12 Tastiest Recipes for Kids Camping

Like Daniel Boone venturing into uncharted wilderness, you’re about to discover that camping with kids doesn’t mean surviving on burnt hot dogs and soggy sandwiches. You’ll find that outdoor cooking can actually become the highlight of your family adventure when you’ve got the right recipes in your back pocket. These twelve kid-approved meals will transform your campsite into a culinary playground where even the pickiest eaters can’t resist what’s coming off the fire.

Key Points

• Foil packet meals like chicken and vegetables or breakfast burritos cook easily over campfire coals with minimal cleanup required.
• Interactive foods like walking tacos, quesadillas, and customizable skewers let kids choose their own toppings and fillings.
• Make-ahead breakfast burritos can be prepared at home, frozen, then cooked over coals for quick morning meals.
• Sweet treats include s’mores variations, banana boat desserts, and trail mix granola bars cooked over the campfire.
• One-pot meals like cheesy pasta with hidden vegetables and hobo stew provide hearty, nutritious options using cast iron cookware.

Campfire Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

When you’re gathered around the campfire with hungry kids, nothing beats the classic comfort of grilled cheese paired with warm tomato soup. You’ll need butter, bread, cheese slices, and canned tomato soup for this foolproof meal.

Butter the outside of your bread slices, add cheese between them, then wrap each sandwich in foil. Place them on the campfire grate for 3-4 minutes per side until golden.

Meanwhile, heat your soup in a camping pot over the flames, stirring occasionally.

The foil method prevents burning while creating that perfect crispy exterior. Kids love helping with assembly, and you can customize with different cheeses.

This hearty combo fills hungry bellies and creates lasting camping memories around the flickering fire.

Walking Tacos in Individual Bags

After satisfying everyone with that warm, comforting meal, you’ll want something fun and interactive for your next camping adventure. Walking tacos deliver exactly that – they’re mess-free, customizable, and kids love eating straight from the bag.

You’ll need individual bags of corn chips, cooked ground beef or turkey, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and sour cream. Simply crush the chips slightly inside each unopened bag, then cut open the top.

Simply crush chips in unopened bags, cut the top, then let everyone add their favorite toppings directly inside.

Let each child add their preferred toppings directly into their chip bag, creating their personal taco creation.

This hands-on approach eliminates dishes while giving kids control over their meal. They’ll mix, shake, and eat with a fork – no cleanup required. It’s camping cuisine that turns dinner into entertainment.

After enjoying this easy meal, you might find yourself inspired to tackle more adventurous outdoor activities like hiking Scotland’s West Highland Way, one of the world’s most celebrated walking routes.

Foil Packet Chicken and Veggie Dinners

Since kids crave variety and parents need easy cleanup, foil packet dinners solve both challenges in one brilliant camping solution.

You’ll create individual meals by placing chicken pieces, diced potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers on heavy-duty aluminum foil. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, then add a pat of butter for moisture.

Fold the foil into secure packets, sealing edges tightly to prevent leaks. Place packets directly on hot coals or your camp grill for 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Let kids customize their packets with their favorite vegetables – corn, zucchini, or onions work perfectly. Each camper gets their personalized dinner with zero dishes to wash afterward.

These versatile packets work wonderfully for beach camping where sand and cleanup can be especially challenging.

Breakfast Burritos Wrapped in Foil

While everyone’s still rubbing sleep from their eyes, you can have hearty breakfast burritos ready in minutes with this make-ahead camping hack. Prep these at home by scrambling eggs, cooking bacon or sausage, and shredding cheese. Let everything cool completely before assembling.

Lay out large flour tortillas and fill each with eggs, meat, cheese, and diced potatoes if desired. Roll tightly, then wrap individually in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label each packet and freeze until your camping trip.

At camp, place frozen burritos on hot coals or a camp grill for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally. The foil steams everything perfectly while heating through.

Kids love unwrapping their personal breakfast packages, and cleanup’s practically nonexistent. Remember to follow safe summer camping practices while cooking over open flames or camp stoves to prevent accidents and ensure everyone enjoys their meal safely.

Hot Dog and Marshmallow Skewers

When campfire cooking meets kid-friendly fun, hot dog and marshmallow skewers deliver the perfect combination of dinner and dessert on a single stick.

You’ll thread hot dogs and marshmallows alternately onto metal or soaked wooden skewers, creating colorful patterns that’ll make kids excited about their meal. The hot dogs cook while the marshmallows caramelize, creating sweet and savory bites that eliminate the need for separate courses.

• Easy assembly: Kids can help thread ingredients, making them invested in the cooking process
• No extra cleanup: Everything cooks on one skewer, reducing campfire dishes and mess
• Customizable combinations: Mix different hot dog flavors with colored marshmallows for variety

Rotate skewers frequently over medium coals, ensuring even cooking. The marshmallows will puff and brown while hot dogs develop that perfect campfire char everyone craves. Having proper camping shelters nearby ensures you can continue cooking even if unexpected weather rolls in during your outdoor meal preparation.

One-Pot Cheesy Pasta With Hidden Vegetables

Though getting kids to eat vegetables can feel like an uphill battle, this one-pot cheesy pasta transforms reluctant eaters into veggie enthusiasts by sneaking nutritious ingredients into a creamy, irresistible sauce.

Turning picky eaters into veggie lovers has never been easier with this sneaky, kid-approved cheesy pasta recipe.

You’ll blend cauliflower, carrots, and bell peppers directly into the cheese sauce, making them completely invisible. Start by boiling pasta in your camping pot, then drain and set aside.

In the same pot, combine milk, cream cheese, and your pre-steamed and pureed vegetables. Whisk until smooth, then add shredded cheddar and mozzarella. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the cooked pasta back in, stirring until everything’s coated.

