When the sun is shining, there’s something special about packing up a few favourite foods and heading to a park, beach or quiet spot in the countryside. The best picnic food ideas are simple to prepare, travel well and are just as enjoyable spread across a picnic blanket as they are around the kitchen table.
Cheese has long been a picnic staple. It’s easy to pack, wonderfully versatile and brings rich flavour to everything from sandwiches and salads to grazing boards and sharing platters. Whether you’re planning picnic lunch ideas for two or looking for summer picnic food to share with friends, Snowdonia Cheese Co’s award-winning range makes every bite feel a bit more indulgent.
What makes the perfect picnic food?
The best picnic dishes have one thing in common – they make outdoor dining simple.
Choose food that travels well, can be prepared in advance and is easy to share once you’ve found the perfect spot. That might mean individually wrapped sandwiches, colourful salads or simple grazing dishes that everyone can help themselves to.
Cheese ticks every box. It keeps its shape, pairs beautifully with fresh seasonal ingredients and brings plenty of flavour without requiring lots of last-minute preparation. Whether you’re searching for easy picnic recipes or filling a hamper for a day out, a few carefully chosen cheeses can transform even the simplest spread.
Summer berry salad with Truffle Trove
Looking for fresh picnic recipes that are ready in minutes? This seasonal salad is one you’ll keep returning to again and again.
Sweet seasonal berries, crisp mixed leaves, toasted pecans and a drizzle of balsamic create the perfect backdrop for generous shavings of Truffle Trove. Our extra mature Cheddar, infused with Black Summer truffle, adds an earthy, savoury depth that balances the fruit beautifully, creating a salad that’s light, colourful and full of flavour.
Prepare everything before you leave home, then toss together just before serving for a refreshing picnic side.
Purple Vale focaccia sandwiches
Some sandwiches deserve more than being grabbed on a quick lunch break.
Fresh rosemary focaccia filled with thick slices of Purple Vale, peppery rocket and rich balsamic creates a sandwich that’s made for long summer afternoons. Purple Vale combines mature Cheddar with Giusti 3 Gold Medals Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and balsamic caramelised red onion chutney, making every bite rich, crumbly and wonderfully savoury.
These sandwiches are perfect for preparing ahead of time. Wrap each one individually before packing so they stay beautifully fresh until it’s time to eat.
Red Storm & Rock Star charcuterie crisps
Not every picnic needs complicated preparation. These charcuterie crisps come together in moments, making them a brilliant picnic snack for afternoons outdoors. Layer your favourite crisps with crumbled Red Storm and Rock Star, add slices of cured meats and finish with a drizzle of Hot Honey for an irresistible combination of sweet, savoury and crunchy.
They’re ideal alongside chilled drinks and can even be assembled once you’ve arrived, making them one of those easy picnic recipes you’ll return to every summer.
Keep your picnic cool with our insulated cool bags
Keeping food chilled makes every picnic more enjoyable, especially on warm summer days.
Our reusable Slate Blue Insulated Cool Bag has plenty of room for cheeses, drinks and picnic essentials, while helping everything stay fresh. With its stylish slate blue design and zip-up top, it’s perfect for days at the beach, afternoons in the park or countryside adventures.
If you’d rather skip the planning, our ready-made picnic bundles make fantastic picnic hamper ideas.
The Cheese & Chutney Picnic Cool Bag includes three bestselling cheeses, a pair of chutneys, chunky tapenade and Wholemeal & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers, all packed inside the reusable cool bag for effortless outdoor dining.
The Cheese, Chutney & Soft Drinks Picnic Cool Bag adds artisan Sicilian still lemonade and sparkling rhubarb crush to the same delicious collection of award-winning cheeses and accompaniments.
For couples and summer celebrations, the Cheese, Chutney & Rosé Wine Picnic Cool Bag pairs Green Thunder, Red Storm and Rock Star with traditional chutneys, crackers, tapenade and a bottle of refreshing French rosé.
If you’re hosting a garden party or celebrating something special, the Cheese, Chutney & Prosecco Picnic Cool Bag includes everything needed for an indulgent alfresco feast, complete with organic sparkling wine, award-winning cheeses and carefully selected accompaniments.
Build a cheese picnic board
A grazing board is one of the easiest ways to feed a group outdoors – and the contents of our Cheese & Chutney Picnic Cool Bag, plus a few extras, have all the makings of a real crowd-pleaser.
Start with Green Thunder, Rock Star and Red Storm, then add your favourite chutneys and plenty of Wholemeal & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Crackers. Finish with fresh berries or grapes, olives, slices of charcuterie and a handful of seasonal fruit to create a colourful spread that’s perfect for sharing.
It’s one of those picnic lunch ideas that feels wonderfully relaxed while offering something for everyone.
Picnic packing tips
A little preparation goes a long way.
Pre-cut your cheese into wedges and wrap it before leaving home to make serving straightforward. Pack a Snowdonia Cheese Co Truckle Knife for anything that needs further slicing on the day, and freeze bottles of water overnight to help keep everything cool as they slowly thaw. Don’t forget plenty of napkins and a soft picnic blanket.
Whether you’re heading for the beach, escaping to the countryside or simply meeting friends in your local park, great cheese is the secret ingredient to an unforgettable picnic.
Explore our Picnic Cool Bag collection to discover everything you need for delicious summer picnic food, effortless sharing and memorable days outdoors.
Shop our Picnic Cool Bags and discover everything you need for alfresco feasting.