Summertime means beach days, which also means packing up the car with everything you and your family need to sustain you for a day in the sun and surf. Beyond the towels, sunscreen, and frisbees, you’ll need a cooler full of meals and snacks that can keep everyone satisfied and won’t break the bank. Hot, messy, and heavy foods are out when it comes to the beach, and portable, light, and cool options are in. You want beach lunches that are healthy and filling, but also fun, to accompany all those beach-snacking necessities like chips, veggies, and fruit. With options that include sandwiches, salads, snacks, and even drinks, these 15 beach food ideas are not only easy to make and pack, but also bring the necessary fun.  

Bonus packing tip: Don’t forget to pack your beach food so it stays safe all day long. We recommend choosing an insulated, air-tight cooler with ice packs or frozen water bottles to keep everything fresh. Keep softer food sealed in reusable containers so they don’t get crushed and harder food in zip-top bags. 

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Ultimate Italian Subs  

What’s better for feeding a big family on the beach than the ultimate sub sandwich? These Italian subs have everything you need to sustain you for a long day at the beach: a variety of meats, creamy American cheese, veggies for freshness and texture, and even roasted red peppers and pickled jalapeños for a flavorful and spicy kick. With only 10 minutes of prep time to feed up to 12 people, you can maximize your time outside of the kitchen and in the sun.  

Get the recipe: Ultimate Italian Subs

Tortellini Caprese Salad  

Rather than packing a lettuce salad to risk wilting in dressing, a pasta salad is the perfect way to get a flavorful forkful while picnicking at the beach. Caprese is summertime on a plate, and the trinity of mozzarella, tomato, and basil that defines its flavor is joined by sturdy tortellini and a splash of balsamic vinaigrette.  

Get the recipe: Tortellini Caprese Salad

Guacamole Chicken Roll-Ups  

When you’re ready to roll out your beach towel, these easy roll-up sandwiches are a perfect, healthy beach lunch. Rotisserie chicken and sliced Monterrey Jack cheese make it easy, giving you rich flavor and a protein hit to energize you for another swim. Guacamole adds a bright and flavorful touch, with red bell peppers providing a satisfying crunch.  

Get the recipe: Guacamole Chicken Roll-Ups  

Easy Italian Sub Salad  

All of your favorite elements of a classic Italian sub are served salad-style for easy portability in this dish. Iceberg lettuce is a great base here, a crunchy and fresh counterpoint to spicy salami, rich cheddar cheese cubes, and savory chickpeas. A robust Italian dressing seals the deal for a simple but flavorful salad you will crave all the way to the seashore.  

Get the recipe: Easy Italian Sub Salad  

Energy Trail Mix  

You need protein to sustain you during your beach day and ingredients that won’t melt or get sticky in the summer sun. Try our take for a trailblazing mix that comes together in a snap with a variety of pantry staples. Almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds are familiar trail mix fellows, but savory beef jerky is also invited to the beach. Finish with cheddar crackers for a satisfying crunch. Fish-shaped crackers are optional here, but are certainly on-theme. It’s a family-friendly and budget-friendly beach snack you’ll make every year.  

Get the recipe: Energy Trail Mix  

Veggie Subs  

Vegetarians and meat eaters will love this classic sub, perfect for a beach day but with a lighter, vegetarian spin. Provolone is a strong and sharp cheese layered for a firm, meaty texture. Roasted onions and peppers seasoned with oregano provide a bold, Italian flavor, along with briny artichokes, and spicy pepperoncini.  

Get the recipe: Veggie Subs  

Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad  

Salads can be beach day staples, too, especially when they’ve got sturdy ingredients such as cabbage and edamame. This tasty salad is a cinch to throw together with just five total ingredients—including rotisserie chicken to shortcut the prep. Crunchy almonds and a tangy ginger sesame dressing complete the dish. This gets even better as it sits and the flavors marry, so it can more than stand the car ride to the shore. 

Get the recipe: Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad  

Hummus and Turkey Sandwiches 

 A hollowed-out loaf provides an ideal spot for roasted red pepper hummus in these beach-worthy sammies. Sliced turkey and muenster cheese offer an ample base, with honey mustard and crunchy cucumbers providing the perfect accompaniments for lively flavor and texture.    

Get the recipe: Hummus and Turkey Sandwiches  

Peanut Butter & Jelly Bites  

Peanut butter and jelly are an everyday favorite, but PB&J sandwiches can get squishy jostled around in your beach cooler. These bites upgrade the bread slices with Medjool dates and rolled oats, binding your favorite peanut butter and jelly into portable, snackable bites. Easy, kid-friendly, and squish-proof, they’re sure to become a beach day must for your family.  

Get the recipe: Peanut Butter & Jelly Bites  

Rainbow Roll-Ups  

Beach days don’t have to be synonymous with salty, processed snacks but can be just as much fun with colorful, healthy ingredients. These hummus and veggie roll-ups, sliced into thin pinwheels for easy snacking, burst with rainbow colors at every layer. Use a spinach or sun-dried tomato tortilla to set the colorful tone, then add rainbow slaw and bright veggies like spinach and red peppers for fiber and crunch. Even the hummus here doesn’t have to be beige: a roasted red pepper option gives a bolder hue.   

Get the recipe: Rainbow Roll-Ups  

Chickpea Salad Sandwich  

 Swapping out tuna for chickpeas is not only a plant-forward power move but a tasty one. Chopped dill pickles and Dijon mustard bring a knockout flavor to a vegan mayonnaise dressing. Lightly crushed chickpeas combine with celery, onions, and parsley for a familiar tuna sandwich vibe. Toasting the bread and letting it cool before assembly will give you a beach sandwich with staying power, even with a creamy filling.  

 Get the recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich  

Ham & Jam Sandwiches with Brie  

Ham and baguette sandwiches are a must on the French Riviera, but you can get that beachy French flavor closer to home. Creamy brie is a perfect partner for ham, and strawberry jam and Dijon mustard provide contrasting sweet and spicy notes. As a sturdy lettuce that can hold up well in your beach cooler, peppery arugula is a perfect crunchy finish to this dynamite beach sandwich.  

Get the recipe: Ham & Jam Sandwiches with Brie  

Pink Lemonade Sports Drink 

Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than a homemade sports drink. When your family is craving hydration with all of the electrolytes to keep them going, this drink is a go-to. It’s sweetened lightly with maple syrup and will hit the spot without causing a sugar crash like other sports drinks. The sweetness and color can be adjusted to your liking with either tart cherry juice or slightly sweeter pomegranate juice.  

Get the recipe: Pink Lemonade Sports Drink  

On-the-Go Car-Cuterie  

You can have your beach day and your cheese plate, too, with this fun and healthy, on-the-go snack pack. Sliced meats and cheeses of your choosing separate the crackers from the fruits and veggies so nothing gets soggy. Crunchy options like grapes and cucumbers are perfectly refreshing, and olives add a savory touch. Best of all, you can change up all the parts to suit whatever cravings you have.   

Get the recipe: On-the-Go Car-Cuterie  

BBQ Chicken Cheddar Wraps 

For a double punch of summer, you can enjoy the flavors of BBQ right on the beach without ever turning on the grill. A jarred BBQ sauce transforms rotisserie chicken into a delicious wrap filling, all tucked away with your favorite toppings that are easy to eat from your beach chair.  

Get the recipe: BBQ Chicken Cheddar Wraps