What food is good to eat on the beach?
When planning a fun-filled beach day, the right food can make all the difference.
Whether you’re setting up a simple snack spread or a full-on seaside feast, choosing the best beach picnic foods is all about convenience, freshness, and family appeal. Choose easy-to-pack meals that can handle the sun, sand, and sea breeze.
These are some of the best beach picnic food ideas that are perfect for feeding a hungry crew while soaking up the sun.
From refreshing bites to hearty options that travel well, these tasty picks will help you stress less and snack more. So, grab your cooler and a blanket and enjoy the perfect beach picnic!
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What are easy foods to eat on the beach?
Good beach foods are simple, easy to transport, and full of flavor. From fruit to sandwiches and wraps, the best beach picnic food ideas fit easily in your beach bag, picnic basket, or cooler and can be enjoyed without much fuss.
Think kid-friendly beach food that’s quick to grab and go, leaving more time to relax at your prime spot in the sand. With the right mix of delicious food and smart packing, your beach day menu can be as breezy as the ocean air.
And don’t forget the drinks! Lemonades, teas, and fruit-infused mocktails or chilled adult beverages can take your seaside picnic to the next level. Just be sure to check local rules about alcohol on the beach before you sip and unwind!
Beach Picnic Foods: Snacks
Spicy Seasoned Pretzels
Source: Flavorful Eats
Spicy seasoned pretzels are the perfect beach picnic food idea. They’re crunchy, flavorful, and the best part is that you don’t need to keep them cool, so just slip them into your beach bag and head out the door!
Roasted Spiced Chickpeas
Source: Foodess
These oven-roasted chickpeas are crispy, a little spicy, totally addictive, and perfect for popping in your mouth while building sandcastles. Make a double batch, so that everyone can enjoy this delicious food on the beach this summer!
Mexican Roasted Cashews
Source: Right at Home
These easy and delicious, savory Mexican roasted cashews are a tasty treat! They’re quick to make and the perfect healthy snack to enjoy during a day at the beach.
Summertime Party Mix
Source: Boulder Locavore
This simple gluten-free snack mix is the perfect addition to your beach picnic basket. You’ll love its addictive mix of salty, cheesy, sweet, and nutty tastes!
Cheese Pickle Chips
Source: How 2 Do Keto
Skip the potato chips and add these pickle chips to your beach bag instead! This easy keto snack is just two ingredients and is the perfect combination of tangy, salty, and crispy.
Kids Charcuterie Board
Source: Aussie Home Cook
This easy kids’ charcuterie board is the ultimate beach snack. Fill it with healthy finger foods and tasty treats for the best kid-friendly beach food they ask for again and again!
Protein Snack Pack
Source: The Forked Spoon
This protein snack pack, filled with hard-boiled eggs, almonds, hummus, and crunchy veggies, makes the best picnic food for the beach. It’s easy to assemble and packed with satisfying protein, making it an ideal choice for a day on the beach!
Tortellini Caprese Skewers
Source: The Feathered Nester
Tortellini caprese skewers make the perfect no-cook beach snack. They’re fresh, fun, and easy to assemble with a balsamic drizzle everyone will love!
Watermelon Skewers with Prosciutto
Source: Recipes From a Pantry
These watermelon skewers with prosciutto are a quick and easy snack for your beach picnic basket. Your beach vacation will not be complete without this colorful treat!
Beach Picnic Foods: Sandwiches
Ham Salad Sandwich
Source: Binky’s Culinary Carnival
This old-fashioned ham salad sandwich is a quick and delicious food that’s perfect for enjoying on the beach! Keep leftovers up to five days to ensure you have a yummy snack for your entire beach trip.
Chicken Salad Sandwich
Source: Cents for Cookery
This easy chicken salad recipe uses fresh ingredients and is an excellent choice for lunch on the beach! It’s the best way to use leftover chicken from last night’s dinner.
Pimento Cheese Sandwich
Source: Mandi of the Mountains
You can easily make a batch of these pimento cheese sandwiches to pack for your beach picnic. They keep well in a cooler and are a crowd-pleaser!
Italian Picnic Sandwich
Source: XOXO Bella
With ham, cheese, veggies, and olive spread, all wrapped in ciabatta bread, these Italian picnic sandwiches might be the best picnic food for the beach!
