Celebrate Summer with Delicious Picnic Food

When summer starts to heat up, it’s time to start making picnic food. Whether you’re traipsing through mountains humming something from the Sound of Music or hanging out in the basement trying to avoid another scorcher, picnic food is an easy answer when someone asks the question what’s for dinner?

When it comes to choosing dishes for a picnic, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is the recipe should be able to be prepared the night before to make sure you can get on the road or trail first thing in the morning. The second is the dish needs to be able to travel long distances without falling apart or making a mess. The third and last thing is it needs to be able to be eaten hot or cold.

One of our favorite picnic dishes is Smoked Chicken Drumsticks, which have a nice smokey flavor, come with a built-in handle, and are delicious hot or cold. A tip that makes them taste even better is to serve them with a little Ancho Chili and Honey Barbecue Sauce to dip in.

Cold salads are ideal side dishes for picnics. Three of our favorites include a Taco Salad with a tangy dressing that is balanced with crunchy Doritos and creamy chunks of cheddar cheese. 

This Orzo Salad is a simple pasta dish that travels well and is loaded with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes, making it taste like the peak of summer. 

If you’re looking for something a little different that is healthy and loaded with Medeterrian flavors, try making a batch of Great Northern Beans with Rosemary and Garlic. The roasted garlic and fresh rosemary elevate the flavors in this light bean dish.

One of our favorite ways to eat cucumbers in the summer is to lightly pickle them with fresh herbs and spices. Turning cucumbers into refrigerator pickles extends their life while creating an easy side dish that goes with almost everything. This simple Refrigerator Pickle recipe uses fresh dill and fennel to create one of our favorite summer flavor combinations.

Thanks as always for reading and sharing, Umami. We greatly appreciate it!

Featured in this Umami Bites

• Simple Smoked Chicken Legs
• Blueberry Pie
• Taco Salad
• Orzo Salad with Tomatoes and Basil
• Gin Rickey
• Refrigerator Pickles with Fennel and Dill
• A Complete Guide to Smoking Food
• Great Northern Beans with Rosemary and Roasted Garlic

Umami Bites is Umami’s electronic newsletter. Each issue is filled with recipes, cooking tips, and ideas to help the curious cook explore the world of food. Check out our archives for past issues.