Embarking on a camping trip doesn't mean compromising your health goals. With a little planning, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals under the open sky. Here's a guide to easy and healthy camping recipes, perfect for a fresh start and a memorable outdoor experience.
Camping Breakfast Ideas
Morning Oats
Oats are a fantastic camping breakfast option due to their lightweight nature and non-perishable quality, making them easy to transport and store. Enhance your morning oats with dried fruit, grains, nuts, and spices for a cozy and customizable breakfast. Top with fresh fruits or a splash of cream for extra indulgence.
Camping Breakfast Burritos
Camping breakfast burritos are a breeze to assemble and are packed with savory sausage, eggs, crispy fried potatoes, and melted cheese. For a truly effortless breakfast, prepare them at home, wrap them in foil, and warm them over the fire.
Stuffed French Toast
Indulge in a decadent camping breakfast with stuffed French toast. This recipe is only slightly more complex than regular French toast but offers a rich and fancy experience with creamy mascarpone and juicy blackberries.
BBQ Pulled Pork English Muffin Camping Breakfast Sandwiches
Kick off your day with a flavorful twist by enjoying BBQ Pulled Pork English Muffin Camping Breakfast Sandwiches. Utilize pre-made pulled pork or dedicate a day to slow-cooking a pork butt over the fire with barbecue sauce for an unforgettable experience.
Read also: Ultimate Meal Guide
Camping Breakfast Chilaquiles
This camping breakfast chilaquiles recipe is quick, easy, and sure to please.
Hot Ham & Swiss Croissants
Enjoy buttery croissants filled with melted cheese and a honey mustard sauce, creating the perfect hot and savory 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 fresh vegetables and lean turkey kielbasa.
Bacon on a Stick
Just because you're camping doesn't mean you have to forgo bacon. Cooking it on a cookstove is a reliable option, but cooking bacon on a stick is a fun and memorable alternative.
Pancakes
Pancakes are a versatile and satisfying option for camp cooking. You can make your own mix with flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt or opt for a high-protein pancake mix for a quick and easy breakfast.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Egg Quesadillas
Enjoy a hearty and delicious breakfast with egg quesadillas. Scramble eggs with cheese, salsa, and black beans, then fry in a pan and serve on tortillas.
Yogurt and Granola
For a quick and simple breakfast, enjoy a bowl of yogurt and granola. Choose full-fat or Greek yogurt for a more filling option and top with your favorite granola, honey, and fresh fruit.
Make-Ahead Food Ideas for Camping
Preparing meals in advance can save time and effort at the campsite.
Oaty Flapjacks
Loaded with nuts, seeds, and juicy sultanas, oaty flapjacks are a delicious and nutritious make-ahead option.
Granola Clusters
Granola clusters offer a delightful combination of sweet, nutty, and fruity flavors with a satisfying crunch, making them an ideal snack for camping.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boil eggs before your trip and use them as snacks, additions to salads, or mixed with breakfast gravy for extra protein.
Trail Mix Protein Bites
These no-bake trail mix protein bites are a healthy and convenient snack that tastes like a cookie, perfect for camping.
Taco Meat
Prepare taco meat ahead of time and reheat it on the camp stove for easy tacos or walking tacos in a bag of chips.
Marinated Meat Skewers
Marinate steak or chicken and cook it over the fire as skewers, in foil, or on a griddle.
Pre-Made Foil Packets
Prepare foil packets with raw ingredients for easy cooking over the fire.
Pasta
Pre-cook pasta and store it in ziplock bags with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Baked Mac and Cheese
Make baked mac and cheese ahead of time and reheat it over the fire with foil on top.
Camping Snacks & Munchy Salads
Snacks are an essential part of any camping trip.
Grilled Halloumi Cheese
Grill halloumi cheese with herbs, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with bread or as part of a cheese board. Drizzling with honey is another delicious option.
Veggie Pinwheels
These veggie pinwheels feature a colorful array of fresh vegetables with ranch-flavored cream cheese, rolled up in a spinach tortilla wrap.
Roasted Chili Corn Salsa
This salsa is loaded with roasted poblano peppers, jalapeños, garlic, onions, cilantro, lime, and corn.
Street Corn Salad
Enjoy 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 great side dish that holds up well for hours, thanks to its dairy-free dressing.
Salsa Fresca
Roast ingredients over the grill or campfire for a fire-roasted flavor with this bright and summery salsa fresca.
Charcuterie Board
Create a charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, dried fruits, crackers, olives, and nuts for a fun and communal camping lunch.
Camping Lunch and Dinner Ideas
Honey Sriracha Chicken Bowls
Honey Sriracha Chicken Bowls are a simple and easy meal option. Marinate chicken breasts in honey sriracha sauce.
Tahini Chickpea Cucumber Salad
The Tahini Chickpea Cucumber Salad is an enticing fusion of flavors. Mix tahini, lemon juice, and minced garlic until smooth and combine with chickpeas and cucumber.
Foil Pesto Caprese Chicken
The Foil Pesto Caprese Chicken is ideal for camping due to its simplicity and minimal cleanup. Open the foil packets carefully and serve hot with a side of fresh salad or steamed vegetables.
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Making Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili involves sautéing ingredients in a pot and simmering until flavors meld. Garnish with fresh cilantro or shredded cheddar before serving.
Grilled Jerk Chicken Kebabs
Combine chicken breasts with jerk seasoning. Thread the marinated chicken, bell pepper, onion, and pineapple onto skewers and grill until the chicken is cooked through.
Grilled Fish Tacos
Enjoy 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 perfect for camping. Cook them ahead of time and reheat them in a cast iron skillet on your camp stove or over the fire.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Make delicious sandwiches with your favorite hot wing flavors using this buffalo chicken salad recipe.
Grilled Italian Sandwiches
These Grilled Italian Sandwiches are made in a foil packet, great for feeding a crowd.
Muffuletta
A muffuletta is a pressed sandwich filled with cold cuts, cheese, and an olive spread that gets better as it sits.
Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs
Dress up jumbo hot dogs with charred sweet corn, chopped onion, fresh cilantro, cotija cheese, and chipotle aioli.
Sloppy Joes
These easy Sloppy Joes are fast, simple, and tasty.
Healthy Grilled Shrimp In Foil
This fast and fresh seafood dinner includes Old Bay seasoned shrimp, red potatoes, zucchini, lemon, and fresh herbs.
Shrimp Boil Foil Packet
A campfire classic, the Shrimp Boil Foil Packet is perfect for your next camping trip.
Easy Steak Fajitas
Enjoy seasoned, juicy flank steak, veggies, and warm tortillas with these easy steak fajitas.
Buttery Grilled Shrimp
These buttery grilled shrimp are delicious for summer meals.
Easy Tandoori Chicken
This easy tandoori chicken has no obscure ingredients or food coloring.
Italian Kabobs
When the temperatures are high, turn to these Italian kabobs for a different flavor.
Slow-Cooker Jambalaya
This low-effort slow-cooker jambalaya features chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage, vegetables, and bold spices.
Lasagna
Enjoy the comfort of lasagna after a day of hiking.
Campfire Potatoes
Simple russet potatoes become fluffy and soft when baked in a foil packet over a wood-burning fire.