Beach Picnic Foods: Wraps
Grilled Chicken Wraps
Source: Little Sunny Kitchen
These grilled chicken wraps are perfect for a quick meal on the beach. They’re packed with flavor, quick and easy to make, and a crowd favorite!
Chicken Caesar Wraps
Source: Momma Lew
These chicken Caesar wraps make a quick and tasty meal idea for the beach. They’re creamy, savory, and packed with flavor, but best of all, they’re super simple thanks to canned chicken!
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
Source: Budget Delicious
This chicken bacon ranch wrap recipe is both filling and flavorful, and it’s easy to make. Enjoy this healthy and refreshing family favorite in your prime spot on the beach!
Ham and Pimento Cheese Wraps
Source: The Soccer Mom Blog
These ham and cheese pimento wraps combine crisp lettuce, sweet honey ham, and creamy pimento cheese to make the perfect fresh and easy beachside meal!
Italian Pinwheels
Source: The Soccer Mom Blog
These easy Italian pinwheels transform classic Italian sandwich ingredients (meats, cheese, and fresh veggies) into delicious bite-sized portions that are perfect for your beach day!
Dill Pickle Pinwheels
Source: She’s Not Cookin’
These dill pickle pinwheels are a delicious, tangy, and creamy recipe that combines dill pickles with cream cheese and ranch seasonings. Slice roll-ups into bite-sized pieces, so you can grab a bite and get back to enjoying the sunshine!
Veggie Pinwheels
Source: Recipes From a Pantry
These veggie pinwheels are easily made with soft tortillas, cream cheese, and fresh veggies. Make them the night before, so you can pack them in your beach cooler and be on your way!
Beach Picnic Foods: Pasta
BLT Pasta Salad
Source: Little Sunny Kitchen
This delicious BLT pasta salad is just as good as a BLT sandwich, but in a creamy, fresh salad option. Juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh lettuce are tossed with homemade ranch dressing to create this refreshing beach meal. Pack in individual bowls for easy snacking on the beach!
Taco Pasta Salad
Source: Mae’s Menu
This hearty taco pasta salad makes a filling dish for your beachside lunch. The best part is that it takes less than 30 minutes to make, so you’re off to the beach in no time!
Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
Source: Budget Delicious
This colorful strawberry avocado pasta salad is a sweet and tangy recipe that’s ready in under 20 minutes. It makes a great side dish or main staple your whole family will enjoy on the beach this summer!
Beach Picnic Foods: Fruits
Rainbow Jello Frosted Grapes
Source: In the Kids Kitchen
These vibrantly colored, rainbow Jello frosted grapes are as pretty as they are delicious! Both kids and adults will have a hard time resisting this beach day treat.
Summer Fruit Salad
Source: Ann’s Entitled Life
This simple summer fruit salad recipe is packed with fresh berries. It makes a refreshing, healthy choice for a day on the beach!
Mexican Fruit Salad
Source: Cucina by Elena
This colorful Mexican fruit salad is bursting with juicy, fresh fruits tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing that can be made in just 10 minutes! It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect side dish for a beach picnic.
Beach Picnic Foods: Desserts
Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
Source: Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream
With only four ingredients, these cinnamon sugar pita chips are quick and easy to make. While they’re delicious all on their own, you can try them with a variety of flavorful dips: yogurts, honey, or berry sauces.
Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar
Source: XOXO Bella
This mini dessert is a nice, easy recipe that showcases fresh strawberries, cake, and whipped topping. Sweet, light, and summery, this strawberry shortcake in a jar is perfect for packing on a picnic! Use mason jars so nothing spills in your beach cooler.
Raspberry Muffins with Yogurt
Source: Cooking Gorgeous
These raspberry muffins have a delightful tang from the yogurt and are perfectly complemented by the juicy burst of fresh raspberries. Pop one in your mouth as a sweet treat to finish off your beach picnic!
Fruity Pebble Rice Krispies Treats
Source: Desserts on a Dime
These fruity pebble rice Krispies treats are a fun twist on the classic treat. These brightly colored marshmallow treats are a family favorite and make the perfect light dessert for the beach!
Dark Chocolate Caramel SunButter Cups
Source: The All Natural Vegan
These delicious SunButter cups feature rich, dark chocolate, a creamy SunButter layer, and a homemade caramel filling, making them the ultimate beachside treat! Keep them in your cooler, so they don’t melt and you can enjoy them all day.
