One of the best parts about the summertime is having the opportunity to channel your adventurous spirit and go on a camping trip. There’s nothing better than disconnecting from reality for a few days and setting out to explore the great outdoors with close friends and family. There are plenty of things that make camping trips special and cooking meals over a campfire is one of them. It can be challenging to plan out the logistics of how to store and cook food during your camping trip, so we compiled a list of all of our favorite camping recipes from breakfast foods to dinners that can easily be stored away without the need of a refrigerator. Camping just got so much more delicious.
Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you’re spending your days hiking and exploring the great unknown. Here are a few items that can be made before your trip for a quick and easy breakfast on the go. For those who prefer a hot breakfast, we provided a couple campfire friendly breakfasts as well.
1. Blueberry Muffins
Blueberry muffins can be enjoyed at any time of day – especially breakfast! Make these before your trip and seal them tightly in a large ziplock bag and you’ll have a tasty breakfast in the morning before your big day of adventuring.
2. Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos
Breakfast burritos are always a great option for on-the-go breakfasts – they are packed with protein and veggies to give you the kickstart you need to start your day. Make these breakfast burritos ahead of your trip, wrap them in foil, and freeze them before your trip. When it’s time to leave, move them to your cooler with plenty of ice to keep them fresh until you are ready to cook them. Cook the burritos over a grill or in the fire while they are still wrapped in foil.
3. Camping Oatmeal To Go
What’s more classic than a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast? Prep your ingredients before you leave and store them in a mason jar. When it’s time for breakfast, add about a cup of boiling water to your mason jar, and seal the lid. Wait 10 minutes and your oats will be ready to eat!
Lunch
When you’re taking a break in the middle of the day from hiking and exploring, these easy lunches are the perfect pick-me-up.
4. Hot Dogs
Grilling hot dogs is so easy to do while camping. You can roast them over a fire or on a camping grill. Keep the hot dogs in their package and in your cooler until they are ready to cook. Make sure you don’t forget the hot dog buns!
5. Make Ahead Turkey Club Sandwiches
If you don’t want to spend time cooking during the day, make a few of your favorite sandwiches ahead of your trip and store them in your cooler until they are ready to be eaten. We recommend these delicious turkey club sandwiches!
6. Campfire Pizza
If you plan on taking a long break at your campsite for lunch, try making a campfire pizza! All you need is a cast iron skillet, flour, yeast, salt, water, olive oil, and any combo of your favorite toppings to bring comfort food to your family camping trip. Keep all your dry ingredients in a sealed and locked container so bugs and critters don’t go digging through them and keep any cheeses or veggies you plan on putting on your pizza in your cooler.
Dinner
One of the most enjoyable parts about camping is settling down at your campsite after a long day of exploring and cooking a tasty meal over the campfire. Here are our go-to dinner to make whenever we’re camping.
7. Walking Tacos
Walking tacos are basically all the ingredients you would find in taco, but in a bag of chips like Fritos or Doritos. This recipe is pretty easy to make over a fire, just make sure you pack your cast-iron skillet. Also make sure that whatever meat you bring is frozen before your trip and keep it in your cooler over ice until it is ready to be cooked.
8. Instant Meals On-The-Go
If you plan on having an extended trip, try prepping these instant meals before you leave. Ranging from creamy chicken alfredo to Thai peanut noodles, these instant meals are nutritious and will replenish all the nutrients lost after a long day of hiking. Once they are packaged, all you need is boiling water and a pot to cook them.
9. Campfire Nachos
Who doesn’t love nachos? This campfire dinner is super easy and super tasty. All you need is either a foil pan or iron skillet, tortilla chips, and your favorite nacho toppings. Keep your dry ingredients in a sealed and locked container and any cheeses, meats, and veggies you want on your nachos in your cooler.
Snacks
Whether you plan on spending your days hiking the trails or chilling at your campsite, you’re going to need some snacks! Prep these snacks before you leave for your trip so you can snack all weekend. Whatever snacks you bring on your camping trip, make sure they are packaged in a tightly sealed bag or container so bugs and other critters don’t get into them.
10. Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
Puppy chow, muddy buddies, whatever you call them – these bad boys are outrageously delicious and easy to make! Keep in mind this recipe contains chocolate, so DO NOT feed it to your dog.
11. Trail Mix
Perhaps the most classic camping snack ever, trail mix is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Plus it’s incredibly versatile and you can add pretty much any ingredient you want into your mix.
12. Honey Mustard And Onion Pretzels
If you’re looking for a snack that’s less sweet and more salty and tangy, these honey mustard and onion pretzels are for you! You can also swap out the honey mustard and onion for other seasonings like garlic parmesan or Cajun spice.
Desserts
These sweet treats are perfect after a long day of camping and will satisfy any sweet tooth.
13. S’mores
No camping trip is complete without making s’mores over the campfire. All you need is a bag of jumbo marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. Make sure you keep your chocolate stored in your cooler so it doesn’t melt before it’s time to make your s’mores.
14. Campfire Banana Boats
If you’ve never had a banana boat, imagine a combination of a s’more and a banana split being made over a campfire. These tasty treats are super easy to make – just slice a banana vertically, stuff it with your favorite toppings, wrap it in foil, and cook it over the campfire.
15. Peach Dump Cake
Making a dump cake was my favorite part of camping when I was growing up. It’s so sweet and gooey and it’s the perfect dessert after a long day of adventuring. All you need is a box of yellow cake mix, butter, a few cans of peaches, and a dutch oven.
