A summer picnic is the best way to enjoy the summer sun. Discover the ultimate summer picnic menu, perfect for casual outdoor dining, all selected with easy preparation and transport in mind. If you’re planning a romantic outing, a family gathering, or a fun day with friends, this menu will make planning your summer picnic a breeze.
The summer picnic menu
Starter
Prepare a selection of snacks and nibbles ahead of time for easy grazing. Cutlery can be tricky to manage gracefully while sitting on the ground, making finger food essential. Avoid soft cheeses and meats that might sweat in the sun; instead, focus on hard cheeses and shelf-stable options. Remember to pack toothpicks for olives or anything that might leave people needing to wipe their fingers.
- Nuts, hard cheeses, olives and sun-dried tomatoes, cured meats, pickles
- Crackers, bread and shelf stable dips
Main
Focaccia sandwiches are an easy make ahead option. Use the following list as inspiration for fillings.
- Hot chicken
- Ingredients: Shredded chicken, mayonnaise, hot sauce, and avocado.
- Tip: This should be fine from a sogginess point of view, but a little arugula will help too!
- Italian Classic:
- Ingredients: Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, and basil pesto.
- Tip: Use a light layer of pesto to prevent sogginess.
- Caprese Delight (Vegetarian):
- Ingredients: Sliced fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Tip: Layer the tomatoes between the basil and mozzarella to keep the bread dry.
- Chicken Caesar:
- Ingredients: Grilled chicken breast, romaine lettuce, shaved Parmesan, and Caesar dressing.
- Tip: Dress the lettuce lightly just before assembling to keep it crisp.
- Herb Cream Cheese and Veggie (Vegetarian):
- Ingredients: Herb cream cheese, cucumber slices, shredded carrots, and spinach leaves.
- Make it vegan: use hummus in place of cream cheese
- Tip: Use thicker cucumber slices to add crunch without excess moisture.
- Roasted Veggie and Goat Cheese (Vegetarian):
- Ingredients: Roasted red peppers, courgette, aubergine, and goat cheese spread.
- Tip: Let the roasted vegetables cool completely and pat them dry before assembling.
Top Tip
This is our favourite foccacia recipe ever!
Dessert
We love fruit skewers for a sweet treat that isn’t too heavy in the heat of the sun. When making fruit skewers in advance, make sure to choose fruits that won’t turn brown or soften quickly. Avoid using apples, pears, or bananas. Instead, go for fruits that stay fresh and firm, such as:
Alternatively, easy sharing desserts like macrons or lemon slice are perfect – or send some of the group off in search of an ice cream van!
Drinks
Pimms cups, sangria, or Aperol spritz are perfect summer drinks.
Drinks are possibly the trickiest part of a summer picnic. If you can bring a cooler then you can bring whatever you like, but I prefer to bring ice in an insulated bottle and the drink in another bottle (preferably insulated but not as essential). This way the ice stays frozen during the day and you can use fresh ice from the bottle to cool the drinks for each round, rather than trying to keep the liquid cool. Here are some ideas for summer cocktails!
How to transport
- Have your nibbles in containers that can be easily opened and then packed away when done.
- Focaccia sandwiches should be wrapped up, preferably kept with an ice pack just to give them a head start against the sun.
- Fruit skewers in a container squeeze with lemon juice for an extra guard against browning.
- For drinks, take ice cubes in an insulated bottle or two, and serve the drinks by taking some of the ice out into a cup and then pouring the drink over the top. It might not be as cold as straight from the fridge but it’s a good compromise to avoid bringing a whole (chilly bin) along.
Other things to bring
- Picnic blanket
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Cups
- Cutlery (just in case)
- Napkins
- Hand sanitizer