Figuring out what food to bring when camping is one of the most important parts of trip planning. Get it right, and you’ll have the energy for adventure and meals you actually look forward to.
A bad food plan can mean heavy packs, spoiled ingredients, or just boring dinners. This guide will walk you through everything, from meal planning basics to specific recipes and storage tips. Our goal is to make camp cooking simple, satisfying, and stress-free.
What Food To Bring When Camping
The best camping food is non-perishable, easy to prepare, and nutritious. It should match your type of trip. A car camping feast will look very different from a backpacker’s lightweight dinner.
Let’s break down the core principles first.
Match Your Food to Your Trip Style
Your gear and menu depend entirely on how you’re camping.
Car Camping: You have a cooler and maybe even a camp stove. Your options are almost as good as home.
* Bring fresh meat, vegetables, cheese, and eggs.
* Use heavier pots, pans, and ingredients.
* Don’t forget condiments and cooking oil.
Backpacking: Every ounce counts. Your focus is on maximum calories per weight.
* Dehydrated meals, instant noodles, and trail mixes are key.
* Repackage everything to remove excess packaging.
* A compact stove and single pot are your kitchen.
Canoe/Kayak Camping: You have more weight capacity than a backpacker, but must keep things dry.
* Use dry bags or waterproof barrels for food.
* You can afford some heavier luxuries, like a cast iron skillet.
* Still prioritize non-perishable items when possible.
The Golden Rules of Camp Meal Planning
Follow these simple rules to avoid hunger or waste.
1. Plan Every Meal: Write down breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for each day. Don’t just guess.
2. Keep it Simple: Now is not the time for complex recipes with ten ingredients. One-pot meals are your friend.
3. Prep at Home: Chop vegetables, pre-mix spices, and measure ingredients at home. Put them in zip-top bags or containers.
4. Pack Extra Snacks: You will burn more calories than you think. Always have high-energy snacks like nuts, bars, or jerky.
5. Consider Water: Remember, you need water for cooking. If you’re going somewhere dry, factor that into your meal choices.
Building Your Camping Food Checklist
Use this list as a starting point for your own shopping. Not every item is needed for every trip.
Staples & Condiments:
* Cooking oil (in a small, leak-proof bottle)
* Salt and pepper (in small shakers or pre-mixed)
* Your favorite spices (chili powder, garlic powder, etc.)
* Sugar or honey
* Instant coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate
* Powdered milk or creamer
Breakfast Ideas:
* Oatmeal packets (just add hot water)
* Pancake mix (pre-mix dry ingredients, just add water)
* Granola with powdered milk
* Instant breakfast shakes
* Bagels with peanut butter
* Pre-cooked bacon (it doesn’t need refrigeration until opened)
Lunch Ideas (often eaten on the trail):
* Tortillas or pita bread (they pack better than bread)
* Hard cheeses (like cheddar or parmesan)
* Summer sausage or salami
* Tuna or chicken in foil packets
* Nut butter and jam
* Crackers or rice cakes
Dinner Ideas:
* Dehydrated backpacking meals (just add boiling water)
* Instant rice or couscous (cooks very fast)
* Pasta and jarred sauce
* Soup mixes
* Instant mashed potatoes
* Canned beans or chili
Snacks & Desserts:
* Trail mix (make your own with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, chocolate)
* Energy or granola bars
* Beef jerky or vegan alternatives
* Dried fruit (apricots, mango, apples)
* Cookies or biscotti
* S’mores ingredients, of course!
Step-by-Step: Preparing a Two-Night Car Camping Menu
Let’s put it all together with a practical example.
Night Before You Leave:
* Chop onions and peppers for fajitas. Store in a container.
* Pre-mix pancake dry ingredients in a bag.
* Pre-mix seasoning for fajitas in a small bag.
* Hard-boil a few eggs for quick breakfast or snack.
* Make sure your cooler is clean and cold.
Day 1:
Breakfast: Bagels with cream cheese (eat before hitting the road).
Lunch: Wraps with salami, cheese, and mustard (eat at a rest stop).
Dinner: Chicken and veggie fajitas. Cook chicken strips, add pre-chopped veggies and seasoning. Serve on tortillas with cheese and salsa from a jar.
Day 2:
Breakfast: Pancakes made from your pre-mix. Add water, cook on a griddle. Serve with syrup.
Lunch: Tuna salad wraps. Mix tuna packet with mayo from a small packet, add to tortillas.
Dinner: Campfire chili. Brown ground beef (or use a vegetarian crumble), add a can of beans, a can of diced tomatoes, and chili powder. Simmer.
