The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Camp Cooking: Recipes and Tips for the Great Outdoors

Cooking delicious meals in the great outdoors is one of the joys of camping. There's something special about preparing and enjoying food when camping, surrounded by nature. However, it does require some planning and the right gear to make camp cooking a success.

When it comes to deciding what food to take camping, focus on ingredients that are portable, non-perishable, and easy to cook. Dried and canned goods are great options. For fresh ingredients, choose hardy items that last a few days without refrigeration, like onions, peppers, potatoes, and apples.

• Dry goods like rice, pasta, oats, flour, sugar, coffee, tea, hot chocolate mix
• Canned items like beans, vegetables, tuna, soup
• Cooking oil, salt, pepper, spices, condiments
• Powdered milk, cereal, granola, energy bars
• Bottled water and drinks

To expand your options, consider bringing a cooler for some perishable foods to take camping like eggs, cheese, yogurt, fresh vegetables and fruits, and meat to use in the first day or two.

• A camp stove (propane or liquid fuel) and fuel
• Matches or a lighter
• Pots and pans (a frying pan, a saucepan, and a larger pot)
• Camping kettle or coffee pot
• Utensils like a chef's knife, cutting board, can opener, wooden spoon, spatula, tongs
• Reusable plates, bowls, mugs, utensils
• Biodegradable soap and sponge for washing up
• Foil for cooking over the fire
• Portable spice rack or spice containers
• Food storage containers
• Rubbish bags

By packing nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods for camping and bringing the right cooking gear, you'll be able to rustle up satisfying camp meals without a lot of fuss. Thoughtful planning is key to making camping foods practical and delicious.

With some creativity, you can go beyond just dehydrated camping food and canned soup. There are endless food ideas for camping to explore, from grilled kebabs to campfire chili to French toast. The options for tasty and even gourmet food for camps are limitless.

To inspire your camp food ideas, here are some suggestions for tasty, easy-to-prepare options for each meal.

• Instant oatmeal packs with dried fruit, nuts, brown sugar
• Pancakes using complete pancake mix (just add water), syrup
• Breakfast burritos with tortillas, pre-cooked sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, salsa
• Yogurt parfaits with granola and dried or fresh fruit
• Bagels with cream cheese or nut butter and jam
• Camp coffee and tea

• Sandwiches on hearty rolls with cured meats, cheese, vegetables, condiments
• Tuna or chicken salad with crackers
• Pita bread with hummus, cucumber, tomato, feta
• Peanut butter sandwiches
• Cheese, salami, bread, fruit for a ploughman's lunch
• Snacks like trail mix, energy bars, fresh fruit

• Foil packs with pre-seasoned meat, potatoes, carrots, onion
• One-pot pasta with sauce, vegetables, cured meat or canned protein
• Canned chili or stew with bread 
• Camping food packs of rice with Indian or Asian spice blends and canned chickpeas or chicken
• Baked potatoes topped with chili, cheese, onions
• Grilled kebabs with marinated meat and vegetables
• S'mores and hot chocolate for dessert

Packing a variety of nutritious, easy-to-prepare best food for camping ensures you have good camping easy food options to look forward to after a long day outdoors. Choose dried food for camping and canned goods as the backbone of your camping food list, supplemented by some fresh foods, especially for shorter trips.

With sufficient camping food storage like a cooler, food containers, and animal-proof storage, you can expand your options for best food to take camping. The more you camp, the better you'll become at figuring out the ideal foods to take camping.

No matter how simple, food while camping always seems to taste better in the fresh air. So get creative and have fun with your camp cooking!

Now that you have ideas for the best camping foods, here are 6 simple camping food recipes to try on your next trip. These camp food recipes rely on basic ingredients and simple preparations for delicious outdoor meals.

Ingredients:

• 8 rashers of bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 8 eggs
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In a large cast iron skillet over the campfire or camp stove, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pan.
2. Add the onion and potatoes to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and browned, about 15-20 minutes.
3. Crack the eggs over the potatoes. Cover the skillet and cook until the eggs are set to your liking, about 5-10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the bacon over the top and serve hot, directly from the skillet.

This hearty breakfast is the perfect start to a day of outdoor adventures. It's a classic example of the convenience and tastiness of one-skillet camp cooking recipes.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 500g beef mince
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 250 g macaroni
• Grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions for topping

Instructions:

1. In a large pot over the campfire or camp stove, heat the oil. Add the onion and pepper and cook until softened.
2. Add the beef and cook until browned, breaking up clumps with a spoon. If using canned beef, skip this step.
3. Stir in the beans, tomatoes, water, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil.
4. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes.
5. Serve hot, topped with cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

This one-pot spin on chili mac combines the smokiness of campfire cooking with the comforting flavour of dehydrated food for camping for a satisfying meal that will chase any chill away.

