On weekends or warm weather days, a picnic with your group of friends or colleagues is a great idea. Preparing food for a picnic is essential. So follow The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups for more ideas on preparing food for your trip.

Lemony Marinated Chicken Skewers Recipe

Don’t worry if your picnic spot doesn’t have an oven. This dish can be prepared in advance and enjoyed when cooled. The cuts of meat are tender, rich in flavor, and easy to carry on the go. Lemony Marinated Chicken Skewers Recipe is a perfect choice for a picnic with your friends.

Ingredient:

2 pounds of boneless chicken breast or thigh
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons cilantro or parsley, minced
2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dill
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Making:

Cut the chicken into small pieces for skewers and place in a glass dish. Mix olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro or parsley, crushed garlic, paprika, salt, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne pepper.

Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure the chicken is evenly coated with the marinade. Cover the dish with cling film and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for 20 minutes. If using wooden skewers, use this time to soak them in water.

Then the chicken skewers were divided evenly into 6-8 skewers. Bake over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until cooked through. This is the first dish in The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups.

Macaroni Salad Recipe

A picnic wouldn’t be complete without a version of cold pasta salad. This is also a dish that is sure to be loved by everyone. Delicious and fresh, this recipe combines all the classic pasta salad flavors loved by many, making it the perfect addition to your picnic.

Ingredient:

4 cups pasta
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup milk
Pickle juice
2 roasted red peppers
1/2 cup black olives, finely chopped
1/2 cup pickles, diced
3 green onions, sliced

Making:

Cook pasta according to package directions, then set aside and let cool. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, milk, and pickle juice. In a large bowl, whisk together the pasta and mayonnaise mixture little by little, until the consistency you prefer.

Mix the roasted red pepper, olive oil, pickles, and onion. Allow the mixture to infuse the flavors for about 2 hours before serving.

Olive Tapenade Recipe

Olive Tapenade Recipe has a savory, exotic, rich flavor that is one of those delicious dishes unlike anything else you can take to the picnic. It can also be used as a sauce for cookies or bread, and even sandwiches.

Ingredient:

1 1/2 cups brine olives, pitted
1 teaspoon anchovy powder, or 2 pieces of anchovies, minced
3 tablespoons capers, washed
3 cloves of garlic
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Making:

Mix olives, anchovies, capers, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and continue to puree them until they form a paste. Season with salt and pepper for a savory taste. Serve with baguettes or crackers for the best dish.

Watermelon Basil Feta Salad Recipe

This salad is totally easy to make and perfect for outdoor dining. The combination of watermelon and cucumber will make it hard to refuse this attractive dish.

Ingredient:

4 cups watermelon, cubed
1/4 purple onion, sliced
1 English cucumber, cut into half circles
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil, cut into strips
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Making:

Mix watermelon, onion, and cucumber in a large bowl. Then mix honey, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix the sauce and watermelon mixture until it’s all blended. Sprinkle feta and basil on top, and toss gently again to make the dish more beautiful. This is the next dish idea in The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups.

Classic Bruschetta Recipe

Classic Bruschetta Recipe is a summer favorite. This refreshing flavor with tomato coating is the perfect thing to prepare for your picnic with friends.

Ingredient:

6 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup basil, chopped
5 garlic cloves, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 piece of bread, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, chopped

Making:

Mix 1 teaspoon of garlic and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a small bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes with the remaining garlic, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside to marinate for 15-30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F then place baguette slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread garlic-infused olive oil on both sides.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top and bake for 5 minutes, then bake over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Serve with tomato mixture for the best taste. This is the next dish idea in The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups.

Ham and Swiss Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls Recipe

Ham and Swiss Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls Recipe is more than just an ordinary ham cheese sandwich. These cute little cakes are full of flavor, super easy to make, and perfect for a picnic.

Ingredient:

12 Hawaiian sweet rolls, cut in half
1/2 – 3/4 pound cooled ham, thinly sliced
3/4 pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoons dried onion, minced
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Making:

Preheat oven to 350F then lines a 9×9 inch or 9×13 inch pan with foil, spray with cooking oil, and set them aside. Use a large knife to cut the roll in half.
Place the bottom layer in the pan and start placing the first layer of cheese on the rolls.

Spread the ham on the rolls, layer the cheese in a second layer, add the top layer of rolls, and set them aside. Melt butter over very low heat. Add the mustard, onion, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and beat well to blend.

Pour the butter mixture over the rolls and spread the butter mixture on top. Cover with aluminum foil and leave the rolls at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. Then bake and cover for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Remove the foil and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.

Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust Recipe

A picnic would be incomplete without dessert. These delicious lemon bars are the perfect balance between sweet and sour, with a deliciously crunchy and rich buttery crust. This is also the last dish in The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups.

Ingredient:

1 cup unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour, divided
6 eggs
1 cup lemon juice
Confectionery sugar for dusting

Making:

Preheat oven to 325F, then line a 9×13 baking tray with parchment paper. To make the crust, you need to mix melted butter with 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add flour and stir to combine evenly. Then press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes until the edges of the cake are lightly browned.

Remove the crust from the oven. Using a fork, poke holes in the warm crust and set aside. To make the filling, you need to sift 2 cups of sugar and 6 tablespoons of flour. Beat eggs and lemon juice until completely combined.

Pour the lemon filling over the warm crust and bake for 22-26 minutes until the filling is frozen. Once cooled, sprinkle with sugar if desired.

Hopefully the article The 7 Basic Picnic Food Ideas For Large Groups will help you have more suggestions for the best food to have a picnic with friends.