Easy Camping Recipes (2024)

Here are lots of easy camping recipes and a free camping meal planning printable to help you organize what you’re going to bring with you to eat while you’re camping! Easy campfire meals to choose from for 7 days of camping.

Easy Camping Recipes (1)

We love to travel as a family and when you’re planning a camping trip in a tent using only a campfire or grill to cook you need a lot of easy camping recipes to choose from! A lot of camping foods are obvious (like s’mores and hot dogs), but there are lots of other things that are simple to cook over a campfire that you may not have thought about.Of course having the right items to cook with and eat with make a difference too. I will share with you whatfood to take camping, and the easiest way to cook over the campfire too! I hope this helps make your camping experience great. If you’re looking for more family travel resources check out our road trip blog too.(originally published 3/17)

Camping Meals for a Week

If you have an RV you have a lot more options and can use just about any of my Instant Pot recipesfor meals and we have 19 easy rv meals here. Great to prepare after a long day of hiking and exploring a new area with your kids.

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If you are staying in a tent with just a campfire, Blackstone 22 grill to cook on it requires a bit more creativity and planning. The above checklist gives you an option for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few desserts. Camping dinners need to be easy, can be prepped before leaving in plastic bags for simple dump and go meals.

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Camping Grocery List

You can check off which meals you want to plan on, or use it to mark off when you’ve packed the ingredients to make that meal. Whatever way you use this printableeasy camping recipesmeal planning sheet I hope it is helpful!

** Here are a few items to cook with that will make cooking over the campfireeasier, and you will need to make the easy camping recipes below:

  1. Dutch oven(HUGE help and you can use this for almost all of your cooking)
  2. Roasting skewers
  3. Aluminum foil
  4. Camping mug set
  5. Dish washing basin
  6. Sporks

Here is a free printable grocery list for camping you can use.

Easy Camping Recipes (3)

Camping Recipes Easy

If you want to prepare a meal you love that is highly perishable like grilled, Creamy Chicken Stew or a dish with sour cream prepare to make that on the first day. Dry ingredients can wait for later days and think of ideas to make with larger leftovers you may have.

Day 1

  1. Cinnamon rolls cooked in orange rinds
  2. Chicken salad sandwiches
  3. Dutch oven stew or here are tons of other dutch oven recipes
  4. Mini cakes cooked in orange rinds

Day 2

  1. Potato and sausage foil packets
  2. Pastrami sandwiches
  3. Frito pie or dutch oven whole chicken
  4. Dutch oven dump cake

3rd Day

  1. Instant oatmeal over the campfire, or make your own oatmeal (can be used for snacks too)
  2. Peanut butter and jelly (no cooking required, always a good backup and snack)
  3. Grilled stuffed peppers or meatloaf stuffed onions
  4. S’more pies or peanut butter cup s’mores

Use this free camping meal planning printable so you can organize what you’re serving each day. I always have a few ideas for possible leftover days too. Every 3rd day or so you’ll likely have enough for a meal like that. Bread with peanut butter and jelly is always a must for exhausted days since everyone loves those.

Easy Camping Recipes (4)

Day 4

  1. Blueberry breakfast bake foil packets
  2. Hot dogs using skewers
  3. 5 ingredient chili(cooked in 1 pot over campfire instead of slow cooker)
  4. Sausage and vegetable foil packetsor MozzarellaStuffed onions
  5. Baked apples

5th Day

  1. Pancakes (that only need water) or Dutch Oven Biscuits
  2. Easy sloppy joes
  3. Foil packet potatoes (use leftover chili from yesterday on top)

Day 6

  1. Oatmeal
  2. Sandwiches (use up leftover meats from other days, pb&j, or try pizza sandwiches)
  3. Skillet bbq and bacon beans (could substitute bacon for hot dogs)

7th Day (using up what is left over today)

  1. Campfire muffins(or can use pancake mix, above, and just add fruit and a bit of sugar)
  2. 1 pot spaghetti (on campfire instead of stove, can omit meat)
  3. Leftover meal

** Tips on keeping your perishables cold

  • Freeze all of your meats and do not load them into your cooler until right before you are leaving
  • Pack your cooler last and do not open it unless you are taking perishables out
  • Freeze all the water bottles you are taking with you and use those as your ice packs in your cooler(s) with the perishables
  • Most campsites sell bags of ice, or find one at gas stations and/or small stores if out and about – replenish daily if able
Easy Camping Recipes (5)

Recipes for Camping

On the checklist above I made spots to mark off what you plan to bring or what you have already made. Of course you probably won’t be cooking 3-4 times a day but it gives you more choices for easy camping recipes you might want to try and bring along the ingredients for.

