Father’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate Dad with great food and quality time outdoors. Whether you’re planning a backyard picnic or heading to a scenic spot, delicious and easy-to-pack dishes make all the difference. Need Father’s Day picnic ideas? From hearty grilled favorites to refreshing summer sides, we’ve got the best picnic inspiration to help you plan the ultimate feast. So grab a blanket, fire up the grill, and make this Father’s Day picnic idea one to remember. It’s picnic time! Let’s make it special!
Table of Contents
Mini Sausage Rolls: The Perfect Picnic Starter
These easy mini sausage rolls are a must-have for your Father’s Day picnic! Made simple with store-bought puff pastry, they’re packed with savory goodness and perfect for snacking on the go. Serve them warm or cold—they store well and reheat easily. Whether you’re packing a picnic or celebrating at home, these bite-sized treats are sure to be a hit. Ready to make the ultimate picnic snack? Let’s get rolling with the easy recipe!
Savory Hand Pies
Savory hand pies are a picnic must! I’ll show you how to make a quick crust, or offer shortcuts with store-bought dough. Plus, find delicious gluten-free, veggie, and vegan variations. Make a batch to enjoy fresh on Father’s Day, or freeze some for future feasts! Get the easy recipe here.
Smoked Pork Chops with Orange Glaze
Get ready to wow Dad with the BEST Traeger pork chops! We’ve got the simple recipe and tricks for perfectly tender, smoky chops. Plus, level up your grill game with our digital temp gauge hack. Thin, boneless, you name it—we’ll have you grilling like a pro for a Father’s Day picnic feast he won’t forget! Click here for the tasty recipe.
Easy Taco Salad
Surprise Dad with a flavor explosion! This easy taco salad recipe kicks things up a notch with unexpected twists like creamy Thousand Island dressing and the irresistible crunch of Nacho Cheese Doritos. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser, perfect for celebrating Dad’s special day with a picnic dish that’s as fun and unique as he is. Get ready for a main dish salad that’ll have everyone asking for seconds! Find the easy recipe here.
Simple Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad
For a picnic dish that’s both satisfying and travel-friendly, look no further than Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad! This recipe, known by many names (Oriental, Asian, Chinese Cabbage, we just call it delicious!), delivers a crunchy, flavorful experience that even cabbage skeptics will love. Best of all, it skips the mayo, making it perfect for hot Father’s Day picnics. A quick and easy win for your celebration! Get the simple recipe here.
Refreshing Ham and Pea Salad
For a classic picnic salad that Dad will love, look no further than Ham and Pea Salad! This easy recipe combines creamy mayonnaise and sour cream with savory ham, sweet peas, sharp cheddar, and fresh green onions. Served chilled, it’s the perfect refreshing addition to a warm Father’s Day picnic. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover holiday ham! Click here for the tasty recipe.
Chicken, Bacon, Avocado Corn Salad
Give Dad a healthy and delicious picnic option with our Chicken Avocado Salad! This main dish salad comes together in just 10 minutes, making it perfect for a last-minute Father’s Day celebration. Packed with protein and healthy fats, it’s a flavorful and satisfying choice that’s easily adaptable to keto or grilled variations. Get ready for a simple, yet impressive, addition to your picnic basket! Get the simple recipe here.
Crowd-Pleasing Seafood Salad
Bring a touch of family tradition to your Father’s Day picnic with our Easy Shrimp and Crab Salad! This recipe, a cherished favorite for years, evokes warm memories and delicious gatherings. Best of all, it can be largely prepped the night before, freeing you up to enjoy quality time with Dad. This seafood extravaganza is a guaranteed hit! Find the easy recipe here.
Creamy Potato Salad
For a classic Father’s Day picnic side, look no further than this easy red skin potato salad. Forget spending hours in the kitchen! This recipe cuts down on prep time without sacrificing flavor, delivering the creamy, savory goodness Dad loves (bacon addition optional, but highly recommended!). Perfect for pairing with grilled favorites, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Click here for the simple recipe.
Berry Mandarin Tossed Salad
Beat the summer heat with this refreshing Berry Tossed Salad with Mandarin Oranges, a guaranteed hit even for picky salad eaters! Perfect for a Father’s Day picnic, this vibrant and light salad is mayo-free, making it ideal for warm weather gatherings. The sweet berries and citrusy mandarin oranges create a delightful flavor combination that will leave everyone wanting more. Trust us, this is one salad Dad will actually enjoy! Check it out and see what you think!
