A common misconception when camping is that you can’t eat well when you’re camping. Many people just head to the store and pick up their dinner to go. Well, we’re here to tell you that the options for simple camping meals are limitless! Almost anything you make for dinner at home can become a camp-style meal, whether you’re cooking in a cast-iron pan over the stove or cooking over charcoal in a Dutch oven.

We’ve put together this list of the easiest camping meals to give you plenty of options for your simple camping menu. No more wondering ‘what to make on a camping trip.’ Whether you’re a meat-eater, vegan, or gluten-free, these meals are sure to upgrade your Escape Camper Van road trip experience this season!

Different Styles of Camping Cooking

There are a variety of ways to cook while camping. It’s important to understand a few basics to cook your dish to perfection, whether it’s cooking over an open fire, in a Dutch oven over coals, or in a cast-iron pan over a burner.

• Cast-Iron Pan: A cast-iron skillet is great for making easy camping food on a road trip. Flavors mix well in the pan, bringing dishes to life, and cast-iron pans can withstand high temperatures, meaning you can cook over an open fire, hot coals, or a burner. It’s a very versatile cooking dish. Just avoid washing it with soap so the flavors stay rich!
• Steel or Non-Stick Pan: These are great for cooking over a camp stove. Avoid using these cooking pans in the fire or over coals. They’re great for quick cleanup.
• Dutch Oven: A Dutch oven is an excellent option for cooking dishes that require longer cooking times. They can be used over campfires and firepits with open flames or hot coals. Dutch ovens are great for cooking stews, chilis, some desserts, and other dishes that require simmering.
• Grill Grate: Grill grates are ideal for cooking over an open flame or coals, resulting in a nice, smoky campfire taste. Kebabs and meats are a popular choice for grilling on a grill grate. They’re also helpful to set a cast-iron pan on, to ensure a more stable cooking surface.

Easy Camping Meal Ideas Roundup

Forget the boring canned beans and the uninspiring dehydrated meals. Camping food ideas have come a long way. Whether you’re looking for easy camping meals for a family, prepping simple camping dinners for two, or easy camping meals for large groups, we’ve got you covered. Below is a quick round-up of our favorite easy, tasty, and road-trip-ready camping meals.

Easy Camping Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast on the go doesn’t need to be just granola bars, it’s the most important meal of the day. Every Escape Camper Van comes with a fully equipped kitchenette, with a two-burner stove, a solar-powered refrigerator, and a sink. Which means making good camping meals on the go is a quick endeavor, and they’re sure to fuel you for a day of hiking and exploring.

• Breakfast Burrito: Add eggs, cheese, veggies, peppers, onion, sausage, or bacon. This easily customizable meal is great for large groups.
• French Toast: The perfect sweet treat for a relaxing morning. Top with powdered sugar, fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, or syrup.
• Pancakes: Use a premade mix for the easiest pancakes ever, so you only need to add water. Customize with fruit, cinnamon, nuts, chocolate chips, or syrup.
• Scramble Skillet: Saute potatoes, peppers, onions, spinach, sausage, bacon, eggs, or whatever else your heart desires. Top with cheese and serve hot.
• English Muffin Sandwiches: Toast English muffins with butter. Add a fried egg, cheese, bacon, sausage, or veggie with avocado.
• Banana Cinnamon Nutty Oatmeal: Top oatmeal with mixed nuts, cinnamon, honey, blueberries, a sliced banana, and a splash of milk.
• Avocado Toast: Toast break. Mash avocado with salt, paprika, and lemon. Top with greens, mushrooms, tomatoes, pickled onion, or an egg.
• Scrambled Eggs and Toast: A classic and done in minutes.
• Breakfast Hash: Rehydrate quick-cooked hash browns. Scramble with eggs, veggies, or sausage. Top with sliced avocado,

Easy Camping Lunch Ideas

Lunch should be simple, satisfying, and stress-free. When you’re on the go or out and about exploring, cooking an entire meal can seriously cut into your day. We’ve put together a list of no-cook easy camping lunch food ideas that are perfect for when you need easy camping meal ideas that don’t require you to pull out the campstove or start a fire. From sandwiches to wraps to snack boards, you’ll find easy camping meals for 2, quick bites for solo adventurers, and even make-ahead options for families and larger groups.