Beach Picnic Foods: Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Frozen Lemonade
Source: Evolving Table
This frozen lemonade is the best way to beat the summer heat at the beach. Fresh lemon juice, honey, ice, and lemon zest combine to make this icy drink that’s ready in just 5 minutes! Pour individual servings into mason jars to easily pack in your beach cooler.
Honey Strawberry Lemonade
Source: My Rad Kitchen
This sweet honey strawberry lemonade is quick, easy to make, and packed with flavor. It’s the perfect beachside drink for kids, or use it as a base for your summer cocktail!
Berry Lemonade
Source: The Cookin’ Chicks
Cool off at the beach with this refreshing berry lemonade. Made with fresh berries and zesty lemon, it’s the perfect drink the whole family will enjoy on your beach picnic!
Peach Lemonade
Source: Joyful Balance Online
This fresh peach lemonade is the perfect refreshing drink for a hot summer day at the beach! This tasty drink is easy to make, has a delicious peach flavor, and is sweetened with agave syrup.
Mint Lemonade
Source: Champagne Tastes
This quick and easy mint lemonade uses fresh mint from your garden or local grocery store to make a refreshing summer drink you can enjoy while soaking up those beach rays!
Strawberry Iced Tea
Source: The Cooking Foodie
Cool off with this refreshing strawberry iced tea made with fresh or frozen strawberries, lemon juice, and tea. It’s easy to make, naturally sweetened, and perfect for your beach getaway!
Bellini Peach Raspberry Iced Tea
Source: The Littlest Crumb
This Bellini peach raspberry iced tea is a copycat version of the Olive Garden recipe. Easy to make at home and just as delicious as the original, you will love this refreshing summer iced tea!
Tropical Fruit Punch
Source: The All Natural Vegan
This tropical fruit punch is the perfect way to create an island getaway from whatever beach you’re visiting this summer. This recipe uses fresh fruits to create a juice that is delicious, nutritious, and a soon-to-be family favorite!
Pineapple Slushie
Source: Bless This Meal
This refreshing pineapple slushie blends fresh pineapple, ice, and water into a naturally sweet, icy drink that’s ready in just 5 minutes. It’s a healthy, three-ingredient treat perfect for hot summer days at the beach!
Beach Picnic Foods: Alcoholic Drinks
Pina Colada
Source: Evolving Table
Blend frozen pineapple cubes, coconut milk, cream, and a light rum for the best pina colada recipe in your own home! This refreshing drink can also be made into a mocktail, allowing the whole family to enjoy it together on the beach.
Hawaiian Mai Tai
Source: Chew Out Loud
This Hawaiian Mai Tai is a tropical, breezy drink that’s perfect for your beach day. Make this crowd-pleasing drink ahead of time and instantly transport yourself to the islands of Hawaii!
Puerto Rican Sangria
Source: A Latin Flair
This Puerto Rican sangria captures the flavors of the Caribbean, no matter what beach you’re enjoying. Packed with tropical fruits and citrus juices, this drink recipe only takes 10 minutes and is the perfect addition to your seaside escape!
Blue Hurricane
Source: The Littlest Crumb
This blue hurricane drink is an easy summer beach cocktail. Made in 5 minutes, this bright blue tropical drink is easy to make for just a couple of people or a large crowd!
Southern Sweet Lemonade Cocktail
Source: Ann’s Entitled Life
This Southern sweet lemonade cocktail recipe combines zesty citrus with smooth spirits for a refreshing summer drink, perfect for sipping on the beach!
Conclusion
There you have it: the best beach picnic foods that you can easily pack in a cooler. A beach picnic is one of the easiest ways to turn a sunny day into a lasting memory. With a bit of planning and the right mix of good food and refreshing drinks, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy the salty breeze. The key is to choose foods that are easy to eat, fun to share, and made for warm-weather snacking. So, gather your favorite people, soak up the sun, and savor every bite!
What beach picnic foods will you be packing in your cooler this summer? Let us know in the comments.
Related Articles for Beach Picnic Foods:
45 Easy Beach Picnic Foods That You Can Pack in a Cooler
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These are such delicious ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Violet, I’m so glad you liked them! I hope you found a new recipe you can enjoy on the beach this summer.