Pack up easy-to-eat beach picnic recipes, including snacks, sandwiches and pasta salads. Everything can be made in advance, will travel in your cooler and can be eaten cold or at room temp. Surf’s up!
43 Beach Picnic Recipes You Need This Summer
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Bomb Pop Cookies
The sound of the ice cream truck has even my husband running out to the curb with money in hand. Our neighborhood has a big potluck on the Fourth of July, so I decided to make cookies that resemble Bomb Pops. These were a big hit! —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Psst! These beach games will get all everyone in for the summer fun and adventure!
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Turkey and Pasta Ranch Salad
This easy pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, and the classic ranch dressing makes it appealing to kids. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
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Spicy Asian Ham Sandwiches
We love these sandwiches with ham, but you can use leftover cooked pork instead, if desired. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Mustard Pretzel Nuggets
This quick and fun snack is similar to the mustard pretzels you can buy at the store, but you can make it for a fraction of the price. It's a killer recipe for all kinds of parties and football gatherings. —Sarah Mathews, Ava Missouri
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Chocolate Chip, PB & Banana Sandwiches
I love finding new ways to combine peanut butter, chocolate and bananas. I was shocked when my nephews (who are very picky eaters) loved these sammies. —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan
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Homemade Honey Grahams
The way my boys eat them, I would spend a fortune on honey graham crackers at the grocery store. So I decided to make a homemade version that is less processed—and less expensive. These are wonderful, although they still don't last long. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
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Beach Picnic Fruit and Cheese Kabobs
Fruit skewers made with fresh fruit, cheese and a cinnamon yogurt dip will become a regular snack for every potluck, barbecue and game-day party.We can’t get enough of these picnic side dishes, either.
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Parmesan-Ranch Snack Mix
This is a quick, easy and delicious snack, especially for kids. No one I've made it for can have just one handful—they always come back for more, and more! So if you’re thinking about cutting the recipe in half to make less, I wouldn’t recommend it. —Tammy Landry, Saucier, Mississippi
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Avocado-Ranch Chicken Wraps
My grandchildren love these wraps. My daughter gave me the recipe years ago, and now I make them as an afternoon snack or a light meal. I make the dressing from a simple ranch dressing mix. —Janice Stoltenow, Lebanon, Missouri
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Avocado Salsa
This avocado salsa is smooth, cool and downright refreshing. Scoop it with chips, spoon it over chicken or steak—or just eat it on its own!
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Layered Picnic Loaves
This big sandwich, inspired by one I tried at a New York deli, is a favorite with our football-watching crowd. Made ahead, it's easily carted to any gathering. Kids and adults alike say it's super. —Marion Lowery, Medford, Oregon
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Peanut Butter Popcorn Bars
If you're looking for a fun snack for kids, try this chewy peanut butter popcorn recipe that have a mild peanut butter taste. They're easy to mix and can be pressed into a pan to form bars, or shaped into balls. —Kathy Oswald, Wauzeka, Wisconsin
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Tri-Color Pasta Salad
Our tri-color pasta salad is bursting with summer flavors and is easy to pull off for your next cookout. Grocery store pasta salad has nothing on this recipe.
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Chocolate Chip Blondies
These chocolate chip blondies are a comforting treat that's ready in just 30 minutes. Meet your new go-to potluck dessert!
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Loaded Avocado BLT
My husband invented this twist on a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. I like to make it with extra slices of bacon; if you want, you can leave the Gorgonzola cheese out of the avocado spread. —Lori Grant, Kingsport, Tennessee
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So-Easy Snack Mix
I eat this tasty treat just as much as (if not more than) the kids! Have fun with it by adding other goodies into the mix, like nuts, cereal, pretzels and more. —Jeff King, Duluth, Minnesota
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Loaded-Up Pretzel Cookies
Coconut, M&M’s and salty, crunchy pretzels make these loaded cookies unlike any you’ve ever tasted—or resisted. —Jackie Ruckwardt, Cottage Grove, Oregon
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Beef ‘n’ Cheese Wraps
These make-ahead wraps are delicious, portable, and ideal for picnics and tailgates. Enjoy them whole or slice them into 1-inch pieces to serve them as an appetizer. They also make an excellent lunch on the go. —Sue Sibson, Howard, South Carolina
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Roasted Cheddar Herb Almonds
I prepared these one Christmas for my son, who was on a low-carb diet. I was afraid he'd be disappointed because he couldn't eat holiday cookies, but these made up for it—he loved them! Save a handful to chop and sprinkle over a green salad or pasta. —Mary Bilyeu, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Antipasto Skewers
Antipasto skewers—the finger-friendly Italian kabobs with marinated vegetables, cheeses and tortellini— are precisely what you need for your next gathering. Mix and match your favorite ingredients for a unique and varied spread.
