Summer is the season of sharing whether it’s a picnic for two at the beach or a potluck dish to add to the table at a backyard barbecue. Onions offer a sweet flavor and a crisp bite to summer’s favorite recipes and can be used in everything from salads and sides to starters and sandwiches. We’re sharing our best ideas for building your summer picnic recipes menu to give your family gathering or adventurous outing plenty of food for everyone to enjoy.
What kind of foods make good summer picnic recipes?
The best picnic foods to serve depend on where your picnic will be. Will foods be served straight from your refrigerator to your backyard or will you pack your picnic for a road trip or a visit to the park? For backyard picnics and potlucks, dips make an ideal starter. Larger portions of potato salads and fruit salads that feed a crowd are good options to accompany your meal. Sandwiches and wraps work well for packed picnics. Most sandwiches will hold well for an hour or two. But if in doubt, pack bread and fillings such as chicken salad separately and assemble on-site. You may also opt for more of a snack board with cheeses, dried fruits, and nuts. Pack each item separately and arrange on a board or plate when you are ready to eat.
What kind of onions should I use in picnic foods?
If a recipe states a type of onion, start by using what is specified, but all varieties of onions can be used in picnic foods such as dips, salads, and sandwiches. Sweet onions add a crisp texture and a deep sweetness while red onions add a pop of color that can make your spread more festive.
What are some picnic recipes with onions to try?
Our Creamy Onion Dip is easy to make, pack, and share. What you choose to serve it with can be modified to everyone’s dietary preferences whether it’s potato chips, whole wheat crackers, or fresh vegetable sticks.
Every picnic needs a potato salad and this Roasted Three Potato Salad is full of
flavor with red onion. It also skips the mayonnaise and uses a honey mustard dressing. If your potato salad must have mayo, we suggest the Bistro Potato Salad with Caramelized Onions.
A vibrant, cooling fruit salad will hit the spot on a hot summer day. This Red Onion, Tropical Fruit, and Avocado Salsa blends sweet fruit and red onion with buttery avocado and bits of serrano pepper. Eat it as a salad or served with tortilla chips for a snack and starter.
Every picnic needs some cheese and crackers and this Walla Walla Sweet Onion Jam is just what you need to serve alongside. Top a wheel of earthy Brie with this sweet and savory jam. Serve with crackers, nuts, and dried fruits. If you like that idea and want to get even more creative with your flavors we also suggest this Asian Plum Onion Chutney.
Chicken salad is a summer picnic staple whether you eat it as a sandwich or roll it into a wrap. Smoked Chicken Salad with Onions and Dried Cherries has bits of sweetness to complement the savory smoked chicken. Chinese Chicken Salad Sandwiches coat tender chunks of chicken in a ginger-sesame dressing with crisp slices of red onion.
Don’t forget about dessert. Every backyard picnic needs a sweet treat. Guests will be intrigued by the combination of flavors in this Caramelized Onion Ice Cream.
How can kids help prepare a picnic?
There are tasks for kids of all ages when preparing picnic recipes to share. Younger children can wrap sandwiches to pack, arrange all the ingredients for cheeseboards, or plate dips with vegetables and crackers for serving. Older children can measure and stir together the ingredients for potato salads and fruit salads. If you need something to keep kids busy while you do the work in the kitchen, Nature’s Ninja free downloadable coloring book provides an educational activity that is also entertaining.
