Plan the Perfect Outdoor Meal With Our Favorite Picnic Essentials

When given the choice of eating inside or outside, I almost always opt for the latter (unless it’s raining, but sometimes even that won’t stop me). There’s just something about enjoying a good meal in the great outdoors that makes me more appreciative of each and every bite of food. 

Our experts and editors know all about the best kitchen gear from air fryers to chef’s knives, but that expertise isn’t limited to indoor products. We’ve also tested plenty of cooking and entertaining gear suited for outdoor use, whether it’s a super durable portable grill or an insulated water bottle that can stand up to the hottest days.

So, if you’ve been dreaming of meals in the park, your favorite camping spot, or even in the backyard this summer, you’ll need the best picnic essentials available. You bring the food—we’ll bring the picnic basket, cooler, and everything else you need to prepare the perfect al fresco feast.

Williams Sonoma Alba Picnic Basket

$260 at Williams Sonoma

Sure, you can haul your meal around in any old tote bag, but there’s something really nostalgic about a dedicated picnic basket. This upscale picnic basket from Williams Sonoma is equipped with a ton of useful accessories for two, including ceramic plates, stainless steel flatware, and wine glasses. There’s also a handy set of salt and pepper shakers, a wine opener, and a tablecloth, all housed in a beautiful rattan basket with a fully lined interior. While this is the best picnic basket we’ve tested, it’s a little on the pricey side, so consider the Picnic Time Country Vintage Picnic Basket for a more budget-conscious option.

RTIC Soft Cooler 20 Can

$115 $99 at Amazon

We’ve tested plenty of hard-sided coolers that are ideal for camping and big grocery runs, but picnics call for something a little more lightweight and portable. This RTIC soft-sided cooler is one of the best we’ve tested—it’s even Allstar-approved for its durable design that’s easy to clean, completely waterproof, and excellent at keeping drinks, desserts, and other perishables cold for hours. For something that’s collapsible for easy storage, we also love the CleverMade Eco Pacifica 30-Can Collapsible Cooler.

S'well Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 17-Ounce

$35 $22 at Amazon $35 at Target $35 at Walmart

This is my go-to insulated water bottle for traveling and any other situation that requires a lightweight option that’s easy to carry. Its narrow design fits easily into a tote bag, backpack, or picnic basket, and the interior is protected with a copper wall layer that resists condensation and increases insulation. If you’re picnicking somewhere with non-potable water (near a lake or stream, for example), grab a filtered water bottle like my favorite Lifestraw Stainless Steel Water Filter Bottle.

Char-Broil Portable Gas Grill

$50 $40 at Amazon $59 at Walmart $41 at Wayfair

If you’d rather cook your food on site, you’ll want a portable grill that’s small enough to fit in the trunk of your car and carry to your picnic site without breaking too much of a sweat. The Char-Broil Portable Gas Grill is both lightweight and budget-conscious with porcelain-coated wire grates that are incredibly easy to clean. Even better, the legs fold up to make it even more compact for storage. It runs off a small propane tank (the kind you might use for camping) and boasts a 190-square-inch cooking space, or enough to cook up to eight burgers at a time. Our official top pick in this category, the Weber Lumin Electric Grill, is also an excellent model—though it’s a bit heavier and requires a nearby electrical outlet to use.

Material The Mini reBoard

View on Materialkitchen.com

Whether you’re slicing up a piece of fruit or assembling a picnic-friendly cheese plate, a compact, lightweight cutting board makes all the difference. I’ve used the 13.3 by 8.5 Material mini reBoard in my own kitchen for years, and I’ve been impressed with how easy it is to store and clean. It’s handy to throw into a bag or cooler on the way out the door, and there’s even a hanging loop to stow or hang dry while outdoors. I love that it comes in several different colors and is made using sustainable materials—75 percent recycled plastic and 25 percent renewable sugarcane. If you need a larger size, Material also offers a full-sized reBoard that measures 14.75 by 10.75 inches.

Hydro Flask 12-Ounce Travel Mug

$28 $25 at Amazon $28 at Macys View on Hydroflask.com

There’s nothing better than pairing a cup of hot tea or coffee with fresh air, but the elements can often get in the way. That’s where a good travel mug comes in. This Hydro Flask travel mug is double-wall insulated to keep your drinks hot—or cold—but also comes with a matching lid that acts as a barrier between your drink and everything else (think: bugs, dust, unexpected rain, etc.). As a bonus, it’s made using the same durable stainless steel material as Hydro Flask’s other iconic products. If you’re a bigger coffee drinker and scoff at the idea of a 12-ounce mug, try the Yeti Rambler Travel Mug, which comes in 20-ounce and 30-ounce sizes.

W&P Porter Seal Tight Glass Bowl

$25 at Amazon View on Wandp.com

My love for glass food storage containers is no secret, especially when they are durable, versatile, and easy to clean. These W&P containers add aesthetics to the mix with a colorful layer of thick silicone and matching lids in an assortment of cute colors. They’re made using borosilicate glass that’s more resistant to thermal shock than other types of glass, and they’re safe to use in the dishwasher, microwave, and freezer. The screw-top lids are completely leakproof, perfect for leftover soups and sauces, as well as picnic-friendly foods like fruit, potato salad, and sandwich ingredients. For something a little more budget-conscious, I also love the Oxo Good Grips Smart Seal 12-Piece Glass Container Set.

Utopia Towels Kitchen Towels Dish Cloth

$20 $16 at Amazon

When it comes to eating outdoors, a dishtowel is something you might not think to pack until you really need one. Not only are they fantastic for accidental spills, but they’ll also double as napkins, placemats, and makeshift food covers to keep flies from attacking the watermelon slices. These lightweight cotton towels from Utopia are an editor favorite, offering great value at 12 pieces for under $20. They are super absorbent and even come in a checkered design that will match your classic picnic vibes. For a larger towel made of microfiber that comes in a bunch of different designs, the Geometry Tea Towel is another great option.

Yeti 12-Ounce Colster Can Insulator

$25 at Amazon View on Yeti $25 at Williams Sonoma

Yeti is known for its durable drinkware available in a wide range of colors, but more specifically for its superior insulation technology. The brand has applied that same mentality with its can insulators, complete with a load and lock gasket that seals your drink with a quick quarter-turn. It’s great for beer of course, but I also use it for other carbonated beverages like sparkling water and kombucha—and the variety of colors means you won’t have to worry about mixing up each other’s drinks if you choose to buy more than one. They also come in handy indoors, especially for those prone to opening up canned drinks throughout the day and then promptly forgetting about them. If you’re more of a hard seltzer or craft beer fan, the colsters are also available in a slim 12-ounce size and a tall 16-ounce size. 

Boska Copenhagen Mini Knife Set

$33 at Amazon View on Webstaurantstore.com

Cheese is the perfect addition to any picnic. Whether it’s a hard cheese like aged Gouda or a softer cheese like fresh mozzarella, this set includes the right knife for the job. Each knife is made using nonstick stainless steel that’s strong and easy to clean in the dishwasher. The set features a spreading knife for butter and soft cheese, a semi soft cheese knife, a semi hard cheese knife, and a hard cheese knife. The miniature sizes make this the ideal collection for a picnic since it won’t take up a lot of space in your bag or picnic basket.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Katherine Gallagher is an editor for Allrecipes with over a decade of experience in the restaurant industry. Between a lifetime of camping and a general love of the outdoors, she’s enjoyed plenty of great meals outside. Before coming to Allrecipes, she worked as a contributor for several environmental news and lifestyle publications, and as a travel writer focusing on food and sustainable tourism.