The Best Camping Recipes for Your Next Trip

Camping is an exciting and thrilling experience that brings people closer to nature. It’s a great way to disconnect from the fast-paced life of the city and enjoy some time with loved ones. But what’s the best part of camping? For many, it’s the food!

There’s nothing like cooking up a delicious meal over an open flame, surrounded by the beauty of the great outdoors. But with so many options to choose from, it can be tough to know what to make. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best camping recipes for your next trip. Whether you’re an experienced camper or a beginner, you’re sure to find something you love!

Best Camping Recipes for Breakfast

Starting the day off right is key to a successful camping trip, and what better way to do so than with a delicious breakfast? Here are some of the best camping recipes for breakfast that are easy to prepare and will give you the energy you need to start your day:

Scrambled Eggs and Bacon

Scrambled Eggs and Bacon

Ingredients:

  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 strips of bacon
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Butter or oil for cooking
  • Optional: cheese, green onions, milk, hot sauce

Directions:

  • Start by heating a non-stick pan over medium heat.
  • Cut the bacon into small pieces and cook until crispy, around 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a splash of milk for creamier eggs.
  • If desired, add cheese, green onions, or hot sauce to the eggs and mix well.
  • In the same pan, melt some butter or add oil and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs until fully cooked, around 3-5 minutes.
  • Serve the scrambled eggs with the crispy bacon and any desired toppings, like hot sauce or green onions. Enjoy your campfire breakfast!

A classic camping breakfast that’s sure to please. Simply fry up some bacon and eggs over the campfire and enjoy!

Dutch Oven Baked Oatmeal

Dutch Oven Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup dried fruit (such as raisins, cranberries, or cherries)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • Optional: maple syrup, yogurt, or fresh fruit for serving

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire and place a 12-inch Dutch oven on top.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the oats, water, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Stir in the dried fruit and nuts.
  • Pour the mixture into the Dutch oven and drizzle with melted butter.
  • Cover the Dutch oven and place hot coals on the lid. Cook for 30-45 minutes, or until the oats are tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
  • Serve the baked oatmeal hot, with your desired toppings such as maple syrup, yogurt, or fresh fruit. Enjoy your camping breakfast!

This hearty and filling breakfast is made in a Dutch oven and can be customized with your favorite toppings.

Breakfast Burritos

Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients:

  • 4 large flour tortillas
  • 8 large eggs
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Butter or oil for cooking
  • 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a combination)
  • 1 cup cooked diced potatoes
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced ham or crumbled sausage (optional)
  • Optional: salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, avocado, cilantro

Directions:

  • Start by heating a non-stick pan over medium heat.
  • Beat the eggs with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In the same pan, melt some butter or add oil and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble the eggs until fully cooked, around 3-5 minutes.
  • Remove the eggs from the heat and add the grated cheese, stirring until the cheese has melted.
  • In another pan, cook the diced potatoes, onion, and bell pepper until they are tender.
  • Warm the flour tortillas over the campfire or on the pan.
  • Assemble the burritos by placing a tortilla on a plate and spooning the eggs, potatoes, onion, bell pepper, and ham or sausage, if using, onto the tortilla.
  • Roll up the burrito and wrap in foil to keep it warm. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
  • Serve with desired toppings such as salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, avocado, and cilantro. Enjoy your campfire breakfast!

These portable breakfast burritos are perfect for on-the-go mornings. Fill with scrambled eggs, cheese, and your favorite toppings.

Lunch and Dinner Recipes

Lunch and dinner are the main meals of the day, and you want to make sure they’re as delicious as possible when camping. Here are some of the best camping recipes for lunch and dinner:

Campfire Chili

Campfire Chili

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 cans of diced tomatoes (14.5 oz each)
  • 1 can of red kidney beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed
  • 1 can of corn (15 oz), drained
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, jalapenos

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire and place a large pot or Dutch oven over the coals.
  • In the pot, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium heat until browned, around 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, around 3-5 minutes.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes, red kidney beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  • Cover the pot and place hot coals on the lid. Cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the chili is heated through and the flavors have melded.
  • Serve hot, with desired toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, or jalapenos. Enjoy your campfire chili!

This hearty and flavorful chili is perfect for a cold day on the campsite. Simply mix together ingredients in a large pot and let cook over the fire.

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Ingredients:

  • 8 slices of bread
  • 8 slices of cheese (cheddar, American, Swiss, or a combination)
  • Butter or oil
  • Optional toppings: tomato, bacon, avocado, lettuce, ham, mustard, mayonnaise

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire or set up a camp stove.
  • Place a large, non-stick pan over medium heat.
  • Butter one side of each slice of bread.
  • Assemble the sandwiches by placing a slice of cheese between two slices of bread, with the buttered sides facing out.
  • If using, add any desired toppings such as tomato, bacon, avocado, lettuce, ham, mustard, or mayonnaise.
  • Place the assembled sandwiches in the pan. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, around 2-3 minutes on each side.
  • Remove the sandwiches from the pan and cut them in half, if desired.
  • Serve hot and enjoy your campfire grilled cheese sandwiches!

