Camping offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, and half the joy of camping is the food. Meals cooked under the open sky taste magical, especially when eaten with dirty fingers and a goofy grin around the campfire. Whether you're feeding a hungry crew or enjoying a solo adventure, this guide provides practical, nostalgic, and indulgent camping food ideas that are totally doable, even when cooking over a fire pit with minimal equipment.
Camping Breakfast Ideas
Start your day with these easy and delicious camping breakfast recipes.
Camping Breakfast Burritos
Camping breakfast burritos are easy to assemble and are filled with delicious sausage, eggs, crispy fried potatoes, and melted shredded cheese. For a lazy camping breakfast, prepare them at home, wrap them in foil, and toss them on the fire.
Stuffed French Toast
Stuffed French toast makes for a decadent camping breakfast. Only slightly more difficult than regular French toast, it feels rich and fancy with creamy mascarpone and juicy blackberries.
BBQ Pulled Pork English Muffin Camping Breakfast Sandwiches
These sandwiches are a decadent way to start your day. Use premade pulled pork, or slow-cook a pork butt on the fire with BBQ sauce the day before.
Read also: Simple campsite cooking
Camping Breakfast Chilaquiles
This camping breakfast chilaquiles recipe is simple and quick.
Hot Ham & Swiss Croissants
Buttery croissants, melty cheese, and a honey mustard sauce melt together in this perfect sandwich.
Keilbasa, Pepper, Onion, and Potato Hash
This easy-to-make hash is a healthy and delicious meal that comes together in just 15 minutes, featuring tons of fresh veggies and lean turkey kielbasa.
Custom Oatmeal Mix
Mix your own custom oatmeal mix with a blend of dried fruit, grains, nuts, and mellow spices for a cozy and easy breakfast at camp. Top with apples or other fruits and a splash of cream for extra decadence.
Campfire Bacon
Enjoy bacon while camping by cooking it on a cookstove or over a fire.
Read also: Healthy Camping Food
Make-Ahead Food Ideas for Camping
Preparing meals before leaving home can make a significant difference in the quality of your camping food.
Oaty Flapjacks
Oaty flapjacks are fully loaded with nuts, seeds, and juicy sultanas.
Granola Clusters
These granola clusters are sweet, nutty, and fruity, with the right amount of crunch for a perfect lazy camping snack.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Boil eggs in your Instant Pot while packing and use them for snacks, salads, or breakfast gravy.
Trail Mix Protein Bites
These no-bake healthy trail mix protein bites are like cookies, but healthy and perfect for camping.
Read also: Delicious Keto Camping
Camping Snacks & Munchy Salads
Snacking is an integral part of the camping experience.
Grilled Halloumi Cheese with Herbs
Grilled halloumi cheese with herbs packs well and feels indulgent. Drizzle with olive oil and herbs, and serve with bread or as part of a cheese board. Honey is another delicious choice.
Veggie Pinwheels
Veggie pinwheels are a rainbow of colorful fresh veggies with ranch-flavored cream cheese, all rolled up inside a spinach tortilla wrap.
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa
This roasted chili corn salsa is loaded with roasted poblano peppers, jalapeños, garlic, onions, cilantro, lime, and corn.
Street Corn Salad
Street corn salad is Mexican street corn in salad form, perfect as a side for savory meats or as a chip-dipping appetizer.
Asian Coleslaw
Asian coleslaw is a perfect side dish for any camp or party, holding up well for hours because the dressing doesn’t contain dairy.
Salads To Go
Salads To Go are an easy and healthy lunch option for camping.
Campfire Salsa Fresca
Roast ingredients over a grill or campfire for a fire-roasted flavor in this Salsa Fresca.
Camping Lunch and Dinner Ideas
Mix and match these recipes for lunch and dinner based on your adventure and laziness levels.
Grilled Fish Tacos
These grilled fish tacos feature tender white fish coated in a delicious spice blend and cooked over the fire.
Instant Pot Carnitas
Instant Pot carnitas are easy to make and melt-in-your-mouth good. Cook them in your Instant Pot ahead of time, pack in your cooler, and reheat in a cast iron skillet on your camp stove or over the fire.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
This buffalo chicken salad recipe is perfect for making delicious sandwiches with your favorite hot wing flavors.
Grilled Italian Sandwiches
These grilled Italian sandwiches are made in a foil packet and are great for feeding a crowd at summer cookouts.
Muffuletta
A Muffuletta is a pressed sandwich filled with cold cuts, cheese, and an olive spread that only gets better as it sits.
Next-Level Camping Hot Dogs
Cook hot dogs on a stick, or try high-quality sausages with sauerkraut and buttered buns.
Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs
Dressed-up Mexican street corn-style jumbo hot dogs are filled with charred sweet corn, chopped onion, fresh cilantro, cotija cheese, and a drizzle of chipotle aioli.
Sloppy Joes
These easy Sloppy Joes are fast, simple, and tasty.
Healthy Grilled Shrimp In Foil
This recipe is a fast and fresh seafood dinner filled with Old Bay-seasoned shrimp, red potatoes, zucchini, lemon, and fresh herbs, reminiscent of a classic Low Country Shrimp Boil with a healthy twist.
Shrimp Boil Foil Packet
This shrimp boil foil packet is a campfire classic and a perfect meal idea for camping trips.
Easy Steak Fajitas
Enjoy easy steak fajitas with seasoned, juicy flank steak, veggies, and warm tortillas.
Buttery Grilled Shrimp
These buttery grilled shrimp are perfect for summer.
Easy Tandoori Chicken
This easy tandoori chicken recipe has no obscure ingredients or food coloring.
Grilled Italian Kabobs
When the temperatures are high, turn to these grilled Italian kabobs, which require only a green salad and rustic bread to complete the meal.
Slow-Cooker Jambalaya
This low-effort slow-cooker jambalaya recipe features chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage, various vegetables, bold flavors, and plenty of spice.
Campfire Lasagna
Enjoy the homey comfort of lasagna after a day of hiking.
Foil Packet Potatoes
Simple russet potatoes become incredibly fluffy and soft when baked in a foil packet over a wood-burning fire.
Camping Dessert Ideas
No camping trip is complete without desserts.
Coffee Can Ice Cream
Making coffee can ice cream is a core childhood memory every kid (and adult) should experience.
Peanut Butter Cookie S’mores
Peanut Butter Cookie S’mores are a better version of the classic s’more, made with soft and chewy peanut butter cookies without needing a campfire.
Campfire Cinnamon Roll-ups
Campfire Cinnamon Roll-ups are a must-have camping recipe for breakfast or dessert.
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Strawberries
Dunk fresh strawberries into a mix of peanut butter and marshmallow, roll them in crushed honey-roasted peanuts, and char them over a fire.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Fruit Dip
Dip fruit in melted peanut butter, milk chocolate, or both. This dessert works well with thick wedges of apple.
Campfire Apple Crisp Foil Packets
Campfire Apple Crisp Foil Packets are full of juicy apples, cinnamon, and granola.
Whiskey Sour
This whiskey sour recipe uses fresh lemon, maple syrup, and cinnamon, which are often packed for camping breakfast recipes.
Mini Mason Jar No-Bake Cheesecake
Mini Mason Jar No-Bake Cheesecakes made and served in tiny jars are ideal desserts for a picnic, camping, or a fun treat for kids.
One-Pot Camping Dinners
These one-pot camping dinners require minimal cleanup and no fancy camp kitchen gear.