We love picnics. From doorstop-thick sandwiches, to a refreshing fruit salad, to a crisp chicken salad, a picnic basket filled with delicious treats evokes some of the best memories of summer. A picnic table spread with hearty local fare is an excellent way to enjoy a meal during your next Cotswold holiday.
Before you start packing for your next picnic on your Cotswold vacation, you may be wondering what foods travel well. When you arrive at your destination, the last thing you want is a soggy sandwich, a wilted salad, or mayonnaise that’s on the turn.
Here at Cassoulet & Cream, we’ve devised ten easy picnic food ideas to make your next alfresco feast as easy and delicious as possible. We’ve included options for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans, but don’t feel constrained by our suggestions. These are just ideas to get you started, feel free to get creative and add any picnic food you like to the hamper!
Alternatively, if you want to take the hassle out of organising your next Cotswold picnic altogether, then here at Cassoulet & Cream, we can put together a picnic hamper for you. However, if you’re itching for inspiration and looking for great picnic food ideas to make yourself, then read on!
Top picnic food ideas
Have a look at any picnic food photos on Instagram or articles about easy picnic food ideas and you’re bound to be met with an overwhelming number of suggestions. That’s why we’ve selected our top 10 favorite picnic food ideas that will be perfect for any summer picnic. The best picnic food ideas we’ve chosen are:
- Sandwiches
- Pork Pie
- Charcuterie
- Chutneys and pickles
- Baby gem, pea, and chicken salad
- Cheddar Gorge Cheddar
- Roasted harissa cauliflower
- Potato salad
- Strawberries and cream
- Summer berry smoothie
There’s something for every member of your party here. From the classics to something a little more modern, picnic foods that include everyone pull together the perfect outdoor lunch. We’ll walk you through how to make sure these foods arrive in the perfect condition and even give you some great recipes and tips along the way.
Sandwiches
Sandwiches have been the staple of British picnic food since we first sat down on a picnic blanket. A fresh, flavourful filling between two slices of crusty bread will keep stomachs full throughout the day.
We recommend using fresh crusty bread to take the humble sandwich up a notch and make sure you’re not just packing the sad sort of offering seen on so many office desks at lunchtime. Marks Cotswold Bakery does an amazing Cotswold Crunch Sourdough that’s sure to stand up to any fillings you want.
When it comes to sandwich fillings, you want to pick something tasty that holds well, especially if travelling in a warm car, and something that all the family can enjoy. Smoked salmon with pickled cucumber and a fresh dill mayonnaise is a sophisticated, grown-up sandwich filling that is sure to please those looking for something a cut above the ordinary cheese and tomato sandwich. Or, you could try a simple egg salad sandwich-just make sure to include an ice pack in your picnic basket to ensure it holds well. Vegans can enjoy a tasty sandwich filling, such as sun-dried tomato, hummus and cucumber.
If you want to change things up a bit, why not try using pita bread instead? Then bring along fillings that people can choose once the picnic blanket has been unfurled, such as cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, and prosciutto, or just some simple picnic dips like tzatziki.
Pork Pie
If you’re rummaging around for a last minute picnic idea, then a pork pie is a great call. Filling, tasty, and traditional, a pork pie can be bite-size, shareable, or so large that you have to bring the rest home for a great snack.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try making one of these yourself. Or, just pop down to your local farm shop or supermarket and pick one up. To jazz it up and impress your picnicking friends, you could bring along some hot sauce to give each bite an extra spicy kick.
If you’re worried that a pork pice on its own might be too heavy, then include a refreshing salad to have on the side, with crunch radishes, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy dressing. If you want to pack a picnic that’s easy to carry, then a pork pie with a couple of boiled eggs and a bottle of sparkling water make the ideal alfresco meal for explorers who need a filling meal. An extra tip to make that bottled even more refreshing-add a spritz of lemon juice.
Charcuterie
You may be used to seeing charcuterie boards at home dinner parties but in picnic food? An Italian classic, charcuterie can make your picnic look expensive and special without having to break the bank.
You don’t have to go abroad to find the finest charcuterie. The Saltpig Curing Company is based in the Cotswolds and supplies some of the best kitchens in the country. Upton Smokery provides a delicious range of smoked fish for any pescatarians in your group.
Some of the best picnic food ideas are based on simplicity, and what could be more simple than a range of smoked fish and meats arranged on a charcuterie board? It’s surprisingly easy to make a few pieces of charcuterie look impressive. Simply display your meats artfully on a charcuterie board, add some juicy tomatoes on the vine, pop a few fresh herbs on, too, and, voila, your next picnic is ready to impress your friends and will be worthy of any Instagram post about great picnic food ideas.
