Forget The Instant Noodles, Make These 20 Foods On Your Camping Trip Instead
As we head into spring and slowly make our way towards summer, many people are excited that camping season has come around once again. To make your life easier and to show you that your meals don't just have to consist of instant noodles, we've compiled a list of 20 easy dishes you can make just over the campfire. Try them out!
1. Campfire S'mores
You can't go on a camping trip without making any s'mores, you just can't! It's the most iconic and classic camping food there is. It's a trio of ingredients that come together to make the most decadent bite: fluffy marshmallows, creamy chocolate, and crunchy graham crackers. Half of the experience is roasting the marshmallow itself! It's the most memorable part of any camping trip, watching as you and your friends or family gather around the fire to build this perfect treat.
2. Foil Packet Meals
If you want something versatile, easy to make, but still delicious, foil packet meals are a good option to consider. Just wrap up some pre-seasoned ingredients from home, like sliced potatoes, carrots, onions, and your choice of protein in some aluminum foil before cooking them over the campfire or grill. It's completely hassle-free, making dinnertime while camping a lot easier to manage.
3. Pancakes
Did you know you can enjoy the delicious smell of freshly-made pancakes out in the wild too? Not just made for home cooking, bring some pancake batter for your camping trip to enjoy the best breakfast possible! For your convenience, just bring some pre-made mix and cook it on a portable griddle or skillet. You can even make it fancy by topping it with some syrup, whipped cream, and fresh berries!
4. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Simple yet so delicious, corn on the cob is the perfect side to any meal. Just grill it directly over the campfire and you're pretty much good to go! The corn is perfectly sweet on its own and grilling it just gives it that nice smokiness that takes it up a level.
5. Camp Chili
What's more heartwarming than a nice filling bowl of chili while out in the cold? While it might seem like a hassle to make, it's actually really easy to put together. All you need are some canned ingredients! Throw in some canned beans, tomatoes, onions, and ground meat (with some seasonings of course) into a pot to create a delicious meal that'll feed the whole group.
6. Dutch Oven Stew
A Dutch oven is perfect for making stews, so make sure you bring one along on your camping trip! All you need to do is throw some ingredients in and the fire will do the cooking for you. For an easy but tasty dinner meal, combine some meat, potatoes, carrots, onions, and some broth. Just let it simmer slowly and watch your meal meld together beautifully.
7. Hot Dogs and Campfire Beans
Hot dog on a stick anyone? With a side of beans? The ultimate comfort camping meal, hot dogs and campfire beans make for a delicious and easy meal. Just roast the hot dogs over the campfire on a stick while the beans cook in a pot. Ready in no time, it's a fun, nostalgic meal that's sure to put a smile on everyone's face.
8. Skillet Trout
For the talented fishermen out there, if you manage to catch your own dinner, you've got to cook it up the same night. Freshly caught trout in particular, is delicious! Just season it with some salt and pepper (always make sure you bring some with you) and cook it in butter or oil over a skillet. Once its crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, it's ready for everyone to enjoy.
9. Omelettes in a Bag
Don't just settle for hard boiled eggs, there's a lot more to campfire cooking than you know! To elevate your breakfast, make a delicious omelette by cracking eggs into a heavy-duty plastic bag along with other ingredients like cheese, diced vegetables, and cooked bacon. Whatever you want and whatever you have on hand! Just seal up the bag well and cook it in boiling water for a quick and easy meal.
10. Bannock Bread
Bannock bread is so simple to make, you can do it right over a campfire! If you don't know what it is, just imagine a dense, scone-like bread that's delicious when spread with jam or honey. All you need to do is have the ingredients pre-mixed and then cooked it over a skillet on the campfire. Nothing better than some freshly made bread after all.
11. Campfire Pizza
Everyone loves pizza, so why not please the group by making some simple campfire pizzas? Just buy everything pre-made including the dough (or you can use flatbreads or tortillas!), sauce, cheese, and toppings. Have everyone put together their favourite combination of ingredients, then cook it in a cast iron skillet over the campfire or grill. Now that's a dinner no one can complain about.
12. Stuffed Bell Peppers
Want something a bit more complex and classy? Surprise everyone by cooking up some delicious stuffed bell peppers that'll look like you had a entire kitchen available to you. Though to seems difficult, it's quite easy to make, even if all you've got is the great outdoors and a campfire! Just hollow out some bell peppers and stuff them with a mixture of rice, vegetables, spices, and ground meat. Wrap them up nicely in foil and cook them over the fire until they're tender. Easy peasy.
13. Breakfast Burritos
For a hearty way to start the day, prepare some breakfast burritos that can either be prepped at home or at camp. Just warm up your tortillas over a fire and fill them with scrambled eggs, cheese, precooked sausage or bacon, and diced vegetables. Roll it up and you're ready to dig in. Chipotle on the go anyone?
14. Campfire Nachos
For a late night snack that's perfect for munching around the campfire as you share stories with your friends, nachos are the best go-to option that's easy to make. All you need to do is repeatedly layer tortilla chips with cheese, beans, and any toppings you want in a cast iron skillet. Cover it with foil and cook it over the campfire until the cheese is nicely melted. That's all you have to do before you can dig in and enjoy!
15. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Sometimes simple is best, and what better way to prove that than with the classic grilled cheese sandwich. It is just bread and cheese after all! Just butter up two slices of bread and fill them with your favourite combination of cheeses. If you really want to make it gourmet, throw in some ham or tomato slices! Just grill them in a skillet over the campfire until the bread is golden and the cheese is gooey before taking a bite.
16. Vegetable Skewers
Vegetable skewers are the perfect dish to prep at home and bring along to any camping adventure. With your medley of vegetables already seasoned, skewered onto a stick, and ready for cooking, all you need to do is throw them on the campfire for some grilling. As a healthier option you can enjoy for dinner, we highly recommend it!
17. Apple Crisp in a Dutch Oven
Just because we're out in the wild doesn't mean we can't finish off a lovely meal without some dessert! For a delightful end to your day, try jumping out of your comfort zone to make an apple crisp. Just layer some sliced apples, sugar, and cinnamon in a Dutch oven before sprinkling on top a simple crumble mixture made from butter, flour, and oats. You can make this beforehand to make things even easier! Cook it over the fire until the crumble topping is crisp, and the apples are warm and tender. It's so good!
18. Campfire Quesadillas
Got some leftover tortillas from your burritos? Or maybe you're just tired of the same old burrito form? Well, whatever it is, quesadillas are just as good of an option if you've got some tortillas on hand. Fill them with cheese, whatever meat you've got, and complementary vegetables like onions and peppers. Fold it in half and cook in a skillet for a tasty snack or meal.
19. Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil
Who says you can't eat fancy while camping? Sometimes, the simplest ingredients are enough to make a spaghetti dish shine. Once you've got your spaghetti cooked (just boil it in a pot over the fire), heat it up in a separate skillet with some olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, and anchovies if you're feeling extra. Sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese at the very end and enjoy your classy meal.
20. Campfire Popcorn
Requiring no work on your part at all, just fill a heavy-duty aluminum foil pouch with popcorn kernels and a little oil to watch the magic happen. And hey, if you're extra lazy, you can even buy pre-made packs at the grocery store! Just hold these pouches over the campfire as you hear the kernels pop. Once it slows down, season your freshly popped popcorn with some salt or sugar, and enjoy!