Winter Hot Picnic Ideas
Winter Sunset at Surprise View, Otley
A picnic is for life, not just for Summer…
Is it just me, or do winter picnics feel so much more exciting than Summer picnics?!
Maybe, it’s because when it comes to summer picnic food I literally have NO inspiration. But when it comes to Winter picnics… I am ALL over them!!
Maybe, it’s because they are actually incredibly easy to organise…. in my opinion, a flask of hot food is far easier than keeping a load of cold picnic stuff… well cold…
Or maybe it’s because Winter is the season of the BEST sunsets.
Tempted to try it out? Why not check out our top tips on hot winter picnics!
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This blog contains an Ad/PR product sent by The Little Adventure Shop
A winter picnic in the woods, Grass Woods, Grassington.
Find yourself a great insulated food pot ….
Well DUH! I hear you say, but this is so key to a great hot picnic!
Now over the years we have gone through a few…. Chilly’s, Hyrdro Flask and Thermos. All have been good. If anything, the Hydro Flask has probably lasted the best, but all have done the job!
Yes, they are a bit of an investment. But in my opinion, you get your money’s worth!
I have tried some cheaper versions of these, but after a while they’ve either leaked, the seal has gone, or they have started to take on water when washed. It’s gotta be said, they may be more expensive, but in my opinion they are worth the investment!
Grab yourself a good waterproof picnic blanket…
We absolutely LOVE our Pacmat Solo blankets. They pack down to a teeny tiny size, which is great when you are lugging around a rucksack load of food, plus they are waterproof. Now this is a must during winter, because even if it’s super sunny, it’s damp. So grab a picnic blanket, lay it over a rock, or log …. or wherever you choose to sit, and VOILA, no soggy bums! (And in the inevitable situation where they get muddy…. they are machine washable too!)
Some top tips for hot picnics
Don’t add hot food into a cold pot. This will just mean it will cool down more quickly. Instead, boil a kettle, fill the pot with water for a good few minutes with the lid resting on top, and then immediately before serving the food, pour it away and fill the now hot pot! That will help the contents stay warmer, as it is inevitable that some heat will be lost in-between the making and the eat time.
Err on the side of caution. The less saucy your food is, the faster it will cool, so the saucier the food the better, as it will stay hotter for longer. I am always paranoid about things containing chicken, so I wouldn’t leave longer than 2 hours between the putting in the pot bit and the eating bit. I’m a bit more relaxed about other things like pesto pasta etc. but after 3-4 hours the food tends to really be firmly into the cooling phase, so eating it sharpish is better!
For more storage tips, you can check out the food hygiene website.
Enjoying a tasty Winter picnic food favourite!
Hot picnic recipe suggestions…
Now it’s time for the BEST BIT! The eating!
And here are some of our favourite recipes ranging from easy to fancy!
Pasta Pesto: Oh so easy! This one is for the last minute ‘grab something from the cupboard because we are going on a picnic NOW’ situation. It’s filling, it’s a classic. Therefore…. always a winner with the kids.
TOP TIP: Pasta does tend to keep expanding and cooking after it’s come out the pan. I tend to cook it very al-dente to allow a bit of extra cooking time. It will also cool at a quicker rate because of the lack of sauce, so unless you want lukewarm pasta, eat asap.
Soup. A classic. One of the easiest things to take, as it doesn’t require any cutlery. Whack in some bread too to clean the pot out and fill up those tummies. Winner.
Hot Dogs. We take a classic smoked hot dog sausage, boil them and then keep them in the pot with all the water. A Bavarian smoked sausage is our favourite! You simply pour the hot water away before you serve them, then take the buns and ketchup with you!
Bangers and Beans. Yum. This is one of my favourites, and obviously requires very little skill, but maybe a bit more organisation. Pack up some bread too, to make sure nobody’s left hungry!
TOP TIP: I literally shove the sausages in a more or less full pot of beans. This keeps the bangers toasty in the sauce.
Gnocchi. Getting a bit more fancy now, but this one is another great tummy filler! We like to mix ours with tomato and garlic sauce, a few handfuls of spinach, fresh basil and some melty mozzarella! So good!
Bonfire Chilli: a GREAT leftovers picnic, because I always make far too much chilli! I don’t know if your kids are like mine, and think that even the slightest hint of actual chilli is surely trying to kill them, BUT a little tip here is to swap out some of the hot chilli for bit of BBQ spice, which can be a bit milder, but still tasty! Whack in some hot rice, and sprinkle some cheese on top, and there you go! A really hearty winter picnic!
TOP TIP: If you are reheating anything make sure it is PIPING hot when it goes in the pot, and I would always eat within 2 hours.
Chicken and Smoked Sausage Chowder: This is a Nigel Slater recipe that my kids love, and it is a great hot picnic contender. Check out his recipe, which contains, chicken, smoked sausage (we use smoked hot dog sausages), leeks, potato, sweetcorn, thyme, chicken stock and cream to finish it off! So yummy!!
Mac n Cheese: Classic cheesy pasta! Add in some broccoli or sweetcorn and boom!
TOP TIP: The pasta with continue to absorb the sauce after you’ve made it, so make the sauce slightly thinner and make more than you’d usually. This way, it’s still saucy by the time you get round to it!
Fajitas: It’s a classic teatime fav in our house, but it works equally as well on the go. Take the fajita filling and pop it in your hot pots, then take the wraps separately and wrap them up on the go!
TOP TIP: Make it EXTRA Saucy to keep the heat in.
Cheesy Bean wraps: For a picnic that creates some serious comfort food vibes…. take a hot pot of beans, an extra pot of grated cheese and wrap them up on the go!
TOP TIP: wrap the wraps in foil to keep them soft, then use the foil to wrap around the bottom of the wrap to avoid bean based leaks!
Hydro Flasks, the ULTIMATE kids thermal drinks bottles.
Finish it off with a hot drink… (contains Ad/ PR product)
Really stoke up those internal heating systems, by chasing your hot picnic with a hot drink!
We we were lucky enough to be given these fantastic hydro flasks by the Little Adventure Shop , which are literally the BEST drinks bottles, we have ever owned.
100% leak proof (which has NEVER happened to us before when it comes to drinks bottles before, and absolutely is my biggest bug bear!)
It doesn’t ‘taste funny’, the kids’ words, not mine!
It’s durable, and ours have been dropped several times, with not a dent nor a scratch to show for it!
When they say it stays hot for hours, it means it! As hot as it was when we left the house, and stays that way!
UPDATE 2024…. Now 3 years on from receiving these bottles… they are STILL going strong. Still no leaks, still indestructible and still blummin’ brilliant. We are now fully invested in the quality of Hydro Flask that we own 5! Check out their website (not on commission, just highly recommend!)
Make the most of those winter sunsets…
After school picnic anybody?
For parents of school-age kids, it can be hard during the Winter months to squeeze in that outdoor time around school work, clubs and general school admin!
So here’s an idea! Why not pop your tea** in a food pot and enjoy it watching the sun go down!!
(** Yes tea. We’re YORKSHIRE, Tea is tea, tea is a brew and dinner is lunch…. make sense?!!)
An after school, sunset hot picnic!
Mouth watering and raring to go out for that Winter Sunset picnic?! Don’t blame you!
Enjoy!
Fancy a kid friendly Yorkshire walk to go with that picnic?
We have nearly 100 family friendly walks in and around the Yorkshire Dales on our website!