Not sure what necessities to bring on your camping trip? We’ve selected 15 ingredients that are simple to transport and work well in a variety of recipes, from salads to breakfasts over the campfire.
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What supplies to pack for a camping trip
One of the best things about camping is that you can make a dinner with just a few items you brought with you, provided they are light and adaptable. Regardless of whether you are carrying prepared meals or using a camping stove, we have selected 15 basic “foundation” items around which to create clever recipes for dining at the campground.
For ideas on what to put on your camping food list, check out our assortment of camping recipes and continue reading. You may also try out our selection of vegetarian and vegan camping dishes.
Tastiest meals to bring while camping
1. The Halloumi
Due to its high melting point and ability to maintain its shape, this solid sheep’s milk cheese keeps its shape well when traveling in a chilled bag. Because of its strength, halloumi may be cooked in chunks or slices that resemble meat. You may grill or fry it, serve it in wraps, or skewer it to cook over a campfire. You can even toss it with some salad leaves and dressing.
2. Pancakes
In contrast to a large loaf, flatbreads stack neatly and pliablely, making them perfect for putting in a hamper or backpack. They may be cooked with classic cheese and tomato toppings, or they can be fashioned into a pizza and eaten cold and smeared with hummus. Alternatively, try making some melty quesadillas or a zesty chicken and lemon wrap with some Mexican flair.
3. Chorizo
Choose a high-quality Spanish sausage that has been cured, stuff it inside your backpack, and head forth. Because it is pre-cured and may be eaten as a snack, crisped up in an omelette to be served with smoky beans and eggs for breakfast, or mixed with potatoes in a hash, chorizo is the ideal camping sausage.
4. Snap Peas
While canned fish is a terrific option for camping, its fillets, especially sardines, are more substantial and provide a complete dinner. Serve on sourdough bread for breakfast, over spaghetti, fennel, and broccoli for supper (though not always on the same day), and with canned chickpeas and tangy lemon for lunch.
5. Pouches made with rice
Rice is one of the most adaptable grains and the base of many delicious dishes. Boil-in-the-bag or ready-cooked pouches are lightweight and portable, transferring from a cooking burner to a plastic plate in a matter of minutes. Use your cooked rice to make Chinese-style egg fried rice, burrito stuffing, hot curry pilaf, or bean salad to keep it fresh.
6. Eggs
Eggs are good camping food, albeit they may need to be balanced atop your clothing and handled carefully when being transported. While omelets are a great way to use up leftover chorizo, frittatas, which are served in wedges and packed with potatoes in the Spanish style, are far more versatile. A traditional campground breakfast is also made with eggy bread.
7. Noodles
Pasta is a beloved convenience food that is unmatched in quality, regardless of its shape or size. For maximum space-saving, use thin spaghetti; nonetheless, cold penne and fusilli taste better. Make a simple pasta salad with pesto and sausage instead of bacon, or melt velvety blue cheese into a sauce with mushrooms.
8. Fruit in cans
Desserts for camping are often best prepared by assembly rather than cooking. You may toss canned fruit into a quick salad, but if you want to make it really special, melt some chocolate and pour it over the canned pears before tossing in some hazelnuts. Retro favorites like sweet, glossy canned peaches with cream also taste great.
9. Split peas
Canned chickpeas that are already prepared are far more handy than the dried kind that need to be soaked. Transfer them straight into a bowl and add herbs, vinegar, and oil to make a flexible side dish. As an alternative, mix them into a hot one-pot dish or use them as a salad’s foundation.
10. Prepared meals
Furthermore, we’re not discussing microwave lasagna. Preparing a one-pot meal at home that can be completed on-site is one of the greatest methods to feed your campers. Warm up a pre-made ragu or meatballs in tomato sauce to pour over spaghetti, serve a chilli with potatoes cooked in the fire, or serve stew over couscous. Just ensure that it has been well cooled, and keep it in a cold place.
11. Cereal
Excellent at any time of day, but it’s definitely worthwhile to get your day off to a good start, particularly if you have a busy schedule. Cereal is a must-have item on your camping meal list because it is a dry food with a lengthy shelf life. In addition, it contains a lot of fiber and delivers energy gradually, keeping you fuller for longer throughout the day.
12. Fish
As the ideal spaghetti topping, salad addition, and sandwich filler, tuna is a very adaptable food. Because it is tinned, you don’t have to worry about it going bad because it can be transported easily and has a long shelf life. Additionally, it has a lot of protein, which increases metabolism.
13. Noodles
Soups are quick to prepare and offer a wide range of flavors, so you may choose from a lot of options. We provide cool soups for summer days and warm, comforting soups for chilly evenings. Put the ingredients in a skillet and cook over a flame, or prepare your soups ahead of time and reheat in a flask.
14. Hot cocoa
Since you can make hot chocolate by melting chocolate and milk in a skillet, it’s the ideal evening beverage when camping. Dress it up as opulent as you like. Remember that you are on vacation! And don’t forget to top it up with a few melted marshmallows!
15. Salad dressings and pasta sauces
Simple dishes may be elevated to a new level by bringing a homemade jar of sauce or salad dressing. You may mix homemade tomato sauce or pesto with rice or spaghetti to create a delicious, easy-to-throw-together supper that will please everyone. To make a gorgeously fresh salad, purchase your fruit and vegetables locally. Then, add your dressing to enhance the flavors.
Meal prep advice for camping
Before you depart, prepare your meal.
When you prepare as much of your food as possible at home, you’ll spend less time washing up afterward and less effort overall. One-pot meals, salads, and snacks are among the recipes in our selection of camping recipes that may be prepared in advance and taken on a journey.
Just bring what you really need.
Although it may be tempting to carry an entire bag of ground coffee or a large box of cereal, it’s a good idea to repackage your food so that you only bring what you really need. Consider quantity proportions and pack appropriately; the less air spaces in your container, the better. This will prevent having to transport any leftovers back home, and it will also lead to a lighter burden.
Carry backup food.
Even if you may have planned to prepare a variety of dishes from scratch, sometimes all you want to do is unwind and end the day outside after a hard day. Hence, it’s a good idea to pre-pack your soups in a flask for easy reheating or toss them into a skillet to cook. You may also try a chilled pesto pasta salad that has already been prepared.
Warning about food safety
If you’re taking perishables with you, be sure to carry a cold box and ice packs because camping frequently means no access to refrigeration. Cooked food should not be kept outside of the refrigerator for more than ninety minutes, and before reheating anything, make sure it is thoroughly heated.