Planning a picnic at the park? Here are 15 Cheap Picnic Ideas, and all of them are delicious family favorites! Make these recipes for easy picnic sides and main dish meals to enjoy with family or friends on your fun day out!
Our Favorite Cheap Picnic Ideas
Having a picnic at the park is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends without breaking the bank. With some simple planning, you can create a fun and memorable experience without spending a lot of money.
One of the best ways to save money is by bringing your own food! Using leftovers is an easy way to put together some cheap meals.
Consider making a crockpot ham or Dutch oven carnitas, then use the leftovers to create sliders or sandwiches. This is a kid-friendly, delicious, and budget friendly idea.
You could also take along a few of your favorite portable desserts. Just be sure to pack them in a cooler to keep them fresh.
If you’re looking for cheap picnic ideas, consider simple snacks like fresh fruit, nuts, and crackers. You can even create a DIY trail mix by combining your favorite roasted nuts, dried fruits, and some chocolate chips or candies like M&Ms.
When it comes to picnic side dishes, there are plenty of options! Some of our favorite easy picnic sides are cold salads and pasta side dishes like cowboy salad and zesty Italian pasta salad. These dishes are not only easy to make, but they can also be made ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about preparing them on the day of your picnic.
5 Cheap Picnic Ideas for Your Picnic at the Park
- Make and bring your own food.
- Pack simple snacks.
- Bring along games and activities that everyone will enjoy.
- Find ways to enjoy the great outdoors.
- Go geocaching or have a scavenger hunt.
If you’re looking for some park picnic ideas, consider bringing some games and activities to keep everyone entertained. You can bring a frisbee, a football, or even a board game to play. Another fun idea is to bring a kite and fly it in the open space.
With these tips, you can create a fun and budget-friendly picnic experience that everyone will enjoy.
Picnic Side Dish Ideas That Are Easy to Make in Bulk
This Tuscan white bean salad is bright, fresh, and full of vegetables. You’ll love the bold flavors combined with the creamy white beans. Enjoy this salad on its own, as a side, or with pita chips!
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Pasta with Peas is a 20-minute recipe for a flavor-packed meal of pesto pasta with veggies! Also delicious cold as a rotini pea pasta salad!
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White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is a rich, creamy, and easy to make mac n cheese casserole. This 30 minute recipe makes a great potluck dish!
Enjoy the best of Southern comfort food with this recipe for Crock Pot Pinto Beans. Thanks to dried beans, this is a nutritious and filling, and budget-friendly dinner that the whole family will love.
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For a delicious twist on Texas caviar, make a Cowboy Salad! With veggies, beans and corn, our Tex Mex salad recipe is an easy summer side.
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5 Easy Picnic Sides with Fruit
Think outside of the bowl here- fruit doesn’t necessarily have to be in the form of a salad to be portable!
Strawberry Blueberry Salad is an easy mixed berry salad with marshmallows tossed in a bright citrus poppy seed dressing. Perfect for July 4th!
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Banana bread recipes don’t get easier than this winner! Not only is this Bisquick banana bread nearly effortless to prepare in just 10 minutes (with or without nuts!) but it bakes up as a perfectly tender, moist and flavorful loaf every time.
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Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad is the perfect fruity, no-bake dessert for summer. Make this 4th of July salad recipe- it’ll be a hit!
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This Christmas Tree Cheese Board Appetizer is so simple but guaranteed to impress your holiday guests with its delicious flavor and festive look.
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This authentic German kuchen is a soft, rustic cake filled with juicy apples. Make this impressive apple cake for a sweet fall dessert!
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Main Dish Recipes for Your Picnic at the Park
Pesto Tortellini Salad is a light, refreshing Italian dish for summer. Make our 20-minute recipe for an easy meal of tortellini pasta salad!
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Look no further than this recipe for the perfect roasted garlic sourdough bread to go with dinner or your next BBQ or potluck. This sourdough recipe is easy and forgiving and virtually foolproof. Add in some cheese for a tasty loaf of garlic cheese sourdough that everyone will love!
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These quick and easy buns take just 30 minutes to make. Plus they’re freshly baked and taste amazing.
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These baked calico beans are perfect for a hearty dinner, potluck dish, or a summer barbeque. Canned beans make this hamburger and bean casserole a tangy and delicious but super easy dinner that’s ideal any night of the week.
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Chick Fil A grilled nuggets are brined and seasoned for deliciously juicy bites. Use this copycat recipe to grill chicken nuggets at home!
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Make this tangy, honey BBQ sauce with 3 simple ingredients! It’s perfect for dipping chicken tenders, fries, and so much more. Just stir and serve with this no cook recipe.
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Learn how to bake juicy, extra crispy, breaded Shake and Bake chicken in the oven or air fryer for panko chicken tenders in 25 minutes!
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Hot honey mustard sauce is creamy, tangy, sweet and spicy, and perfect for dipping chicken tenders, fries, and so much more. Best of all, this classic recipe is easy to make with 4 ingredients!
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Italian Sliders are the perfect mini sandwiches for game day, tailgating, holiday parties and potlucks. This recipe is a crowd pleaser!
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Supplies to Take Along
The post 15 Easy + Cheap Picnic Ideas (Recipes) first appeared on AfterCuriosity.
