Stop Eating Boring Camp Food! Try These Genius Camping Meals | Best Camping Food Ideas

Food is one of the best parts of camping, right? Something about cooking and eating outdoors just makes everything taste better. But pulling off good meals in the wild takes a lot of planning and deserves just as much attention as choosing the right gear, clothes, and all the other necessities do.

Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to prepare tasty food while camping without turning your trip into a full-on kitchen marathon. Herbs, spices, and pre-prepped meals go a long way toward making campfire cooking easy and delicious and today I am here to share with you my list of tried-and-true camping food ideas that will make your trip better. I will include complete lists of foods and ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so that you’re fully covered!

Camping food ideas for breakfast

Since breakfast is considered by many to be the most important meal of the day, we need to start it right. Apart from coffee, here’s how to get all the energy you need for the day ahead.

1. Fresh fruit, yogurt and milk

Simple, nutritious, and easy to pack. Fresh fruit with yogurt or milk gives you a quick shot of energy to start the day. Add cereal if you’re camping with kids, and you’ve got a complete breakfast ready in minutes.

2. Gravy and biscuits

A hearty option that never disappoints. Grab a bag of biscuits from the store or bake your own before the trip if you’re feeling ambitious.

For the gravy, you can either whip up a quick batch on-site or bring a pre-made version. Either way, it’s the kind of stick-to-your-ribs breakfast that keeps you going all morning.

3. Pre-made Sandwiches for Breakfast

Now, we say pre-made because it’s a lot more convenient. You wouldn’t have to get up earlier than anybody else in order to prepare the meal and you can easily get it done at home before you leave.

Using sealed Ziploc bags is going to ensure that everything is contained properly and that no food goes bad while you are out in the open.

Of course, you can also pick up the ingredients for sandwiches and prepare them while you are already on the go.

4. Breakfast grains or Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a classic camping breakfast for good reason. It’s packed with nutrients, keeps you full for hours, and is easy to cook over a camp stove.

Add a banana or other fruit for natural sweetness, and you’ve got the perfect mix of warmth and energy – especially welcome on chilly mornings.

Also read: Internal vs External Frame Backpack

5. Pancakes

You’ve got two options here. You can either prepare the pancakes at home and pack them up, or you can simply prepare the mixture, put it in a Ziploc container and prepare it on your camping stove.

Once you decide that it’s time to make them, take out your portable gas or electric pan, cut the corner of the bag, and you will have the perfect setup.

Throw in some honey or maple syrup, cheese or some sort of fruit jelly and you are going to prepare a complete and delicious feast for everyone involved.

6. Breakfast Burritos

These are a lifesaver for mornings when you want something filling but portable. Prep them at home by wrapping scrambled eggs, cheese, beans, and maybe some sausage in tortillas. Wrap them in foil, and when it’s time to eat, just warm them over the fire. They’re hearty, quick, and mess-free.

7. Granola with Dried Fruit

Granola doesn’t spoil easily, which makes it ideal for camping. Pair it with dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, or apricots for a sweet, energy-packed meal. Add a splash of milk or yogurt if you’ve got a cooler. Otherwise, eat it dry like a trail snack to keep mornings simple.

Camping food ideas for lunch

As the day progresses, you will definitely start to feel a craving somewhere at around noon. This craving is even more powerful when you are out camping as you are going to spend a lot more energy than when you are at home.

With this in mind, let’s see what you can eat for lunch when camping!

1. Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches

Classic, filling, and foolproof. Peanut butter and jam work for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but they’re perfect for powering through the middle of the day.

Packed with nutrients, they deliver the energy you need to keep moving. Add fresh fruit or crisp veggies on the side, and you’ve got a refreshing, balanced meal.

2. Fireside Grilled Cheese

If you’re serious about camping, you’ve got a stove. If you don’t, it’s worth investing in one. With or without it, grilled cheese is a win.

For a step up, grab a loaf of French bread, slice it, and layer in bacon, cheese, and spices. Wrap the whole thing in foil and cook it directly over the fire or on a grill. The result: crispy, gooey perfection.

3. Different types of soups

Few meals are as comforting outdoors as a hot soup. It doesn’t take much: throw together whatever ingredients you have, and you’ve got something hearty in no time.

A soup pot works on a stove, but it’s just as easy over a campfire. And if the weather turns chilly, this simple meal tastes even better.

4. Nachos

Nachos are traditionally made out of potatoes or corn, which are packed with carbohydrates.

This means that you are going to be able to easily get the energy you need in the middle of the day to keep going until the evening.

You can spice them up with a wide range of different condiments and spices in order to fit your personal preference when it comes to tastes and, of course, you should bring your favorite dip for a complete experience.

