Fall Finger Food Ideas for Picnics

A selection of seasonal fall finger foods and appetizers can make a simple yet abundant autumn picnic feast that draws on the harvest seasons’ plentiful produce. It is an excellent example of why I love picnic finger food.

Four images of food: 1) Toast with vegetables and pomegranate seeds, 2) Rolled green wrap with filling, 3) Person holding filled pastries, and 4) Bowl of hummus with bread slices.

More Fall Picnic Inspiration:

Fall Finger Food Ideas

Are you planning a finger food menu or need sides for fall salads? These autumn-inspired appetizers are the perfect foundation for your fall picnic.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach

While mushrooms are available all year round, fall and winter are when they are at their peak.

These little vegetarian morsels make a great fall picnic finger food addition, especially when served hot in the cooler weather.

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Stuffed mushrooms with spinach and cheese on a plate.

Simple Chicken Soup

While soup can be a stand-alone picnic meal, it can also be an appetizer. There's nothing cozier than a mug of homemade chicken soup to start your picnic lunch. See my tips for serving soup at a picnic.

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Two bowls of chicken soup with bread on a table.

Roast Pumpkin and Feta Mini Frittatas

These roasted pumpkin and feta mini frittatas are simple, delicious, and perfect for a picnic. Easy to customize, they can be served hot or cold, as a starter, side, or a standout addition to a mezze plate or fall-inspired cheese platter.

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A plate of frittatas with vegetables and a fork.

Crispy Scotch Eggs

Scotch Eggs, a British classic, are perfect for a fall picnic. These deep-fried sausage-wrapped eggs can be served hot or cold and are easily portable for a make-ahead finger food option. This recipe gives you the option for healthier Air Fryer Scotch Eggs or classic fried.

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A plate with scotch eggs, one is cut in half showing the yolk.

Spinach Salmon Roulade with Caviar

Vibrant and elegant, this spinach roulade adds a special touch to your fall finger food lineup. Though a bit fiddly, they can be prepped the day before, making them a stress-free, show-stopping picnic appetizer.

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Photo credit: lowcarb-nocarb.com

Close-up of sliced spinach roulade with salmon, cream cheese, and caviar filling, garnished with dill and lemon wedges, placed on a wooden board.

Chicken Kiev Balls

I’ve reinvented the classic Chicken Kiev into bite-sized, picnic-ready mini versions! These easy-to-make treats are perfect for sharing and can be prepped ahead for stress-free picnics.

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Fried chicken kiev balls on a plate with a bite taken out of one.

Pecan Goat Cheese Log

This Maple Herb Pecan Goat Cheese Log is the ideal make-ahead, no-cook appetizer. Creamy goat cheese mixed with cinnamon, maple, rosemary, thyme, and pecans is a quick and easy seasonal snack perfect for a fall picnic.

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Photo credit: ccstable.com

A log of cheese coated with chopped nuts sits on a wooden board beside round crackers, with a knife displaying a portion of the cheese.

Smokey Pumpkin Hummus

Just when we thought hummus couldn't get any better. Jazz up your fall picnics with this deliciously creamy, sweet, and smokey smoked pumpkin hummus, a refreshing twist on a traditional hummus recipe.

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A bowl of hummus topped with sesame seeds and spices, surrounded by slices of whole-grain bread on a wooden board, with a knife placed beside the bowl.

Sweet Potato Rounds with Goat Cheese

Looking for a low carb version of cranberry and goats cheese bruschetta. Look no further than this tasty marvel that uses sweet potato as the foundation instead of bread. A very delicious alternative.

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Photo credit: chiselandfork.com

Close-up of a roasted sweet potato slice topped with goat cheese, nuts, and dried cranberries, drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Roasted Beet & Feta Tart

Quiches and tarts always make great picnic food because you can eat them by hand as a starter or make them a meal with salad.

Beets are one of my favorite picnic ingredients (I give you all the tips for roasted beets here). While beets may be at their peak in summer, they are available all year round. A delicious fall picnic idea perfectly pairs beetroot and fetta with caramelized onion in an easy-to-eat tart.

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Photo credit: endofthefork.com

A vegetable tart with a golden crust, topped with pieces of beets, feta cheese, caramelized onions, and fresh herbs, shown on a rustic wooden surface.