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Super Supper Hero
Here's a hearty handheld meal you can eat on the go or pack for a picnic. Serve this versatile sandwich the way the recipe's written or stuff it with the works. —Maribeth Edwards, Follansbee, West Virginia
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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are the king of macadamia nut cookies. These rich, buttery cookies bake up soft with just the right amount of crispness.
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Green Bean Pasta Salad
I like to prepare this special green bean pasta salad with fresh green beans and homegrown dill. Serve chilled or at room temperature. —Chris Snyder, Boulder, Colorado
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Homemade Guacamole
I always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Beach Picnic Brownies
Finding the perfect brownie recipe is a challenge, but if you are looking to learn how to make fudgy brownies—the gooey, decadent, cannot-stop-eating-them kind—you can stop looking. We have got the recipe and techniques for you.
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Veggie Ranch Tortilla Pinwheels
These terrific bite-size appetizers are always a hit wherever I take them. They're easy to make ahead of time, and are a great addition to other party fare! —Lori Kostecki, Wausau, Wisconsin
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Snack Crackers
Our 13-year-old daughter, Dana, loves to make this crunchy and flavorful snack for us. Her four older brothers finish off a batch in no time. —Sue Manel, Milladore, Wisconsin
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Candy Bar Brownies
The two kinds of candy bars baked into these brownies make them an extra-special treat. —Sharon Evans, Clear Lake, Iowa
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Turkey Guacamole Wraps
Tuck smoked turkey and a creamy avocado spread into tortilla wraps and add a dash of hot sauce for a little heat. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
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Party Pretzels
Not only are these a perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack at work, they're perfect for hungry kids just home from school. Plus, they make for fantastic party food! —Carrie Shaub, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania
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Kiddie Crunch Mix
This no-bake snack mix is a delightful treat for kids, and you can easily increase the amount to fit your needs. Place in individual bags, or pour some into colored ice cream cones for a fun presentation. —Kara de la Vega, Santa Rosa, California
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Garlic Garbanzo Bean Spread
My friends and family always ask me to make it. I guarantee you’ll be asked for the recipe. —Lisa Moore, North Syracuse, New York
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Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas
My kids ask for these pita sandwiches all the time. They haven’t noticed that as good as the pitas taste, they’re good for them too.—Kim Holmes, Emerald Park, Saskatchewan
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Turkey Salad on Wheat Bread
When one of my favorite lunch spots closed, this recipe let me hold on to more than just good memories. The peas, bacon and cheese are such a fun and springy combo. I make big batches of the salad for parties—turns out I'm not the only fan! —Merrijane Rice, Kaysville, Utah
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Granola Trail Mix
My family has always enjoyed this crunchy four-ingredient snack. When we go camping, each person includes one additional ingredient like mini marshmallows, corn chips or cookie pieces. The taste is never the same, and we're often surprised by the combinations. —Shelley Riddlespurger, Amarillo, Texas
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Fresh Veggie Pockets
One summer I worked at a health food store that sold sandwiches. We were close to a college campus, so I made lots of these fresh-filled pitas for the students. Crunchy with crisp vegetables and nutty sunflower kernels, they're a fast-to-fix lunch when you're on the go. -Linda Reeves, Cloverdale, Indiana
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Bacon-Turkey Subs
On balmy fall days, this sweet and smoky sandwich is a big treat. When it gets colder, we pull out our countertop grill to make melts. Just switch to pita bread. —Rachel Bindulski, Corolla, NC
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Chocolate Chip Bars
People are always surprised when I tell them these chocolate chip bars come from the microwave. Chockfull of chocolate chips, the bars are especially good served with a big glass of cold milk. —Shirley A. Glaab, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
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Hummus & Veggie Wrap-Up
I had a vegan wrap that was similar to this once when I stopped at a diner while on a long and arduous walk. I enjoyed it so much that I modified it to my own taste and now have it for lunch on a regular basis. Everyone at work wants to know how to make it. —Michael Steffens, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Sprinkle Fruit Dip
Making this creamy mixture especially festive are its bright candy sprinkles. An assortment of fresh fruit "dippers" adds even more goodness. —Leslie Miller, Butler, Pennsylvania
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Pizza Wraps
This recipe features the flavors of your favorite pie but only takes a few minutes to make—and there’s no cooking or baking required. Perfect for when you’re rushing to get kids on the bus! —Elizabeth Dumont, Boulder, Colorado
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