Now that the weather is warming up, it’s finally camping season! Whether you’re car camping or tent camping, you’ll want meals that taste good and are easy to make. In this post, we’re sharing easy camping meal ideas to help guide you while packing for your next weekend camping trip!
We know how annoying it can be to cook complicated meals and have a million dishes to wash when you’re tired after hiking or exploring all day. Many of these meals can be prepped ahead of time or feature store-bought items that you can grab on your way out of town!
Camping Breakfasts
Breakfast for a weekend camping trip can be an elaborate spread or a quick bite in the morning, depending on how much you want to cook! Here are three of our go-to camping breakfast meals:
- Eggs & Bacon/Sausage: Eggs are easy to make and nice when you want something warm and cozy. Add bacon, breakfast sausage, or vegan sausage to add some additional flavors, and you can even try rolling it all up in a tortilla to make a breakfast burrito!
- Overnight Oats/Oatmeal: Both of these options can be prepared beforehand. Overnight oats can be made with oats and any milk or milk alternative and then stored in your cooler. In the morning, add whatever toppings you want (fresh fruit, coconut, peanut butter, etc.), and you have a delicious breakfast. Or, if it’s chilly, you can boil water and opt for hot oatmeal.
- Bagels: Bagels require no cooking and are super quick but still delicious! Bring butter, cream cheese, or peanut butter, and your breakfast is ready! Plus, they are super calorie-dense to help fuel your weekend.
Camping Lunches
When prepping our lunches for a camping trip, we usually keep in mind that we may be out exploring when eating lunch, so we want foods that travel well, can be carried with us, and are easy to eat with minimal cleanup. Here are three of our favorite camping lunches:
- Sandwiches: An all-time great option for lunch! Sandwiches are really easy to prepare and can be customized depending on your preferences. Stop by the deli while packing for your trip and pick up turkey, ham, cheese, vegetables, tuna—whatever kind of sandwich you prefer! Bonus tip: if you are storing your sandwiches in a cooler, keep them at the top so that when the ice melts, it doesn’t ruin your sandwich!
- Charcuterie Board: We love charcuterie boards because they can be whatever you want. Some ideas that we often include are meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, nuts, crackers, hummus, and anything else that we’re in the mood for! Charcuterie boards are a lot of fun while camping with a group of friends. Have each person bring an item or two, and you’ll have a delicious assortment to snack on!
- Pasta Salad: Pasta salad can be cooked at home before you leave, making this a great lunch option! Plus, because it’s eaten cold, it requires no cooking, so it’s great to bring with you when you get hungry while out on trails or seeing different sights!
Camping Dinners
Our preferences for dinners change depending on the time of year and the climate. When camping in the mountains, we always enjoy a warm dinner at the end of a long day. Here are a few of our favorite campsite dinners:
- Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup: When you’re looking for a cozy meal, there is nothing better than grilled cheese and tomato soup. Pick up a can of tomato soup, heat it up, and make grilled cheese sandwiches. In under 15 minutes, you’ll have dinner ready!
- Tacos: You can prep chicken, beef, fajita chicken, vegetables, etc. at home and pack them with you for your weekend camping trip. When you’re ready to eat, heat them up and add toppings like guacamole, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes!
- Chili: This is a great and quick dinner option for camping because all you need to do is heat it up. You can buy pre-made chili or make your own at home. Whichever you choose, don’t forget the cornbread!
- Ramen: Ramen is a fan favorite while camping! Feel free to add vegetables and other add-ons to make it even better. If you’re feeling lazy, you can eat it as is! The best part is that making ramen only requires boiling water, which makes prep and clean-up a breeze.
Camping Snacks
No camping trip would be complete without bringing some snacks. Here are a few of our current favorite camping snacks:
- Fruit: Super simple and easy, fruit is often a great way to balance out some of the heartier camping meals. Fruits like grapes and berries require no cutting, which means no need for washing. You can also pick up a pre-made fruit salad at the grocery store to add some extra variety!
- Chips & Guac: Who doesn’t love chips and guacamole, especially while hanging out on a campsite with friends? Pack up some homemade guacamole or pick up some pre-made guac at the grocery store, and you’ll be glad you brought it!
- Last but not least, s’mores are always a great option, especially if your campsite has fire pits. Bring some marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate. Crack open a Bivouac cider, and you’re all set for an evening at your campsite!