The kids will devour this creamy comfort food without realizing they’re eating a full serving of vegetables.

Campfire Quesadillas With Endless Fillings

Since quesadillas cook quickly over an open flame and require minimal prep, they’re perfect for involving kids in campsite cooking while letting everyone customize their meal. You’ll need tortillas, cheese, and whatever fillings you’ve packed. Kids can safely assemble their own combinations away from the fire while you handle the cooking.

Heat a cast iron skillet or pie iron over medium coals. Each quesadilla takes just 2-3 minutes per side until golden and melted.

The beauty lies in endless possibilities:

• Sweet options: Peanut butter with banana slices, Nutella with marshmallows, or cream cheese with jam
• Savory classics: Leftover grilled chicken, black beans, corn, and salsa
• Breakfast versions: Scrambled eggs, bacon bits, and shredded cheese for morning fuel

Let everyone experiment with their favorite combinations. When winter camping, these warm quesadillas provide the perfect comfort food after enjoying snow adventures like sledding or snowshoeing.

Trail Mix Granola Bars Made Over the Fire

Moving from savory meals to sweet treats, homemade granola bars satisfy kids’ snack cravings while teaching them basic cooking skills around the campfire.

You’ll need oats, honey, peanut butter, and their favorite trail mix ingredients like chocolate chips, dried fruit, and nuts.

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium coals.

Mix two cups oats with half a cup each of honey and peanut butter in a large bowl.

Add one cup of trail mix ingredients.

Press the mixture firmly into your warmed skillet and cook for eight minutes, checking the bottom doesn’t burn.

Let it cool completely before cutting into bars.

Kids love customizing their mix-ins, and you’ll appreciate having healthy snacks ready for hiking adventures.

Just like deciding whether to rent or buy used boat equipment for water activities, consider borrowing camping gear before investing in expensive items your family might only use occasionally.

Stuffed Bell Peppers in Cast Iron

While your kids might turn their noses up at plain vegetables at home, they’ll enthusiastically dig into colorful stuffed bell peppers cooked right in your cast iron Dutch oven.

Transform picky eaters into veggie enthusiasts with these colorful, kid-friendly stuffed peppers made effortlessly in your trusty Dutch oven.

These portable veggie cups become exciting when you stuff them with familiar favorites like rice, ground beef, and cheese. The cast iron creates perfect even heating over your campfire, and cleanup’s surprisingly simple.

• Choose sturdy peppers – Red, yellow, and orange varieties hold their shape better than green ones and taste sweeter to picky eaters.
• Pre-cook your filling – Mix cooked rice, browned meat, and seasonings before stuffing to ensure everything’s thoroughly heated.
• Create steam pockets – Add a splash of water to your Dutch oven bottom, then cover tightly to steam-cook the peppers until tender.

For even more interactive fun, consider trying some delicious stick cooking recipes that let kids participate directly in preparing their campfire meals. Your kids will love this interactive camping meal.

S’mores French Toast Sandwiches

Why settle for plain French toast when you can transform breakfast into dessert around the campfire? S’mores French toast sandwiches combine two camping favorites into one incredible treat that’ll have your kids begging for seconds.

Start by making marshmallow fluff sandwiches using thick bread slices, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Dip each sandwich in beaten eggs mixed with milk and cinnamon. Cook them on a buttered cast iron skillet over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.

The heat melts the marshmallows and chocolate into gooey perfection while the bread develops a crispy exterior. Top with crushed graham crackers for that authentic s’mores crunch. These portable treats work perfectly for breakfast or dessert, making every camping morning feel special. This recipe is among the quick camping food options that require minimal preparation but deliver maximum flavor for busy families.

Hobo Stew Cooked in Dutch Oven

How do you feed a hungry crowd of campers with minimal cleanup? Hobo stew‘s your answer. This one-pot wonder transforms simple ingredients into a hearty meal that’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters. You’ll toss everything into a Dutch oven, let the campfire do the work, and watch kids devour every bite.

The beauty lies in its flexibility – use whatever vegetables and protein you’ve packed. Ground beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions create the foundation, but you can’t go wrong with additions.

Here’s what makes hobo stew perfect for camping:

• Minimal prep work – just chop and dump ingredients
• Easy cleanup – one pot means less washing
• Kid-friendly flavors – familiar ingredients they’ll actually eat

Your camping crew will thank you for this satisfying, no-fuss dinner. This hearty meal is especially perfect when you’re exploring some of the best camping destinations that offer amazing outdoor adventures for young campers.

Banana Boat Desserts With Chocolate Chips

Nothing beats the sweet satisfaction of a warm banana boat fresh from the campfire coals. You’ll create this simple dessert by cutting a banana lengthwise, keeping the peel intact.

Stuff the opening with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers. Wrap each banana in foil, then nestle them into hot coals for 8-10 minutes.

The heat transforms everything into gooey perfection. Kids love customizing their boats with different toppings—try peanut butter chips, caramel bits, or chopped nuts.

You can prep these ahead of time, keeping them wrapped until you’re ready to cook.

Check doneness by gently squeezing the foil packet. The banana should feel soft, and the chocolate melted.

Let them cool briefly before unwrapping to avoid burns.

This banana boat recipe is just one of many easy camping recipes that make outdoor cooking fun and memorable for the whole family.

Sum Up

Did you know that 78% of families who camp together report stronger family bonds? You’ll create those same lasting memories with these kid-friendly recipes. Don’t worry about perfect execution – burnt marshmallows and messy hands are part of the fun. Pack your ingredients, gather around the campfire, and let your kids take the lead. They’ll surprise you with their enthusiasm for cooking outdoors, and you’ll all come home with full bellies and unforgettable stories.