• Bagel Sandwiches: Use bagels to create a variety of different sandwiches. For example, cream cheese and lox, salami and cheese with lettuce and tomato, peanut butter and jelly, or hummus, avocado, and veggies.
• Salmon Pesto Wrap: Mix pink salmon packets with pesto and chopped veggies and wrap in a tortilla.
• Hummus Avocado Wrap: Spread hummus and mashed avocado on a tortilla or bread. Add your favorite veggies such as sliced peppers, tomatoes, onion, spinach, or lettuce, and sprinkle with Everything Bagel Seasoning.
• Chicken Salad: Combined canned chicken, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, mayo, Italian seasoning, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. It makes a delicious meal served on its own or as a sandwich.
• Bean and Bell Pepper Salad: Mix canned beans, diced bell peppers, onions, and corn. Add salt, pepper, and lime. Optional: add avocado or wrap in a tortilla.
• Charcuterie Board: Combine sliced meats, cheese varieties, crackers, sliced veggies (carrots, bell pepper, or pickles), hummus, olives, and fresh or dried fruit.
• Tuna Salad Sandwiches: Mix canned tuna with mayo, salt, pepper, diced onion, and celery. Serve with sandwich bread, as a wrap, or with crackers.

Easy Camping Dinner Ideas

After a long day of exploring, these easy camping dinner ideas are sure to hit the spot. Each of these easy camping dinners is packed with flavor but low on effort, perfect for the end of a big day.

• Pesto Pasta with Tuna & Veggies: Boil pasta. Sauté tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. Mix with canned tuna, pesto, and Parmesan.
• Red Sauce Pasta with Sausage: Boil pasta. Cook veggies and sausage (or veggie sausage) in a pan. Mix with red sauce and top with cheese.
• Loaded Nachos: Layer chips in a cast-iron pan. Add cheese, beans, and optional chicken or beef. Heat, then top with pico de gallo, guac, and sour cream. Use pre cooked meat like rotisserie chicken to make it even easier.
• Polenta & Sausage: Boil water or broth and stir in polenta with milk, butter, or oil. Add herbs (oregano, basil, garlic), salt, pepper, and sausage or veggie sausage. Top with Parmesan.
• Tortellini: Boil tortellini. Add cooked sausage, veggie sausage, or ground beef. Mix with red sauce, pesto, vodka sauce, or olive oil.
• Campfire Kebabs: Skewer bite-sized pieces of chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Grill over flame or coals with salt and pepper.
• Chickpea Coconut Curry: Sauté onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Add coconut milk, curry, cumin, turmeric, garam masala, salt, pepper, and other veggies. Add chickpeas toward the end. Garnish with cilantro and lime.
• Burgers: Grill meat or veggie patties. Toast buns. Serve with lettuce, tomato, onion, and avocado + condiments.
• Mac & Cheese: Make store-bought boxed mac & cheese. Upgrade with Parmesan, cheddar, Gouda, cooked sausage, or veggies. Add a side salad if you like.
• Burrito Bar: Cook veggies and protein in separate pans. Chop lettuce, onion, tomato, and make guac. Set out tortillas, cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce.
• Cast Iron Brats: Cook bratwursts in a cast iron pan with sliced onions, poblano, and jalapeño peppers. Serve in toasted buns with condiments.
• Camping Chili: Sauté onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Add beans, corn, and meat (if using). Stir in salsa, simmer until hot. Serve with avocado, cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
• Stir Fry: Fry veggies and meat or tofu in oil. Add garlic, soy sauce, chili flakes, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook noodles and toss it all together.
• Loaded Ramen: Boil ramen noodles with seasoning packet. Add broccoli, onion, corn, soft-boiled egg, and your protein of choice. Top with green onions and lime.
• Foil Packet Salmon & Potatoes: Place sliced potatoes and salmon in foil. Add olive oil, lemon, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper. Seal and cook over coals for 20 minutes.
• Dutch Oven Fried Rice: Cook egg with soy sauce and sesame oil. In a Dutch oven, combine water, sesame oil, olive oil, soy sauce, rice, egg, and protein.

The “Don’t Forget” List!

A good camp kitchen, camping meal prep and tasty ingredients go a long way in enhancing your camping trip. Aside from the main dish ingredients, here are a few items you don’t want to forget for your camp kitchen to make the best camping dinners. If you choose to add on our kitchen kit, you will receive all of the tools and utensils needed to make delicious and simple camping food.

• Spices!!!
• Coffee, tea, and drinks of choice
• Pans of choice – cast-iron pan, non-stick pan, pots, Dutch oven
• Cooking utensils – tongs, stirring spoons, spatulas, whisk, skewers, pan scraper
• Paper towels
• Microfiber towels
• Biodegradable soap
• Trash bags
• Extra water if you’re cooking away from water sources
• Fuel for the stove
• Can opener
• Bottle opener
• Lighter/matches
• Charcoal
• Firewood (local to the region)
• Aluminum foil
• Leftover containers
• Cooler