When we think of picnic food, we often think of salads and sandwiches. However, in the stakes of portable food that makes a statement, there is nothing more worthy of our alfresco attention than picnic finger food.
Bundle up assorted tasty morsels for a delightfully easy-to-manage picnic feast.
Jump to:
What Makes Finger Food Great For a Picnic
One of the great joys of finger food at a picnic is its manageability. Forget cutlery and balancing plates on laps. Plates may be required, but maybe not. Perhaps a simple napkin on the lap and a serviette will suffice.
But here lies the beauty of a spread of assorted appetizers and snacks, which makes for a wonderful sharing meal without any fuss or mess.
Picnic Finger Food Ideas
You can put together a finger food picnic menu in so many ways. From assorted hot or cold picnic dips to classic Scotch Eggs, bite-sized Chicken Kiev Balls, antipasto platters, or even wine and cheese picnics. Picnic finger food is portable and knows no culinary bounds.
- Opt for a platter of assorted bite-size picnic appetizers for an elegant picnic or romantic picnic date.
- For a more rustic sharing affair, go for a mezze-style plate with assorted dips, fresh vegetables, and marinated goodies served with small slices of fresh crusty bread—a bite-size DIY sandwich arrangement.
- It can be as simple as a colorful crudité platter with delicious dippers for a healthy picnic snack, elegant cucumber appetizers, or a plate of dainty chicken tea sandwiches.
- Slices of an elegant, savory tart or frittata make great picnic finger food for adults and kids.
Appetizers & Finger Food Recipes
I’ve rounded up an assortment of picnic finger food and appetizer ideas for all occasions. From elegant hors d’oeuvres to rustic platter-worthy morsels to finger food to feed a crowd.
Chicken Kiev Balls
Deliciously crispy bite-sized balls oozing with herbed garlic butter, these Mini Chicken Kiev Balls are so easy to make that they’ll become your favorite party appetizer or picnic finger food.
Get the Chicken Kiev Balls Recipe
Veggie Pinwheels with Cream Cheese
Veggie Pinwheels with Cream Cheese are the perfect blend of simplicity, flavor, and convenience, making them an ideal choice for picnics. This recipe is a light, healthy, and pretty picnic appetizer. What’s not to love?
Get the Veggie Pinwheel Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Scotch Eggs
Scotch Eggs are a quintessentially British finger food enjoyed in pubs and at picnics. Commonly served cold, they are a wonderfully substantial picnic snack. These air-fried Scotch Eggs are a healthy twist on the classic, but I also give the traditional deep-fried or baked options for cooking. There's also a delicious mustard dipping sauce recipe.
Get the Scotch Egg Recipe
Ricotta Asparagus Tartlets
These lovely puff pastry tartlets, topped with creamy ricotta and tender seasonal asparagus, are so easy to make and look gorgeous on a picnic finger food spread. You can make them as big or small as you like.
Get the Asparagus Ricotta Tart Recipe
Prosciutto Melon & Mozzarella Skewers
Sweet, salty, and creamy, these delightfully portable savory snacks on a stick make a gorgeous summer picnic appetizer or addition to a wine and cheese picnic spread.
Get the Prosciutto Melon & Mozzarella Skewer Recipe
Photo credit: alekasgettogether.com
Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches
These Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches stand out with their effortless elegance and delicious combination of textures and flavors. An ideal make-ahead sandwich, their portability makes them a fabulous addition to any picnic.
Get the Chicken Tea Sandwiches Recipe
Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta with Bacon
Light and fresh, this Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta is a quick and easy finger food idea. Serve it as an appetizer, part of a finger food platter, or sandwich spread.
Get the Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta Recipe
Salmon Avacado Cucumber Roll Ups
This simple cucumber appetizer is a fantastic picnic finger food option because it is so quick and easy to make and looks great. Whip these up in under half an hour.
Get the Cucumber Roll Up Recipe
Mushroom Quesadillas
Simple and delicious, it is a perfectly portable picnic lunch or easy picnic appetizer. These Mushroom Quesadillas are simple to make, packed with flavor, and can be made ahead of time. Served hot or cold, they make a great finger food addition to a Mexican-themed picnic.
Get the Mushroom Quesadillas Recipe
Smoked Salmon and Avocado Heart Shaped Sandwich
Topped with lightly spiced avocado and smoked salmon, these open-faced tea sandwiches are a very elegant appetizer.
Get the Smoked Salmon Sandwich Recipe
Caprese Skewers
The Caprese salad is one of the most versatile salads around. I've seen it on plates and in bowls. I made a delicious Caprese Sandwich, so why not a bite-size version on a toothpick? Yes, please.
