Planning a camping trip? Let me share my favorite make-ahead camping meals with you! 🏕️ I love camping, but I don’t love trying to chop veggies on a tiny table while everyone’s hungry. That’s why I started prepping premade camping meals before our trips. It’s been a game-changer for our outdoor adventures!

Prep time: Varies by recipe (mostly 30 mins at home)
Cook time: 10-30 minutes at campsite
Total time: Minimal at campsite!
Servings: Most recipes serve 4
Difficulty: Easy

Why I Love Make-Ahead Camping Food

Last summer, my family and I went on a weekend camping trip to the mountains. I thought I’d cook everything from scratch at our campsite. Big mistake! 😅 I spent most of my time cooking instead of hiking and having fun.

After that trip, I started making camping food make ahead at home where I have a real kitchen with counters and running water. Now when we camp, I just heat things up or do simple assembly. It’s so much better!

These easy camping dinners have changed our outdoor adventures completely. Instead of stressing over meal prep, we’re swimming in the lake, hiking trails, and making memories. Plus, the food tastes amazing – way better than plain hot dogs and marshmallows (though we still love those too!).

Why You’ll Love These Premade Camping Meals

These recipes will make your camping trip so much easier and tastier! 🏕️🍽️

• 🕒 Saves tons of time at your campsite
• 🧊 Packs easily in your cooler
• 🔥 Cooks quickly with minimal effort
• 💪 Gives you energy for hiking and swimming
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Perfect for feeding camping meals for a crowd
• 💰 Budget-friendly compared to camp store food
• 😋 Tastes amazing after a day of outdoor fun

17 Easy Make-Ahead Camping Meals

1. Foil Packet BBQ Chicken

Pin it

This is one of my favorite camping meal prep ideas because it cooks right in the foil with no dishes to wash!

Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts
• Bell peppers
• Red onion
• Corn on the cob pieces
• BBQ sauce
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. At home: Cut chicken into chunks and slice vegetables.
2. Place portions on foil squares and add BBQ sauce.
3. Fold foil into packets and freeze.
4. At camp: Place thawed packets on grill grate over campfire for about 20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F.

Pro Tip: I use these heavy-duty foil grill bags which are stronger than regular foil and less likely to tear when cooking over a fire.

2. Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

Pin it

Wake up happy with these easy camping food ideas for breakfast!

Ingredients:

• Eggs
• Breakfast sausage
• Cheese
• Potatoes
• Tortillas
• Salsa (optional)

Instructions:

1. At home: Cook sausage and scramble eggs with potatoes.
2. Let cool completely.
3. Fill tortillas with mixture and cheese, then wrap in foil.
4. Freeze until your trip.
5. At camp: Heat over campfire grate or in a skillet for about 5 minutes per side.

3. One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Pin it

This one pot campfire meal is so colorful and tasty!

Ingredients:

• Pasta
• Mixed vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes)
• Olive oil
• Italian seasoning
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder

Instructions:

1. At home: Chop all vegetables and store in containers.
2. Pack pasta and seasonings separately.
3. At camp: Boil water in pot over campfire or stove.
4. Cook pasta, drain (leave a little water), add veggies and seasonings.
5. Cook 5 more minutes and top with Parmesan.

Pro Tip: A good camping cookware set is worth the investment if you camp often.

4. Marinated Grilled Steak Kabobs

Pin it

These colorful kabobs are perfect camping meals for a crowd!

Ingredients:

• Steak pieces
• Bell peppers
• Red onion
• Mushrooms
• Marinade (soy sauce, olive oil, garlic)

Instructions:

1. At home: Cut steak and vegetables into chunks.
2. Mix marinade and pour over steak in freezer bag.
3. Pack vegetables in separate containers.
4. At camp: Thread steak and vegetables onto skewers.
5. Grill over campfire for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally.

5. Mason Jar Salads

Pin it

These stay fresh for days in your cooler and make perfect lunches!

Ingredients:

• Dressing of choice
• Hearty vegetables (cucumbers, carrots, peppers)
• Protein (chicken, beans, hard-boiled eggs)
• Greens (spinach, lettuce)
• Toppings (nuts, seeds, cheese)

Instructions:

1. At home: Layer ingredients in mason jars with dressing on bottom.
2. Keep in cooler.
3. At camp: Shake jar and enjoy!

Pro Tip: These wide-mouth mason jars are perfect for salads and don’t leak in the cooler.

6. Campfire Nachos

Pin it

A fun campfire meal everyone will love!

