Buzz
A great picnic might seem spontaneous, but a little preparation can give it that effortless vibe. By keeping a stash of shelf-stable goodies, you’ll always be ready for an impromptu picnic—whether it’s a sunny day or a chilly winter afternoon, if that’s your thing.
Trader Joe’s, as many of you may know, is a go-to spot for pre-packaged, shelf-stable, and picnic-perfect items. Its shelves are lined with fruits, nuts, crackers, olives, and some surprisingly tempting canned goods, plus a selection of shelf-stable meats and cheeses.
The ideal picnic basket contents are of course a matter of personal preference, but let’s walk through the steps of creating one together, ensuring you don’t overlook any essentials.
Begin with a cracker
Trader Joe’s offers a wide variety of crackers, but I tend to grab the ones that come in a single sleeve to save on space. The Savory Thins and Red Chili Scalloped Crackers are excellent choices, as are the Brioche Toasts.
Pick up a sausage
At any given moment, Trader Joe’s usually has at least two or three pre-packaged salami varieties that can sit out at room temperature without going bad. My top pick is the Chianti Red Wine Artisan Salami. There’s also plenty of jerky, though I feel like jerky is more suited for hiking.
Pick up some cheese
The only truly shelf-stable cheese options at Trader Joe’s are the Oven-Baked Cheese Bites (essentially little chunks of frico) and the Laughing Cow cheese wedges, and I highly suggest getting both. Spread a smooth processed cheese wedge on a crunchy cheese bite and add an olive on top. Now that's luxury.
Make sure to bring the wine
A picnic without wine is just an outdoor gathering, but bottles are bulky, noticeable, and made of glass. Opt for one of the many canned wine options, but be mindful of the serving sizes—one can may seem like “one wine,” but it’s actually the equivalent of half a bottle.
Canned options work too
Did you know Trader Joe’s offers canned dolmas? How about their richly seasoned canned chickpeas (with cumin and parsley)? They do, and they’re fantastic. They also have a wide selection of canned seafood, including sardines, smoked oysters, herring, and trout, all of which make a perfect topping for crackers or the previously mentioned Brioche Toasts.
Don’t forget the extras
Dried fruits, nuts, olives, and honey or jam really complete a meat and cheese spread, and Trader Joe’s is great for these items. I’ve been enjoying their Tempting Trail Mix for years, and now it comes in handy single-serving packs—perfect for slipping into an already packed picnic basket.
You can also find individual-sized packs of apricots, manzanilla olives, and dried apricots, though there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a large bag of your favorite fruit, nut, or mix and dividing it into smaller portions yourself. (Actually, it's better that way because all that pre-packaged stuff tends to be wasteful.)
For a sweet topping or drizzle, grab the Hot Honey Sauce or one of their many jams and jellies. (I haven’t been able to find their pepper jelly—the one that was absolutely perfect—lately, and I’m pretty upset. Has anyone seen it recently?)
Finish with something sweet
Trader Joe’s offers a lot of candy, and you should definitely take advantage of that. I usually go for one of their darkest chocolate bars, but I’ve also been very tempted by the Dark Chocolate Caramel wedges (which come in a cute little tin), the Cookie Butter Bar, and the small packs of Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. (They even have some Starburst-like treats I’ve been wanting to try, though it’s hard to beat the original Starbursts.)
Keep it under wraps. Keep it safe.
Once your collection of shelf-stable snacks is ready, pack it all into a basket or bag and tuck it away for the next time you need a picnic immediately. Don’t mistake it for your “everyday” snack stash. This is your designated picnic bag, and you don’t want anyone (kids or spouses) depleting it.
Hide it from them, that’s what I’m saying. It might feel a bit sneaky, but just imagine how delighted they’ll be when you can casually grab your picnic stash and head out the door, no shopping, packing, or picking up required. (Just remember to pack a knife. You’ll need it for the salami.)
