What food to take to a picnic with friends: easy ideas to share

Organizing a picnic with friends seems easy until you decide what food to take. The key is to choose options that are easy to transport, you can eat cold and do not complicate the plan. On Especia We believe that the key is to enjoy the moment, not stress with the logistics.

At a picnic you don’t need to set up a formal meal. It is best to bring dishes that can be shared, eat by hand and serve without too many utensils.. Less complications, more celebration. In my case, I think that what cannot be missing is the variety: that each person can try different things while they talk, get up, go back to the blanket or something else is served.

Therefore, the best options are usually snacks, wraps, empanadas, tortillas, cold salads, cut fruit, dips and simple sweets. And if you don’t want to cook, a very practical alternative is to ask for our Trays ready to show off at your table, especially if the picnic is for several people.

In Mallorca, Spice It offers catering in trays that you can choose according to the type of food and the number of guests. So you just have to pick them up or agree on a delivery point and take them directly to the picnic. Event, your menu, your rhythm.

Before choosing food, think of comfort

On a picnic with friends there are usually people in a blanket, others standing, someone pouring drinks and several chopping from different containers. Therefore, food has to adapt to the context. The goal is for everything to flow effortlessly.

The ideal is to prioritize options:

• cold or enjoyed well at room temperature
• Easy to eat by hand
• comfortable to carry
• Don’t stain too much
• that can be shared without mounting complicated dishes

I would avoid hot meals, dishes with too much sauce or preparations that require cutlery, dishes and a lot of assembly. The less you depend on utensils, the more fluid the plan will be..

It is also convenient to think about how you are going to save the leftovers. Carrying everything in tupperware, trays or wrappers with a lid is very practical: if something is left over, it closes and returns home without risk of “encatch”.

Food ideas to take to a picnic with friends

Sandwiches, mini sandwiches and wraps

They are classic because they work. They are eaten by hand, they admit many combinations and you can prepare them before leaving. They are the agile solution for any group.

Some ideas:

• mini tortilla snacks
• Chicken, lettuce and cheese sandwiches
• Hummus, vegetables and feta cheese wraps
• Ham, tomato and olive oil sandwiches
• Tuna, corn and green leaves wraps
• Mini vegetable sandwiches

It is best to cut them into small portions so that each person can try more than one option. If you wrap them individually or separate them into containers, you will prevent them from crushing or getting wet.

Empanadas, tortillas and cold quiches

Potato omelette, empanadas and quiches are perfect for a picnic because they can be eaten cold, they are easily distributed and they hold up well.. Impeccable presentation and flavor that everyone likes.

You can take:

• classic potato omelette
• tuna pie
• Vegetable empanada
• Leek and cheese quiche
• Spinach Quiche
• Assorted mini dumplings

If you are several, this type of food works very well on trays: each one takes a portion and continues to enjoy the plan without having to assemble a complete plate.

Cold salads in tupperware or on tray

Cold salads provide freshness and variety, but it is advisable to choose bases that hold up well.

Good options:

• Pasta salad
• Rice salad
• cous cous salad
• Legume salad
• Potato Salad
• Quinoa salad

It is better to take the dressing separately and mix it immediately. This will prevent the salad from getting soft or too wet. This block can link naturally with a cold food content for events, as many of these ideas also work in celebrations, informal meetings or buffet tables.

These types of dishes are the ideal complement if you are looking for ideas of cold food for events, since they work just as well on a picnic as in an informal buffet.

Hummus, dips and crudités

Dips are ideal for sharing. They take up little, combine with many things and allow it to be uncomplicated without complications.

You can take:

• Classic hummus
• Guacamole
• Cheese cream with herbs
• vegetable pate
• Tzatziki

To accompany:

• carrot in sticks
• Cucumber
• Cherry tomatoes
• Bread Pita
• Crackers
• Breadsticks

Here the containers with lid are essential. In my case, I always prefer to take each separate thing so that nothing mixes during transport.

Cheese boards, sausages and salty snacks

A snack table is one of the most appreciated options for a picnic with friends. Does not require cooking, easy to share and provides a lot of variety.

You can combine:

• Cured or semi-cured cheeses
• ham, fuet or sausage
• olives
• Nuts
• grapes or dates.

If it’s hot, avoid overly soft cheeses and keep everything in a thermal bag until you eat.

cut fruit and skewers

The fruit brings freshness and helps balance the menu. In addition, it is easy to eat if you have it already washed and cut.

practical ideas:

• Watermelon in triangles
• cubed melon
• Grapes
• strawberries
• Fruit skewers
• tangerines
• Apple with a few drops of lemon

The skewers are especially comfortable because they are eaten by hand and look great if the picnic is part of a celebration.

Easy to carry candy

To close the picnic, choose sturdy and easy to distribute candy.

Recommended options:

• Brownies
• cut cake
• Cookies
• Muffins
• Homemade bars
• Cupcakes

Avoid cakes with cream, ice cream or desserts that need constant cold. They can be great, but they are not the most practical for eating outdoors.

How to organize food so that there are no messes

The organization can save or ruin a picnic. It is not enough to choose good food: you also have to transport it well.

Basic recommendations:

• Use airtight tupperware for salads and dips
• Bring sandwiches individually wrapped
• Separate wet and dry food
• Save the sauces separately
• Use trays with lid for shared food
• Bring plenty of napkins
• Add a bag for waste

Separating the food by type also helps a lot: a container for salty, another for fruit, another for sweets and another for sauces or dips. This makes it easier to serve, save leftovers and avoid rare mixtures. This same logic fits with content on food to take to work, because in both cases you need practical, transportable and easy-to-preserve food.

Mastering the art of hermetic tupperware will not only serve you for the weekend; It is the same logic that we apply in our guide on food to take to work To eat healthy and rich every day.

Don’t want to cook for the picnic?

Ready-to-go trays straight to your picnic blanket

Choose your trays by food type and number of guests, pick them up or arrange a delivery point, and that’s it: variety, great presentation, and zero cooking.

View Picnic Trays

Frequently asked questions about what food to take to a picnic with friends

What is the most practical thing to take to a picnic?

The most practical thing is to bring cold food, easy to transport and that can be eaten by hand, such as mini snacks, wraps, omelette, empanadas, cold salads, fruit and individual sweets.

What cold food can I take to a picnic?

You can bring pasta salad, rice salad, potato omelette, quiche, empanadas, hummus, wraps, sandwiches, cheeses, fruit and brownies.

What to take to a picnic if I don’t want to cook?

You can take our ready-to-serve trays, cheese and sausage boards, cut fruit, bread, crackers, prepared hummus, pastry candy and cold drinks. Get the food ready and enjoy stress free.

How much food to calculate per person?

It depends on whether the picnic replaces a main meal or is just a snack. As a base, calculate several salty portions per person, something fresh, enough drink and a sweet to close.

What shouldn’t you take to a picnic?

Avoid hot dishes, meals with a lot of sauce, preparations that need a lot of cutlery, delicate desserts and foods that spill or spoil easily..