Last Updated: November 12, 2021
Best Food For Camping (Ideas & Recipes)
If you’re anything like us, then you’re hunger levels hit will hit sky-high when you’re out in the great outdoors. Whether you’re hiking or just hanging out around camp, it’s important to keep those energy levels up, especially in cooler climates when you’re body needs that extra bit of fuel to keep warm.
But lugging around all that extra food-related gear can be a real chore, which is why some people make the decision to ditch the cooler and go for non-refrigerated foods instead. Plus, with careful planning, you might even be able to leave some of your cooking gear behind too.
Don’t get us wrong, we love a good meal that’s been tenderly cooked over the campfire for hours, but there’s something liberated about ditching the pots and pans and taking things a laid-back approach when you’re on holiday (or when you’re carrying your gear on your back).
That’s why here we’re looking at the best non-refrigerated camping food. We’ll take a quick look at the kinds of foods we should be eating and which foods keep well and how to package them. Then, we’ll run through some camping food ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and (possibly the most important meal of the day) snacks. And all in time for your next camping trip!
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What foods should we eat when camping?
Generally, the same basic rules apply when camping as they do at home – you should be eating a balanced diet, avoid foods with too much processed sugar, and make sure that you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals. Having said that, when you’re out on the trail or leading an active lifestyle for the weekend, you’ll need more energy than usual. This means that you’ll need a higher calorie content than usual. You can get those extra calories by simply eating more foods, but there are some foods that are rich in fats and protein that won’t take up as much space in your pack that you might want to keep an eye open for, especially if you’re backpacking.
Which foods keep well
Before we delve into our meal plans, let’s have a little think about the kind of camping food we should be taking with us. It really all comes down to how well the foods will keep and how they’re packaged. So, let’s take a look at which foods keep well so you can add them to your camping food list:
In their natural form
The easiest camping food to take with you are ones that keep well as they are, without any fussing. This includes fruit and vegetables, but you’ll have to pick wisely, as some are worse than others.
Bananas are a great way to boost your calcium levels, and they’ll fill you up more than most other fruits (just make sure you’re careful how you pack them – no one likes a banana mush in their bag!). Plus, if you’re camping for a while, you can pick up some greener ones and let them do their thing throughout the trip so you’ve always got a ripe one to hand (the same goes for tomatoes and avocadoes!). Tougher fruits like apples aren’t quite so filling, but they’re a great option when space is limited as they’re less likely to get squashed in cramped bags!
Raw potatoes, or even sweet potatoes, are hard to beat when it comes to evening camping meals. They’re full of carbs and fibers that’ll fill you up and give you energy, as well as vitamins and minerals. They’re also very versatile to cook with – you can have them fried, mashed, or boiled, depending on what pans you have. The easiest approach, however, is to simply wrap them in foil and throw them in a camp fire!
They do require a camp stove though and, if you’re going stoveless, then you’ll be better off with veg like carrots that you can peel as and when you want them.
When dried
Some foods that might not keep well ordinarily can keep for ages when they’re dried.
Grains that only require some hot water (or milk) are fantastic for camping. They’ll keep for absolute ages in their dried form, and you can cook them up as and when you need them, so you don’t have to think about refrigerating them at all. Our favorites for camping are oats and pasta, but some people go for noodles and rice too.
As a side note, if you’re going on a shorter camping trip, you can pre-cook your pasta at home and simply stir in some sauce (pesto anyone?) when you’re ready to eat to the following day – as long as you don’t mind eating cold pasta, you won’t need to take any camp cooking gear with you at all.
Dried fruits are also a fantastic option for backpackers with limited space in their packs as they retain the goodness of their more luscious forms, yet they become a fraction of the size.
But what about meat? We know that it provides us with heaps of energy, but it can also go bad easily and is notorious for giving people tummy bugs if not cooked and stored properly. Fortunately, dried meats are an excellent way to make sure you’re getting your protein fix on the trail. Beef jerky is a solid favorite among backpackers, and it’s calorie-dense too so it won’t gobble up all the space in your pack. Chorizo is another great meat to take camping and, although it’s a super tasty snack, it can make tonnes of camping meals that bit more special too.
If space is really limited, but you can’t live without your morning tea or coffee, then powdered milk is a great shout – just add water and you’re good to go. It takes up way less room in your pack than liquid milk and is way lighter too. Plus, we definitely prefer porridge with our oats than plain hot water. Powdered milk is a key feature in another one of our favorite camping treats… pancakes mixture – simply add water and you can whip up some delicious camping food in minutes.
Store Packaged
There are some foods out there that might not last long once opened, but they’re fine to sit on a shelf in a store or in a cupboard at home for ages in their original packaging. This makes for great camping food, especially if you’re in a larger group, as you can take these supplies with you and pop them open as and when you need them (just makes sure you consume them in one or two sittings so they don’t go bad).
Tins and jars are the classic easy camping meals – people fill bunkers with these ‘just in case’ because they last so long. You can heat up tinned soups in seconds with a small camping stove and pot, and it’s a great way to warm you up in colder climates. You can also get loads of sauces in tins and jars that can make your meals that but more interesting (pre-made tomato sauce and pesto are our favorites). Tinned tuna is another way to make sure your protein levels are kept high, and you can even take a small jar of mayo with you too if you’re cooking en masse and will use it all in one go (alternatively, sachets are great if you’re camping solo). Peanut butter is fantastic too as it’s rich in healthy fats and several nutrients. Cans give you more choice when it comes to fruits too, and you can take fruits such as peaches on your next trip. Things that might squash easily in their ordinary form are now ready to eat.
