Food

Food

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15 kid-friendly picnic recipes

picnic blanket in the shade with food and drinks

A picnic can be as simple or elaborate as you like. We’ve sourced our favourite kid-friendly picnic recipes so the whole family can enjoy dining al fresco. Or in the living room when winter feels never ending and you need a harbinger that spring, in fact, will rise again. You choose. 

Pita Grilled Cheese With Gouda And Honey

Pita with cheese and melted honey
Pita Grilled Cheese With Gouda And Honey

Fancy up sandwiches a bit with some nigella and sesame seeds and finished with a little honey for some of sweet-salty goodness. But if you wanted to scrap all that and just go for cheese in a pita? No one’s gonna be mad at a grilled cheese. Get the recipe: Pita Grilled Cheese With Gouda And Honey

BLT Hot Dog

Board with hot dogs topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and bacon
BLT Hot Dog

Consider this fun hybrid of classic sandwich toppings on iconic wiener and bun. Pack your shredded iceberg, crumbled bacon and diced tomato separately and pour some mayo in that squeeze bottle you’ve been stashing away in the cabinet for ages. Get the recipe: BLT Hot Dogs

Charcuterie Board
A cheese and meat charcuterie board
Charcuterie Board

Think you can’t be bougie on a picnic? Think again. A charcuterie board is a friend you want by your side at every park hang. We have tips on choosing the right kind of cheese to round out your board (maybe yours is cheese string-only if you pack a picky crew and that’s OK). Load all your goodies up and assemble on-site. Don’t forget crusty bread. Seriously. Cheese board tips here >

 

Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Cookie dough balls on a blue plate
Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Who doesn’t want to sneak a bite, or 12, of cookie dough? Whether you make this recipe and simply store it in a jar in the fridge for a sweet snack or roll it into dough balls to carry with you for little bites of energy, this grain-free, refined sugar–free, dairy-free recipe will give you that cookie dough experience without all the stuff your body doesn’t need. Plus, the kids will be thrilled to help. Get the recipe: Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Zucchini and Quinoa Fritters with Tzatziki

Zucchini fritters on a plate with creamy sauce to dip
Zucchini and Quinoa Fritters with Tzatziki

Meet a hand-sized, dippable hit. Grated zucchini is mixed with herbs, eggs, and spices, shaped into small patties, and lightly fried. Adding quinoa and feta to the batter makes these classic fritters heartier and adds more nutritional value, too. Get the recipe: Zucchini and Quinoa Fritters with Tzatziki

Ranch Chicken Tenders

Plate of chicken fingers with ranch dressing to dip
Ranch Chicken Tenders

Show us a kid who doesn’t want to slam dunk a crispy, breaded chicken tender into some creamy cool ranch dressing. The air fryer makes these super simple, but baking in the oven works, too. Get the recipe: Ranch Chicken Tenders

Muffuletta

Muffuletta sandwich stuffed with meat, cheese and veggies
Muffuletta

Have you met muffuletta? It’s a stuffed-to-the-brim Italian sandwich that can stay in your fridge for several days; so grab a wedge when you need a little nosh. The longer it sits, the better it tastes. Get the recipe: Muffuletta

Deviled Eggs

Board with deviled eggs
Deviled eggs have so much potential beyond the usual mayo and sprinkle of paprika; try dressing them up with our list of add-ons, like smoked salmon, curry paste or bacon. Get the recipe: Deviled Eggs

Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars With Coconut Whipped Cream

Strawberry and cream bars
Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars With Coconut Whipped Cream

The shortcake crust on these strawberry bars has turbinado sugar, which provides a delightful crunch, while the pecans help out with the butteriness (they can’t help it, that’s just what they do). And what could be a better vehicle for shovelling whipped coconut cream studded with juicy strawberries into your mouth? Get the recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Bars With Coconut Whipped Cream

Picnic Pasta Salad

Bowl of pasta salad with fresh veggies and dill
Anything goes when it comes to pasta salad, so feel free to swap for ingredients you prefer or already have on hand. But don’t discount this recipe, it’s pretty tasty and veggie-packed. Get the recipe: Picnic Pasta Salad

Simple Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

Bowl of hummus with bread and veggies to dip
Simple Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

If you love the rich flavour of tomatoes, you will love this simple sun–dried tomato hummus. It’s infused with oregano and fresh lemon for flavour and a kick of brightness. Bring it to parties, picnics, road trips, and everywhere in between. Get the recipe: Simple Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Balls

No bake peanut butter chocolate chip balls
No-bake, chewy, chocolatey and loaded with peanut butter? Yep, it’s happening. These little balls taste like cookies without all the work (and extra sugar). Get the recipe: No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Balls

Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas
These tasty treats are easy to make in minutes. All you need is an inexpensive can of chickpeas, a bit of oil and some spices. They’re addictive as a snack and are great in place of croutons in a salad or to top a bowl of soup. Get the recipe: Roasted Chickpeas

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

Chocolate chip cookies
The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

There is always time for cookies, but most especially at picnics. This is the only chocolate chip cookie recipe you will ever need. They are soft, chewy and just a little bit crisp around the edges. Finish it off with a little sprinkle of sea salt. Get the recipe: The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

Fudgy Beet Brownies 

Pile of brownies on a cutting board
Fudgy Beet Brownies

A word of warning: once you enlist the help of the kids on these brownies, they’ll be in on your hidden veggie secret. You wouldn’t know it by looking at them—or tasting them—but this fudgy stack has grated beets. Hard to believe, but we’re not lying. Get the recipe: Fudgy Beet Brownies

 

Published in May 2021. Updated in March 2024.

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