Our Food Editor's Favorite Picnic-Friendly Recipes
Sandwiches, snack cakes, and so much more.
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Photo by MJ Kroeger
Picnic season is almost here (yay!). Whatever the concept of a picnic means to you: a fête in the park with friends, a lunch on a blanket in the backyard with your family, a hearty meal shared at a picnic table after a long day camping, a sand-specked snack spread at the beach—there are so many ways to take in the warm weather months. My favorite way, naturally, is with a bevy of delicious dishes to complement the company and scenery. To celebrate, I've compiled a few of my top recipes that get a picnic seal of approval.
When I’m in picnic mode, I’m thinking about compatibility. Specifically, not having to bring more than three different "dipping" items for the bevy of spreads, dips, and sauces. This carrot dip is amenable to any dipper—crudités, crackers, or pita bread—which eliminates one more extraneous variable. It's also gorgeously hued and spiced perfectly in harmony with the warm weather.
Sure, that pre-packed herby cheese spread we know and love will do the job at any gathering. But, how lovely to DIY and show up with this verdant beauty? Since feta is a blank slate of sorts, a lot of herbs would be great fodder with the creamy spread.
A pretzel is a great picnic addition for a multitude of reasons. It's portable, stores well (so they can be made days in advance), and can be eaten alone or with a multitude of charcuterie, sauces, or dips. Plus, rolling up to the picnic with a warm basket of freshly baked pretzels carefully wrapped in a tea towel is such a vibe.
Toasts are an ideal picnic food: small, handheld, and a blank canvas for whatever spread you desire. For these toasts, fresh mint and petit peas are the star, ushering in a refreshing and bright tone to your picnic. For best results, I suggest carrying the onions separately so they don't leech and make everything soggy.
These sandwiches are ideal for a big gathering. The frittata—which can be customized with different accoutrements of your choosing—is baked all at once on a sheet pan (which also creates perfect portions for each sandwich), and each sandwich can be individually packaged to hand out to eager attendees.
Simply put, picnic fare can sometimes be super meat heavy, and I always appreciate when there's a vegetable thrown into the mix. Paired with a delicious spicy mayo, these sandwiches are sure to delight every vegetable lover. Bonus points: Use the pickled onions from the spring pea toasts on these sandwiches, too!
I love this cake because of its versatility—it’s the perfect vessel for whatever toppings you choose. Bring a fruit compote, some crème fraîche, or even enjoy it plain. The honey sings in tandem with the whole-wheat flour used in the recipe, and is a sweet end to a picnic day.
Got a last-minute invitation? These shortbreads are just five ingredients, so they can come together quickly before you're on your way to frolicking in the park. Slice and serve however you please; a seasonal jam or fresh fruit would be great foil to the spiced bars.
What will you be bringing to your next picnic? Sound off in the comments!