If you grew up eating camp meals out of aluminum foil packets cooked over the fire, the idea of camp cooking might not seem exciting to you. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Camp cooking can be a wonderful, immersive experience with a little bit of inspiration. Amp up your camping menu this season with a few simple, tasty meals that will have everyone at your campsite wanting more.
You’ll love the simple, wholesome ingredients in these easy meals. They won’t require you to add a bunch of things to your camping supplies.
We’ve compiled the ultimate camp menu that will take you from breakfast all the way to dessert. We’re confident that cooking any one of these meals over the fire will have you feeling proud to be the camp cook!
Forest Frittata
All of the best days of camping begin with a hot breakfast cooked over the fire. Looking for a good hearty camping breakfast made with versatile ingredients? This cast iron frittata will check your boxes.
It’s an easy meal that requires just one dish and a few common ingredients. A great option for experienced as well as beginner campers.
The best method to approach cooking a campfire frittata is to do it in a cast-iron skillet on a grate over a bed of embers. Cooking over the fire is a great way to ensure even heating of the bottom of the skillet.
If you have a lid for your skillet, you have the added bonus of placing embers on the lid as well. That way you get a nice golden brown top to your frittata. It’s also the closest thing to an over you’ll get in camp.
If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet with a lid, you can cover the skillet with aluminum foil. If you wrap it tightly this method will work just as well as a lid.
It can take quite a while for a campfire to burn down to embers hot enough to cook a meal. Especially in the morning, it can help to use hardwood charcoal.
This will get your fire going quickly if you start the embers by using a charcoal chimney. In fact, hardwood charcoal burns longer than embers when heated this way.
Ingredients
The frittata ingredients you will need include eggs (at least six), salt, pepper, milk, and cooking oil. You can add any vegetables you like. We recommend blistered cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and shallots covered with mozzarella.
Directions
Prepare your egg mixture in a large bowl. Beat the eggs thoroughly. Then add milk, chopped basil, cheese, salt, and pepper to the mixture.
Warm a small amount of cooking or olive oil in your cast-iron skillet over the fire. Sautee the minced shallot first. When the shallot softens, toss in the cherry tomatoes, egg mixture, and cheese.
Place the lid on your skillet and set it on the fire to bake. It should be done in about 15 minutes. Once the frittata is cooked through, remove the lid and serve to your hungry campers.
Baja Fish Camp Tacos
Next stop, lunch! Baja fish tacos are a great easy meal to make in camp after a morning of hiking and exploring. You’ll certainly have worked up an appetite and these delicious tacos will be just the protein your palette needs.
This particular meal is a great option if you’re doing some fishing on your camping trip. But you can just as easily pick up some fresh fish from the nearest grocery or fish market.
Ingredients
To make these Baja fish tacos you will need tortillas and fish, naturally. The best fish for making fish tacos are mild, white-fleshed saltwater fish. Our favorites include cod, halibut, snapper, and mahi-mahi.
To season the fish, you’ll need the juice of a few limes, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
For the rest of the taco fillings, we recommend corn on the cob, jalapeno peppers, white onion, cilantro, and shredded cheese.
Directions
The first thing to do is get your fire started. Get those coals nice and hot and then toss on the corn cobs and jalapenos to cook. Ideally, you want them to get a little bit charred so you get that great campfire taste.
Next, prepare your fish. Slice your limes and squeeze half a lime over each fillet. Cover the fillets in olive oil and a liberal amount of salt.
Finally, dust the fillets with a bit of cumin and chili powder to your desired spice level.
You can certainly cook the fish directly on the grate over your campfire. But those campground grates aren’t always the cleanest. If you can’t clean your campfire grate, another great tool to keep on hand is a broiler basket.
Place the seasoned fish inside the basket and set the whole thing over the fire alongside the corn cobs and jalapenos.
Once the corn and jalapeno peppers are done cooking, take them off the fire and let them cool for a few minutes. Then take your best camping knife and use it to shave the corn off the cob and chop up the other fresh ingredients.
When you’ve finished chopping the jalapenos, red onion, and cilantro, mix them together in a bowl and add lime juice. Now you have the base layer of your tacos ready to go.
Make sure you are keeping your eye on the fire while you’re preparing the taco base layer. Once the fish begins to crisp up, it’s time to flip it. If you’re using a broiler basket, you’ll find it makes flipping fish a breeze.
Keep in mind the second side of the fish will only take half as long to cook as the first side. To save time, toss your tortillas on the fire to warm them up while your fish finishes cooking.
Once the tortillas are warm and the fish is nice and crispy, remove them from the fire. Use your camping knife to slice up the fish. Then fill the tortillas with the fish and taco base and serve!
Sweet Serenity Potato Peanut Stew
For dinner, how about something hearty and comforting! This vegan sweet potato peanut stew is sure to hit the spot after a day of adventuring.
Ingredients
To concoct this delicious sweet and savory stew, you will need two cups of cubed sweet potatoes and two cups of chopped kale with the stems removed.
You’ll also need a can of drained chickpeas, two garlic cloves, a diced yellow onion, and a can of diced tomatoes.
For the broth, you will need two cups of chicken or vegetable stock, one tablespoon of cooking oil, and a quarter cup of peanut butter. Use salt and chili powder to season your stew and give it a bit of warming heat.
You will also need a cast-iron Dutch-Oven to cook your stew.
Directions
Start by heating up the oil in your Dutch-Oven. Then add in your diced onions and sauté them for five minutes or until they become translucent. Add your minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
Pour your broth/stock into the Dutch-Oven. Then add your cubed sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes (and the liquid), as well as peanut butter, chili powder, and a few pinches of salt to taste.
Mix the peanut butter into the broth until there aren’t any clumps left. Then simmer the stew for about 20 minutes. You can leave it uncovered for this portion.
When the sweet potatoes are nice and tender, you can add the can of drained chickpeas and your chopped kale. Stir the stew. Leave over the fire until the chickpeas are hot all the way through and the kale is soft and wilted
Adventurer’s Apple Crisp
If you thought dessert was too complicated for campfire cooking, think again! This soul-warming apple crisp could not possibly be an easier dessert to make and share around the fire with friends.
Ingredients
The only ingredients you’ll need are apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, bourbon, and granola. For a little extra pizazz and a nice finishing touch, maybe pack a can of whipped cream as well.
Directions
Once your fire is nice and hot, preheat your cast-iron skillet for a few minutes while you prep your other ingredients. Start by slicing your apples, and then let them cook down in the skillet until they get soft.
When the apples start to create liquid in the skillet, it’s time to add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and a shot of bourbon for flavor. Mix all the ingredients together and leave it on the fire until the alcohol burns off.
When the liquid becomes thick, take the skillet off the fire. Sprinkle the granola on top of the apples and finish it off with whipped cream!
Your Ultimate Camping Menu
Now you can see why a camping menu doesn’t have to be boring, bland, or complicated. You can make delicious, easy meals over the fire with just a few tools and simple ingredients.
For more great tips on how to make your next camping experience the best one yet, check out more of our pro tips and reviews at Camping Buffs. To stay current on all things camping, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.