Around 75 million US households regularly go camping, with an estimated 13 million households aiming to camp more in the coming years.?
And it’s no wonder that more and more Americans are taking to the open road in search of a chance to disconnect from the stresses of city life. Camping trips are a great way to spend time with friends and family in the beauty of nature for an instant mood boost.?
That said,?staying in the great outdoors?does come with?a few disadvantages. And one of those is having to cook without the convenience of all your kitchen appliances.?
Camping food doesn’t have the best reputation. But there’s no need to settle?a can of baked beans when you’re in need of?a hearty meal after?a long day.?
Instead, take a look at these easy and delicious camping food ideas!
1. Breakfast Burritos
Start your day off right with one of the best?camping recipes for a tasty breakfast in the great outdoors.?
To make this dish, first, you’ll need to cook sausages in a large, cast-iron pan until crisp, and set them aside. Next, whisk some eggs?and cook them, adding?extras like onions, bell peppers, and bacon if you prefer.?
Combine the sausage and egg mixture?in a container. Spoon this onto the center of each tortilla, and then sprinkle with cheese.
Make sure to roll your burritos up tight in foil. If you’re making these ahead of time, place?them in a portable container?and keep them in the fridge where possible.
Then, when you’re ready to eat, place your foil-covered burritos on the campfire to?warm them through and enjoy!?
2. French Toast Packets
Camping meals don’t come much better than this delicious twist on French toast.
First,?prepare eight 14-inch pieces of nonstick foil and brush with melted butter. Then whisk a 12 oz can of evaporated milk with two large eggs, two tablespoons of maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Take eight slices of bread and toast them, then dip the toast in the liquid mixture on both sides. Place two slices of toast side by side on each piece of foil.
Put?the remaining foil pieces on top of the toast, and then fold the edges to make four rectangular packets. Place the packets on your grill and cook for ten minutes,?making sure to turn the packs over after five minutes.?
When they’re done, leave the packs to stand for a few minutes and open with care. Eat from the packets or transfer them to plastic camping plates, and then top with mixed berries and maple syrup.??
3. Campfire Mac & Cheese
Camping?dinner ideas?need to be?quick, simple, and filling. And this one-pot mac and cheese recipe ticks all the boxes. Plus, campfire cooking adds an extra smoky flavor to this traditional comfort food.?
Pour two and a half cups of UHT milk and a cup of water into a medium-sized pot and bring to the boil. Add two cups of macaroni noodles and stir often while they cook. The noodles should be ready in around seven to?10 minutes.?
Once they’re done, take the pot of the campfire and stir in a tablespoon of butter, three cups of grated cheddar cheese, half a teaspoon of mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and serve hot.?
4. BBQ Chicken Foil Packs
Like many camping recipes, this barbecue chicken dish uses foil packets for easy cooking and an even easier cleanup!
First, you’ll need to?chop four boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces. Place the chicken pieces in a bowl or plastic bag with two cups of barbecue sauce. Mix around or shake to coat the chicken.?
Next, prepare four large sheets of foil and divide the chicken pieces between them.?Then, mix two cups of drained pineapple chunks,?one diced red bell pepper, and?one diced small red onion. Divide the topping mix among the foil packets.?
Fold up two sides of the foil over the topped chicken so that the edges meet. Seal the edges and fold down, leaving a small space on either side to let the heat out during cooking.?
Place the packets in a?large skillet?and?leave it on the grill for around 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure?to turn the packets halfway through for evenly-cooked chicken. When ready, transfer the packets to plates and tuck in!
5. Fiery Veggies
Camping dinner ideas that are also suitable for vegans don’t have to mean?campfire potatoes and baked beans every night.?If you’re camping with vegans or vegetarians, this?healthy recipe is great on its own or as an accompaniment to grilled meat or fish.??
To make these fiery veggies, chop up zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and corn on the cob and place them in a large skillet. Coat the vegetables with olive oil, paprika, red pepper flakes, and sriracha drizzle. Heat your grill to a medium-high heat and place your skillet on top for around 10 minutes, making sure to stir the veggies now and again.?
Test if the veg is ready by pressing on a corn kernel. If it pops and juices come out, everything should be ready to eat!
6. Campfire Quesadillas
For a quick and easy lunch, try making these tasty quesadillas over a hot campfire with a grill grate. After all, camping lunch ideas don’t have to mean sandwiches every day!
First, cook a 16-oz box of mushrooms, a sliced onion, and a sliced bell pepper in a skillet with butter for around 20 minutes.
Then, take burrito-sized flour tortillas and spread one side with a little butter. Place the tortillas butter-side down on large foil squares. Top the tortillas with a combination of cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, and goat’s cheese.?Next, add the sauteed veggies, and add some jalape?o slices for an extra fiery kick.??