For a little extra crunch, why not include a chopped few bell peppers or some tortilla chips with some picnic dips, and you’ll have a selection of enviable picnic food.
Chutneys and pickles
Chutneys and peppers add a beautiful crunch and vinegary taste that is sure to lift any picnic meal. Packed up and ready to go, a jar of chutney will travel well and is the perfect accompaniment to cheese, sandwiches, or even picnic salads.
You could make chutneys and pickles yourself at home. Just be sure to leave them to mature and mellow long enough before opening and eating them.
A tasty chutney to bring with you on any picnic is a classic tomato chutney. Packed with juicy tomatoes, onions, garlic, and even chilli if you’re feeling brave, this chutney will jazz up a humble cracker and could also add a little extra kick to an ordinary pasta salad.
Piccalilli is another delicious chutney to bring on a picnic. Spread on a thick slice of bread, this chutney is surprisingly easy to make if you want to give it a go. There are lots of easy recipes online. The flavours of coriander, turmeric, and cumin give this pickle a strong flavour that makes it a great snack, either on its own, as part of a picnic salad or wedged in a sandwich.
Baby gem, pea, and chicken salad
Salads have a reputation for suffering in the heat of a picnic basket and going soggy. This dish will travel well and fill you up while offering a healthy option for easy picnic food ideas.
To make this salad take a couple of cooked chicken breasts and shred them up into small pieces, then set them to one side. Next, take the leaves off a baby gem lettuce, and wash and drain them. Then, defrost some peas, thinly slice some radishes, and gather a handful of pea shoots.
For the dressing, combine two tablespoons of whole grain mustard with a tablespoon of white wine vinegar and half a tablespoon of sugar, then whisk in a bowl until combined. While whisking, add 100 ml of vegetable oil and 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil.
Toss the salad in a tupperware box and add the dressing when you arrive.
Cheddar Gorge Cheddar
Cheese is delicious wherever you eat it, but sadly, many soft kinds of cheese sweat while travelling, which makes them unsuitable for picnics.
If you still want that salty cheesy kick on your next picnic, then Cheddar Gorge Cheddar is a great choice. This cheese will taste wonderful on a cracker or shaved over a simple salad.
Roasted harissa cauliflower
Vegans needn’t miss out on amazing picnic recipes or be fobbed off with a boring salad. This light yet filling salad of roasted harissa cauliflower is tasty, easy to make, and suitable for almost all dietary requirements.
Prepare the cauliflower into large florets, and season with salt and pepper and curry powder and drizzle with a little vegetable oil. Roast in a 200 degrees centigrade oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden.
Meanwhile, put 2 large tablespoons of harissa in a bowl and add a handful of chopped corriander and a dash of vegetable oil and whisk to combine. Toss the cooked cauliflower in the harissa and return to the oven for a further 5-10 minutes until fully cooked. Take the cauliflower out of the oven and finish with pomegranate seeds, a squeeze of lime, and more fresh corriander.
Strawberries and cream
A British classic, strawberries and cream make the perfect picnic dessert. To ensure the fruit isn’t squashed on the journey, pack them in this pretty, environmentally-friendly bowl with a bamboo lid.
To keep the cream fresh on the journey (no one needs to eat cream that’s on the turn after a warm trip!) then put it in a small thermos when fridge cold.
If you want to jazz your strawberries up a little, why not dip them in dark chocolate or white chocolate, then leave them in the fridge overnight to set.
Summer berry smoothie
Refreshing drinks are a must for any successful picnic. Smoothies from the shops can be expensive, so why not make your own? It’s easy, inexpensive, and will last in the fridge for 3 days.
To make your own summer berry smoothie, simply put some of your favourite seasonal berries in a blender. We love a mix of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and add a banana for extra thickness. To make this smoothie extra refreshing, add a few ice cubes into the mix, then start to blend.
Once the mixture is nice and smooth, put it in a thermos to keep it cool and ensure that it arrives at your picnic destination in perfect condition.
Don’t forget to pack enough glasses for everyone if you don’t want to sip from the same thermos. You could buy these cute tumblers to avoid bringing more plastic into your home (and eventually the rubbish bin). They’re made from bamboo, durable and biodegradable so you can enjoy your picnic knowing that you’re protecting the environment.
Potato salad
This salad is a hit with vegetarians and vegans (with a couple of twists) and is sure to be a great addition to your next picnic trip.
Boil and cool the new potatoes. Wash the baby spinach and dice the feta into cubes (for vegans, swap for a vegan cheese of your choice). Toss together the ingredients in a bowl and season with a generous amount of black pepper, but watch the salt as feta cheese can be quite salty. Drizzle with good quality extra virgin olive oil, and for an extra crunch, you could add roasted walnuts.