Cauliflower Buffalo Dip

Another hearty cool weather dip is this vegetarian version of a classic. Cauliflower Buffalo Dip makes a great appetizer as is or, top it on small bruschetta pieces and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh herbs for an elegant finger food picnic addition.

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A bowl of buffalo cauliflower dip garnished with sliced green onions, placed on a wooden board, with celery and carrot sticks in a cup nearby and additional green onions in a small dish.

Spinach and Feta Triangles

Inspired by traditional Greek Spanakopita, these easy-to-make spinach and feta triangles are wonderfully portable appetizers for cooler weather. Serve them hot or cold; either way, they'll be flaky and delicious.

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Photo credit: thehealthfulideas.com

Hands holding a split triangular pastry with a spinach and cheese filling above a tray of similar golden-brown pastries.

3 Ingredient Sausage Balls

These three-ingredient sausage balls are moist, flavorful, and make-ahead friendly. They’re ready in just 30 minutes for the perfect picnic bite.

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Photo credit: thefeatherednester.com

A bowl of cooked meatballs garnished with herbs, some placed on a separate plate. A small dish of red dipping sauce is beside the bowl.

Warm Broccoli Cheese Dip

Broccoli is at its best when the weather starts to cool, so it's the perfect time for a warm seasonal dip.

This hearty hot broccoli cheese dip is a great picnic appetizer for the cooler months or even as a center dish for a fall-inspired charcuterie board.

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A hand dipping a cracker into a bowl of cheesy broccoli dip, with additional crackers in a dish in the background.

Goat Cheese and Delicata Squash Tartine

I also included these delightful morsels in my fall sandwich ideas as I feel they can go either way.

A simple yet vibrant roasted delicata squash tartine with creamy goat cheese, juicy pomegranate seeds and crispy sage, you could make them as a large open sandwich tartine or use small crostini or baguette slices to make them appetiser size.

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Photo credit: lepetiteats.com

A slice of multigrain bread topped with roasted squash, pomegranate seeds, fresh herbs, and whipped cheese on a white plate.

Baked Butternut Squash Fritters

Crispy on the outside and soft inside, these baked, not fried bites are a delicious snack. These crispy fritters will be ready in under half an hour in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Add some oomph to your flavor profile by adding herbs such as sage or a cheesy twist with parmesan.

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Photo credit: theclevermeal.com

A stack of five golden-brown, crispy, homemade squash fritters with one partially broken on the side.

Carrot Spinach Croquettes

Fried or baked, these spicy Carrot Spinach Croquettes are crispy outside, tender inside, and packed with flavor. Ready in just 40 minutes, they’re a delicious vegetarian picnic appetizer you can serve hot or cold.

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Photo credit: savoryspin.com

A plate of crispy, golden-brown fritters served with three different dipping sauces: one red, one green, and one brown, garnished with fresh coriander leaves.

Bombay Lamb Rolls

Spice up your fall picnic with Bombay Lamb Rolls. Packed with Indian spices, they’re a flavorful twist on classic sausage rolls, perfect for cooler weather. Enjoy them hot or cold.

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Photo credit: littlesugarsnaps.com

Seven golden-baked puff pastries on a cooling rack with a red digital thermometer displaying 23.3°C. Various spices and garlic cloves are scattered around.

Spiced Chicken Stuffed Buns

These Spiced Chicken Stuffed Buns are the ultimate portable picnic snack. Inspired by Sri Lankan flavors, they're packed with fragrant, spiced chicken, making an excellent fall finger food alternative to sandwiches.

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Photo credit: savoryspin.com

A close-up of several stuffed buns, some topped with sesame seeds. One bun is halved, revealing a filling of textured ground mixture with pieces of vegetables. Fresh herbs are in the background.

Picnic Finger Food & Appetiser Ideas

Need more picnic finger food inspiration? I've got loads more finger food and appetizer recipes for picnics in all seasons.

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A collage of various gourmet appetizers and picnic finger food.

With these fall finger food recipes, you’ll have everything you need for a cozy, seasonal picnic spread. From savory bites to veggie-packed treats, each dish is easy to make, portable, and full of autumn flavor.