How to Throw a Potluck Picnic

Potlucks are favorite events for many and a great way to enjoy a party meal with friends. Picnics are another way to bring large crowds of people together without needing to worry about how large of a space is needed. Outdoor accommodations work well for large family or group gatherings and are particularly good when attendance is unpredictable. To pull off this gathering without breaking the bank, consider these bits of information on how to throw a potluck picnic.

Are you the company picnic planner, the family food coordinator no matter what event is approaching, or perhaps the July 4th picnic hostess? While arranging a potluck picnic involves planning and coordination, it reduces the amount of food preparation and cooking for any one person. Some of the best potluck ideas convert to easy picnic food with no problem. Easy potluck ideas for throwing a picnic include potluck casseroles like baked beans or hamburger casserole; picnic salads such as potato salad or macaroni salad; potluck favorites corn on the cob and baked macaroni for picnic side dishes; and easy picnic desserts like cookies, brownies and pies.

Once the potluck food plans are underway, there will be plenty of time for other planning activities like location, games, transportation, and photography needs to insure your potluck picnic is a success. Continue reading for tips on throwing your next potluck picnic.

Planning a Summer Picnic

Save Cancel

URL | Web Search

Select a video

Planning the Perfect Summer Picnic ...

source: www.youtube.com

Divya Gugnani of Behind the Burner demonstrates three different food items that can be prepared at home and brought to a summer potluck picnic. A festive bean and corn salad is prepared using fresh ingredients and olive oil. Toasted ciabatta bread is drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with roasted garlic cloves. Goat cheese is added and covered with freshly roasted tomatoes and some mint leaf to aid digestion and freshen the breath. For dessert, homemade peanut brittle is made using peanuts, butter, sugar, water and red bee honey. The mixture is spread into a cookie sheet and allowed to set before breaking into bite size pieces to share at the potluck.

Step 1: Potluck Picnic Locations

The picnic location is important to building the potluck food list. In order to let people know the limitations of the location, check out the picnic site and determine whether grills are available for preparing meat, if pavilions have power outlets for crockpots, how far from the bathrooms the location is, and how many tables are available.

These pieces of information help you decide whether to plan a potluck picnic where the meat is provided and someone runs the grills, or have participants contribute meat dishes also. Knowing whether power is available or not lets people know if bringing their favorite crockpot casserole is possible or if they need a back up plan. Table planning is essential for both food purposes and for having a place to enjoy the meal. If people are standing to eat, most will not linger for long.

Step 2: Potluck Picnic Food Ideas

Once you have settled on a location, divide the food requirements into main dish items, side dishes, drinks, and desserts. Depending on the number of attendees for the picnic, decide if each person should be asked to bring a single dish or more than one. If meat is being provided, side dishes can be divided further to split casseroles/vegetables and salads/appetizers. The invitation for the potluck picnic should make it clear what the sign up categories are. In order to get an equal distribution of foods, consider splitting the list by the last names/alphabetical division, by the work section for company picnic activities, or by the generation for family reunions.

If meat needs to be provided, be sure those who are assigned these items are reliable and will be bringing enough to cover all the attendees as running out of the main course makes a very bad impression on attendees. The remaining steps of this guide page discuss possible potluck ideas for food. Many attendees will want input as to what to bring. These lists will offer suggestions on food items and links to recipes for them.

Step 3: Picnic Side Dishes, Casseroles and Desserts

As the planner for the company picnic or family reunion you may know specialties of particular attendees and can ask those individuals to sign up for items everyone is known to love. This is a traditional approach at family reunions as Grandma almost always has a special meal item everyone expects to see at any potluck. When determining the picnic sides and potluck desserts, think about how many attendees will be present. For favorite dishes which accompany the main course traditionally (like potato salad or baked beans) consider if you need more than one person providing the item.

The following potluck ideas may come in handy for the picnic sign up list. Click the item name to connect to a recipe page:

Step 4: Picnic Salads, Drinks, and Breads

Picnic salads should be carefully considered depending on the weather. If temperatures may cause a problem for mayonnaise based salads consider keeping them on ice or choosing other salads in their place. For drinks, it is easy to add the item to the list of single attendees who may not have adequate cooking facilities or have each family bring enough drinks for the number of attendees. Ice chests and ice should be available if possible so attendees are not struggling pulling coolers through the picnic location. Breads can be added to the sign up listed based on the main course item. If the meat provided is something like hamburgers or hotdogs, additional breads may not be needed.

For picnic salad ideas consider the following options: