Easy Camping Meal Ideas

In the beginning, you might not think much about food while camping. But, food feeds the mind, body, and soul, and please know that camp food can taste as incredible. Preparing and eating camp food will bring a sense of togetherness and heightens the whole experience. After all, food brings joy. 

If you’re looking for easy and delicious camping meals, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Below you will find everything you need to get inspired and ready for your next trip.

MEALS THAT REQUIRES NO COOKING

This is the easiest and simplest route for preparing camping meals. If you do not want to cook any of your meals, that’s ok. There are still many flavorful options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Two campers taking a break from their hiking adventure to enjoy sandwiches that are easy to make and carry.

BREAKFAST

1. Yogurt Parfaits: Pick any plant-based or dairy yogurt of your choice.. Layer it with chopped nuts, chia seeds, and fruits. You can also add anything else you like. This is an easy, yet nutritious breakfast option. 

2. Granola With Milk: Pick any granola and If you’re running low on cold storage, you can get boxed boxed milk. If you don’t drink dairy, you can also use almond, soy or oat milk as a substitute. 

3. Overnight Oats: Add plant-based or dairy milk of your choice, oats, chia seeds, and banana to a glass jar or container. Stir. Let it sit overnight in the refrigerator or cooler. Enjoy the next morning!

LUNCH

Many people are out enjoying activities during the day, so when it comes to planning lunches, it needs to be something easy to carry and pull out wherever. You can also have a few different snacks and call it a meal. 

1. Hummus And Veggies: Having hummus with veggies as a snack will ensure you’re getting your veggie portion. Plus it is very delicious and filling. 

2. Sandwich Wraps: Grab a tortilla, spread with hummus and your favorite toppings, like lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and additional protein of your choice. 

3. Stacked Crackers: Crackers, salami and cheese or creamy peanut butter or a delicious add-on snack to your lunch.

4. Almond Butter And Honey Sandwich: This is a classic choice. You cannot go wrong with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

DINNER

Most people envision a hot meal for dinner. Although that’s generally the case, there are plenty of dinner options that require no cooking while camping like:

1. Bean Bowls: Canned beans (rinsed), shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, shredded cheese and dressing of choice (ranch, Italian, etc). You can also add more veggies if you want.

2. Taco Bowls: Make taco meat ahead of time or you can use beans instead. Add guacamole, tomatoes, cheese, olives and salsa. Top it off with a dressing of your choice.

3. Chickpea Salad: Can of chickpeas (rinsed). Add tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cilantro, and any other veggies you enjoy. Mix it all together and drizzle with olive oil and lemon. Add a bit of salt for flavoring.

MEALS THAT ONLY REQUIRE WATER

Camp food recipes that only has one ingredient to heat up and that’s water.

If you’re looking to add a bit of warmth to your meals, you’ll need a camp stove and can use a few of these recipes that only require hot water.

BREAKFAST

1. Instant Oatmeal: Combine rolled oats, chia seeds, brown sugar and add hot water. In a few minutes, you will have a healthy meal. Top with fresh fruits if you like.

LUNCH

1. Kidney Bean Couscous Bowl: This recipe uses tuna, couscous, and a scoop of veganaise and relish. All you need is to boil the couscous for about 5 minutes. Mix in the rest of the ingredients for flavoring. 

DINNER

1. Creamy Macaroni and Cheese: You cannot go wrong with a delicious mac and cheese. Bring a box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese that comes with the sauce. Add kidney beans and breadcrumbs for extra protein and flavoring. 

MEALS COOKED ON A CAMP STOVE

Camp stove makes cooking while camping easier because you can control the temperature with the knob.

If you’re ready to take the next step, cooking on a camp stove is the way to go. Once you start cooking meals on a camp stove, you will never look back. It is way easier than you think, and so worth it.

BREAKFAST

1. Turmeric Tofu Scramble: All you need is extra firm tofu, turmeric, nutritional yeast, red onions, and bell peppers. Full recipe available.

2. Fluffiest Vegan Pancakes: All you need is flour, sugar, baking powder, salt (optional), non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and maple syrup or agave. Full recipe available.

3. Kodiak Pancakes: Bring Kodiak Flapjack and Waffle Mix, milk of choice and eggs. And of course, maple syrup or agave. Fruit like strawberries, blueberries, and bananas are great toppings.

LUNCH

1. Chickpea Hash: All you need is 1 can of chickpeas, oil of choice, diced tomatoes, red onion, bell peppers, and any other veggies of your choice. Add the drained chickpeas and veggies in a skillet and cook until browned in spots. Take the skillet off the heat and enjoy. Add some ketchup as you would any hash if you like. 

DINNER

1. Gnocchi And Veggies: This uses 1 pack of gnocchi, 1 bunch of kale (or any vegetable), 1 can kidney beans, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Full recipe available.

2. Ful Medames: All you need is 1 can of fava beans (or pinto beans), 1 tsp cumin, 1 lemon, 3 tomatoes, 3 tbsp olive oil, and sprinkles of garlic powder. Full recipe available. 

MEALS COOKED ON A CAMPFIRE 

Person camping and cooking veggie skewers over a campfire

Although cooking over a campfire requires a bit more experience, time and effort—since you need to know whether you need a flame vs. simmering on coals—it is worth it. Not only do you get a delicious meal at the end, you get that extra taste that only comes from cooking on a campfire.

DINNER

1. Annie and Jack’s Jackfruit Sausages: This is an easy choice as you can roast a sausage on a stick and your bun, onions, veggies on a skillet over a campfire at the same time. Once roasted, enjoy a simple, yet tasty sausage. 

2. Veggie Skewers: Chop up large pieces of vegetables like bell pepper, potato and zucchini. Chunks of pineapple and tomato are delicious fruits that do well on an open fire. For additional protein, cubed tofu or steak are delicious. Add each piece of vegetable, fruit, and choice of protein to a skewer. Place the skewers on the bbq rack. You can decide how brown you want everything to be. Add seasoning of your choice for flavoring.