Ingredients:

• 4 English muffins
• Butter or oil
• 8 slices bacon
• 4 eggs
• 4 slices cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Split the English muffins and spread with butter or brush with oil. Toast over the campfire or on a camp stove griddle until lightly browned.
2. In a skillet, cook the bacon until lightly browned and warm. Set aside and keep warm.
3. Crack an egg into the skillet. Cook until the white is set, then carefully flip. Cook the other side briefly then top with a slice of cheese.
4. Assemble the sandwiches with the Canadian bacon, fried egg, and cheese between the toasted muffin halves. Season with salt and pepper.

These hearty breakfast sandwiches are one of the best camping food ideas no cook required. They are quick and easy to assemble for a satisfying start to the day.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 green pepper, sliced
• 500g roast beef or canned beef, thinly sliced
• 4 rolls
• 4-8 slices cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a skillet over the fire or camp stove. Add the onion and pepper and cook until softened and lightly browned.
2. Add the beef to the skillet. If using roast beef, cook until heated through. If using canned beef, cook until lightly browned.
3. Pile the beef and vegetables into the hoagie rolls. Top each with 1-2 slices of provolone.
4. Wrap each sandwich in foil and place on the grill over the fire, cheese side up. Cook until the cheese is melted, about 3-5 minutes.

These foil-wrapped sandwiches are an easy way to enjoy a taste of the city in the great outdoors. The provolone elevates them beyond basic can cooker recipes for camping.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
• 1 courgette, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 200g button mushrooms, halved
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. Tear off 4 large sheets of heavy duty foil. Divide the chicken and vegetables between them, piling them in the centre.
2. Drizzle each pile with oil and sprinkle with garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Fold the foil tightly around the contents to form sealed packets.
3. Place on the grill over the campfire and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 20-25 minutes.
4. Open carefully and serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.

These foil packs are an easy and healthy option for outdoor cooking. They are one of the best camping food recipe ideas because they are endlessly customisable with your favourite proteins and vegetables.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 500g ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 9 no-boil lasagna sheets
• 400g ricotta cheese
• 400g grated mozzarella cheese
• 200g grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare the coals for cooking with a Dutch oven. When ready, place the Dutch oven on the coals to preheat.
2. Heat the oil in the Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the beef and garlic. Cook, stirring to break up clumps, until browned.
3. Stir in the tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper. Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce in the bottom of the Dutch oven.
4. Arrange 3 lasagna sheets over the sauce, breaking to fit as needed. Dollop 1/3 of the ricotta over the noodles and sprinkle with 1/3 of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
5. Repeat the layers twice more, ending with cheese. Put the lid on the Dutch oven.
6. Arrange coals on the lid. Cook at a simmer until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted, rotating the oven over the coals occasionally, about 30 minutes.

This lasagna is proof that you can enjoy gourmet Italian flavour in the backwoods. It's one of the best food for camps to make if you have a Dutch oven in your camping food packs. With some advance prep like pre-mixing the sauce and cheeses, it's easy to assemble at the campground for an impressive meal.

If you follow a plant-based diet or just want to incorporate more meat-free meals into your camping menu, there are plenty of delicious options for vegetarian camping food. With some adaptations, you can prepare vegetarian versions of classic camping foods without sacrificing flavour or nutrition.

• Veggie burgers or veggie dogs with whole grain buns and toppings
• Grilled portobello mushroom caps or eggplant "steaks"
• Skewers loaded with vegetables like zucchini, peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms
• Campfire nachos with beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole
• Quesadillas or tacos filled with beans, vegetables, cheese
• Pasta with tomato sauce, vegetables, vegetarian meat substitute
• Shakshuka (eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce)
• Lentil or vegetarian chili with cornbread
• Buddha bowls with rice or quinoa, beans, roasted vegetables, nuts or seeds, dressing
• Oatmeal or overnight oats with nut butter, fruit, nuts, seeds
• Chickpea or egg salad sandwiches
• Campfire pizza with vegetarian toppings
• Stuffed sweet potatoes with beans, cheese, veggies
• Vegetarian sloppy joes with lentils or veggie crumbles

• Canned or pre-cooked beans and lentils
• Nuts, nut butters, and seeds
• Whole grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and millet
• Eggs and dairy products
• Tofu, tempeh, seitan, or veggie meat substitutes

With some planning and creativity, you can enjoy tasty and nourishing vegetarian camping food ideas that will fuel your outdoor fun.

For example, you can adapt the Campfire Chili Mac recipe above by omitting the beef and doubling the beans or adding a meat substitute. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cans jackfruit in brine, drained
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp oil
• 200g BBQ sauce
• 4 buns
• Vegan coleslaw for topping

Instructions:

1. Rinse and shred the jackfruit. Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until soft. Add the jackfruit and cook until it begins to brown.
2. Stir in the BBQ sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve on buns topped with coleslaw.