Day 3:
Breakfast: Instant oatmeal and any leftover fruit.
Lunch: Finish any leftovers before driving home!
Backpacking Food: Lightweight and Calorie-Dense
For backpacking, you need efficiency. Here’s a typical day.
* Breakfast: A packet of flavored oatmeal with added peanut butter powder for extra protein.
* Lunch: Eat while hiking. A tortilla with a cheese stick and a packet of salmon, plus a handful of trail mix.
* Dinner: A store-bought dehydrated meal like pasta or curry. Add a packet of olive oil for extra calories.
* Snacks: Eat often! An energy bar at mid-morning, some gummy candy for quick sugar in the afternoon, and jerky before dinner.
Pro Tip: Repackage all your food into plain zip-top bags. It’s lighter and creates less trash to carry out. Write cooking instructions on the bag with a marker.
Essential Food Safety in the Outdoors
Getting sick on a trip is miserable. Follow these rules.
* Cooler Management: Keep your cooler in the shade. Use block ice instead of cubes—it lasts longer. Keep drinks in a separate cooler so you don’t let cold air out constantly.
* The Temperature Danger Zone: Perishable food should not be between 40°F and 140°F for more than two hours. In hot weather, that time drops to one hour.
* Hand Hygiene: Always use hand sanitizer or soap and water before handling food. It’s easy to forget when your hands are dirty from setting up camp.
* Bear and Animal Safety: In many areas, this is critical. Never keep food, trash, or scented items (like toothpaste) in your tent.
* Use provided bear lockers if available.
* Hang your food bag in a tree, at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet from the trunk.
* In heavy bear country, use a certified bear-resistant canister.
Easy No-Cook Camping Meals
Sometimes you don’t want to cook, or a fire isn’t allowed. These meals save the day.
* Wraps or Sandwiches: With shelf-stable ingredients like peanut butter, jam, honey, salami, and hard cheese.
* Adult Lunchables: Crackers, sliced cheese, cured meat, and some nuts.
* Bean Salad: A can of beans (rinsed), a packet of corn, and some Italian dressing.
* Overnight Oats: Combine oats, powdered milk, and dried fruit in a jar. Add water at night, let it sit, and it’s ready by morning.
Must-Try Simple Camping Recipes
One-Pot Pasta Primavera
In your pot, combine pasta, a jar of marinara sauce, and enough water to just cover the pasta. Add dried veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms at the start, or fresh chopped veggies halfway through. Boil until pasta is cooked, stirring often. Top with parmesan.
Foil Packet Dinners
These are incredibly versitile. On a large piece of heavy-duty foil, place a protein (fish fillet, chicken breast, sliced sausage), chopped veggies (potatoes, carrots, onions), a pat of butter or drizzle of oil, and seasoning. Seal the packet tightly. Cook on hot coals for 15-20 minutes, flipping once.
Campfire Quesadillas
Butter the outside of two tortillas. In a pan, place one tortilla butter-side down. Add shredded cheese, canned black beans (drained), and diced peppers. Top with the second tortilla, butter-side up. Cook until golden and flip, until cheese is melted.
Packing and Storage Solutions
Staying organized makes cooking much easier.
* Use Clear Bins: For car camping, pack all kitchen gear and non-cooler food in clear plastic bins. You can see everything.
* Bag Your Meals: Pack each meal’s ingredients together in a larger bag. Grab the “Tuesday Dinner” bag and you have everything you need.
* Small Containers: Invest in small, leak-proof containers for oil, spices, and condiments.
* Trash System: Always bring extra bags for trash and for packing out all your waste, including food scraps in some sensitive areas. Leave no trace.
FAQ: Your Camping Food Questions Answered
What are the best non-perishable foods for camping?
The best options include canned beans and tuna, instant rice, pasta, oatmeal, nuts, dried fruits, jerky, peanut butter, crackers, and powdered drinks. These items won’t spoil without refrigeration.
How do you keep food cold while camping for 3 days?
Start with a pre-chilled cooler and use block ice or frozen gel packs. Keep the cooler in the shade, always closed, and drain water only as needed (the melted ice helps keep things cold). Pre-freeze your own meals and drinks to act as extra ice packs.
What are some easy camping meals for large groups?
Think big one-pot dishes like chili, stew, or jambalaya. Pre-make and freeze sauces or soups at home, then just reheat. Taco bars and baked potato bars are also great, as people can customize their own plates with various toppings.
Choosing the right food makes your camping trip better. With a little planning and the tips from this guide, you can spend less time worrying about meals and more time enjoying the campfire. Remember to always pack out what you pack in, and leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.