Whether you’re camping for just a few days or an entire week its nice to have lots of options and try something new!

Looking for more camping resources?

  • Placesyou can camp free, that is helpful in your planning process too
  • Things to pack for camping printable
  • Best vacation spots for kids

We have a bunch of foil packet meals for camping too.

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Easy Camping Recipes (6)
Easy Camping Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What food to bring camping no stove? ›

No-Cook Camping Food for Dinner
  • Taco Bowls. For our first of many camp food ideas, taco bowls are one of the best camping recipes out there. ...
  • Pasta Salad. Pasta salads are an excellent way to fill up on the trail. ...
  • Hot Dogs and Sausages. Hot dogs and sausages are always a hit when camping. ...
  • Soup and Chili.

What food to take camping without a fridge? ›

Non-refrigerated Camping Breakfast
  • Oatmeal and powdered milk with fruits.
  • Cereal.
  • Sliced fruits. Can be grilled.
  • Pancakes, honey, and fruits.
  • Omelettes made from powdered eggs, bacon, and veggies.
  • Instant potatoes with veggies.
  • Toast.
  • Muffins.
May 17, 2022

What food not to bring camping? ›

General Rules for Outdoor Food Safety

Raw meats may contain bacteria, so keep raw foods separate from other foods. Don't bring perishable meat or poultry products without a cold source to keep them safe.

What to eat with hot dogs camping? ›

The Best Simple Sides for Hot Dogs (Besides Potato Chips)
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob with Calamansi Mayo. ...
  • Smoky Coleslaw. ...
  • Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables, Parsley, and Feta. ...
  • Classic Potato Salad. ...
  • Gina Mae's Baked Beans. ...
  • Homemade Veggie Chips. ...
  • Tomato Salad with Red Onion, Dill, and Feta. ...
  • Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries.
Oct 14, 2022

Where do you put food at night when camping? ›

At night, place any loose food, plus a cooler if you have one, inside a metal bear box if there is one.

Why are camping meals so expensive? ›

The Cost of Ingredients.

They are packing the meals full of real meat. And more exotic vegetables. Cheaper meals use a lot more carbs, and less meat/vegetables. They also use thickeners, so the meal tends to remind you of Chef Boyardee cans, rather than real food.

What do people cook with when camping? ›

The main item you'll need is a camping stove. There are two main types of camping stoves: two-burner propane stoves and canister backpacking stoves. When car camping, I prefer the classic two-burner stoves. Two burners give me more room to cook and the larger surface area is better for bigger pots and fry pans.

What food can you pack for camping? ›

Ideal camping foods are non-perishable, nutritious, and easy to prepare. Think nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and whole-grain crackers for snacks. Dehydrated meals are also great for longer trips, as they're lightweight and only require water.

How do you pack cold food for camping? ›

How To Keep Food Cold When Camping
  1. Always Use A Top-quality Cooler. A top-quality cooler should be at the top of your bring list. ...
  2. A Second Cooler is A Must. ...
  3. Keep Your Coolers Closed. ...
  4. Meal Preparation Before the Trip. ...
  5. Packs of Dry Ice. ...
  6. Salt. ...
  7. Keep It In the Shade. ...
  8. Ice Jugs.

What canned food is easy to eat camping? ›

Canned meats like chicken, tuna, and ham are great options because they can be used in sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes. Canned beans and vegetables are also a good choice because they can be used as a side dish or added to soups and stews for extra flavor and nutrition.

What are the easiest survival foods? ›

What Emergency Foods to Keep in Your Pantry
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Whole-Wheat Crackers. ...
  • Cereal. ...
  • Granola Bars and Power Bars. ...
  • Dried Fruits, Such as Apricots and Raisins. ...
  • Canned Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, or Turkey. ...
  • Canned Vegetables, Such as Green Beans, Carrots, and Peas. ...
  • Canned Beans.
Mar 27, 2023

How do you feed a lot of people camping? ›

Easy Camping Lunches for Groups
  1. Subs and Sandwiches. When you are trying to feed a large group of campers, subs and sandwiches are one of the easiest and tastiest options. ...
  2. Pasta Salad. For a simultaneously light and filling lunch, try making a creamy pasta salad. ...
  3. Green Salad. ...
  4. Skillet Stir-Fry.

What is the best long life food for camping? ›

Protein
  • processed salami-type meat products, jerky.
  • eggs (fresh, unwashed, home-laid eggs last longest)
  • Tinned (or pre-cooked and dehydrated) Chickpeas, Lentils, Kidney Beans, etc.
  • Single-serve tins or sachets of tuna or other fish.
  • Tinned meats, e.g. braised steak in single serve packs.
  • nuts and seeds.
  • protein powders.
Feb 13, 2022

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