Best camping meals
“What do you cook when camping?”
29 answers from 24 people · Updated Sep 25, 2026
I prep the fillings ahead- precook and crumble the bacon or sausage, air fry & crumble some tater tots (superior filling-to-crispy ratio vs. hash browns), pre-chop onions, and crack some eggs in a deli container. While the tortillas are warming on a skillet or griddle, I melt the cheese on top of them while I crisp up the fillings to order- last step is scrambling some eggs into the hot filling and wrapping it all up in the warmed tortilla. Easy to eat in a camp chair and minimal cleanup, plus they can be customized to order!
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Fluffy Cottage Cheese Pancakes
These guys but baked ahead of time and packed in cooler. Easy breakfast, esp good warmed over the fire, even better with a marshmallow melted on top if you’re wild
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ham and cheese on hawaiian rolls
I make these sandwiches, wrap the whole thing in tin foil and put back in the Hawaiian roll plastic sleeve. When ready, keep in the tin foil and heat on the stove or fire. Warm and delicious in ~15 minutes!
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If you want a hearty, delicious meal, beef stew is incredible. Cut up all of your ingredients at home and bring a big pot. Super fun to let cook for a while whilst talking and spending time with your people. And everyone gets a fantastic home-cooked meal at the end.
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Ultimate easy camping lunch/breakfast/snack. Quick to make and even quicker to eat :,) also runner up is hummus/cheese/veggie tortilla wrap. For some reason super simple food always tastes the best when you’re exhausted and dirty! Lol
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Don’t even bother making the chili, just bring cans. Great for kids and very customizable.
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GOOD TO-GO Mexican Quinoa Bowl
One of my go-to backpacking meals! Notes: if you’re down to carry an avocado skin around the rest of your trip, pack one! It really takes this up a notch 🥑 Throw in a hot sauce packet or two, dealer’s choice but may I suggest Taco Bell’s Hot or Mild sauce 🌶️
Wild Mushroom Fettuccine Alfredo
The absolute best backpacking meal. It says 2 servings but trust me, you can eat the whole thing alone!
These Easy Cheddar Grits with jalapeño & hatch chile are amazingly good with poached eggs on top. And you can take them backpacking because they just need water. But we doin the fancy version over here today.
Gussied-up noodles for camping dinners
You can spiff these up a lot or a little with chopped scallions, sesame or chili oil, miso, tofu, fresh herbs, an egg, whatever — but they’re convenient and delicious after a long day’s hike, either way. I like to do a similar thing with Annie’s or Goodles (especially the Down the Hatch, aged cheddar, and Parmesan spirals ones) boxed mac and cheese, too.
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Best easy option is the madras lentil packs I buy from costco. Ideal for late night arrivals where you don’t have time to cook.
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Hear Me Out: Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Homemade pancake batter just doesn’t always work at altitude, but guess what hits a home run every single time: KRUSTEAZ. I love being a snob about ingredients but when it comes to pancakes I’m a die-hard Krusteaz apologist-evangelist. Just add water and a piping-hot griddle, and receive from the breakfast gods a bounty of golden, puffy, crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside, never-cakey pancakes every damn time.
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Raisin date and walnut Quaker Oats for camping breakfasts
Never found better instant oats than these. I bring a box of them and a box of plain instant oats, then mix them together (otherwise, they’re a bit too sweet imo).
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This seemed very silly to purchase, but it actually works! Toast your bagels, English muffins, bread, etc. It was a big hit on our preschool camping trip.
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My greatest camping party trick! Pair with classic cinnamon rolls in the tube for the ultimate camping treat.
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Making your s’mores with Petit Ecolier
Did this once for a camping trip to simplify the ingredients list, and honestly will never go back. Amazing chocolate, great quality biscuit - with this level-up, you could not ask for more from a campfire dessert.
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Okay so hear me out: I love the concept of s'mores but in practice they are never quite right. The chocolate doesn't really melt, the graham cracker breaks and then you've got hot marshmallow all over your hands and it's just... not it. Enter: my perfect s'more. Take a hot dog bun (easy to hold, mess free), coat inside with Nutella (already melty, better than chocolate in my opinion), stuff with potato chips (salty, crunchy), and then add two toasty marshmallows. Enjoy!
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Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Caramel Squares S'mores
Take your s’more making to the next level by using Ghirardelli caramel squares!!! Yum yum yum!
feels totally crazy to make these but i promise they up your s’mores game 1000%
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Formula below. Choose as many or as few from each category as you like. • substance: nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, pecans, etc.), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, etc.), coconut flakes • sweet: dried fruit (apricots, cranberries, raisins, banana chips, etc.), M&Ms, chocolate chips (white, milk, dark, PB, etc.), other candy, granola clusters, cereal, mini marshmallows • salty adds: pretzels, sesame sticks, corn nuts, goldfish, popcorn My favorite combos: 1) almonds, cashews, Pepitas, dark chocolate chips 2) start with base from (1) above and add pretzel sticks, M&Ms, and sesame sticks You have to know yourself and not be judgmental about what you do and don’t like. Don’t add raisins if you’re just going to pick over them. Add enough chocolate (for instance) that you’ll actually enjoy eating the mix. You can make an enormous batch that ends up being quite inexpensive per serving.
What a fucking good idea. Screw your trail mix, I’m packing this and salted crisps for crunch. This would motivate me to finish the hike.
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I come back to this every summer. A few years ago, my girlfriend and I did a third date where we hiked the Channel Islands off the coast of California. I packed this, and I’m not saying it’s why we are still together… but I’m not not saying that.
Grilled Pizza Pockets With Balsamic Mushrooms
Made these for a crowd at the lake this year (along with some steak tips), it’s great because everyone can customize to their liking. I think you could sub the pizza dough for naan or pita bread if you wanted to simplify.
1
Who needs a Jetboil and freeze dried meals? You only need your FRH (flameless ration heater) and a rock and you'll have a hot meal in 10 minutes. Tastes like shit. But if you need 1200 calories in a pinch on a day hike, nothing packs down better.
I love to cook, but I don’t like to pack, prep, and clean up when I’m camping. So I bake things ahead of time (muffins and cookies) and prep ingredients (veggies and herbs) to cook with. This way meals are quicker with less cleanup. I also find that prepped ingredients can pack easier too.
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