31 Easy Camping Meals to Make Camp Cooking a Breeze

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These camping meals are simple, delicious, and easy to clean up—the trifecta of camp food perfection!

It’s true—one of the things we love most about camping is the food. Meals cooked outdoors just taste better! So we’re excited to share our very favorite easy camping meals with you.

We started with a list of the camping food that always lands on our menu and searched through our blog to find the best camping recipes that: 

  • Use only one piece of cookware (one skillet, pot, foil packet, or pie iron)
  • Have quick-cooking ingredients, and 
  • Can be partially–or fully–made ahead of time

So are you ready to dive in and find your next go-to camping recipe? Here are several ideas to help you spend more time enjoying the outdoors—and less time worrying about the food.

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Our Best Easy Camping Meals To Make Camp Cooking A Breeze

Overhead view of nachos in a Dutch Oven over a campfire

Campfire Nachos

Campfire Nachos is one of our go-to meals for camping—we make it on nearly every trip. What could be easier (or tastier) than loading a Dutch oven full of tortilla chips, melty cheese, black beans, salsa, and all your favorite nacho toppings and calling it dinner?! If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can make these foil packet nachos instead.


Grilled chicken kabobs on blue and silver camping plates.

Chicken Tzatziki Skewers

We love these Greek-inspired grilled chicken skewers with tzatziki sauce. To make this camping meal ahead of time, chop the veggies and chicken and make (or buy) the tzatziki sauce at home. Then all you have to do at the campsite is assemble and grill the skewers.


Kielbasa foil packet on a blue plate

Kielbasa Potato Foil Packets

Foil packet recipes might just be the best camping food there is! They’re fun to make and use zero dishes, plus, they’re always so good. These Kielbasa Potato Foil Packets combine potatoes and Kielbasa sausage with spicy mustard, butter, and seasonings for a rib-sticking, super easy camping meal.


Woman holding a shrimp boil foil packet on a blue plate

Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

This Shrimp Boil Foil Packet is one of our all-time favorite camp meals. The combination of shrimp, smoky sausage, buttery corn, and zesty lemon just tastes like summer. And, since the whole meal cooks in foil, there are no dishes to clean!


Chickpea curry over rice on a camping plate.

Easy Chickpea Curry

This plant-based option is full of protein, super filling, and has a ton of flavor, too! It’s an easy meal that’s on constant repeat for us. Both the curry and rice can be made at home ahead of time, then warmed up at your campsite. Grill the naan over your campfire and enjoy a unique camping meal that really hits the spot! 


Pulled pork sliders.

Instant Pot Pulled Pork

One of our very favorite foods for camping? Pulled pork! This Instant Pot Pulled Pork cooks up quick and easy ahead of time, then packs in your cooler for easy camping meals. Try it in pulled pork sliders, or here are many more leftover pulled pork recipes that would great to make while camping.


Cheesy scrambled eggs and potatoes in a cast iron skillet

Mountain Breakfast Skillet

Here’s one of those camping food ideas that’s ideal for when you have a big day ahead. This breakfast skillet is perfect for fueling your day, with protein (eggs and sausage), carbs (potatoes), and veggies together in one delicious pan, all topped with a glorious mound of cheese.


Sloppy joes on a board.

Sloppy Joes

Are Sloppy Joes the ultimate food for camping? We think so! Tangy ground beef piled inside soft buns = total crowd pleaser. We’ll often make the filling ahead of time and pack it in our cooler, then we just have to warm it up at the campsite, pile our burger buns high, and serve it with one of our favorite sloppy joes sides! Sloppy Joe filling is excellent in campfire baked sweet potatoes, too. If you prefer a vegetarian sloppy Joe option, try this recipe for red lentil Sloppy Joes. Also excellent! 


Megan holding a bowl of chili mac topped with jalapeños and cheese

One-Pot Chili Mac

Hearty camping comfort food! The easy chili comes together in your skillet, then the pasta cooks up right in the chili for another one of those one-pan camping recipes that we love so much. This one pot chili mac recipe is super flexible, with ideas for adjusting the spice level depending on who’s eating, plus meaty or vegetarian options. 


