better the more that it mellows.
7. Rotelle with Onions, Cucumbers, and Herbs
Pasta, Vidalia onions, thinly slice cucumbers all combine to create a fresh pasta salad flavored with mint, tarragon, basil, and parsley. It takes about 45 minutes to pull together and is worth all the effort.
8. Chicken, Artichoke, and Orzo Lettuce Cups
Pack this separately and you don’t need to pack along utensils, which makes it perfect for a picnic. Orzo pasta provides a delicious and filling base while the chicken and artichokes add some flavor and depth. This is definitely a must for a picnic at the park!
And there you have it! Pack your lunch in this cute and simple lunch box. It’ll help keep warm things warm, and cold things cold. Next time you hear the sunshine whistling to come on outside, forget the peanut butter and jam and pack yourself a real meal! Looking for more summer recipes? Check out my post on sunsational summer recipes.
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