Ingredients:

• Tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese
• Black beans (canned)
• Pre-cooked ground beef or chicken
• Toppings (salsa, sour cream, guacamole)

Instructions:

1. At home: Cook meat and store in container. Prepare toppings.
2. At camp: Layer chips, beans, meat and cheese in cast iron skillet.
3. Cover with foil and heat over fire until cheese melts.
4. Add cold toppings and enjoy!

7. Frozen Chili

Pin it

This make ahead camping food gets better after freezing!

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Beans
• Canned tomatoes
• Onions
• Peppers
• Chili seasoning

Instructions:

1. At home: Make your favorite chili recipe and cool completely.
2. Freeze in freezer bags or containers.
3. At camp: Reheat in pot over campfire or stove.
4. Serve with cornbread or chips.

8. Campfire Pizza Pockets

Pin it

These simple camping meals are super fun for kids to help make!

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated pizza dough
• Pizza sauce
• Cheese
• Favorite toppings (pepperoni, vegetables)
• Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. At home: Split dough into portions. Pack sauce and toppings separately.
2. At camp: Flatten dough portions, add sauce and toppings to half.
3. Fold over and seal edges with fork.
4. Wrap in foil and cook over campfire for 8-10 minutes, flipping once.

9. Overnight Oats

Pin it

A camping food make ahead breakfast that’s ready when you wake up!

Ingredients:

• Rolled oats
• Milk or non-dairy alternative
• Yogurt
• Sweetener (honey, maple syrup)
• Fruit and toppings

Instructions:

1. At home: Mix all ingredients in jars.
2. Keep in cooler overnight.
3. At camp: Open and enjoy with additional fresh toppings!

Pro Tip: I use these leak-proof containers for overnight oats and they’ve never spilled in my cooler.

10. Tin Foil Butter Garlic Herb Steak

Pin it

This fancy-tasting meal is actually one of the easiest camping meals easy make ahead options!

Ingredients:

• Steak
• Butter
• Garlic
• Fresh herbs
• Potatoes
• Carrots

Instructions:

1. At home: Slice vegetables. Mix butter with herbs and garlic.
2. Place steak and vegetables on foil with butter mixture.
3. Seal packets and freeze.
4. At camp: Cook thawed packets over hot campfire coals for 12-15 minutes.

11. Chicken Fajita Packs

These colorful easy camping dinners cook right in their foil packets!

Ingredients:

• Chicken strips
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Fajita seasoning
• Lime
• Tortillas

Instructions:

1. At home: Slice chicken and vegetables.
2. Mix with seasoning and lime juice.
3. Divide into foil packets and freeze.
4. At camp: Cook thawed packets over fire for 15-20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F.
5. Serve with warmed tortillas.

12. Grilled Shish Kabobs

Pin it

These colorful skewers are perfect for camping meals for a crowd!

Ingredients:

• Chicken or beef cubes
• Bell peppers
• Onion
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Marinade of choice

Instructions:

1. At home: Cut meat and vegetables into chunks.
2. Marinate meat and store separately from vegetables.
3. At camp: Thread onto skewers and grill over fire for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally.

Pro Tip: These metal skewers are reusable and won’t burn like wooden ones.

13. Beef Stew Packets

Pin it

This one pot campfire meal cooks in its own little foil package!

Ingredients:

• Beef stew meat
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Onions
• Beef broth
• Seasonings

Instructions:

1. At home: Cut meat and vegetables into chunks.
2. Create foil packets with ingredients and a little broth.
3. Freeze until ready to use.
4. At camp: Cook thawed packets over fire for 20-25 minutes until meat is tender.

14. Pancake Mix in a Bottle

Pin it

This make ahead camping food makes breakfast super quick!

Ingredients:

• Pancake mix
• Water or milk
• Eggs (if required)
• Toppings (berries, chocolate chips, syrup)

Instructions:

1. At home: Prepare dry pancake mix in a bottle or jar.
2. At camp: Add liquid ingredients, shake well.
3. Pour onto hot greased skillet over campfire or stove.
4. Flip when bubbles form, cook until golden.

15. Chicken Fried Rice

Pin it

A tasty easy camping dinner that uses leftovers cleverly!

Ingredients:

• Pre-cooked rice
• Pre-cooked chicken
• Frozen peas and carrots
• Eggs
• Soy sauce
• Garlic powder

Instructions:

1. At home: Cook rice and chicken. Cool completely and pack separately.
2. At camp: Heat oil in skillet over fire or stove.
3. Add vegetables, then chicken, then rice.
4. Push to side, scramble eggs in empty space.
5. Mix together with soy sauce and seasonings.

16. Greek Pasta Salad

Pin it

This simple camping meal gets better as it sits in your cooler!

