It’s beach season again and we can’t wait to dig our toes in the sand! If you’ve been wondering what to pack for your next beach trip, consider this your unofficial guide. From morning to night, here are our picks for quick and easy snacks, main dishes and desserts to get you in the vacation spirit. Plus, we’ve added some ideas and hacks to make the day a little easier.
King’s Hawaiian Sandwich Hack
Read More »Adult Capri Sun Packs
For an adult’s only version of the Capri Sun packs we loved as kids, the Tipsy Bartender adds strawberry and citrus vodka to strawberry lemonade. To make these more authentic, pour your drinks into sealable pouches (available on Amazon). Our trick: freeze these overnight for a refreshing beach drink that also acts like an icepack in your cooler!
Portable Salad Cups (That Won’t Get Soggy!)
Beneficial Bento has a genius idea for keeping pre-made salads crisp throughout the day. Layering ingredients in to-go cups, she puts dressing and hearty toppings like cheese and meat at the bottom of the cup before adding lettuce. Just shake the cup when you’re ready to eat for a freshly tossed salad in seconds.
Hands Free Fruit Skewers
Keep sandy hands away from fruit dishes by creating these rainbow skewers from The Comfort of Cooking. This ultra-healthy snack features five fruits and a sweet dipping sauce made from yogurt, honey and cinnamon. These skewers take only minutes to make and satisfy even the pickiest eaters!
The Easiest “Beach Bum” Chex Mix
A festive snack mix is the perfect grab-and-go option for any sized beach party. A Few Shortcuts whips this up in 5 minutes with Gold Fish, Chex and cheese balls, tossing the whole mix in ranch seasoning. To keep dirty hands out of your snack mix, serve these up in beach-themed style by filling a small (clean) beach bucket with food and have guests take what they want using a tiny beach shovel (as seen on the recipe page).
A Mermaid Smoothie to Keep You Hydrated and Healthy
Kick off your beach day with this ocean-themed mermaid smoothie from Pineapple and Coconut! Full of tropical fruits and spirulina, this is just what you need to jump into vacation mode. Pack it to go for your morning stroll down the boardwalk or car ride to the beach.
Sour Patch Frozen Grapes
When you’re trying to eat healthily, it can be hard to keep cravings at bay. If you have a sweet tooth like us, these Sour Patch frozen grapes from Keat’s Eats are the perfect hack for getting your sugar fix without sacrificing your summer diet. This two-ingredient recipe combines sugar-free Jell-O powder with multi-colored grapes for a sweet and tangy frozen treat to keep you cool under the sun’s hot rays.
Kid-Approved Veggie Rollups
These cute, multi-colored rollups from Peas and Crayons make it fun to eat your veggies! Full of broccoli, peppers and carrots, the filling is generously seasoned and mixed with cream cheese and mayo. After rolling in a tortilla, just slice into bite-sized pieces to get a beautiful pinwheel design.
Beach Ball Cookies
Looking for a fun dessert for your next beach party? These beach ball cookies from Taste of Home are a bold and beautiful addition to your menu. The recipe takes a classic sugar cookie dough and simply adds food coloring to achieve the stunning multicolored design.
Tropical Energy Balls
If you’re visiting the beach with a group, it may not be all rest and relaxation. Between chasing after kids or a competitive game of beach volleyball, you may find yourself needing an extra boost. These tropical energy balls from Fit Mitten Kitchen are just the thing you need. With only five ingredients, these are not only delicious but also vegan, Paleo-friendly and gluten-free.
Cooling Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles
After a few hours in the sun, you probably need to cool down. That’s where these fruity popsicles from One Lovely Life jump to the rescue. The 3-ingredient snack is made entirely from fruit for a healthy, vegan and Paleo recipe.
Crowd Pleasing Chicken Salad Croissants
A beach vacation is all about treating yourself and a croissant sandwich is the easiest way to make your lunch a little fancier! This chicken salad recipe from My Mouth is Full pulls out all the stops with toasted nuts and crisp apple. Piled high onto sliced croissants, this recipe is sure to wow the entire crowd.
Addictive Bacon Wrapped Crackers
These bacon-wrapped crackers from The Cookie Rookie are the perfect go-to snack for everything from beach days to the holidays. These sweet and salty treats require only four ingredients and can be made ahead of time, frozen and then reheated to a perfect crisp whenever you need them.
Loaded Pizza Pasta Salad
This recipe from Caramel Potatoes takes our favorite summer side dish to a whole new level! This recipe has the classic pepperoni and mozzarella we all love and adds loaded pizza toppings like olives and green pepper to the mix. Topped with parmesan cheese and zesty Italian dressing, this pasta salad is packed with texture and flavor.
