When you’re looking for a quick romantic getaway, just a fun hangout with your friends and family, or the ideal corporate meet-and-greet, a picnic is an event you should seriously consider.
It’s not every day that you get to go outside and enjoy a quiet and peaceful day outside with some snacks and socializing.
If you’re planning to host such a picnic for either a corporate event or a larger gathering, amidst everything else you’d have to think of, like the guest list for example, you wouldn’t want to stress about the food. The solution for this is hiring a picnic catering service that can help you get a delicious picnic menu together.
Trying to figure out the right snacks and drinks to order for a picnic, however, is where it gets tricky. Always keep in mind that guests would usually like light snacks and dishes that would allow them to socialize and even be able to go on walks and enjoy themselves. A well-catered picnic can transform any event, whether it’s a family reunion, corporate outing, or romantic rendezvous, from ordinary to amazing.
In this blog post, let’s look at a few simple yet absolutely delicious picnic catering ideas for you to enjoy with your guests.
Colorful Salad Jars
Salad jars are not only convenient for picnics but are also an out-of-the-box option to present your guests with salad. While not everyone looks forward to salad, you can ask your catering company to make these jars fun and interesting with different colors and flavors—and don’t forget to add some labels to offer everyone their personal jar.
If you are planning on organizing a picnic for a larger crowd or as a part of a corporate event, salad jars are a fun route to offer a healthy option. Various ingredients like mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, quinoa, avocado, and feta cheese with different dressings can be served. In addition, an excellent picnic catering idea would be to incorporate fruits into the salads.
Gourmet Sandwiches or Wraps
No matter the part of the world, if there is a picnic, you’re bound to find sandwiches and wraps. Not only are they simple to make but they are also easy to carry and eat on the go. With sandwiches, there is more than one way to make it—sweet or savory, there’s nothing to worry about because, with this easy-to-prepare snack, you can ensure everyone’s taste buds and cravings are satisfied.
If you’re wondering what to ask your catering company to prepare for an easy picnic lunch menu, wraps are the winner, whereas an evening-time picnic would call for sandwiches. But having both is always an option—there are no restrictions! From traditional selections like egg and avocado to more adventurous choices like grilled vegetables with pesto, get a variety to offer something for everyone.
Delicious Grazing Platters
Grazing platters and charcuterie boards have been all the rage recently and for good reasons. There is excitement in getting together all the ingredients and arranging the delicious assortment in its aesthetically pleasing way. But organizing a picnic is already a lot of work as it is so you won’t want to worry about wasting your time getting the ingredients together.
By hiring a service that caters to picnics, you can request more than one type of platter. Ask them if they can create a selection of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, olives, crackers, and fresh fruits, and add some dips like homemade hummus or roasted red pepper spread for an extra flavor punch or even different types of butter. The more accommodating your caterer, the better.
Yummy Finger Foods
Unlike other events, picnics are about socializing in an intimate setting. They are all about mingling with the utmost ease. You don’t have the time to be sitting around and trying to figure out how to eat complicated foods without actually spilling any on the picnic blanket. So what’s the best food choice for such an occasion? Finger foods!
Finger foods that you can just carry around and eat while taking a stroll are the ideal delicacies for a fun and engaging picnic. Perfect picnic catering ideas for such occasions would include chicken tenders, fried chicken, and other obvious options—which you simply cannot miss—like hot dogs. Pair these with some beverages like iced coffee or lemonade, or both.
Picnic catering ideas to give your guests the proper outdoor socializing experience
It’s no secret that the food is the main character at any event, and it is no different when it comes to picnics as well. Whether you’re inviting a large crowd or just hanging out with your family and friends, these few picnic catering ideas can help you put together a quick-and-easy picnic menu in no time. Once you have your ideas lined up, hire a professional picnic catering service to prepare and serve up these delicious treats for you.
