15 Easy Camping Recipes for Every Camper

While some people may consider camping the time to break out the cans of baked beans, cold hot dogs, and potato chips, some may like their camping food to be a little more, well, gourmet.

We have nothing against a basic camping meal that requires buying just a couple of things at the store and zero cooking time. It ensures that you don’t waste any of your precious time while out in nature and that you get the nutrients you need to fuel your adventures.

However, if you’re someone who finds food a source of enjoyment, a way to connect with people, and a nice way to slow down your busy day a bit, then you’re in for a treat.

We are sharing some camping recipes that we really think you’ll love. And we made sure that these recipes are easy so that you aren’t spending a chunk of your camping trip in the kitchen or putting food together.

Here are the top easy camping recipes that every camper will love, taken from our KOA Camping Recipes collection.

15 Easy & Delicious Camping Recipes

1. Lime Grilled Salmon

This take on salmon will give your tastebuds the refreshing flavor they’re looking for after a long day out in the wild. The ingredients for this one are minimal, so you don’t have to stock up on too much in order to create this masterpiece.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon steaks
• Juice from 2 limes
• 3 T olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper
• Hot sauce, to taste
• 3 green onions, chopped
• ½ tsp honey

How to make it:

1. Mix all of the above ingredients together in a bowl, except for the salmon
2. Put the salmon steaks in a Ziploc bag and pour the marinade in
3. Let the steaks marinate for 20-30 minutes
4. Grill over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

2. Taco Dip

This dip makes the perfect camping snack or side dish for your favorite Mexican camping meal. There’s no cooking involved, so the effort required for this one is minimal, but packs a lot of flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of refried beans
• 3 T sour cream
• 3 T mayonnaise
• ½ package taco seasoning of your choice
• Onion (as much as you’d like)
• 1 can sliced black olives
• 1 tomato
• (1) 8 oz package shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 bag Frito’s Scoops chips

How to make it:

1. Spread the refried beans on the bottom of a round platter
2. Mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, and taco seasoning together and spread over the bean dip
3. Chop onion and tomato and layer them with the black olives on top
4. Top with cheddar cheese
5. Serve with Frito chips

 3. Easy Breakfast Burritos

We love a quick breakfast on the go when we are camping. Those early mornings can be tough to find the motivation to cook up anything very complicated. Plus, you likely want to get going so that you can enjoy the outdoors that you’re here to see.

Ingredients:

• 1 large tortilla
• 1 scrambled egg
• 2 strips bacon
• 1 sausage link, chopped
• ½ cup diced ham
• ½ cup browned potatoes / hashbrowns
• ¼ cup shredded cheese
• Salsa

How to make it:

1. Warm the tortilla
2. Combine the ingredients above and put them into the warm tortilla

4. Balsamic Vinegar Chicken

This may be the easiest main dish you’ve ever made in your life. All you need is two ingredients and you’ve got yourself the heart of a tasty meal, full of nutrients to help you get through your long camping days.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• ¾ cup balsamic vinegar

How to make it:

1. Put the chicken and balsamic vinegar in a Ziplock bag
2. Squeeze out as much air as possible and put the bag in the fridge
3. Let the chicken marinade for at least 8 hours (the longer the better)
4. Remove the chicken from the marinade and throw away the remaining liquid
5. Put the chicken on the grill over medium heat, or pan-fry over medium heat
6. Cook until juice run clear

5. Donna’s McMuffins

Donna makes a mean McMuffin, and she’s shared the recipe with us so that you can enjoy a quick and easy breakfast that will have your tastebuds dancing and your body fueled up.

Ingredients:

• 4 split English muffins
• 3 sliced green onions
• 6 slices cubed deli ham
• 4 eggs
• 4 slices American cheese

How to make it:

1. Butter both sides of each of the English muffins
2. Toast them on a grill or under a broiler
3. In a skillet, brown the green onions in butter
4. Add 6 slices of cubed deli ham and mix for about 1 minute
5. Add 4 eggs and scramble
6. Scoop ¼ of the mixture onto 1 slice of toasted English muffin
7. Top with 1 slice of American cheese
8. Put another slice of English muffin on top and wrap in aluminum foil
9. The foil will keep the sandwiches warm for 15-20 minutes

6. Arkansas Potatoes

Looking for a great side dish that won’t take much effort but tastes great? We have the perfect thing for you. These potatoes have some surprise ingredients that really take the flavor of potatoes to the next level.

