Easy Camping Dinner Ideas: Delicious Options to Try

Discover easy camping dinner ideas that transform your campfire meals into delicious, nourishing feasts. Experience the joy of outdoor cooking with our simple, scrumptious recipes!

Quick and Easy Camping Dinner Ideas

Looking to transform your camping meals from bland to brilliant without the need for a fully equipped kitchen? Fear not, we have you covered with simple, quick-to-make camping dinner ideas that require minimal equipment yet promise maximum taste!

Transform your camping meals with our collection of quick and easy dinner ideas that require minimal equipment but offer maximum flavor!

Why settle for uninspired meals when camping? Break the monotony with our collection of quick, delicious, and super easy dinner ideas. From campfire pizzas to grilled burgers and foil packet dinners, there's something for everyone to enjoy and keep the taste buds delighted throughout your trip.

One-Pot Pasta Meals

One-pot pasta meals can be your secret weapon for a satisfying, effortlessly prepared hot dinner on the campground. These dishes are not only easy to make, but they're also filling and energizing - perfect for a fun camping night.

• Spaghetti aglio e olio (garlic and olive oil) with plenty of garlic and red pepper flakes
• Creamy alfredo pasta with sautéed mushrooms and spinach
• Spicy tomato pasta with smoked sausage
• Classic carbonara with crispy bacon and pecorino cheese
• Sun-dried tomato pesto pasta with roasted veggies

Tips:

• Grate any cheeses at home
• Pre-make your sauce or use store-bought (if you want something fresher or more special, check out the sauces in your grocer's refrigerated section)
• Prep your veggies in advance (wash and cut), then saute or reheat at camp - we love the JetBoil HalfGen Stove for easy cooking
• Meats, like the smoked sausage, can be sliced in advance and then pan fried to crisp it up

Foil Packet Dinners

Turn your campfire into a five-star kitchen with Foil Packet Dinners. Fast, fun, and customizable, these dinners pack immense flavor and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser on your next camping trip.

• Garlic Butter Shrimp
• Tex-mex Chicken foil pack
• Hobo-style Potatoes and Sausages
• Lemon Dill Salmon
• Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with Feta
• Herb Butter Corn and Asparagus
• Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Foil Packs

Campfire Skewers

Bring the fun back into camping dinner with these fabulous Campfire Skewer ideas. It's a simple and playful way to enjoy your food; they're equally popular among both kids and adults.

• Opt for a veggie skewer featuring zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and red onions for a healthy and colorful meal on the stick.
• Looking for a protein-packed option? Choose chicken skewers with a quick marinade for a succulent flavor bomb.
• Seafood lovers can't resist a shrimp skewer with a side of lemon for a zesty tang.
• Sweeten up your evening with caramelized fruit skewers - think pineapple, peaches or plum, drizzled with a bit of honey.

Tips:

• Make your skewer in advance or buy pre-assembled skewers in the refrigerated area near the vegetable section of your grocery store
• Letting kids help make the skewers makes it more likely that they'll eat them
• These can be cooked over an open fire or over a propane grill

Grilled Burgers and Hot Dogs/Bratwurst

A classic camping dinner. They're our tradition, never disappointing, always delivering the comfort and enjoyment of outdoor cooking.

Tips:

• Don't forget the classic sides:pack your cooler with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions for the burgers; relish, onions, and mustard for the hot dogs.
• For bratwurst, consider pre-slicing the onions and green bell pepper and then sauting them while the sausages cook.
• Pack an easy-to-use meat thermometer for perfect cooking.
• Chicken thighs are a great replacement, as well as veggie burgers.
• Be careful with flare ups and keep kids away from the grill.

Tacos and Quesadillas

A great, filling meal that everyone loves to share in.

• Bring your favorite shell options: flour tortillas for burritos and quesadillas, hard shell tacos, or even just tortilla chips
• Pre-cooked shredded chicken, beef, or beans with spices (taco seasoning or your favorite combo, such as chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper); reheat at camp.
• Pre-shred your favorite taco cheese (Colby Jack, Cheddar, and Monterey Jack are all great options; you can even buy pre-shredded to make it that much easier)
• Chop any vegetables in advance, except for tomatoes as these will get runny or avocados as they will brown
• Bring your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, and guacamole

Campfire Pizza

Pizza will take your camping food game to the next level, turning grilling into a fun-filled cooking session for the whole family. A few ways to do this:

• Cook pizza in a dutch over over your grill or fire
• Bring a pizza stone and put it over your grill or fire
• Invest in a mini-Ooni pizza oven. This is an expensive proposition but if camping and pizza are your thing, it's a must-have.

Sandwiches and Wraps

Bidding goodbye to mundane meals, say hello to quick-fix camping dinners. Adopt the humble sandwich or wrap as your ally on your camping adventures. You enjoy the dual benefit of ease of preparation and healthy ingredient options. Plus it's fully customizable, so everyone will be happy.

Grilled sandwiches are a great way to go - just lay out the options (grilled chicken, pulled pork, etc), cheeses, vegetables (lettuce, avocado, pickled onions or peppers), and flavored spreads. Grill it up and you're ready to eat!

Camping Dinner Ideas on the Healthier Side

Salad Jars

Shaking things up at mealtimes is a breeze with salad jars. Not only are they a fun, mess-free take on a healthy dinner, but they also cater to everyone's individual tastes and dietary requirements. Pack them ahead of time (without any dressing or other liquidy ingredients like tomatoes) and enjoy on the go.

You can also buy salad kits that come with dressing packets for a quick meal or side dish while camping.

Veggie Stir Fry

This easy-to-make dish is a quick and healthy upgrade for traditional camping dinners. Plus, it's a fantastic way to utilize any surplus veggies you've brought along.

With proteins like tofu or tempeh, and a delicious sauce, your Veggie Stir-Fry transforms into a nutritious and satisfying meal. Use pre-cut, packaged veggies for an even quicker dish.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed bell peppers are a different take on a classic comfort food. A mix of vibrant bell peppers stuffed with seasoned veggies or lean proteins can be the centerpiece of any camping meal. Do most of your prep at home and cooking at the campsite will be a breeze.

Quinoa Bowls

Quinoa is light, packed with protein and blends wonderfully with almost any ingredient you have on hand.

Try mixing it with grilled veggies and sauce, topped with crispy chickpeas for that extra crunch. You can also add grilled chicken or salmon for a well-rounded meal in one bowl: grains, proteins, and veggies. It's hearty, satisfying, and bursting with flavors, perfect after a long day outdoors.

Check out this blog post for our favorite kid-friendly meals. In general, try to bring a few things your kids really love and try to involve them in the meal prep as this makes it more likely that they will try new things.

Cooking at camp doesn't need to be a stressful experience. Plan ahead and prep ahead; bring ingredients you know you love; and invest in a stove and/or grill that makes cooking easier than an open fire.

Last tip: don't fret. You don't have to cook at camp to have a good time. If you're just getting started and the idea of cooking outside puts you off, bring pre-made meals, cold dishes that don't require reheating, or consider starting your camping journey at a campground with nearby amenities that allow you to dine out. The idea is to get out there and enjoy nature, in whatever way works best for you and your family.

Happy camping!