Side view of two sausage and egg sandwiches with runny yolks.

Apple Maple Sausage Breakfast Sandwich

We love this maple sausage breakfast sandwich so much, we’ll often cook it at dinner time, too! We make the sausage patties at home and store them in our cooler so they’re ready to throw on the griddle at mealtime. From there, it’s just a matter of toasting up your English muffin, frying up an egg, and assembling the ultimate camping food breakfast (or lunch or dinner!) 


Pad Thai in a blue bowl

Chicken Pad Thai

Believe it or not, Pad Thai is one of the best camping meals we make! It’s really easy to make this chicken pad thai recipe in one skillet on a two-burner camping stove. You can make the pad thai sauce at home before your trip, or use store-bought sauce to keep things even simpler.


Mac and cheese in a dutch oven

Dutch Oven Mac & Cheese

Comfort food, camping style! This simple Dutch oven mac and cheese recipe calls for just seven ingredients, making it one of the more easy camping meals to make. Because it cooks in a Dutch oven, this mac and cheese recipe is completely hands-off. No need to pre-cook the pasta—just dump in all of the ingredients, set it over coals, and dinner’s ready in 10 minutes.


Pasta primavera in a cast iron skillet on a camping stove.

One Pot Pasta Primavera

This one’s especially perfect for spring and summer camping, plus it comes together in a single skillet! With loads of fresh veggies and tender pasta in a creamy goat cheese sauce, this one-pot pasta is absolutely delicious—and clean-up is a cinch.


Nut free trail mix on a wooden surface

Easy Trail Mix Recipes

With protein and healthy fats, trail-mix is a no-brainer camping food. Best of all, you can make these trail mix recipes at home before you go so that you and your camping crew always have a grab-and-go snack option throughout the day.


Apple crisp in a blue camping bowl with whipped cream

Campfire Apple Crisp

This apple crisp is such an easy dessert—and the perfect camping recipe. By using store-bought granola as the topping, all you have to do is sauté sliced apples in some butter and brown sugar, then top with granola (and maybe a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream in a bag!)


Three campfire grilled fish tacos on a blue camping plate.

Campfire Grilled Fish Tacos

Grilled fish is always a good camping meal idea, and in the form of these tacos, that’s especially true! A simple chili powder and cumin spice rub gives the grilled fish in these tacos a ton of flavor without a lot of fuss. Make the spicy corn salsa ahead of time and pack it in your cooler for a step that’s already taken care of. We love these fish tacos served with this corn salad, grilled elote, or fire-roasted salsa fresca


5 different campfire banana boats in foil lined up on a camping table

Campfire Banana Boats

For those who don’t want to dirty another dish in order to prepare dessert, Campfire Banana Boats to the rescue! This camping recipe is super simple: just slice a banana in half, stuff with toppings, wrap in foil, and dessert is ready after a few minutes over the campfire. With nine different topping ideas, there’s a banana boat option for everyone!


Breakfast sandwich with avocado, egg, and bacon on a blue camping plate placed on a stump

Avocado Toast Breakfast Sandwich

This breakfast sandwich might just be the ultimate breakfast camping food. Toast is smothered with avocado, then topped with a fried egg and bacon. Best of all, it can be made in a single skillet right over a camp stove or campfire. 


Chickpea breakfast hash with eggs in a cast iron skillet on a campfire.

Chickpea Breakfast Hash

Sauteed veggies and chickpeas partner up with fried eggs in this easy one-skillet, protein-packed breakfast hash. Chop your veggies ahead of time for even easier prep when making this vegetarian breakfast. 


Chickpea sweet potato and peanut stew in a Dutch oven

Sweet Potato Peanut Stew

This is one of our most popular recipes, for good reason: minimal, low prep ingredients, one pot, and it’s SUPER filling—which makes it awesome camp food. Inspired by West African flavors, this Sweet Potato Peanut Stew combines sweet potatoes and chickpeas in a peanutty tomato broth. You can chop the ingredients ahead of time at home, or even make the entire stew beforehand and just heat it up at your campsite.