Classic Walnut Pear Blue Cheese Salad
Add a touch of gourmet to your Father’s Day picnic with this quick and elegant Walnut Pear Blue Cheese Salad. The sweet pears, crunchy walnuts, and tangy blue cheese create a sophisticated flavor profile that’s surprisingly easy to achieve. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect as a side or can be transformed into a hearty Chicken Pear Blue Cheese Salad with the addition of grilled chicken. Elevate your picnic with this flavorful and effortless dish. Click here to learn how to make this tasty salad and its variations.
Scrumptious Blueberry Hand Pies
Surprise Dad with a sweet treat this Father’s Day! These Air Fryer Blueberry Hand Pies are the perfect portable dessert for a picnic. We’ll show you how to make them with an easy homemade pie crust, or for an even quicker option, explore our suggestions for using puff pastry, refrigerated biscuit dough, or pre-made pie crust. Get ready for flaky, fruity deliciousness that’s ready in minutes. Want to find out just how easy these air fryer blueberry hand pies can be? Get the details here.
Southern Pea Pickin’ Cake
End your Father’s Day picnic on a sweet note with this classic Pea Pickin’ Cake! This moist and refreshing dessert, best served chilled, combines the bright citrus flavors of mandarin oranges and pineapple with a simple yellow cake mix for a truly wondrous taste. Topped with a light, whipped cream, it’s the perfect summer treat. This cherished family recipe, passed down through generations, is guaranteed to become a new favorite. Ready to learn how to make this marvelous dessert? Find the step-by-step instructions here.
Old Fashioned Gingersnaps
Bring a nostalgic touch to your Father’s Day picnic with these classic Gingersnaps! We’ll guide you through simple steps to create delicious cookies, just like the ones you remember. Whether Dad prefers them chewy or crunchy, we’ve got you covered with variations and two delightful finishing touches: a traditional sugar coating or a decadent white chocolate frosting. These time-tested cookies, a personal favorite, are guaranteed to disappear quickly, so we’ve included efficient shortcuts to make baking a breeze. Discover the secrets to fabulous old-fashioned gingersnaps here!
Decadent Chocolate Scotcheroos
Treat Dad to a sweet and satisfying picnic dessert with these easy Scotcheroo Bars! We’re sharing two delicious variations: the classic peanut butter and Karo syrup version, and a marshmallow-infused treat that’s a chocolatey twist on Rice Krispie treats. Perfect for camping trips or any Father’s Day celebration, these bars, named for their signature butterscotch chips, are guaranteed to be a hit. If you’ve never experienced the gooey, chocolatey goodness of a scotcheroo, you’re in for a real treat. Learn how to make these irresistible goodies!
Chocolate Toffee Shortbread Bars
Add a touch of elegance to your Father’s Day picnic with these irresistible Chocolate Covered Toffee Shortbread Bars. Made with simple ingredients, these bars are not only delicious but also conveniently portable, perfect for potlucks and outdoor celebrations. The rich toffee and pecan flavors, combined with a decadent chocolate coating, create a truly special treat Dad will love. Ready to make the best chocolate-covered toffee shortbread bars? Let’s get started!
White Chocolate Buckeyes (White Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles)
Looking for a quick and crowd-pleasing Father’s Day picnic treat? These White Chocolate Buckeyes are a guaranteed hit! This easy recipe elevates the classic peanut butter buckeye with a smooth, sweet white chocolate twist. The creamy peanut butter filling, coated in decadent white chocolate, offers the perfect sweet and salty balance, making them an irresistible addition to your picnic dessert spread. Perfect for homemade candy lovers and anyone craving a simple, indulgent treat. Get the easy recipe here.
Show-Stopping Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie
For a decadent and fruity Father’s Day dessert, look no further than this Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie! This creamy delight balances rich cream cheese with a vibrant blueberry topping, creating a perfect blend of sweet and tangy. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and one of the easiest blueberry recipes to master, making it ideal for any picnic celebration. Treat Dad to a slice of pure indulgence with this easy recipe.
More Food Inspiration
It’s always nice to have a plan when it comes to meals. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your meal planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.
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I hope you enjoy celebrating Father’s Day with these picnic food ideas. May all of your gatherings meet with great success!
Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the Welcome page.
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I love your Father’s Day picnic food ideas! How will I ever narrow it down??
Thank you for the kind words. I hope you get to have fun using some of these Father’s Day picnic ideas.
Thank you for these marvelous Father’s Day picnic food ideas. Sometimes the weather where I live doesn’t cooperate, but these foods would be great to serve at an indoor picnic as well.
I’m so glad you like the Father’s Day picninc food ideas. I hope you get to try them out!