How To Pack The Perfect Picnic

The Recipes And Tips You Need For A Perfect Picnic

The best way to take advantage of the beautiful, warm days ahead is with a delicious picnic eaten in a lovely al fresco setting. There's something about eating outdoors, and on a blanket, that makes food taste slightly more delicious.

Whether you'll be making your way to the beach, are planning a meal after a long hike, or just know of a beautiful patch of grass worth spending some time in, we've got picnic packing tips for you. And recipes. So many great recipes.

But first, a couple of things to keep in mind:

1. Remember food safety: Make sure food has completely cooled before packing it up in containers. And don't eat anything that has been left out in warm weather for longer than two hours, no matter how good it looks.

2. Pack foods in sealable containers to avoid spills and basket messes. There's nothing worse on a picnic than finding your sandwiches soggy from a leaky coleslaw.

3. Don't forget napkins, plates or utensils. And glasses! (Everyone always forgets glasses.)

4. Keep things cold. Use ice pack or freeze water bottles -- which you can later drink as they defrost -- to keep things chilled.

5. Most importantly: Make lots of food, take your time and enjoy the beautiful warm weather.

Here are a few great recipes that'll travel well, and are easy to eat while sitting in the grass. Enjoy!

1
Caprese Pasta Salad
Niki Lowry
Get the Caprese Pasta Salad recipe from Niki Lowry via The Muse
2
Ham, Spinach And Gruyére Quiche
A Cozy Kitchen
Get the Ham, Spinach and Gruyére Quiche Recipe from A Cozy Kitchen
3
BLT Spring Roll
White On Rice Couple
Get the BLT Spring Roll recipe from White On Rice Couple
4
Greek Lemon Pasta Salad
Foodie Crush
Get the Greek Lemon Pasta Salad recipe from Foodie Crush
5
Spicy Pork Lettuce Cups with Noodles
White On Rice Couple
Get the Spicy Pork Lettuce Cups with Noodles recipe from White On Rice Couple
6
Middle Eastern Chicken And Couscous Wraps With Goat Cheese
Handle The Heat
7
Caprese Pasta Salad
Annie's Eats
Get the Caprese Pasta Salad recipe from Annie's Eats
8
Quinoa Wrap
Como Come Cami
Get the Quinoa Wrap recipe from Como Come Cami
9
Avocado Caprese Wrap
Foodie Crush
Get the Avocado Caprese Wrap recipe from Foodie Crush
10
Curried Chicken And Lentil Pita Pockets
Bev Cooks
11
Easy Layered Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Half Baked Harvest
12
Zucchini And Smoked Chicken Sausage Penne Pasta With Basil
Foodie Crush
13
Buffalo Chicken And Avocado BLT Wraps
Half Baked Harvest
Get the Buffalo Chicken and Avocado BLT Wraps recipe from Half Baked Harvest
14
Cobb Salad Sandwich
Two Peas and their Pod
Get the Cobb Salad Sandwich recipe from Two Peas and their Pod
15
Mason Jar Zucchini Pasta Salad With Avocado Spinach Dressing
Sugar Free Mom
16
Horseradish Roast Beef Wrap
Macheesmo
Get the Horseradish Roast Beef Wrap recipe from Macheesmo
17
Asparagus, Spinach, & Feta Quiche
Two Peas And Their Pod
Get the Asparagus, Spinach, & Feta Quiche Recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod
18
Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad with Cucumber and Feta
Laura Bolton for Fork Knife Swoon
Get the Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad with Cucumber and Feta recipe from Laura Bolton for Fork Knife Swoon
19
Tuna Nicoise Sandwich
Adventures in Cooking
Get the Tuna Nicoise Sandwich recipe from Adventures in Cooking
20
Muffaletta
Alpha Smoot/Food52
Get the Muffaletta recipe from pierino via Food52
21
Asian Tuna Salad
Simply Recipes
Get the Asian Tuna Salad recipe from Simply Recipes
22
Stetson Potato Salad
Foodie Crush
Get the Stetson Potato Salad recipe from Foodie Crush
23
German Chocolate Brownies In A Jar
Foodie Crush
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