Whether you're enjoying an elaborate feast at your family campsite or scarfing down a sandwich on the trail, food just tastes better outside. And what better way to enjoy an outdoor meal than a picnic at a state park?
People have been picnicking for centuries — from medieval hunting feasts to Victorian-era outdoor dinners of roast duck. Today, picnics come in many forms, from Texas-sized family celebrations to intimate meals for two. Really, it’s the spirit of the thing that connects all these forms of dining — picnics are a time for friends and family to come together in nature and enjoy their favorite foods.
Texas State Parks offer picnic tables with some of the most beautiful views in the state; you can eat near a river, lake, canyon or beach. Read on for some tips to plan the perfect picnic for a variety of occasions, with a Texas twist!
Picnic No. 1: Simple and Sweet
A simple picnic is an easy way to relax and enjoy a meal and doesn’t require too much planning.
Recipe – PB & J
An American childhood classic, the PB&J is a salty-sweet treasure all on its own. Over the years, people have invented their own twists on the sandwich:
- Peanut butter, pickles and chips
- Peanut butter and jalapeño jelly
- Almond butter and honey
- Sunflower butter and Nutella
Best Parks
The spreading branches of Buescher State Park’s oaks provide a perfect place to spread a blanket.
Plan a fall picnic at Falcon State Park, and share the park with hundreds of colorful butterflies.
Tips
Bring more water than you think you need.
Hand sanitizer/wipes will save your sticky hands.
Picnic No. 2: Picnic Party!
Gather the family and call ahead to reserve a Texas-sized picnic in a group pavilion.
If you have family members who love the outdoors, consider celebrating their birthday with an outdoor party. It’s the perfect occasion for a piñata (be sure to pick up the trash) and a big, beautiful cake.
Recipe: Grilled Poteet Strawberry Shortcake
- 16 ounces strawberries, washed, stemmed and sliced
- 1 Tbsp Texas wildflower honey
- 15 ounces vanilla pound cake
- 2 Tbsp salted butter, softened to room temperature
- 32 ounces H‑E‑B Creamy Creations Poteet Strawberry Premium Ice Cream
1- Toss strawberries with honey and allow to sit 10 to 15 minutes while grilling cake slices.
2- Heat grill or skillet to medium-high. Slice pound cake into eight 1/2 inch thick slices. Spread softened butter on both sides of each slice.
3- Grill briefly on both sides until toasted. Scoop ice cream onto pound cake and top with strawberries. Serve immediately.
Best Parks
Big Spring State Park overlooks miles of scrubland conveniently close to town. Rent the park’s group pavilion, which seats 200, for only $70 a day.
Just 10 miles outside of Beaumont, Village Creek State Park is a lush retreat on the edge of the Big Thicket. The picnic pavilion seats 80.
Tips
More than 60 state parks offer picnic pavilions and group halls to rent for the day. Find a park near you, and check for group sites. Call the Group Desk at (512) 389-8920 for information.
Picnic No. 3: Food With a View
Add a few miles of trekking to ramp up your appetite for a picnic with a view.
We know food tastes better outside — and even the most humble of trail mixes will taste like manna from heaven.
Recipe: Happy Trail Hiking Mix
- 12 ounces dried mixed fruit, chopped
- 1 cup natural almonds
- 1 cup pecans, unsalted
- 14 ounces Chex wheat cereal
- 1/2 cup Texas wildflower honey
- 12 snack bags
- Heat oven to 300°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with foil, then spray with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
- Combine mixed fruit, almonds, pecans, wheat squares and honey on prepared baking sheet; toss mixture to coat.
- Bake trail mix on center oven rack 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through baking time; cool.
- For portion, place 1/2 cup in each snack bag.
Best Parks
Big Bend Ranch is Texas’ largest state park. Visit in April to catch a view of beautiful desert blooms.
Caprock Canyons State Park is known for its red cliffs and bison. The park has 90 miles of trail, including the 64-mile Caprock Canyons Trailway.
Picnic No. 4: Gourmet Picnic
Bring a date an add in some French-inspired Texas cuisine.
Picnic was originally a 17th century French word, picque-nique, based on the verb piquer, meaning “pick” or “nab,” and the rhymed word -nique, meaning “trifle.” Over the centuries the term came to mean a meal eaten outdoors, and was shortened to “picnic.”
Recipe: Texas Charcuterie Board
- 8 pickled okra, whole
- 1 cup seedless watermelon, cubed
- 3 ounces raspberry jam
- 1 pound thin-sliced roast beef
- 1 pound thin-sliced brisket
- 7 ounces red grapes on the vine
- 1 pound cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1 cup honey toasted pecans
- 2 cups garlic pita chips
Arrange ingredients on a cutting board and enjoy!
Best Parks
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the nation’s second largest canyon — the perfect backdrop for a fancy picnic.
What’s more romantic than watching the waves crash along the shore? Mustang Island State Park has a beautiful beachfront location — and if you visit in July, you’ll see blooming morning glories.
Picnic No. 5: Campfire Cookin'
Does a cookout count as a picnic?
A list of Texas outdoor eating would not be complete without a mention of grilling and chilling around an open fire. If your campsite has a grill (many of them do), bring on the barbecue. If not, you can use a portable campfire grill, available for around $20 at most stores that carry camping supplies.
Recipe: Alambres (Mexican Style Skewers)
- 1 1/2 pounds beef fajita skirt steak
- 1 large sweet onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 12 ounces dark beer
- 8 jalapeño peppers
- 16 cherry tomatoes
- non-stick cooking spray
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 jar red salsa
- 1 jar Hatch salsa verde
1- Cut the beef fajita skirt steak into strips 1 inch thick and 2 inches long and set aside.
2- Combine the meat, onion and beer in a large zip-close bag and marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.
3- Place items on the skewer in the following order: tomato, meat, onion, meat, jalapeño, meat and tomato.
4- Spray the prepared skewers with non-stick cooking spray and season with salt and pepper.
5- Spray grill rack with non-stick cooking spray.
6- Heat grill to 375°F.
7- Place skewers on grill rack and grill each side for 6 to 12 minutes depending on the degree of doneness you desire: 6 minutes medium-rare, 8 minutes medium and 12 minutes for well-done.
8- Place the skewers on a serving platter and serve with salsas.
Best Parks
Camp alongside the idyllic tree-lined lake at Daingerfield State Park — and for an extra feast, time your visit to one of its Dutch oven cooking workshops.
Tips
Check whether the park you’re visiting allows fires, and reserve ahead to make sure your campsite has the amenities you need.
Prepare and chop ingredients at home to cut down on campsite cleanup.