These classic sandwiches are a staple for many campers. Try them with a twist by adding your favorite ingredients, like tomato and bacon.

Dutch Oven Pizza

Dutch Oven Pizza

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb pizza dough
  • 1 cup pizza sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup toppings of your choice (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, olives, etc.)
  • Cornmeal (for dusting)
  • Olive oil (for brushing)

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire and place a large Dutch oven on a bed of hot coals.
  • Dust a clean surface with cornmeal and roll out the pizza dough to fit the size of the Dutch oven.
  • Brush the inside of the Dutch oven with olive oil.
  • Place the pizza dough in the Dutch oven.
  • Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
  • Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
  • Add the toppings of your choice.
  • Cover the Dutch oven and place hot coals on the lid. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
  • Remove the Dutch oven from the coals and allow the pizza to cool for a few minutes.
  • Slice and serve the pizza hot. Enjoy your Dutch oven pizza on your camping trip!

This delicious and customizable pizza is made in a Dutch oven and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Dessert Recipes

After a long day of exploring and enjoying the great outdoors, what’s better than a sweet treat? Here are some of the best camping dessert recipes that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth:

S’mores

S'mores

Ingredients:

  • Graham crackers
  • Chocolate bars (milk or dark)
  • Marshmallows

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire.
  • Place a marshmallow on the end of a roasting stick or a long skewer.
  • Hold the marshmallow over the hot coals and roast until it is golden brown, around 1-2 minutes.
  • Take a graham cracker and break it in half.
  • Place a chocolate bar on one of the graham cracker halves.
  • Place the roasted marshmallow on top of the chocolate.
  • Top with the remaining graham cracker half.
  • Gently press down on the graham crackers until the chocolate begins to melt.
  • Enjoy your gooey and delicious s’more!

This classic camping dessert is a must-have for any trip. Simply roast marshmallows over the fire and sandwich them between graham crackers and chocolate.

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups sliced peaches (fresh or canned)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire and place a large Dutch oven on a bed of hot coals.
  • Place the sliced peaches in the bottom of the Dutch oven.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until the mixture forms a batter.
  • Pour the batter over the peaches in the Dutch oven.
  • Cover the Dutch oven and place hot coals on the lid. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the cobbler is golden brown and the peaches are tender.
  • Remove the Dutch oven from the coals and allow the cobbler to cool for a few minutes.
  • Serve the cobbler warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Enjoy your Dutch oven peach cobbler on your camping trip!

This delicious dessert is made in a Dutch oven and is the perfect way to end a day of camping.

Grilled Pineapple

Grilled Pineapple

Ingredients:

  • 1 large pineapple, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

  • Heat coals in a campfire.
  • Mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
  • Brush the mixture on both sides of the pineapple slices.
  • Place the pineapple slices on a preheated grill or directly on the hot coals.
  • Grill the pineapple slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are slightly charred and the sugar mixture has caramelized.
  • Serve the grilled pineapple warm as a sweet and juicy dessert on your camping trip!

This sweet and simple dessert is easy to make and is sure to impress your camping companions.

To know more: Camping on a budget

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best camping recipes for dinner?

Some of the best camping recipes for dinner include campfire chili, grilled cheese sandwiches, and Dutch oven pizza.

What are some easy camping breakfast recipes?

Scrambled eggs and bacon, Dutch oven baked oatmeal, and breakfast burritos are all easy and delicious camping breakfast recipes.

What are the best camping dessert recipes?

Some of the best camping dessert recipes include s’mores, Dutch oven peach cobbler, and grilled pineapple.

Conclusion

Camping is an exciting and memorable experience, and the food is a big part of it. Whether you’re an experienced camper or a beginner, these best camping recipes for your next trip are sure to make your outdoor adventure even more enjoyable.

From delicious breakfast options to satisfying lunch and dinner dishes, and sweet treats to end the day, this list has something for everyone. So, next time you pack your bags for a camping trip, don’t forget to bring along some of these recipes to make the most of your time in the great outdoors! Also, don’t go camping without the campfire cooking kit for your adventure.

Anthony Arroyo
Anthony Arroyo

Anthony is a passionate outdoor enthusiast with a love for adventure and exploring the great outdoors. With years of experience hiking, camping, and rafting, he has a wealth of knowledge to share with others. Anthony’s writing captures the essence of his experiences, offering readers insights into some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes in the world. Follow his journey and join the conversation as he continues to share his passion for the great outdoors.