Get the Caprese Skewer Recipe
Photo credit: daisiesandpie.co.uk
Crispy Cheese Pastry Rolls (Sigara Boregi)
Portable, compact, and perfect for sharing, these golden rolls filled with rich cottage cheese are the ultimate savory delight for outdoor gatherings. Drawing inspiration from the beloved Turkish Sigara Boregi, this simple yet impressive appetizer is a breeze to make.
Get the Cheese Pastry Roll Recipe
Boursin Deviled Eggs
The deviled egg is an old picnic finger food favorite, but it doesn't mean it can't evolve with the times. These beautiful deviled eggs will sass up your picnic spread to a whole new level of sophistication.
Get the Devilled Egg Recipe
Photo credit: www.shekeepsalovelyhome.com
Cucumber Shrimp Bites
These Cucumber Shrimp Bites with creamy avocado, succulent shrimp, and crisp cucumber are an effortlessly elegant appetizer that is light, refreshing, and easy to prepare.
Get the Cucumber Shrimp Bites Recipe
Prosciutto Wrapped Figs with Goat Cheese and Arugula
Salty prosciutto, sweet figs, creamy goat cheese, and some added crunch with fresh arugula leaves – it's the elegant simplicity of this picnic appetizer we love. Serve it as an appetizer or as part of a larger finger food platter; you can make these prosciutto rolls well in advance for a simple yet elegant picnic statement.
Get the Prosciutto Wrapped Figs Recipe
Vegetarian Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms make delightful bite-size appetizers for a picnic. Serve them hot or cold. These stuffed mushrooms with parmesan and spinach make a great addition to an elegant hors d'oeuvre-style picnic spread, an accompaniment to a wine and cheese picnic, or even as part of a mezze-style picnic platter.
Get the Stuffed Mushroom Recipe
Easy Olive Cheese Bread with (or without) Turkey
Enjoy the bold flavors of this quick and easy Olive Cheese Bread recipe, perfect for a brunch menu, lunch, or anytime snack. Serve it whole as an easy-to-eat sandwich or slice them into bite-sized portions.
Get the Olive Cheese Bread Recipe
Watermelon Skewers with Feta and Mint Pesto
Light and breezy summer picnic food, these watermelon skewers with feta and mint pesto dressing are a quick and easy appetizer or snack for your next alfresco gathering.
Get the Watermelon & Feta Skewer Recipe
Photo credit: happykitchen.rocks
Easy Pear, Blue Cheese, and Fennel Tart
Sheet tarts are fabulous picnic food because they can be a little bit fancy with minimal effort and can be divided up into individual serve meals or into smaller, bite-size slices for a picnic-perfect appetizer.
Get the Pear & Blue Cheese Tart Recipe
Roast Pumpkin and Feta Mini Frittata
I love mini frittatas for a picnic because you can rustle them up at the last minute. There are so many variations, and they are delicious, hot or cold. This mini frittata recipe has the sweet and salty going on with sweet roasted pumpkin paired with fetta—a great finger food recipe for fall picnics and tailgates.
Get the Mini Frittata Recipe
Easy Smoked Duck Summer Rolls
Rice paper rolls are always a great picnic finger food option. Take your fresh summer rolls up a notch with a smoked duck filling and a hoisin dipping sauce for a sophisticated spin.
Get the Summer Rolls Recipe
Delicious Dips for Charcuterie Boards
Dips are fantastic picnic appetizers. They are easy to whip up, have no end of variations, and can be hot or cold. See my selection of vibrant and tasty dips for an easy picnic appetizer.
Get the Dip Recipes
Cheese and Onion Pasties
Flaky puff pastry, cheese, and onion pasties are a thing of beauty in the comfort food stakes. I love it when you only need a few ingredients to make something so delicious. You can make them any size you like to suit your picnic style.
Get the Cheese & Onion Pasties Recipe
Photo credit: whereismyspoon.co
Potato & Vegetable Croquettes
Crispy potato and vegetable croquettes are the perfect finger food for a picnic. They're so easy to make, Serve them with an assortment of dipping sauces or add them to a mezze plate for a very versatile picnic finger food idea. Tip: They also make a great salad topper or served with salad in a wrap.
Get the Croquette Recipe
Photo credit: nutriciously.com
12 Fresh Cucumber Appetizer Recipes
Cucumbers are fresh and healthy in sandwiches and salads, but they also make great appetizers. These cucumber appetizer recipes show how versatile this crisp summer veg is.
Get the Cucumber Appetizer Recipes
These recipes are delicious and easy to make, transport, and, most importantly, eat with your fingers. Whether you’re planning a romantic picnic for two, a fun day out with the family, or a birthday picnic celebration, these finger foods are guaranteed to be a hit for an easy and beautiful finger food picnic spread.
Leave a Reply