Overhead view of asparagus orzo in a camping bowl on a picnic table

Cheesy Asparagus One Pot Orzo

Who wants to bring a colander when camping? Not us! That’s why we love one-pot pasta recipes like this cheesy asparagus orzo, which is super easy to make—just chop the veggies, add the uncooked pasta, and cook it all in one pot. This method of cooking orzo is super versatile, too—use nearly any vegetable you’d like. 


Chilaquiles with eggs and avocados in a pan on a camping table.

Camp Stove Chilaquiles

Camp Stove Chilaquiles need just a few ingredients and cook up in a single skillet. We think they’re one of the best camping meals there is! Made with tortilla wedges tossed in spicy tomato sauce, poached eggs, and assorted toppings like avocado, cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime. Shortcut tip: Use tortilla chips instead of corn tortillas for even easier prep. 


Three grilled chicken tacos on a plate with sliced limes

Lime & Cilantro Grilled Chicken Tacos

A zippy citrus marinade flavors grilled chicken in these easy cilantro lime chicken tacos. The marinade can be made before your trip, meaning all you have to do is throw the chicken in for a few minutes before cooking, then onto the grill! Top with pico de gallo, cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese (or whatever toppings you like) for an easy and super delicious camping recipe.


Grilled chicken pineapple kabobs on a blue camping plate

Pineapple Chicken Skewers

These pineapple chicken kabobs feature bright, tropical flavors and are simple to make. Chop the chicken, pineapple, and red onions at home before your trip to cut down on steps at the campsite. Then all you have to do is marinate for 30 minutes, assemble the skewers, and grill!


French Toast Sticks fanned out on a blue plate with a small bowl of syrup.

French Toast Sticks

This is one of the best (and easiest!) camping recipes for kids! These French Toast Sticks are simple to make and totally dunkable when served with a small bowl of maple syrup.


Brats, peppers, and onions on a silver camping plate.

Cast Iron Brats With Onions And Peppers

Juicy brats with tender onions and peppers are a super easy camping food that can be made right over the campfire or on your camp stove. Simply sauté onions and peppers in a skillet or on a griddle with a couple of brats. Serve in a pretzel bun, and dinner is ready! Chop the veggies at home for one less prep step at camp.


A stack of pancakes topped with sliced bananas on a yellow plate.

Banana Bread Pancakes

These banana bread pancakes are a real treat in the morning! The dry pancake mix can be made at home, and then in camp, you add the milk, eggs, bananas, and chopped walnuts. Served with a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s hard to believe this is breakfast, not dessert.


A pie iron pizza cut in half and stacked on a plate

Pie Iron Pizzas

Pie iron pizzas are such a fun camping meal to make over the fire. Using store-bought pizza dough and your favorite toppings, everyone at your campsite will have fun making their own personal pizza pocket. We think this is an especially good camping meal because it’s easy to prep ahead any ingredients at home—or you can even grab everything pre-made at the store. Plus, they’re just fun to make! (If you’re packing the pie irons, check out these other great pudgy pie recipes.)


Overhead view of pasta in a pesto sauce in a cast iron skillet on a camping stove.

One Pot Pesto Pasta

Make the pesto ahead of time—or pick up a jar from the store—to make the prep for this pesto pasta a cinch. Fresh veggies, pesto, pasta, and Parmesan cook up tender, cheesy, and perfect. This one’s made in a single pot or skillet, so clean up is easy, too.


Instant Pot Carnitas served on an orange dish with fresh limes and slices of jalapeno peppers.

Carnitas Tacos

Smoky carnitas are the perfect make-ahead food for camp. Cook them in your Instant Pot ahead of time, pack in your cooler, and reheat it in a cast iron skillet on your camp stove or over the fire. Scoop it into corn tortillas and add your favorite taco toppings for these tasty tacos.


Overhead view of Megan holding a bowl of tortellini soup

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

One of our favorite camping food ideas for colder weather is this rib-sticking sausage and tortellini soup. This one comes together with just a bit of chopping (which can be done ahead of time) and cooks in a single pot in under 30 minutes. It’s cozy, comforting, and delicious!


