8 Easiest Camping Recipes

When you’re miles away from your kitchen, cooking can feel like solving a puzzle with half the pieces missing. You don’t need to sacrifice flavor for convenience, though. These eight foolproof camping recipes transform simple ingredients into satisfying meals using just basic camp cooking methods. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor chef or someone who barely knows how to light a camp stove, these dishes will keep your group well-fed and asking for seconds.

Key Points

• One-pot pasta meals combine vegetables, canned tomatoes, and pasta in a single pot for minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
• Foil packet dinners with chicken, potatoes, and seasonings cook directly on coals, eliminating the need for dishes.
• Breakfast burritos made with scrambled eggs, pre-cooked meat, and cheese in tortillas provide portable morning energy.
• No-bake energy balls using oats, peanut butter, and honey require no cooking and stay fresh in coolers.
• Dutch oven hobo stew with ground meat and vegetables simmers over coals for hearty campfire comfort food.

One-Pot Pasta With Vegetables

When you’re tired from a long day of hiking and the last thing you want is complicated cleanup, one-pot pasta with vegetables becomes your best friend around the campfire. You’ll need just one large pot, pasta, canned diced tomatoes, and whatever vegetables you’ve packed.

Start by sautéing onions and garlic in oil, then add your harder vegetables like carrots or bell peppers. Pour in the tomatoes and enough water to cover everything. Once it’s boiling, add your pasta and cook according to package directions.

Toss in softer vegetables like zucchini or spinach during the last few minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs. You’ll have a satisfying meal with minimal dishes to wash.

If you want to save even more time and energy, consider preparing no-cook recipes that require zero cooking and cleanup time.

Foil Packet Chicken and Potatoes

While one-pot meals keep cleanup simple, foil packet cooking takes campfire convenience to another level by containing everything in individual sealed pouches. You’ll create perfectly portioned meals that cook evenly while eliminating messy pans entirely.

Foil packet meals deliver ultimate campfire convenience with zero cleanup and perfectly portioned cooking in individual sealed pouches.

For foil packet chicken and potatoes, you’ll need boneless chicken thighs, small potatoes, onions, and your favorite seasonings. Cut potatoes into thin slices so they cook thoroughly. Season chicken generously with salt, pepper, and herbs like rosemary or thyme.

Layer ingredients on heavy-duty foil, add butter pats, then seal tightly by crimping edges.

Place packets directly on hot coals for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through. The steam created inside cooks everything perfectly while infusing flavors together.

When done, carefully open packets and enjoy your complete meal with zero cleanup required. After dinner, you might want to try rock climbing activities if your campsite is near suitable rock formations.

Campfire Breakfast Burritos

Nothing beats starting your camping day with a hearty breakfast burrito that’s packed with protein and easy to eat around the fire.

You’ll scramble eggs in a cast iron skillet over your campfire, then add pre-cooked bacon or sausage you’ve brought from home.

Warm your tortillas on a flat rock near the coals or directly on your grill grate for just a few seconds per side.

Fill each tortilla with the egg mixture, add shredded cheese, and roll tightly.

You can prep these the night before by cooking everything except the eggs, storing ingredients in your cooler.

Wrap finished burritos in foil to keep them warm while you make coffee.

They’re portable, filling, and give you energy for hiking.

No-Bake Energy Balls

After fueling up with breakfast, you’ll want quick snacks that won’t weigh down your pack during day hikes. No-bake energy balls are perfect trail companions that require zero cooking skills and minimal prep time.

Mix one cup of rolled oats with half a cup of peanut butter, one-third cup of honey, and half a cup of mini chocolate chips or dried fruit. Add two tablespoons of chia seeds or ground flaxseed for extra nutrition. Stir everything together until it holds its shape when squeezed.

Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls and chill them in your cooler for thirty minutes. They’ll stay fresh for days and provide sustained energy when you need it most during your outdoor adventures.

Grilled Sausage and Peppers

When dinnertime arrives and you’re craving something hearty, grilled sausage and peppers delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. You’ll need Italian sausages, bell peppers, and onions—that’s it.

Slice the peppers and onions into thick strips so they won’t fall through the grill grates. Grill the sausages first, turning occasionally until they’re nicely browned and cooked through.

Add the vegetables to the grill during the last ten minutes, letting them char slightly for extra flavor. The peppers should be tender but still have some bite.

Serve everything together on plates or stuff into crusty rolls for easy handheld eating. This one-pan wonder requires zero prep work and creates minimal cleanup. This recipe is just one of many campfire recipes that prove outdoor cooking doesn’t have to be complicated.

Instant Oatmeal With Trail Mix

Since breakfast sets the tone for your entire camping day, instant oatmeal mixed with trail mix creates the perfect fuel without any fuss. You’ll simply need packets of instant oatmeal and your favorite trail mix blend.

Boil water over your camp stove or fire, then pour it into your bowl with the oatmeal packet. Stir until smooth, then add a generous handful of trail mix.

The nuts provide protein and healthy fats, while dried fruits add natural sweetness and quick energy. Chocolate pieces make it feel like dessert.

This combination keeps you satisfied for hours of hiking or camp activities. You can customize it with different trail mix varieties – coconut, banana chips, or even granola clusters work perfectly.

This hearty breakfast is especially important if you’re planning more demanding outdoor activities like glacier climbing, which requires sustained energy and endurance.

Hobo Stew in a Dutch Oven

While breakfast gets you moving, a hearty dinner brings everyone together around the campfire, and hobo stew delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort. You’ll throw everything into your Dutch oven and let the fire do the work.

Start with diced potatoes, onions, and carrots in the bottom. Add ground beef or sausage, breaking it into chunks. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Pour in a can of diced tomatoes and beef broth until ingredients are just covered.

Cover your Dutch oven and nestle it in hot coals. Place additional coals on the lid for even heat distribution. Let it simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The result? A satisfying one-pot meal that’ll warm everyone up after a day outdoors.

S’mores Quesadillas

After filling up on that hearty stew, you’ll want something sweet to cap off the evening, and s’mores quesadillas put a brilliant twist on the classic campfire treat.

You’ll grab flour tortillas, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and marshmallows on half the tortilla, add a handful of graham cracker crumbs, then fold it over.

Cook these in your cast iron skillet over medium heat for about two minutes per side until they’re golden and the filling’s melted. The tortilla creates a perfect crispy shell that won’t fall apart like traditional s’mores.

Cut into wedges and watch everyone fight over the last piece. These easy treats make perfect sense for RV camping since you won’t need to worry about common mistakes that can complicate your outdoor cooking experience.

Sum Up

You’ve got a treasure trove of camping recipes that’ll transform your outdoor cooking from stressful to spectacular. These eight dishes prove you don’t need a gourmet kitchen to create memorable meals around the campfire. Whether you’re whipping up foil packets or mixing no-bake energy balls, you’ll spend less time cooking and more time enjoying nature‘s beauty. Pack these recipes on your next adventure and watch your fellow campers become your biggest fans.