Going On A Picnic? Try These Fourth Of July Picnic Food Ideas And Recipes

A Fourth of July picnic is a great way to celebrate the holiday. It’s a nice way to bring food to your celebration while watching fireworks. But, it can be hard to plan the perfect picnic without inspiration. That’s why we’re here to bring you some delicious July Fourth picnic food ideas to celebrate Independence Day.

 

Five Fourth of July Picnic Ideas

Many people spend the holidays with good food. It’s why people plan to cook Valentine’s Day steak or prepare Christmas pudding for their friends and family. In fact, 59% of Americans planned on having a 4th of July picnic, cookout, or barbecue. However, it can be challenging to plan the entire menu yourself. That’s why we’re here to help. Here are some of the best Fourth of July picnic recipes you can use to plan a delicious holiday meal.

 

1. Berries and Cream Charcuterie Board

We recommend bringing a charcuterie board if all you want are simple 4th of July picnic ideas. They don’t take a lot of time to prepare and are refreshing enough for the summer. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy some good berries and other snacks?

 

Ingredients:

• For the sweet whipped ricotta:
  • 1 tbsp. of honey
  • 8-ounce whole milk ricotta cheese
  • A pinch of kosher salt
• For the assembly:
  • Mint leaves and whipped cream, for serving
  • 1 cup each of strawberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries
  • Homemade or store-bought pound cake, biscuits, shortbread cookies, or angel food cake

Directions:

1. For the sweet whipped ricotta:
   1. Blend the honey, salt, and ricotta in a blender on high speed for two minutes. It should be fluffy and light.
   2. Transfer the ricotta to an airtight container and chill. You can make this 5 days prior to the picnic.
2. For the assembly:
   1. Get a shaped cookie cutter (star, heart, or another shape). Cut each pastry or baked good into shapes.
   2. Wash the fruits and pat them dry with paper towels. Arrange the fruits, ricotta, and whipped cream on a platter. You can arrange the fruits by color or type. Add mint leaves as a garnish.

 

2. Best Pasta Salad

Appetizers aren’t the only thing you need on a day out. You’ll also need variety in the recipes for 4th of July picnics that attendees can enjoy. A great way to introduce that is by adding a pasta salad.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. cooked fusilli pasta
• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 8 ounces of mozzarella balls, halved
• 1 cup of artichoke hearts, chopped
• 4 ounces of salami, quartered
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• ½ cup of pitted black olives, sliced
• ⅓ cup of extra-virgin olive oil
• A pinch of crushed pepper flakes
• Kosher salt
• Finely ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Toss the artichokes, salami, pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives in a large bowl.
2. Mix the vinegar, oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, parsley, and red pepper in a jar. Close it with a lid and shake to combine. Season the dressing with salt and pepper.
3. Pour the dressing on top of the pasta and toss to mix.

 

3. Cheesecake Cupcakes

The best 4th of July picnic foods should also include dessert, but they also have to be easy to bring around with you when you’re outside. These cheesecake cupcakes are the perfect blend of deliciousness and travel-friendliness you’ll need on your picnic.

 

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• ½ cup of sour cream
• 14 graham crackers, crushed
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp. of melted butter
• ¼ tsp. of kosher salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract
• 2 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese, softened
• A pinch of kosher salt
• 2 tbsp. of orange marmalade or apricot jam
• Fresh berries, for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325º. Use paper liners to line two 12-cup muffin tins. Spray each with cooking spray.
2. Combine the melted butter, salt, and crushed graham crackers in a bowl. Press the mixture into the paper liners to make the crust.
3. Beat the cream cheese until it becomes fluffy. Add salt, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and sour cream. Beat until combined. Pour the filling over the crust.
4. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Let them cool in the muffin tin. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
5. Add fresh berries on top to serve. Combine the jam with 1 tbsp. of water and put it in the microwave for 15 seconds. Brush the jam on top of the fruit to serve.

 

4. Classic Deviled Eggs

One of the easiest July 4th picnic foods to make is deviled eggs. They serve as a great appetizer and don’t take much time to prepare.

 

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup of mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. of hot sauce
• Sliced chives and smoked paprika, for serving
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Boil 8 cups of water in a pot. Lower each egg into the water with tongs. Return to a boil and cover the pot, reducing the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12 minutes.
2. Fill a large bowl with two cups of ice and 3 cups of water 3 minutes before the eggs finish. Transfer the eggs to the ice water after cooking. Let them sit for 30 seconds. Drain the bowl and use cool water to rinse the eggs. Peel off the shells.
3. Halve the eggs vertically and spoon out the yolks in a separate bowl. Add mustard, hot sauce, and mayonnaise to the bowl. Smash the yolks with a fork and mix until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Arrange the egg whites on a platter. Use a star-tipped piping bag to fill the whites with the egg yolk mixture. Top with paprika and chives.

 

5. Ham & Cheese Sandwich

The ham & cheese sandwich is a classic picnic food. It’s also one of the easiest recipes for Fourth of July picnic lunches you can make with simple ingredients.

 

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of sourdough bread
• 2 tsp. of honey
• 6 slices of Swiss cheese
• 2 tbsp. of mayonnaise
• 6 slices of ham
• 2 tbsp. of Dijon mustard
• 8 slices of dill pickle

Directions:

1. Spread mayonnaise on a side of each bread slice. Stir and combine the honey and mustard in a small bowl.
2. Spread the honey mixture on the opposite side of the mayonnaise on two of the four slices. Add 3 slices of cheese and ham per sandwich. Place 4 slices of pickle on each and top with the other bread slice, mayo side out.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook for 3 minutes on each side.

 

Enjoy Your Fourth of July Picnic With Delicious Food

No Fourth of July picnic is complete without delicious food. These various recipes are sure to make your picnic much more enjoyable. They’re also pretty easy to prepare, so even beginner cooks can try them.

 

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