15 Picnic Foods You Can Easily Tote to the Beach
Keep full and happy while soaking up the sun.
While the weather is still warm and you can enjoy some time at the beach, why not have yourself a picnic? Load up the cooler with beach snacks and head out for some fun in the sun. (Just don’t forget your sunscreen!) These beach picnic foods are easy to throw together and pack, and most of all, easy to eat without too much fuss. They’ll keep you full and happy without weighing you down.
The first things you need for picnic foods (besides the cooler) are reliable food storage containers so nothing spills. And consider summer recipes that can handle a little heat once you take them out of the cooler to eat. Think: picnic side dishes like salads without mayo and snacks like Chex mix that are fine in any temperature. Also consider finger foods and grab-and-go beach sandwiches that cut down on the need for too many utensils.
And don’t forget a sweet bite or two! While most of these items are savory, there are a few dessert ideas that are easy to make and even easier to transport. Cake mix cookies bake up in less than half an hour or slice up some fresh watermelon for the ultimate summer treat. Then all you need to do is pack the picnic blanket, make sure you’ve got ice for the cooler, and you're ready to head to the beach!
Make-Ahead Sandwich Rolls
You can assemble these sandwich rolls up to six hours ahead, and they make the perfect grab-and-go lunch. Ree has two options here: Rueben rolls with thousand island dressing and turkey-ham rolls with chipotle mayonnaise.
Get Ree’s Make-Ahead Sandwich Rolls recipe.
Blueberry Bars
With their sweet fruit filling and easy-to-pack bar form, this treat is perfect for summer picnics! The crust and the topping are made from the same mixture, just divided in two, so they don’t take forever to prep.
Get the Blueberry Bars recipe.
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
Salads can be messy, but do know what’s easier to eat? The wrap version! Filled with tender chicken, crisp romaine, and creamy Caesar dressing, they’re like a meal all in one easy-to-tote package.
Get Ree’s Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
This dip is easy to toss together before hitting the beach. It's full of bright and fresh flavor with diced fresh veggies, black-eyed peas, and black beans. Keep it in the cooler until you’re ready to dig in with tortilla chips.
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Watermelon with Lime Sugar
You can cut watermelon slices ahead of time and place them in an airtight container. You can also make the sweet-tart lime sugar ahead but just wait to sprinkle it on when you’re ready to serve.
Get Ree’s Watermelon with Lime Sugar recipe.
Tomato Sandwich
You can't beat tomatoes in the summertime. This classic Southern staple lets them shine, calling for a few simple ingredients: white bread, garlic aioli, and fresh heirloom tomatoes.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
Dill Dip
If you’re looking for an easy and refreshing dip for cut-up veggies or chips, try dill dip. It only takes five minutes of prep and can store tucked in a container and your cooler for several hours.
Get the Dill Dip recipe.
Italian Sandwich
Piled high with meat, cheese, and crunchy veggies, this sandwich will make sure you feel satisfied. It has a zippy Italian dressing that actually tastes better if it sits for a while, so you can make it in advance.
Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.
Spiced-Up Potato Chips
Take a bag of store-bought chips and jazz them up. A few simple spices, like garlic salt, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, can easily turn ordinary potato chips into the best beach munchies.
Get Ree's Spiced-Up Potato Chips recipe.
Italian Pasta Salad
Since there’s no mayo, this pasta salad travels better than most. It’s full of salami, mozzarella, olives, peppers, and plenty of fresh herbs. Keep it cold and just give it a toss before serving.
Get the Italian Pasta Salad recipe.
Pico de Gallo
Another way to celebrate tomato season! Nothing is quite like pico de gallo when you want the perfect fresh dip for those chips. It has some spice to it, but you can adjust the amount of fresh jalapeño you add.
Get Ree’s Pico de Gallo recipe.
Shrimp Pasta Salad
If you’re craving a shrimp or lobster roll but don’t want to worry about soggy buns, this pasta salad will cure that craving. You can make it up to a day in advance. Just keep it cold!
Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.
Spicy Chex Mix
No room left in the cooler? Chex mix doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It is one of those addictively good snacks that doesn’t take a ton of effort to throw together and tastes better than the store-bought kind.
Get the Spicy Chex Mix recipe.
Cake Mix Cookies
These easy cookies use boxed cake mix and a few other ingredients, so they’re perfect to throw together last minute. They bake up sturdy, so just wait for them to cool, and pack ‘em up for your trip.
Get the Cake Mix Cookies recipe.
Cucumber Salad
This salad holds up in the heat thanks to its light, mayo-free dressing. Cool, crunchy cucumbers will keep you more hydrated, too. You can make it up to a day in advance.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
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