Fold the filled tortillas in half and seal them into foil packets. Cook the packets on a hot campfire grill for about four minutes until the cheese melts and they are warmed through. Place the packets on camping plates and open with care to avoid being burned.?
7. Cheesy Black Bean Nachos
Simple camping food ideas that?everyone can enjoy like these vegetarian-friendly nachos are always welcome after a long day of hiking. Or, if you prefer, you can add chicken strips to make this a more filling camping meal.?
To make these tasty nachos,?mix a chopped onion, the corn kernels from two ears of corn, a 15-oz can of black beans, red enchilada sauce, and two cups of pepper-Jack cheese in a bowl.?
Prepare?four?12-inch squares of foil. Place around?two ounces of tortilla chips and a quarter of the black bean mixture on top, plus a sprinkling of extra pepper-Jack cheese?in the middle of a piece of foil. Fold and seal the edges to create a foil packet. Repeat this with the remaining chips, bean mixture, and cheese.?
Grill the packets over a medium heat until the cheese is melted, which should be around five minutes. Transfer the packets to camping plates and open with care, and then add cilantro and lime wedges as desired.?
8. Bacon Grilled Potatoes
Easy camping meals are also some of the tastiest. And there’s nothing better than tucking into this creamy dish?while you’re trying to keep warm under the stars.?
First, you’ll need to scrub and slice around 1.5 lbs of potatoes. Then,?place?two large pieces of foil?layered up?for extra strength on a large skillet and spray well with?non-stick oil.??
Mix the sliced potatoes with a little ranch dressing and layer them up on the foil. Top the potatoes with four slices of cooked and crumbled bacon, a quarter of a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.?
Put the grill to a medium heat and grill the?potato mix for around 15 minutes. Halfway through you’ll need to turn the potatoes over to ensure they’re cooked on both sides. Once they’re done, add more ranch dressing and heat for a few minutes more before serving.?
9. Campfire Pizza
Camping recipes can often surprise you by how inventive and original they are. Take this campfire pizza for example – who would have thought you could enjoy homemade pizza cooked over a campfire? And sure, you won’t be able to Netflix and chill while you eat, but?this kind of al fresco dining is hard to beat!
First, you’ll need to make the pizza dough. In a large bowl, mix a package of rapid-rise instant yeast with a cup of lukewarm water and stir for?one minute. Add a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and two and a half cups of whole wheat flour. Mix together until you start to form a ball of dough.??
Knead the dough and add more flour if?the dough mixture is too sticky. Cover the bowl with a cloth or towel and leave it to sit in a warm place. After at least 15 minutes, divide the dough in half to make two balls and?leave one ball in the bowl.?
Place a skillet on top of a campfire grate and add olive oil for cooking.?Place one of the dough balls in the pan and push the dough towards the edges with your fingers to cover the base of the skillet. Cook the dough on the campfire for around three to five minutes, until the dough starts to firm up.??
Remove the skillet and flip the pizza base over. Away from the heat, top the pizza base with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and your choice of veggies or meat. These can include sliced onion, sliced garlic, black olives, fresh basil leaves, pepperoni, ham, bacon, and mushroom.
Once all the toppings are on, place?the skillet back on the grate and cook until the cheese has melted. Then, take the first pizza off the skillet and repeat the same steps with the second ball of dough.?
10. Greek Style Lamb Burgers
Burgers often make for quick?and filling camping dinner ideas. But?this Greek-style lamb and beef?version offers a tasty twist on your average burger.??
First, get your campfire going and place a grate over the top. Then, take half a pound of ground lamb and half a pound of ground beef and mix it in a bowl.
Add a little ground cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, ground nutmeg, and fresh oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste, mix, and form four patties. Then, set them aside.?
Next, place a large cast-iron skillet over a medium heat on the campfire grate and add a little butter. Toss in two cups of diced potatoes and cook until they start to get crispy. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder.?
Move the potatoes to?the edges?of the skillet and place the four burger patties in the?middle. Cook the?burgers for around five minutes on each side, or until the meat is cooked all the way through. Add a tablespoon of fresh dill to the potatoes and top the burgers with a cup of feta cheese and a cup of diced tomatoes.?
World Famous?Camping Food Ideas
Long days of fresh air and exercise in the great outdoors call for easy yet delicious and filling camping?food. Which is why you should keep these?inspiring camping recipes in mind the next time you head off.?
After all, you don’t want to?keep you and your fellow campers awake at night with the sound of your rumbling stomach!?
For more information on making the most of your next camping trip, feel free to?contact us?with any questions or queries.?
