20 Healthy, Easy-to-Make Camping Meals
20 Healthy, Easy-to-Make Camping Meals
Upgrade your camping experience with these easy, simple, and healthy recipes for delicious dinners under the stars.
Preparing for a camping trip involves a lot of effort. From finding the perfect spot and packing all the gear to planning excursions and activities, it can be easy to overlook meal planning.
Anyone who has gone camping has undoubtedly feasted on easy, staple meals like hot dogs and beans, baked potatoes, boxed burgers, and cereal with powdered milk. These meals aren't terrible, but we promise, they can be so much better.
If you want to elevate your camping cuisine from basic to boast-worthy, here are 10 easy and healthy recipes to try on your next outdoor adventure. These simple dinners will make your time in nature even more enjoyable.
Note: Cooking adjustments are included, but remember that cooking over a fire is never the same as on a stovetop or in an oven. It can be unpredictable and requires thorough monitoring.
Camping Kitchen Necessities
• A cooler that will keep food-items cold for the duration of your trip
• Cast iron skillet with a lid
• Fire-safe dutch oven with a lid or tinfoil for covering
• Oven mitts
• Resealable bags / containers
• Cooking spoons and spatulas
• Meat thermometer
• Kitchen towels
• Heat safe serving dishes
• A basin for dishes and camp-safe soap
• Can opener
• Kitchen scissors
• Knives and a cutting board
• Oil for re-seasoning your cast irons after use
Things to Consider
• Is the water available on the campground safe for consumption?
• Will you have access to ice for your cooler or an outlet if your cooler is electric?
• If you can't guarantee access to safe storage for meats and dairy products throughout your trip, plan your meals based on what food needs to be used first.
• Should you budget for firewood, is it included in the cost of camping, or free to collect naturally nearby and would you require a hatchet or saw?
• Are there bears or other scavenging animals? If so, speak with park staff about how to properly store and dispose of food so as to not attract them.