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Camping is one of the few ways we humans can connect to our nature-dweller roots. Sitting under the stars, sharing food and drink by the fire, and exchanging stories are all things humans did for hundreds of thousands of years.

That said, many of us don’t contain the ancient knowledge of how to cook over a fire, save for some marshmallows or hot dogs. In fact, camp food is one of those things that can cause strife around a site, with too small utensils trying to make too-big meals for groups of people.

For camping, it’s best to make a blend of premade food within your main meal itinerary. This keeps food hassling to a minimum while still enjoying the feeling of cooking outdoors. 

One of the best ways to merge past and present is with the ultimate camp meal: the taco bag.

You heard that right. You get a combination of prepared food with the chips and chopped up veggies, but you can still enjoy the smoky taste of ground beef that you cooked over the fire.

Here's how it works: You take a snack or a regular-sized bag of your favorite chips. Doritos or Fritos corn chips are the best, but do whatever you like. Throw in your favorite taco toppings, lettuce, corn, tomato, onion, whatever you want.

Once your bag is prepared, it’s time to cook the ground beef. If you’re worried about potentially poisoning your friends with E. coli, you can always buy pre-cooked beef. That way, even if you mess up, nobody is getting a foodborne illness.

Melody Ayres-Griffiths on Unsplash

Add a touch of taco seasoning to the meat if you prefer, and let the beef cook through. Once it’s cooled a bit, go ahead and add the meat to your taco bag. This is also the best time to add salsa, sour cream, cheese, or guacamole.

Close the bag up tight and give it a good shake, making sure all the items are equally distributed. Then you can open the bag up, roll down the sides, and enjoy your new favorite camping dinner with a utensil of your choosing.

This dinner style is a no-fuss way to eat a really solid meal, and is also greatly enjoyed by those who prefer to imbibe while around the fire. The best part: incredibly minimal cleanup. You can put your chip bags into the camp’s designated garbage or recycling area, and you only need to scrub down a pan and whatever utensils were used.

The next time you make your way to a campsite, we would definitely recommend trying out this delicious and easy dinner. You certainly won’t regret eating a bag of Doritos while gazing up at the stars.

Tips For Cooking Over A Fire

• Make sure to use dry wood

• Cook over coals, not flames

• Allow at least 30-45 minutes for flames to die down

• Use cast iron or long-handled metal cooking utensils

• Wrap food in aluminum foil to place directly on coals

• Get a digital meat thermometer to make sure your food is cooked through