We hope you love our favorite camping recipes as much as we do! If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to check out our easy breakfast ideas, camping lunches, simple camping dinners, and more make-ahead meals.

This post was originally published 3/2020 and updated 10/2024 with additional recipes.

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18 Comments

  1. Debbie Carlson says:

    They all sound yummy

  2. I made Chickpea Breakfast Hash several times! It was great! I can’t wait my next camping trip so I could experiement with these receipts! Thank you for your sharing!!!

    1. Fresh Off the Grid says:

      So glad that you enjoyed the chickpea hash! It’s one of our favorites, too. Hope you have a great time on your next trip 🙂

  3. Sara Sommers says:

    We just got a pop-up camper and your site is incredible!! I was struggling to find camping recipes that were truly home-cooked meals still (I cook from scratch daily but camping food always seems so processed). This site is BLOWING MY MIND!!! Thank you so much for all you’ve done-you’re giving me the confidence I need to start planning and prepping for our first trip.

    1. Fresh Off The Grid says:

      Sara, thank you so much for your kind comment! Hearing that our site has given you confidence to start planning your first really made my day. Hope you have a wonderful time and we’d love to hear about your new adventures in camp cooking! -M

    2. Andrea Rosenbatt-Lazarus says:

      Tell me about wanting to make great easy camp food with prep done lots before hand in your kitchen you are used too. Also to I agree with you that much camping food is so processed. Yes it is campaing and allow your self to have some goodies but yet keep to your usual eating habits also that it what your body is used and do not want to put it in over drive and get a tum tum ache or just low on energy. Love the fact that many of the recepies are easy to prep befoe hand or even make at your campsite. Also many can be made on the open fire, the two burner mini stove, or for us since we can not tent camp or afford a pop up we are renting a cabin at a camp ground that has kitchen. We love camping miss it and with the covid just need to get out of town and enjoy some out door life. Plus we are having a craving for a camp fire and of course the smores.

  4. I really like your site but having the advertisement in the middle of the blog is not great when someone wants to read your site 🙁

    1. Fresh Off The Grid says:

      The advertisements should appear between recipe cards and shouldn’t cover any photos or text. If that’s not the case, please let us know. We know ads can be distracting, but they’re the main reason we can generate this content for free.

  5. This post is so helpful!! Thanks for sharing! Excited to try some of these meals on my camping trip next week.

  6. john kucsera says:

    Man…do you remember the feeling when you picked out a CD or an album and all the tracks were splendid?…not just one or two…and then skip the rest. This is how I feel with this post. Spot on. These “tracks” are fantastic. 😉

  7. This site is so great, I love it. I’m not the greatest cook. But the one thing that I knew about was the banana boats. My family always does those, And there delicious????. So thank you so much for these????. You guys are awesome.????????

  8. These recipes look amazing! I just printed a lot of them out, and I’m heading to the store! I needed some new ideas for our camping menu:)

  9. Bibi Belford says:

    Oh my gosh. I’m making my grocery list for our camping trip and felt so exhausted at the prospect of more cooking and cleanup after cooking nonstop through the pandemic. I googled easy camping meals and feel like I have a new lease on life! I’m scrapping my old standard beef stew and Italian sausage with noodles for some of these delicious recipes that use one pot. Thanks for these recipes. I love the layout of the site and the format of the recipes. So easy to use and save.

  10. Can you make them more like dinner instead of breakfast? Also can you also make them easy with less items. Thanks

  11. Tanya Tissaaratchy says:

    Unable to open the recipe for French Toast Sticks. Can the batter be pre-maded?

    1. Fresh Off The Grid says:

      We fixed the link for the French Toast Sticks. So long as you have a way of keeping the batter properly refrigerated (in a cooler) there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to pre-mix the batter.

  12. my family is going camping and I just printed off the recipe for the banana pancakes and my mother thought it was a wonderful idea to make them! Credits to the owner who made the banana pancakes!!!