Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. But one of the biggest challenges of camping can be meal planning. What should you bring? How do you cook it without a full kitchen? And how do you keep your food fresh?
Meal prepping some camping meals is an easy way to save time and money when camping. It can also help you eat healthier and reach your fitness goals. The opportunities are endless with the right amount of knowledge which can mean delicious meals and a hassle-free camping trip.
But even if you want to make your camping meals as you go, this post will help with ideas and recipes!
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Tips for meal prepping when camping
Choose recipes that are easy to make and transport. Avoid complex recipes that require a lot of ingredients, a long prep time or special equipment. Opt for recipes that can be made with simple, shelf-stable ingredients, and recipes that you know and love. Camping is not the time to try something new as you likely don't have many back-ups!
Use pre-prepped ingredients whenever possible. Pre-cooking or pre-prepping (however you 'meal prep'), will save you time and energy when you're camping. Check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post to see all the different ways you can prep!
Here are some examples of how you can pre-prep for camping:
- pre-cut vegetables and proteins;
- pre-marinate or flavour proteins;
- cook full meals and refridgerate (up to 4 days);
- cook full meals and freeze (longer than 4 days).
Pack your meals in airtight containers. This will help keep your food fresh and prevent it from spilling. I wouldn't recommend glass containers as they can be prone to chipping if they are moved around a lot.
My recommendation would be silicone containers (I have ones that collapse to save on space) or silicone bags. If you're feeling a bit fancy, you could use a food saver with vacuum sealer bags.
You also want to remove any excess packaging. For example, if you're not going to use an entire 1kg bag of rice, portion out what you are going to use in a separate container and take that instead.
Cheat a little. No one is perfect, least of all when it comes to food while camping. To make sure you're getting your fruits and vegetables in so you can stay as healthy as possible on your amazing camping trip, cut some corners. Use canned, frozen, pre-cut, fruit cups. Whatever will make it easier for YOU to consume what you need to to keep up your nutrition goals.
Be prepared and have backups. Things don't always go according to plan when camping, so it's a good idea to have a backup plan. For example, you could pack some non-perishable food items, such as canned goods or nut bars, in case you're unable to cook your meals.
Camping Breakfast
Overnight Oats
Overnight Oats are a fantastic camping breakfast option as they store well and can be eaten hot or cold.
Try these. Overnight Oats Recipes.
Meal prep tip. Make overnight oats ahead of time, place in an airtight container and eat within 4 days. If you want warm oats, remove the prepared oats from the container and reheat them over the campfire or on the camp stove with a bit of water/milk.
Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast Burritos are versatile, easy to make and a super convenient option as tortillas are long-life.
Meal prep tip. Make breakfast burritos ahead of time and freeze them. Then, simply thaw and reheat them over the campfire or on the camp stove.
Pancakes (or Waffles)
The pancake mix that comes in a bottle where all you have to add is water is a must when you're camping.
Meal prep tip. Make pancake mix ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. Then, simply add water and cook according to the package directions.
Cereal
Need I say more?
Meal prep tip. Add a high-protein milk (like full-cream or soy), some berries or fruit and some nuts to increase the satiety of the meal.
Omelette
I think eggs is a must on everyone's camping prep list. You already have it for your breakfast burritos and the classic bacon & eggs, so why not mix it up with an omelette?
Meal prep tip. Add in some cheese and a serve of veggies so you have a balanced meal. Omelettes also make a great lunch or dinner in a pinch as they take a whole of 5 minutes to cook.
Camping Lunches
Sandwiches & Burgers
Burgers and sandwiches are a classic camping lunch option. You can mix-and-match your protein and bread type to keep it interesting.
Meal prep tip. Pre-marinate chicken breasts in a variety of flavours so all you have to do is cook them on the camp stove or bbq. This will save you time and give you a tasty burger.
Wraps
Wraps are a great on-the-go camping (or even car trip) lunch.
We actually had these on an isolated island while we were fighting the tide.
Meal prep tip. Pre-cut your vegetables or salad ingredients and place in reusable containers so all you have to do is assemble when you get to your location.