Ingredients:

• 1 package fully-cooked smoked sausage, diced
• 1 large onion
• Several small red / yellow potatoes
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How to make it:

1. Slice the onion and potatoes and put in fire-proof skillet
2. Add water to keep them from scorching
3. Add seasonings to taste along with smoked sausage
4. Cook for 20 minutes, until soft

7. Ravioli Lasagna

After a long day of hiking, you’re left drained, and in need of some food to fill your body back up. Pasta is a great way to do this, especially when that pasta is easy to make a tastes great. This lasagna covers both bases.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups spaghetti sauce
• ⅓ cup water
• (1) 9 oz package of meat or cheese-filled ravioli
• 1 beaten egg
• (1) 15 oz carton ricotta cheese
• ¼ cup grated romano or parmesan cheese
• (1) 10 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

How to make it:

1. In a 10-in skillet, combine the spaghetti sauce and water, and bring to a boil
2. Stir in the ravioli and cover
3. Cook the mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the ravioli are nearly tender, but still a bit al dente
4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the egg, ricotta cheese, and romano or parmesan cheese
5. Dot the ravioli with spinach
6. Spoon the ricotta mixture on top
7. Cover and cook over low heat for about 10 minutes or until ricotta layer is set and pasta is just barely tender

8. Jalapeño Poppers

For a nice little snack that will heat you right up, cook up these jalapeño poppers. They require just three ingredients and can be easily cooked over the campfire or on a grill.

Ingredients:

• As many jalapeños as you’d like
• Cream cheese
• Bacon

How to make it:

1. Clean out the jalapeños – be sure to remove the seeds
2. Stuff them with cream cheese
3. Wrap the jalapeños with bacon
4. Cook on the fire or grill as desired

9. Camper’s Skillet

This one-pan breakfast is great to make when you’ve got a crew of hungry campers and don’t have the time or desire to make something more complicated.

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes, diced or sliced
• 6 large eggs or egg beaters
• 6-8 sausage links
• 1 medium-sized onion, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• Seasoning salt

How to make it:

1. Fry the sausages, cubed potatoes, chopped onions, and green peppers
2. Season with salt, to taste
3. Break the eggs or pour the egg beaters over the contents of the skillet
4. Mix until the eggs are done

10. Peanut Butter S’more Quesadillas

Some may call this dessert, others may call it a snack. Whatever you call it, these sweet quesadillas are likely to become your favorite camping food.

Ingredients:

• 4-6 T peanut butter
• (2) 9-10 inch flour tortillas
• ½ cup small marshmallows
• ¼ cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips or pieces
• 2 medium firm, ripe banas, thinly sliced
• Cooking oil
• Sugar and ground cinnamon

How to make it:

1. Spread 2-3 T peanut butter over half of each tortilla
2. Top each half with marshmallows, chocolate pieces, and banana slices
3. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently to flatten and seal
4. Brush both sides with a bit of oil
5. Put a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on a camp stove, grill rack, or grate over an open campfire
6. Cook tortillas for 2-3 minutes per side or until the chocolate is melted and the tortillas are golden brown
7. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top
8. Cut into wedges

11. Fireside Fajitas

Everything tastes better when its cooked and eaten by the fireside, and that is definitely the case for these fajitas. They’re packed with flavor and fun that will make all campers happy.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pounds round steak or chicken tenders
• (1) 12oz jar of salsa
• 1 package fajita seasoning
• 1 can mexican corn or yellow corn
• 1 bag frozen stir fry onions/peppers
• 1 T flour
• Corn tortillas
• Jalapeños
• Mexican cheese
• Sour cream
• Pre-cooked spanish rice

How to make it:

1. Slice steak or chicken into thin strips
2. Put all ingredients except the cheese and sour cream into a bag or foil, seal the edges and place on a rack over campfire coals
3. Let them cook inside the bag for 20-30 minutes
4. Warm the corn tortillas
5. Empty the bag or foil contents onto the warm tortilla or serve buffet-style and top with sour cream and cheese

12. Antipasta Dip

This easy dip is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or to serve as an appetizer while everyone is waiting for dinner to cook. It’s quick, easy, and tasty and will leave everyone wanting more.

