As a kid, I LOVED camping, as an adult, not so much! Don't get me wrong, I love spending that time with my kids and enjoying the outdoors through their eyes and experiences! But the amount of energy and work it takes for my family of six to camp, makes it much more of a chore than a relaxing time away! Here are some waysw to make it easier when it comes to the food!
To begin with, think easy to prepare and easy to clean up. Spend some time the day or two before your trip cooking some easy-to-reheat meals that your family enjoys! My suggestions? Chili, spaghetti, and burritos/tacos. All simple to prepare ahead of time and very easy to reheat and serve for lunch and dinner! Heat up the chili for dinner one night and serve any leftovers over hotdogs one day for lunch.
If you do prepare some meals ahead of time, once cooled, store in a ziploc freezer bag and either freeze flat to take with you or refrigerate.
Below you will find some great recipes for camping or even to prepare at home!
Grilled BBQ Pork Packs
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 4 pork boneless ribs or loin chops, 3/ to 1 inch thick (about 1 1/4 lbs.), cut into pieces
- 3 medium potatoes cut into wedges
- 2 large ears of corn, cut into 6 pieces
Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. Spray four large pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil with cooking spray.
Divide pork, potatoes, and corn between the four pieces of foil and cover each with BBQ sauce. Fold the foil around the contents sealing the edges. Don't make them too tight to allow circulation.
Grill foil packs about inches from medium heat for about 30 minutes, turning once, until pork is done and potatoes are tender.
Enjoy!
Cook Ahead Chili
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 3 15 oz cans kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 packets of Lawry's Chili Seasoning
- Water
- Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese, onions
Prepare this chili before your camping trip and have an easy meal.
Brown the meat. Add the Lawry's Chili packets, tomato sauce, kidney beans, and some water (I don't measure - I just add until it is the thickness we like for chili). Mix well and heat on high for 3 or 4 minutes. Lower heat to low and simmer for another 15 minutes or so.
Allow to cool and store flat in freezer in a ziploc freezer bag. Reheat in pan or pot while camping.
Top with cheese and/or onions, if desired, when serving.
Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos
- Tortillas
- Eggs
- Ham, sausage, or bacon
- Shredded cheese
- Salsa
- Optional: Cooked cut potatoes, green chilis
Prepare at home. Scramble eggs and cook sausage or bacon.
Fill tortillas and roll into burritos. Wrap in foil. Store in ziploc bag.
Bring salsa to add later.
Heat for 10 to 15 minutes in coals or on grill, turning a few times.
Roasted Veggies Over the Fire
- Chopped onion
- Chopped potatoes
- Chopped carrots
- Chopped parsnips
- Minced garlic
- Onion Soup Mix packet
- Olive Oil or butter
Heat oil or butter in a large cast iron dutch oven. Add all ingredients. Cover and cook over fire for about 1 hour or until veggies are tender.
Stir occasionally so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
*Optional cooking method: prepare in foil as instructed in BBQ Pork Foil Packs and grill.
Cheesy Potatoes
- Red potatoes (any potatoes will work)
- Red onion
- Swiss or cheddar cheese
- Olive oil or cooking spray
- Salt and pepper
- Other options: Change it up! Skip the cheese, use or add garlic, add broccoli, etc. No limits!
Place cut up potatoes, onion and cheese on a piece of aluminum foil. Add a little olive oil and pepper and wrap it up tight. Make several individual serving packets and grill on the BBQ for about 40 minutes.
Campfire Banana Split
- Bananas
- Chocolate Chips
- Marshmallows
- Optional: Coconut, pecans or other nuts
On a piece of aluminum foil, place a split banana (cut lengthwise), sprinkle with chocolate chips and marshmallows, and wrap it up. Place it near the coals on grill for a few minutes to warm and melt the chocolate.
Enjoy!
Chocolate and Raspberry Goodness
- Tortillas
- Chocolate chips
- Raspberries or raspberry jam
On a tortilla, add dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips over raspberries or raspberry jam. Roll it up and wrap in foil and heat it up near coals on grill.
S'Mores Cones
- Waffle or sugar cones (we use waffle cones - they are a little bigger)
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Any other food items you'd like to stuff into the cones (peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, banana slices, etc.
Hand everyone a cone and let them fill with their favorite items.
Wrap each filled cone with foil and heat on grill or over a campfire for about 5 to 10 minutes, turning often.
Carefully pull back the foil and enjoy the s'mores yumminess in an easy-to-eat cone!
Dipped Fruit Fondue
- Two chocolate bars or 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- Washed and dried fruit for dipping (strawberries, bananas, pineapples, apples)
- Skewers
Melt the peanut butter and chocolate in separate heatproof bowls, stir as needed.
Cut bananas, pineapple, and apples into pieces.
Put a piece of fruit on skewer and dip into the melted peanut butter or chocolate and enjoy. Repeat!
Campfire Cobbler
- 21 oz canned pie filling OR fresh berries of any kind
- 1 can of refrigerated biscuits
- Foil baking pan or pie tin
Add pie filling or fresh berries to the baking pan or pie tin.
Open biscuits and add a single layer on top of filling.
Cover with foil and bake over campfire for 20 to 30 minutes until biscuits appear done.