Bread is a tricky one as it goes stale very easily once opened. Fresh bread tends to go off quicker, but if you go for factory-made bread that’s shop-sealed it will last for a while in its packaging. If you’re in a big group, you’ll probably get through a whole loaf in one sitting, so it’s definitely worth taking some with you. In smaller groups, try to find half loaves or even packs of bagels – these are chewier anyway and don’t go stale as quickly (and if they go off a bit, you can always dry fry them in a pan and eat them toasted with some tasty toppings).
Finally… snacks. These last for ages on a shelf and so they can last for ages in your pack too. Nutty chocolate bars are good for a quick energy fix, store-bought muffins and cookies last a while in their original packing. Watch out for crisps though – we know they’re super tasty, but the bags can pop easily and they take up a lot of room in your pack yet don’t fill you up very much.
Home Packaged
Finally, there are things you can prepare and bring from home, as long as you pack them carefully. Home-made flapjacks are a great energy-rich snack, and you can pop them in a Tupperware and they’ll keep for days. People tend to think cheese needs to be refrigerated at all times, but this isn’t true for hard cheese. A block of parmesan will keep for a few days if you keep it out of the sun and wrap it in newspaper and teatowel – perfect for pasta nights.
So, there’s some ingredients or you to think about, and here are some meal plans for your next camping trip,in case you need some more inspiration:
Breakfast
- Oatmeal: you can mix it with water or UHT/powdered milk and you can heat it up or have it cold (if you’re going for the cold option, the oats soften nicely if you leave them in liquid overnight). To garnish, you can add whatever you like, but we recommend some pecans, honey, cinnamon, and raisins – it’ll keep you going all morning!
- Pancakes: if you have a stove and frying pan with you, pancakes are super simple if you take a pre-bought mix. Add water, fry a pancake, and stir on some chocolate spread or peanut butter and chop a banana over the top.
- Another favorite of ours is fried potatoes and baked beans – a super simple yet hearty camping breakfast.
Lunch
- Sandwiches and wraps: a staple lunchtime food that can be partnered with some snacks on the side. Our favorite is tuna mayo (from the tin and from the jar), but we’re also fond of spreading some pesto on the bread and adding chorizo and cheese. If you’ll be camping for a few days, you can always take a pack of shop-bought wraps to fill instead – these will last a while until opened.
- Soup: this goes well with a sandwich if you’re mega hungry, or can be enjoyed on its own. You can opt for a super speedy tinned soup or, if you have time, slow-cook a soup with fresh veggies and stock over the campfire.
Dinner
- Baked potato: you don’t even need a stove for this one – you can simply wrap the potatoes in foil and throw them into the fire – just make sure you can get them out again! If you do have some pots and pans with you, we definitely recommend heating up some beans and grating some cheese on top for a hearty meal in the evening.
- Pasta: pasta has to be our favorite camping meal – and it’s so easy too! Top with pre-bought pasta sauce or pest and cheese. You can add your own veggies too, such as onions and garlic, if you’re feeling fancy.
- Simple hot dogs, even in a can, with a hot dog bun – this can be a simple camping meal if you don’t have to keep it too long.
Snacks
- Cereal bars/energy bars: these can sit at the bottom of your pack without fear of getting squished, and they’re a great way to take the edge off hunger in between meal times.
- Homemade flapjack/energy balls: add whatever you like – dried fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, they’re a great way to keep up those sugar levels.
- Fruits: dried or fresh, it’s important to keep those nutrient levels high.
- Marshmallows: for the campfire, of course!
- Cheese and crackers: pair with some red wine for a luxurious campfire snack.
- Pot noodles: they might not be the healthiest option… but they only take a few minutes to prepare and are a great way to warm up quickly in cooler climates
Easy Camping Recipes
Now that you have an idea about what kinds of foods you can take camping and how to store them, let’s look at some easy camping recipes to get your tastebuds tingling. After all, camp cooking is not always simple, but once you have some camping recipes up your sleeve, you will feel right at home.
Campfire Smoky Bean Breakfast
Nothing beats a great campfire for a camping breakfast and this is one of those easy camping recipes that really hit the spot. It’s both filling and easy to prepare with just a few ingredients like beans, sausage and egg.
Campfire French Toast
What better way to start the day with a camping breakfast of freshly fried French Toast. This easy camping recipe for French Toast requires just a few simple ingredients and a hot skillet on the cooker, campfire or wherever you have heat!
Dutch Oven Nachos
Here is another camping recipe for you to put on your Dutch Oven camping food ideas list. Nachos are another easy camping meal you can whip up in no time while out in the woods. Imagine that melty cheddar cheese with a scoop of Guacamole on top!
Just make sure you have your Dutch Oven with you. Easy for car camping, but not so great for the backcountry campers out there.
Campfire Corn On The Cob
A roasty toasty corn on the cob is one of those camping dinner ideas you just can’t miss. It is a great supplement to a piece of meat on the open fire, or a simple addition to a salad if you happen to be eating fresh food while on your campsite.
Add this one to your list of simple camping recipes.
Summing up
So, there you have it. We’ve been through what kind of camping meals and foods keep well without a refrigerator and given you some mealtime inspiration. Leaving a cooler behind frees up room for other bits of gear, and if you’re backpacking then you definitely don’t want to be crying one around with you. Some of these foods require just hot water, while others need pots and pans too – so make sure you think carefully about what to take with you. Prio planning might not be super fun, but it will save you time and effort on holiday so you can kick back and relax, which is what a camping trip is all about really.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
