Planning meals for camping trips doesn’t have to be a headache! With minimal prep and basic camp cooking gear, you can whip up delicious meals that’ll make everyone happy.
I’ve gathered some super simple food ideas that’ll save you time and keep your belly full while enjoying the great outdoors.
No fancy ingredients or complicated techniques—just easy, tasty camping food!
1. Foil Packet Fajitas
Slice up some chicken, bell peppers, and onions at home. Pack them in a cooler with small tortillas and pre-mixed seasonings.
At camp, just toss everything onto foil, fold it up, and cook over the fire for 15 minutes. The steam creates perfectly tender veggies and juicy meat.
2. Walking Tacos
Remember those little bags of Fritos or Doritos from school lunch? They’re camping gold! Bring along small chip bags and your favorite taco fixings.
Open the bag, add in cooked ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. Eat right from the bag with a fork—zero dishes to wash!
3. Campfire Banana Boats
Got a sweet tooth? Slice a banana lengthwise (keep the peel on) and stuff it with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.
Wrap it in foil and place it on hot coals for 5-10 minutes. The banana gets all gooey and warm—like a s’more in fruit form!
4. Breakfast Burritos
Make these babies at home! Scramble eggs with cheese, potatoes, and breakfast meat. Roll them in tortillas, wrap in foil, and freeze.
They’ll help keep your cooler cold. When morning comes, just toss the foil-wrapped burritos near the fire to heat through.
5. One-Pot Pasta
Pasta night made simple! Bring along a box of pasta, jar of sauce, and pre-cooked protein like Italian sausage.
Cook the pasta in your camp pot, drain most of the water (leave a splash), then stir in the sauce and meat. One pot, minimal cleanup, and carb-loading happiness for everyone.
6. Hobo Dinner Pouches
The classic campfire meal! Layer ground beef patties, sliced potatoes, carrots, and onions on heavy-duty foil. Season with salt, pepper, and a pat of butter.
Seal it up tight and cook on hot coals for about 20 minutes.
7. Campfire Nachos
Line a cast iron skillet with tortilla chips. Layer with canned beans, pre-shredded cheese, and your favorite toppings.
Cover with foil and place over the fire until the cheese melts. Add cold toppings like salsa and avocado after cooking. The skillet keeps it warm while everyone digs in!
8. Grilled Sandwich Melts
Butter the outside of bread slices and fill with cheese and pre-cooked meat. Wrap tightly in foil.
Place your foil-wrapped sandwiches on the grill grate over the campfire, flipping once. The bread gets perfectly toasty while the cheese gets all melty.
9. Overnight Oats
No cooking required! Before your trip, fill small jars with oats, dried fruit, nuts, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
At camp, just add water or shelf-stable milk the night before. By morning, you’ve got a ready-to-eat breakfast. Add a drizzle of honey for extra yum!
10. Campfire Quesadillas
Bring tortillas and pre-shredded cheese—that’s all you really need! For extra flavor, pack some canned chicken or beans.
Place a tortilla on foil, add fillings to half, fold over, and wrap in the foil. Cook over fire, flipping once. The tortilla gets crispy while the inside gets gooey!
11. Pre-Made Pancake Bottles
Before leaving home, mix pancake batter and pour into a clean squeeze bottle. Store in your cooler.
Come morning, heat up a greased pan and squeeze out perfect pancakes! Add chocolate chips or blueberries right in the pan. Camping breakfast without the measuring mess!
12. Tin Foil Veggie Packets
Chop zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions before your trip. Store in ziplock bags with olive oil and seasonings.
At camp, dump the pre-seasoned veggies onto foil, seal tightly, and toss on the grill or coals. Very healthy side dish with zero cleanup! Great for vegetarians too.
13. Mason Jar Salads
Prep these at home for the first day or two of camping. Layer hearty ingredients like chickpeas, hard veggies, and grains at the bottom.
Put dressing in first, then layers of ingredients with greens on top. When ready to eat, just shake and enjoy!
14. Campfire Pizza Pockets
Grab some refrigerated biscuit dough, pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle, and pre-shredded cheese.
Flatten each biscuit, add toppings to center, fold over, and seal edges. Wrap in foil and cook over medium coals, turning occasionally. The dough puffs up around the fillings for personal pizza pockets!
15. Loaded Baked Potatoes
Wash potatoes and poke with a fork. Rub with oil, sprinkle with salt, and wrap in foil.
Nestle them in the coals of your campfire for about an hour. While they cook, prep toppings like cheese, bacon bits, and green onions.
16. French Toast Sticks
Cut thick bread into strips at home. Store in a container with a tight lid.
At camp, dip the strips in a mixture of beaten eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Cook in a buttered pan until golden. They’re ideal for dipping in syrup and eating with fingers—no plates needed!
17. No-Cook Antipasto Platter
Good option for your first night when you’re tired from setting up camp! Pack hard cheeses, cured meats, olives, and crackers.
Arrange everything on a cutting board or paper plates and dig in. Filling, delicious, and absolutely zero cooking required. Fancy eating without the fancy effort!
18. Campfire Cones
A fun twist on s’mores! Fill ice cream cones with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and other goodies like sliced strawberries or banana.
Wrap each cone in foil and warm over the campfire until everything melts together. Less messy than traditional s’mores but just as delicious.