You're surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of nature, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting a warm glow on the campsite. The only thing missing? A delicious, home-cooked meal. Well, imagine no more! In this blog post, we're going to show you how to turn your camping adventures into culinary escapades with simple, satisfying, and easy-to-prepare meal ideas.
Planning your Camp Meals
In our Beginner’s Guide to Car Camping, we stressed the importance of bringing a proper camp kitchen and including other amenities you’ll want to have with you, because there’s no greater feeling than getting back to your site after a long day of playing outdoors, getting the fire going, and cooking a nice meal right there. Cooking a meal for your friends at home is great, but doing it out in the woods somewhere with a full kitchen set-up is even better! When it comes to planning your camp meals, there are a few things to consider that can help make your life easier and the food more enjoyable.
To effectively plan for your camp meals, it’s important to plan ahead and consider how many meals you’ll be eating at the campsite versus eating out at a restaurant. Counting these meals helps you get an idea of how much food and cookware you’ll need to bring. Ideally, you should be shooting for meals that are easy but feed everyone in the group, something nice and hearty or that fits with the seasonal vibes. You don’t want to be blanching vegetables or creating an elaborate sauce, instead keep it simple and opt for the classic 3: a main (protein), a side of carbs (pasta, rice, potatoes), and a vegetable (just to make mom happy). One-pot meals are the perfect option here, so don’t be afraid to try combining different elements of the meal to make cooking easier.
My favorite camp meal is tacos, because it’s easy to cook up the rice on one burner, and then throw all the veggies, meat and seasonings in the cast iron pan. Once it’s ready, everyone can grab a tortilla and form a line by the table. Make sure you’re choosing these meals based on food that stores well and won’t go bad too quickly or take a really long time to cook. Sometimes, I’ll even pre-prep by cutting veggies and freezing them, cooking any meat ahead of time, or finding quick recipe solutions (like mix and pour pancake batter!)
Also keep in mind any allergies that folks in the group may have. If going in a large group, it helps to make a sign-up sheet where folks can take turns cooking and being responsible for buying/bringing the ingredients.
For trips lasting longer than 4-5 days, it might be best to coordinate so that one person is bringing the kitchen set-up, and everyone else contributes by bringing a fair share of food that can be cooked. Then, have folks sign up to cook certain meals and other folks sign up to clean up after. Have everyone rotate through these roles so that the workload is evenly distributed and everyone gets a chance to contribute, as well as a chance to sit back and relax while the food is being prepared.
Camping Food Safety
Making sure that your food stays good at camp is a critical component of cooking lavishly at the campsite. Make sure that you have a dedicated cooler for food that must stay cold at all times, and don’t put anything else in this cooler. (That’s right, find a different cooler to put your fancy double-IPA in!) Prioritize re-upping the ice on this cooler every day before leaving the campsite so that when you come back the food is still cold. Keep it out of the sun, and away from wildlife, preferably in a car that will stay at the campsite all day.
Bringing a meat thermometer is always a great idea so that you can ensure you are properly cooking your food to a safe temperature, as heating on the open stove can be uneven at times. Another way to keep track of food safety is to bring reusable containers and zip-lock bags, as well as a sharpie, where you can write the time and date for any leftovers/extras you decide to store away. It’s best not to store leftovers for too long, so try to plan ahead. If you made tacos last night, you can easily re-use that food the next day before it has a chance to go bad by making a breakfast burrito or a quesadilla for lunch.
How to Prepare Your Food In Advance
Preparing food in advance is always a great idea to save time and space when packing your gear. Chop veggies, pre-cook meats, put seasonings in a bag, and even store your food according to what items go with what meals. Anything you can do to limit confusion, clutter and chaos at the picnic table, especially in the dark, is a great way to optimize your cooking routine! Setting yourself up with some one-pot meals is also a great way to prepare food in advance. Simply throw all the ingredients together in a zip lock bag and then throw them in the pan at the campsite.
One Pot Camping Meal Ideas
Pro-Tips for Cooking at Your Campsite:
Always bring at least 1 easy back-up meal just in case! My go-to is Mac and Cheese, cause it's incredibly easy and stores well. I also always keep a can of soup and a backpacking meal with my jetboil in the car as extra backup!
Keep a dedicated headlamp at the camp kitchen, it gets dark quick and the chef needs to be able to see at all times
Always bring a back-up lighter and matches
If you bring a pop-up gazebo, position it close to the camp kitchen just in case it starts to rain. This way, food can still be made and folks can cuddle around the camp stove to keep the chef company in the storm. Doing this close to the fire pit is a tricky but well-worth it move!
Bring a dedicated wash basin for dirty dishes and be prepared to do them away from any potable water source. Washing by the creek is fine, but be mindful of your local laws on gray water and storing food away from wildlife.
Cooking in the great outdoors doesn't have to be a hassle. With a little planning and the right recipes, you can create delicious and memorable meals that complement your camping experience. Remember to pack smart, prepare ahead, and embrace the simplicity of camping cuisine. Ready to start planning your next culinary adventure? Rent any missing camping gear from GeerGarage and get ready to enjoy the perfect combination of nature and delicious food.