4 Best Dog-Friendly Easter Picnic Foods

This post shows you the 4 Best Dog-Friendly Easter Picnic Foods.

Table Of Contents

What Makes a Dog-Friendly Picnic Food?
1 Fresh & Crunchy Snacks (No Prep Required!)
2 High-Protein Picnic Treats
3 Long-Lasting Treats to Keep Them Busy
4 Hydrating Dog-Friendly Drinks

Loving the idea of a dog-friendly Easter picnic? You came to the right place! I tend to make a big deal out of everything, including holidays, because I believe we all need a little more magic in our lives. So, if you’re like me, you’ll want to do something special for your dog (ahem, and yourself) this Easter.

But while you’re packing your Easter basket, make sure to bring dog-friendly picnic foods! This is where I’m going to help.

This guide covers safe, delicious, and easy-to-pack picnic foods for dogs, plus some fun, long-lasting treats to keep them entertained while you enjoy your meal.

collage of four images showing egg salad, sandwiches, fruit ice cubes and dog chewing a treat and text saying four easy dog-friendly easter picnic foods

What Makes a Dog-Friendly Picnic Food?

What do you typically pack for a picnic? For me, it’s usually salty snacks like crackers and pretzels, lots of fruit, and maybe some creamy pasta salad. I also always make sandwiches and spoil my family with croissants!

But while all these foods are fine for us, they aren’t always the best to share with dogs. Salty crackers like Ritz or Wheat Thins are loaded with salt and artificial ingredients that can upset a dog’s stomach.

Some picnic foods are even dangerous for dogs, so make sure to avoid these:

Chocolate (toxic—even small amounts can be harmful)

Grapes & raisins (you may have them in your fruit bowl, or maybe you’re bringing some delicious Panettone with raisins!)

Anything with onions & garlic (probably hiding in that creamy pasta salad!)

Sausages & bacon (too salty and fatty)

Dairy-heavy foods (can cause digestive issues in some dogs)

1 Fresh & Crunchy Snacks (No Prep Required!)

One of the easiest dog-friendly Easter picnic foods is fresh fruits and veggies!

These are great for you and your dog, so bring plenty! I usually prep some homemade hummus to eat with veggie sticks, so fresh fruits and vegetables are always in our picnic bag.

Dogs love crunchy snacks, and they’ll definitely want to eat your food.

Here’s what you can bring:

Carrot sticks – Crunchy, healthy, and great for dogs’ teeth.

Apple slices – Sweet but not too sweet, hydrating, and refreshing.

Cucumbers – (I bring them to eat with hummus!) They’re great for dogs and super easy on the stomach.

Strawberries – The symbol of spring and rich in antioxidants for your dog.

Watermelon – One of the best picnic foods! If you have a small dog with a sensitive stomach, consider removing the seeds.

Pack fresh fruits and veggies in small insulated bags. Or, if your whole picnic bag or basket is insulated, then you don’t have anything to worry about!

2 High-Protein Picnic Treats

Now, these will be your dog’s favorite picnic foods! Instead of ultra-processed deli meat that you’d usually bring to a picnic (think of traditional charcuterie board meats), you should choose natural, low-sodium meats.

Let me explain!

Most deli meats that we love, including ham, chicken or turkey breast, bacon, and sausages, are way too salty for dogs. They simply can’t handle sodium like we can, and shouldn’t eat processed meat.

But I know they eat it anyway—I still haven’t met someone who doesn’t let their dog indulge in deli meats.

So, be smart about it!

Lean, cooked chicken breast

Store-bought turkey or chicken breast (low-sodium and additive-free version)

Hard-boiled eggs

Now, here are some ideas on how to serve these foods and how to pack them!

Chicken or turkey sandwiches with hard-boiled eggs – You can share some with your dog, as bread isn’t bad for them. Instead of mayo, use low-sodium, low-fat cream cheese.

Cucumber turkey roll-ups – Wrap a cucumber slice inside a plain turkey piece for a fresh, protein-packed bite.

Egg, chicken, and Greek yogurt salad – I cut everything into a big bowl and add corn, diced cucumbers, and lots of Greek yogurt. It’s creamy and goes really well with tortilla chips!

3 Long-Lasting Treats to Keep Them Busy

Now, everything I mentioned so far includes lots of prep and time from your end. I know this because I’m the Mom in the family, and I’m usually the one making all of these.

To be fair, I’m also the one who initiates picnics with our dog Ricco!

But sometimes, you just want to enjoy your sandwich without tending to everyone’s needs—including your dog! And that’s where long-lasting treats and chews come in handy.

Pro tip: Don’t give them a long-lasting chew as soon as you arrive! Let them play, explore, eat some of your food, and then, when they start getting tired, give them their chew. It will keep them occupied while you relax.

Here are some of my favorites!

Free-range Bully Sticks – A great go-to! They’re safe to chew, high in protein, and last a long time.
Himalayan Yak Chews – Made from natural ingredients, these are perfect for pups who love to gnaw.
Whimzees Dental Chews – Help clean teeth while keeping them entertained.
KONG filled with peanut butter – Keeps them busy for hours while they work to get every last bit of peanut butter out!

4 Hydrating Dog-Friendly Drinks

We’ve been blessed with warm, sunny weather for Easter over the last couple of years, so I always pack hydrating drinks for us and our dog!

Hydrating drinks and treats aren’t really common—I’m thinking of bone broth cubes and homemade drinks for dogs! But trust me, these are simple and easy to pack.

The main reason I bring so much is because we spend all afternoon outdoors. We usually go after a very light breakfast and coffee, so the picnic is our lunch. By the time we get home, we’re so tired (and dirty) that no one wants to eat anything—just grab a snack, shower, and sleep.

So that’s why I go overboard!

When it comes to hydrating treats, here’s what I do:

I make and bring frozen bone broth cubes. I always have them in the freezer, so it’s easy for me to pack them. You can just toss one into your dog’s water bowl when they need a little cool-down.

If you’re not sure how to make bone broth and want a simple step-by-step guide, check out my instructions here: Natural Glucosamine Sources for Dogs – Bone Broth.

I also make a dog-friendly mocktail! Just kidding—I just freeze some strawberries, cucumber, and blueberries and mash them a little so they release their juice. Then, I put them in an ice mold and cover them with water. This way, I get frozen fruit ice cubes that we all have with our water.

Now, if you’re really extra (and since you’re reading these tips on dog-friendly Easter picnic foods, I consider you a fellow “extra-always-going-overboard” person), you should make a dog-friendly smoothie!

This is something I make for the kids, but it’s safe for dogs, too (they’re all our babies anyway). Mix plain low-fat yogurt, banana, some water, and fruits like strawberries or raspberries. Store it in an insulated bowl or bottle, and let them lick it up!

Which of these dog-friendly Easter picnic foods do you think your dog will love most? Let us know in the comments!

Don’t forget to pin this post so you’ll always have these picnic ideas handy!

Love, life, and fur forever!

This post showed you the 4 Best Dog-Friendly Easter Picnic Foods.