All News & StoriesJoin us for a summer picnic
Summer is in full swing, with means BBQs, family get-togethers, and time outside! What is your go-to dish to bring to a picnic? At CCA, we pulled together our BBQ favorites – and we clearly all love desserts! So, come share a meal with us!
Sides and appetizers
Patti Bowes, Layered Bean Dip
Layered bean dip is always a hit at gatherings. The best part is it requires no cooking! In a shallow dish, layer the following and serve with tortillas:
- Can of refried beans
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Top with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese; sliced black olives if desired
- Add dollops of your favorite salsa on top
Eunice, Haitian Pikliz
In Haiti, a BBQ is not complete without grilled fish, fried plantains, and Pikliz (Haitian pickled vegetable relish). Pikliz is a Haitian condiment traditionally served with meats and fried food to balance rich flavors. It is made of pickled cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet pepper, seasoned with garlic and onion, and pickled in white vinegar. The slight crunch of the vegetables, the heat from the thinly sliced scotch bonnet peppers, and the flavors of the vinegar make this dish a must-have!
Rosy, Mexican Street Corn
I love bringing Mexican street corn as a side dish for BBQs. It is so simple, and you can adjust the ingredients as needed depending on what you have on hand or your preferences. I have also done a make-it-yourself station where all the ingredients are out and you can make it to your liking! You’ll need:
- Canned corn (heat it up….maybe even leave it in a crock pot so it stays warm)
- Mayonnaise
- Cotija cheese
- Limes
- Your favorite chili powder (cayenne pepper, tajín, or regular chili powder)
Mix it all together and enjoy. If you feel like adding other things to it, do you! I won’t endorse it though (don’t know if my ancestors will either)!!
Skylar, Baked Beans
Two of my favorite additions to any BBQ are baked beans and potato salad – specifically mustard potato salad. They both taste amazing with Kroger fried chicken.
Lauren, Pasta Salad
I grew up eating this at every picnic and BBQ my family attended. It was Mom’s staple and something that was easy to convert to gluten-free after her celiac diagnosis.
- Cooked pasta – we use penne, rotini, or bowtie
- Diced veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, cherry tomatoes
- Cubed pepperoni or salami; cubed Asiago cheese
- 1/2 bottle of Italian dressing
Mix the ingredients together and refrigerate overnight – it tastes better the next day! Toss with the other half of the dressing before serving.
Sarah, ALL the salads!
My favorite BBQ item is all the salads! Greek salad, German potato salad, pasta salad, salata, etc. – never met one I didn’t like! Here is my go-to German potato salad, if you have never tried one.
Allie, Buffalo Chicken Dip
I usually make buffalo chicken dip because it’s super easy and I’m not a cook. I love that I can eye-ball the ingredients, you can throw it all in a crock pot, and it comes together quickly.
- 2 blocks of cream cheese
- 2 cups of rotisserie chicken or 2 of the the 12.5 oz. cans of chicken
- 1-2 cups of shredded mild cheddar
- 1-2 cups of shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1/2 cup of ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Garlic powder to taste
Main Dishes
Lane, Baby Back Ribs
I love baby back ribs and they are so easy to make in the Instant Pot. They’re great served hot or cold, which makes them the perfect picnic companion! Bring a variety of sauces so everyone can have their favorite and make sure to have lots of baby wipes!
Mollie, Fried Chicken
While I love a good burger or hot dog, fried chicken really steps up the BBQ game! I make it easy to pick it up on my way, and it is always a hit with the crowd.
Desserts
Julie Carey, Ice Cream Bar
My go-to is setting up an ice cream bar for dessert! Putting the ice cream in a cooler of ice makes set-up easy, and, who doesn’t love a toppings bar!?
- Ice cream flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry
- Syrups: Carmel, butterscotch, hot fudge
- Toppings: Sprinkles, Oreo/cookie dough, Reese’s Pieces, cheesecake bites
Kristin, “Whatever looks good in the Kroger bakery”
I’m a notoriously bad cook, so my favorite recipe is to 1) Ask my husband what he is bringing on behalf of our family, 2) Sign up to bring plates and utensils, or 3) Buy something from the Kroger bakery and put it in Tupperware so it looks like I made it!
Jamie, Fruit Pizza
My favorite summer dessert is a fruit pizza! You decorate the top with any fruit you like, and it is easy to make it patriotic with blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries for the Fourth of July. Here’s to keeping it easy with premade sugar cookie crust!
Sylvia, Banana Pudding
Simple is great for a hot summer day, so I go with a quick and easy banana pudding! The quickie version only requires five ingredients: instant vanilla pudding, Cool Whip, bananas, vanilla wafers (you can make homemade version if you want to get fancy), and milk. It makes for a really quick last minute dessert to take to any pitch-in!
Lucy, Tres leches
Tres leches literally means, “three milks” and tres leches cake is an ultra light sponge cake soaked in a sweet milk mixture. It’s popular in Mexico and Latin America and reminds me of home. I love that it’s not overly sweet, it’s super easy to make, I can make it in advance, and its absolutely delicious!
