5 Easy Camping Meals (with Recipes)

Camping is a fantastic way to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and treat yourself to a much-needed change of scenery. One of the joys of camping is cooking meals in the great outdoors, but when you’re out there in nature’s playground, alone or in a group, you don’t want to spend too much time preparing food. In other words, it’s all about simplicity.

Whether it’s simple dehydrated meals or more elaborate meat and vegan recipes, your options are endless. Well, without further ado, here are five easy meals that are tasty, easy to make, and sure to be a hit with everyone at your campsite.

Recipe 1: Quesadillas

Ingredients

• tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend)
• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded (optional)
• 1 cup bell peppers, diced
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salsa and sour cream for serving

How to Prepare

1. Prep Your Ingredients: Before heading to your campsite, dice the bell peppers and onions and store them in a ziplock bag. Shred the cheese and cooked chicken and keep them in separate containers.
2. Set Up Your Campfire: Build a campfire and allow it to burn down to hot coals. Alternatively, use a camping stove.
3. Cook the Veggies: Heat the olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over the fire. Add the diced bell peppers and onions and sauté until they are tender.
4. Assemble the Quesadillas: Lay out a tortilla and sprinkle a layer of cheese on one half. Add some of the cooked veggies and chicken over the cheese, then fold the tortilla in half.
5. Cook the Quesadillas: Place the quesadilla in the skillet and cook until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown, flipping once to cook both sides evenly.
6. Serve: Remove from the skillet, cut into wedges, and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Recipe 2: One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli works well)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup zucchini, sliced
• 1 cup bell peppers, diced
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• grated Parmesan cheese for serving

How to Prepare

1. Prep Your Ingredients: Slice the zucchini and bell peppers, halve the cherry tomatoes, and cut the broccoli into small florets before you leave for your trip. Store them in separate containers or bags.
2. Set Up Your Cooking Area: Prepare your camp stove or a stable grate over your campfire.
3. Cook the Pasta and Vegetables: In a large pot, combine the pasta, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, vegetable broth, olive oil, dried basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Simmer Until Done: Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked and the liquid is mostly absorbed (about 10-12 minutes).
5. Serve: Once the pasta is tender and the liquid has reduced to a creamy sauce, remove from heat. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top.

Recipe 3: Foil Packet BBQ Chicken and Veggies

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups baby potatoes, halved
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 1 cup bell peppers, sliced
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• aluminum foil

How to Prepare

1. Prep Your Ingredients: Halve the baby potatoes and slice the bell peppers before you leave. Store them with the baby carrots in a container.
2. Assemble the Foil Packets: Lay out four large pieces of aluminum foil. Place one chicken breast in the center of each piece. Surround each chicken breast with an equal portion of baby potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers. Drizzle BBQ sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Seal the Packets: Fold the sides of the foil over the chicken and vegetables, then fold the ends to seal the packets completely.
4. Cook Over the Fire: Place the foil packets on a grate over the campfire or on a camping stove. Cook for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
5. Serve: Carefully open the foil packets (they will be hot!) and serve directly from the foil for easy cleanup.

Recipe 4: Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 large bell peppers
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• aluminum foil

How to Prepare

1. Prep Your Ingredients: Dice the onion and mince the garlic before you leave for your trip.
2. Set Up Your Campfire: Build a campfire and let it burn down to hot coals or use a camping stove.
3. Prepare the Filling: In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until tender. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook until browned. Stir in the cooked rice, diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes.
4. Stuff the Peppers: Cut the tops off the bell peppers and remove the seeds. Stuff each pepper with the meat and rice mixture, then top with shredded cheese.
5. Wrap in Foil: Wrap each stuffed pepper in aluminum foil.
6. Cook Over the Fire: Place the foil-wrapped peppers on the grate over the campfire or on a camping stove. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted.
7. Serve: Carefully unwrap and serve hot.

Recipe 5: Veggie Stir-Fry

Ingredients

• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup bell peppers, sliced
• 1 cup snap peas
• 1 cup carrots, sliced
• 1 cup onion, sliced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• cooked rice or noodles for serving

How to Prepare

1. Prep Your Ingredients: Slice the bell peppers, snap peas, carrots, and onion. Store them in separate containers.
2. Set Up Your Campfire: Build a campfire and let it burn down to hot coals or use a camping stove.
3. Cook the Veggies: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and sesame oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the broccoli, bell peppers, snap peas, carrots, and onion. Stir-fry until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
4. Add the Sauce: Stir in the soy sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
5. Serve: Serve the veggie stir-fry over cooked rice or noodles.

Make your next camping trip a culinary adventure

These easy camping meals are not only delicious but also a breeze to prepare, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the nature around you. When it comes to vacationing in Croatia, Camping Village Šimuni is your best bet for both gorgeous nature and culinary delights.

If you’d like to join us in this Adriatic feast for the senses, you can reach out via our contact form and we’ll take it from there. Happy camping and happy eating!