Ingredients:

• 2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
• 1 small can chopped green chilis
• 1 small can chopped black olives
• 3 T olive oil
• 3 or 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 ½ T vinegar
• 1 green pepper, finely chopped
• 1 small jar chopped pimento
• 1 T garlic salt
• Tortilla chips

How to make it:

1. Mix all ingredients together and marinate in the fridge for at least an hour
2. Serve with tortilla chips

13. Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast tastes even better when it requires almost no effort. This casserole puts all of the best breakfast foods into one dish to make life much easier.

Ingredients:

• (1) 32 oz bag frozen hash brown potatoes
• 1 pound bacon or ham, cooked and diced or cubed
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 ½ cup cheddar or Monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1 dozen eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

How to make it:

1. Put a layer of frozen potatoes on the bottom of a slow cooker
2. Follow it with a layer of bacon or ham
3. Then put a layer of onions, green pepper, and cheese on top
4. Repeat the layering two or three more times, ending with a layer of cheese
5. Beat the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together
6. Pour that mixture over the crockpot mixture
7. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours

14. Lemon Apple Crisp

Dessert is our favorite part of the day and if you feel the same, then get ready to feast on this dessert that will have you feeling like you’ve hit the jackpot of desserts. This can be easily cooked in a Dutch oven to make it that much more authentic.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups tart apples
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup whole oats
• ¾ cup flour
• ½ cup butter
• ½ walnuts, chopped
• 1 tsp grated lemon rind

How to make it:

1. Mix apples, lemon juice, sugar, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ½ cup of chopped walnuts together
2. Put them in a 10-inch Dutch oven
3. Combine brown sugar, whole oats, flour, butter, remaining ½ cup chopped walnuts, and lemon rind to make the topping
4. Add the topping and bake from the top and bottom for 20 minutes
5. Remove from bottom heat, but continue to cook from the top for another 10 minutes or until the apples are soft
6. If you’d prefer cooking it in the oven, simple preheat to 350F and cook for 25-30 minutes

15. Santa Fe Soup

When you go camping during the colder months, it’s nice to have a warm soup to bring your body temperature back up to a manageable place. And it’s even better when that soup is full of nutrients and ingredients to make you feel warm again.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground turkey or beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 packages ranch salad dressing
• 2 packages taco seasoning mix
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes with chilies
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 can white corn
• 2 cups water
• Sour cream
• Cheddar cheese, shredded
• Green onion, sliced

How it’s made:

1. Sauté ground turkey or beef until browned
2. Add onions and cook for five minutes
3. Drain fat, if any
4. Add ranch dressing and taco mix to meat, stir well
5. Add remaining ingredients undrained, and water
6. Simmer for 2 hours
7. Serve with tortilla chips, garnish with sour cream, cheese, and green onions

This is just a snippet of the hundreds of recipes we have in our KOA Camping Recipes collection. We’ve got everything from capfire recipes to main dishes, side dishes to breakfasts, and desserts, too! Search our database to find the recipes that will make your camping experience a fun and tasty one.

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Leslie, a.k.a. Copy Girl, is a copywriter who gets butterflies from telling stories through words.

Her voice comes from a place filled with passion, dreams, and lots of sugar. “Cake over steak” is her go-to motto.

With over 10 years of experience in crafting words, and years of embarking on travels that have taken this Montana girl to some incredible places, Leslie love the adventures of both body and mind her writing takes her on.

Everywhere she goes, she takes this advice with her:

“Hold on to your divine blush, your innate rosy magic, or end up brown.” – Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume

To see what Leslie’s up to in the writing world, visit her website here.

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