Easy (Store-bought) 5 Minute Picnic Meal Ideas

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I have some big plans for this summer.  It is Canada’s 150th birthday, and our National Parks are offering free admission for all of 2017!  I haven’t done much camping in the last 10 years, but would like to get back into it.  Now I am not ready to dive into outback camping with the kids yet, but would love to do some day trips to the Ontario Parks to explore and introduce them to all the fun Canada has to offer.  That means we will be having lots of picnic adventures this year.  I already mentioned that picnics are fun anytime of year in my 10 Family Traditions You Can Start Anytime post.  So while we are planning our outdoor adventures we will also be planning our menu to go along with them.  Working full-time and having 3 kids (and a husband and a blog) does not leave me with a lot of extra time on my hands, so when deciding on picnic meals I am looking for easy ideas that the whole family will enjoy.  And Yes if I can grab it at the store and go, that is even better.  So check out my favourite easy store-bought 5 minute picnic meal ideas, and let me know your favourites in the comments below.

Easy Store-bought 5 Minute Picnic Meal Ideas

Fruits

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Apples
  • Tangerines
  • Fruit Salad
  • Grapes

Vegetables

  • Carrots
  • Bell Peppers
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers
  • Grape Tomatoes

Main Dishes

  • KFC Chicken
  • Salsa & Chips
  • Hummus & Bread/Crackers
  • Cheese & Crackers

Sides

  • Macaroni Salad
  • Potato Salad
  • Colslaw
  • Pizza Buns
  • Muffins

Sweet Treats

  • Yogurt
  • Cookies
  • Mini donuts

So many delicious combinations that you can enjoy while out on a picnic.  The KFC chicken tastes just as good cold as it does hot.  Since everyone in my family loves KFC it is the perfect choice for a main dish for our picnic as even my husband approves.  And for me, I know that I am serving Canadian farm-raised chicken, the same chicken I could buy at the grocery store to make homemade fried chicken (ha, as if I have the time!).  Instead I make a run to KFC to pick up high quality chicken that will provide some protein as we are out being active.

This year we are going to be getting active, exploring our local area, and having some delicious picnics along the way.  So share down below, what is your favourite picnic food?

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Disclosure:  This post was brought to you by KFC.  All opinions are strictly our own.

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160 thoughts on “Easy (Store-bought) 5 Minute Picnic Meal Ideas”

  1. Jonnie

    KFC has been my favorite picnic food since I was a kid. We used to pick up a bucket and go for a picnic several times per year. I can’t think picnic without thinking KFC!

    Reply
  9. Nate Fuller

    I haven’t been on many picnics, but I do like fried chicken on a weekend for a backyard meal!
    I grew up down the block from a kfc and the smell is one that takes me back!

    Reply
  29. Rhonda W G.

    I do love a picnic in fact we just renewed our vows for our 25th. in my childhood Country church and hosted a picnic style reception. Had to have fried chicken…Brought in 100 pieces of KFC!

    Reply
  34. Andrea Amy

    My favourite picnic food are wraps made with hummus, cucumber, lettuce and deli meat (normally chicken or turkey). your picnic meals look REALLY good and I think I’m going to have to steal your ideas!

    Reply
  41. Sarah De Diego

    Prosciutto, coleslaw, kalamata olives, stinky cheese and a nice cracker. Yum!

    My husband LOVES KFC and his birthday is coming up (Leap Year Baby) so this would be a perfect gift!

    Besos Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

    Reply
  69. Dianne G.

    We usually bring submarine sandwiches or wraps, veggies and dip or salad on picnics and find an ice cream store nearby for dessert.

    Reply
  70. LIlly Wong

    Kentucky Fried Chicken of course. It’s my favourite place to eat in the mall food court too. Other Chicken does not taste as good as KFC. I like the Thighs & breast meat more than the drumsticks. ??

    Reply
  71. Lynda Cook

    My favourite picnic food is KFC always has been goes great with the salads and other sides, and the best part is it’s great cold as well!!

    Reply
  77. Dianne Bull

    Chicken pieces with potato salad & veggies with dip. Complete it with a container full of berries & cut up pineapple & watermelon…Yummy!

    Reply
  78. Rosanne Robinson

    Our favourite picnic food is a bucket of KFC chicken, rolls, potato salad, coleslaw, berries, & watermelon.

    Reply
  90. Gord

    Our picnics are not complete without watermelon. We do enjoy KFC as well as this is one of our favourite meals to have on a picnic.

    Reply
  93. Viv Sluys

    My daughters were just saying that they can hardly wait for picnic season! We often just do cheese sandwiches and a veggie tray for picnics but my favourite picnic food is fried chicken and biscuits.

    Reply
  95. Jennifer P.

    I love fried chicken for a picnic! It’s definitely my favourite picnic food, with fruit on the side – particularly blueberries, cherries and watermelon.

    Reply
  113. Debbie White Beattie

    We will usually take chicken, pasta salad, potato salad, some cut up fruits and sometimes veggies and dip. But it all depends on whether we’ve are going for the whole day or just a couple of hours.

    Reply
  137. KellyPC

    Chicken is perfect! We used to have a KFC close to the beach, it was so easy to grab on the way but it closed last year. 🙁

    Reply

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