Soup
Soup is a great option for the colder months when camping to warm you up.
Try these. Pumpkin Soup, Minestrone Soup, Potato & Leek Soup.
Meal prep tip. Pre-heat your soup and store in a thermos so you can eat it on the go. You can also prep food before your camping trip and freeze. See my tips for freezing soup.
Pasta Salad
Pasta salad's can be eaten hot or cold, and made to suit any nutritional preferences. They're the perfect easy camping meal!
Meal prep tip. If you have lots of leafy greens in your salad, keep the sauce separate and add when you're about to eat it. This will keep the greens from wilting.
Camping Dinner
One Pot Meals
When you're camping, the last thing you want to do is a lot of clean up and swapping over of pots and pans. This is where having some one-pot meals up your sleeve is very helpful!
Try these. Sweet and Sour Pork, Pad Thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, Curried Sausages.
Meal prep tip. A lot of one-pot meals can be prepared ahead of time and reheated on the stove. Keep the heat low and stir regularly to make sure it heats through.
Camping Snacks
Here is a (non-comprehensive) list of easy camping snacks:
- Trail Mix
- Dried Fruit
- Nut/Protein/Granola Bars
- Rice crackers and spread
- Toast and spread
- Cheese, Biscuits & Dip
- Yoghurt
Now I'm not denying that there will be some chips (crisps), a bit of chocolate and probably a whole lot of marshmallows going around the camp site. And this is totally fine! Just make sure you balance out these snacks with some higher protein options like the yoghurt and nuts to help keep you full instead of diving deep into a sugar coma.
Food safety while camping
Food safety is especially important when camping, as you may not have access to the same resources that you have at home, such as running water and a refrigerator. To ensure that your food remains safe to eat while camping, follow these tips:
Hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food. In an absolute pinch, use hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes.
Separate meats. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from other foods. If removed from their packaging, these should be kept in airtight containers, silicone bags or food saver vacuum sealer bags.
- Cook food thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to ensure that meats have reached a safe internal temperature.
- Refrigerate or freeze perishable food items as soon as possible.
- Keep food covered to protect it from insects and other animals.
- Dispose of trash and wastewater properly to prevent the spread of disease.
- If you are not sure whether a food item is safe to eat, err on the side of caution and discard it.
- Be careful when using an esky or battery-powered fridge. Make sure that they are filled with ice or ice packs, and that the food is kept cold. Keep it out of the sun as much as possible and the batteries charged (if needed). Food should be kept at 4C (40F) or below to remain safe to eat.
- If you are cooking over a campfire, make sure that the food is cooked evenly.
Freeze. If you have access to a freezer and you're not sure how long you will be camping, it is best to freeze your meat and protein ahead of time to keep it fresh.
Camping cooking questions
When cooking over a campfire, be sure to use a campfire grill or grate.
This will help to keep your food from falling into the fire.
You can use a variety of different cooking methods over a campfire, such as grilling, frying, and boiling.
Be sure to cook your food thoroughly to avoid food poisoning.
When cooking on a camp stove, be sure to follow the instructions that came with your stove.
Be sure to use a pot or pan that is the appropriate size for your stove.
Use olive oil, butter, or some other grease (particularly for your pan) so the food doesn't stick to the bottom. Quality matters here!
It is important to clean your camping cooking gear after each use.
This will help to prevent the growth of bacteria and keep your gear in good condition.
To clean your cooking gear, wash it with warm soapy water. You can also use a mild dish soap to remove any grease or grime.
Once your cooking gear is clean, rinse it well with water and dry it thoroughly.
Meal prepping for camping can save you time and energy when you're at the campsite.
Here are some tips for meal prepping for camping:
- Choose recipes that are easy to make and transport.
- Use pre-cooked ingredients whenever possible.
- Pack your meals in airtight containers.
- Label your meals with the date and contents.
- Freeze meals that you won't eat within a few days.
- Thaw frozen meals overnight in the refrigerator.
Some common camping food mistakes to avoid include:
- Not packing enough food.
- Not packing a variety of food.
- Not storing food properly.
- Not cooking food thoroughly.
- Not cleaning camping cooking gear properly.
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