5. Hot dogs

It really doesn’t get any better or easier than this. The best thing about it is that you can easily prep the hot dogs using your bonfire, which is a great alternative if you haven’t gotten your portable stove.

You can add baked beans on the side in order to make it a lot more enjoyable. Of course, ketchup, mayo and mustard are absolute musts in this regard.

There is no shortage of ideas to consider when you go ahead and think of the foods that you can eat while camping. You just need to ensure that everything is made according to the field conditions that you are going to be in.

6. Wraps with Cold Cuts

Wraps travel better than bread, which makes them perfect for camping. Fill them with cold cuts, cheese, and fresh greens. They don’t fall apart as easily as sandwiches, and you can make a batch in minutes.

7. Quesadillas

All you need are tortillas and cheese, but you can throw in beans, peppers, or chicken if you’ve got them. Cook them on a skillet or wrap in foil and set near the fire until the cheese melts. Cut into wedges and you’ve got a hot, gooey lunch that tastes way better outdoors.

Camping food ideas for dinner

Nothing beats a good dinner and this is exactly what we’re going to talk about next. Let’s see some interesting recipes that you can come up with while camping!

1. Pizza

Even though it might sound a bit challenging, it’s really not. Of course, if you are camping out for a longer period of time, bringing flour is a must.

You can make your own dough and fill the pocket with mozzarella, tomato sauce, bacon and any other types of delicious things that you find appropriate.

Wrap it up in foil and get your bonfire to produce nice, hot coals. Cook it for about 25 to 30 minutes and you are ready to feast.

2. The occasional steak

The truth is that a grill should definitely be a part of your equipment when you decide to camp out.

So, before you get on your trip run to the store and get a few pounds of steak. This is the perfect dinner for when you are out in the open.

Of course, the mandatory six-pack of cold and refreshing beer is something that you shouldn’t forget as well – non-alcoholic versions included.

3. Fire roasted vegetables

This is also something particularly delicious, provided you are a fan of veggies. This is easy to prepare while camping and no matter where else you make it, it will never taste as good.

Bonus points if you can make these over a regular fire – charcoal or wood – and not a gas-powered stove.

What you want to do is chop your veggies such as potatoes, peppers, zucchini, onions and what not, wrap them in aluminum foil (or not) and throw them in the fire for some time or place them on the grill.

When you get them out you will immediately be intoxicated by the charming aroma and you will surely ask for more. It is just that great.

4. Pre-packed dinner

Not in the mood to cook after a long day? Bring store-bought meals that only need heating. You’ll find endless options – from pasta to curries – that work great at camp.

The examples are countless and you can probably find any meal you want. Check out some offers on Amazon (affiliate link) if you’re out of ideas.

5. Skewers (Meat or Veggie)

Skewers are fun, customizable, and easy to grill. Alternate chunks of meat, onions, peppers, and mushrooms, then roast them over the flames. They cook quickly, taste incredible, and don’t require much cleanup afterward.

6. Chili

Chili is camping gold. It’s warm, hearty, and you can make a big pot to feed everyone. Use canned beans, tomatoes, spices, and ground meat if you’ve got a cooler. Let it simmer over the fire, and you’ll have a dinner that keeps you full and warm all night.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are tons of things that you might be able to prepare, regardless of the time and the place you are camping at.

All of the above are particularly easy to get done while, at the same time, providing you with absolutely everything you might need in terms of nutritional value.

Furthermore, we’ve made sure that all of the dishes are delicious and that they would appeal to the majority of people.

However, you need to know that having the right equipment is particularly important when it comes to cooking out in the open.

While we’ve tried to keep things moderate and include dishes which could be prepared with nothing but aluminum foil and fire, having a portable gas or electric stove is going to provide you with tremendous amounts of additional cooking opportunities.

Be sure that the area you’re camping in allows for the use of these instruments, however.

Camping out doesn’t mean that you should abandon your cuisine standards. It simply means that you need to adjust them a bit in order to fit the altered cooking environment.

However, with proper planning and preparation, you can also make some of the most delicious meals while you are outside in the open.

Also, preparing the majority of the food before the actual camping trip is going to provide you with quite a lot of advantages.

Through the usage of sealed Ziploc bags, you’ll be perfectly capable of preserving your food for days.

Take a look at our article on the advantages of using odor-proof bags for backpacking to help you stay safe from wild animals.

Camping is something incredibly exciting. Of course, you can make it even better if you treat yourself with some delicious meals.

Contrary to what the majority of people tend to believe, you really don’t have to eat processed and frozen foods. If you are willing to spend a few additional minutes, you’ll be capable of getting some particularly delicious recipes executed while you are camping.

Have a great camping meal that’s fun an easy to make? Leave a comment down below, sharing your stories and recipes with us. We’d love to hear from you!