Ingredients:

• Pasta
• Cucumber
• Cherry tomatoes
• Red onion
• Feta cheese
• Olives
• Greek dressing

Instructions:

1. At home: Cook pasta, cool completely, and mix with all ingredients.
2. Store in airtight container in cooler.
3. At camp: Stir and serve!

17. Foil Packet Fish Dinner

Pin it

This premade camping meal is perfect for when you want something lighter!

Ingredients:

• Fish fillets (salmon or white fish)
• Lemon slices
• Butter
• Dill or other herbs
• Asparagus or green beans
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. At home: Prepare foil sheets. Pack fish separately (kept very cold).
2. At camp: Place fish on foil, top with butter, lemon, and herbs.
3. Add vegetables to the side.
4. Fold foil into packets and seal edges.
5. Cook over campfire coals for 12-15 minutes until fish flakes easily.

Pro Tip: Fish cooks quickly, so check it after 10 minutes to avoid overcooking.

Camping Meal Prep Planning Tips

Pin it

Planning your make-ahead camping meals ahead of time makes your trip so much easier! Here are my best tips:

• 📝 Make a meal plan for your entire trip, including snacks
• 🧊 Freeze what you can – frozen items help keep your cooler cold
• 🥫 Pre-cook meats whenever possible for food safety
• ✂️ Pre-chop all vegetables at home
• 📦 Pack by meal in labeled containers or bags
• 🔍 Write cooking instructions on bags or containers
• 🗑️ Think about trash – minimize packaging when possible

I use this Camping Meal Planner to organize all our trip meals. It has sections for shopping lists and prep notes too!

For longer trips, plan meals that use fresh ingredients first, saving foods with longer shelf life for later in the trip.

Smart Shopping Tips for Camping Food

Shopping smart for your camping meal prep saves money and reduces waste. Here’s how I do it:

• 📊 Make a detailed list based on your meal plan
• 🛒 Shop just once for everything if possible
• 🏪 Buy in bulk for items multiple recipes use
• 🧀 Pre-shredded cheese and pre-cut vegetables save time
• 🥫 Canned beans and vegetables are camping-friendly
• 🧊 Get block ice for your cooler – it lasts longer than cubes
• 🌮 Individual portions work well for kids and picky eaters

I always bring a few simple camping meals that don’t need refrigeration as backup options. Things like pasta with canned sauce or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can save the day if your cooler warms up too much!

One of my favorite money-saving tools is this vacuum sealer which helps food stay fresh longer and takes up less space in the cooler.

Must-Have Tools for Campsite Cooking

Pin it

Having the right tools makes cooking campfire meals so much easier! Here are my favorite camping kitchen items:

• Cast Iron Skillet – Perfect for cooking over fire and super versatile. I love my Lodge 10-inch skillet which has lasted for years.
• Collapsible Cutting Board – Great for small prep work at the campsite. This foldable cutting board takes up almost no space.
• Good Cooler – Worth every penny! The Igloo BMX Cooler keeps ice for days and stands up to camping life.
• Aluminum Foil – Essential for foil packet meals. Get the heavy-duty kind!
• Portable Coffee Maker – Because camping without coffee is just sitting in the woods! The AeroPress Go makes amazing coffee and packs small.
• Long-handled Tongs – Keep your hands away from the fire with these extra-long BBQ tongs.
• Headlamp – For seeing what you’re cooking after dark.

More Camping Recipes You’ll Love

If you liked these premade camping meals, check out these other camping food ideas:

• 5-Minute Dutch Oven Cobbler – The easiest dessert for camping!
• Campfire Bread on a Stick – Fun for kids to make themselves
• One-Pot Mac and Cheese – Comfort food at the campsite
• Camping Breakfast Skillet – Everything in one pan!
• No-Bake Energy Balls – Perfect hiking snacks

Have you tried any of these easy camping dinners? I’d love to hear which ones you liked! Leave a comment below and tell me about your camping cooking adventures. 💬

Don’t forget to save this post to your camping Pinterest board for your next outdoor trip! 📌 These make ahead camping meals will make your next adventure so much more delicious and relaxing!

Happy Camping and Happy Eating!

Pin it

I hope these make-ahead camping meals make your next outdoor adventure amazing! With a little prep at home, you can enjoy delicious food without all the work at your campsite. That means more time for hiking, swimming, telling stories around the campfire, and making memories.

Remember that camping is about having fun, not cooking fancy food. These simple camping meals are meant to be easy so you can focus on enjoying nature and the people you’re with.

Let me know in the comments which recipes you want to try first, and don’t forget to pin this post to your camping boards on Pinterest for your next trip planning session!

Pin it

Happy trails and happy cooking! 🏕️🔥🍽️