Eating plant-based while camping requires some planning, but the resulting meals can be every bit as delicious and satisfying as meat-based ones. Draw inspiration from your favourite vegetarian recipes at home and adapt them using non-perishable ingredients and outdoor cooking methods.

Proper camping food storage and handling is essential to prevent foodborne illness and keep critters out of your provisions. When packing food to bring camping, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose shelf-stable, non-perishable foods as much as possible. Canned and dried goods and items like peanut butter, jerky, and hard cheeses last longer without refrigeration.
• Pack perishable items like meats, dairy, eggs, cut fruits and vegetables in a cooler with ice packs. Use an appliance thermometer to ensure the cooler stays at 40°F (4°C) or colder. Replenish ice as needed.
• Store raw meats and fish separate from other foods to prevent contamination. Double-bag them to prevent leaks. Keep them in the bottom of the cooler where it's coldest.
• Use perishable items in the first 1-2 days of your trip. Eat higher risk items like raw meats, fish, and soft cheeses first. Save shelf-stable foods for later in the trip.
• Store food in airtight, animal-proof containers like hard-sided coolers, locking food boxes, or your vehicle. Avoid keeping food in tents where it can attract animals.
• Pack biodegradable soap and disposable wipes for handwashing and cleaning cooking surfaces. Wash hands before handling food.
• Use a food thermometer to ensure meats reach a safe internal temperature. Cook poultry to 74°C, minced meats to 71°C, and steaks/roasts to 63°C.
• Keep hot foods hot at 60°C or above until served. Wrap in foil and place in an insulated container.
• Chill leftover food promptly. Divide into small portions and store in the cooler below 4°C. Reheat leftovers to 74°C before eating. Discard after 3-4 days.

By following these guidelines for safe food storage while camping, you can minimise the risk of illness and keep your camping trip enjoyable. Remember the key principles: keep cold foods cold, hot foods hot, store food securely, keep your hands and cooking area clean, and cook foods thoroughly.

With the right strategies for camping food storage, you can incorporate a wider variety of ingredients into your camp cooking while keeping them fresh and safe to eat. This allows you to get creative with your camping food recipes without worrying about spoilage or attracting animals.

Cooking delicious and nourishing meals is one of the great pleasures of camping. With some thoughtful planning and the right gear, you can prepare satisfying camp food recipes that rival the meals you enjoy at home.

The key is choosing the right foods to take camping - items that are shelf-stable, easy to prepare, and versatile enough to use in a variety of camping food ideas. By packing a mix of non-perishable staples like grains, pasta, canned goods, and spices, along with some fresh ingredients and proteins in your cooler, you'll have a solid foundation for tasty camp meals.

Equipping your camp kitchen with essential tools like a good camp stove, cookware, and utensils will make cooking at camp much easier and more efficient. Invest in quality pieces that will last through many camping trips. Don't forget crucial accessories like a can opener, cutting board, and biodegradable soap for washing up.

When it comes to camp cooking recipes, the options are endless. You can adapt many of your favourite meals for outdoor cooking, or try new recipes tailored to the camping setting. Look for dishes that use minimal ingredients and cookware, can be cooked over a fire or camp stove, and are easy to serve and eat outdoors.

One-pot meals like stews, pastas, and casseroles are ideal for camp cooking. Foil packs are another great option - simply place ingredients in foil, seal, and cook over the fire. And don't forget classic camping treats like s'mores and campfire pies for dessert!

If you have special dietary needs or preferences, with some creativity you can still enjoy delicious and satisfying food while camping. Vegetarians and vegans can pack plant-based proteins and adapt recipes using meat substitutes. Those avoiding gluten can choose gluten-free grains and alternative flours. With a little research and planning, you can find camping food ideas to fit any diet.

No matter what kind of food for camping you prepare, be sure to follow safe food handling practices. Keep perishable foods cold, store food securely away from animals, wash your hands and surfaces often, cook foods thoroughly, and chill leftovers promptly. By paying attention to camping food storage and safety, you can avoid foodborne illness and enjoy your trip to the fullest.

With the right ingredients, tools, recipes, and safety practices, you can become a master of camp cuisine. You'll be able to whip up nourishing breakfasts, satisfying lunches, delicious dinners, and even gourmet feasts in the great outdoors. And after a long day of hiking, swimming, and exploring, nothing tastes better than a meal cooked and enjoyed in the fresh air with people you love.

So the next time you go camping, embrace the opportunity to get creative with your camp cooking recipes. Try out the camping food ideas and recipes in this guide, or use them as inspiration to concoct your own camp culinary delights. With a spirit of adventure and willingness to experiment, you may just discover your new favourite camping foods and make some lasting memories around the campfire. Bon appétit!