15+ Easy Camping Meals to Make Campfire Cooking a Breeze

By Hayley Sugg
July 28, 2020
Credit: Allrecipes Magazine

Camping is the perfect getaway when you're looking to escape into the great outdoors, relax with the sounds of nature, and kick back at your campsite without a single bar of cellphone signal. So don't let complicated cooking get in the way of your vacation. Instead, use one of these 17 easy camping recipes. Try roasting up chicken and veggies in Campfire Foil Packets, get creative with Campfire Pepperoni Pizza, or just boil water to enjoy Backpackers' Thai Noodles. Pack up your cooler, and maybe a Dutch oven or grill, and hit the road!

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Camp Breakfast

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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Great for breakfast or a fun dinner, this hearty skillet meal has everything you need for a fueled-up day: crispy bacon, tender potatoes, and fluffy eggs.

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Summer Corn Chowder

Credit: lutzflcat
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This dish is hard to beat when fresh corn is in season. It cooks up in the Dutch oven along with potatoes and peppers to create a rich and creamy chowder.

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Camping Pasta with Clam Sauce

Credit: fabeveryday
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Everything that goes into this decadent pasta recipe is shelf-stable, so you won't have to worry about overpacking your cooler. Cooked linguine is tossed with an Old Bay-infused sauce, sliced mushrooms, and chopped clams.

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Camp Soup

Credit: Deborah Cash Erzen
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This recipe is stick-to-your-ribs filling after a day of hiking. Ground beef and a variety of vegetables all simmer together in a tomato-y sauce. To make it a one-pot meal, simply sauté the beef in the pot instead of a separate skillet. 

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Grilled Sausage with Potatoes and Green Beans

Credit: meloniegreening
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Fire up the grill for this flavorful dinner the whole family will love. "My husband and I loved this — we licked the plate clean," says reviewer GINAH1. "It's important to spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray to ensure the food doesn't stick."

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Backpackers' Thai Noodles

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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Step aside, ramen! All you need is boiling water to enjoy these instant Thai noodles. Rice noodles and freeze-dried veggies cook up in a creamy and spicy peanut sauce.

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Campfire Pepperoni Pizza

Credit: bd.weld
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Recipe creator gonefishn says, "The smokey flavor from the wood fire puts a great twist on an old favorite and with the help of a pizza stone, doing this over an open fire is easier than you may think." Bring a few of your favorite toppings, like pepperoni, veggies, and red pepper flakes, along for campers to customize their pies.

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Tin Foil Stew

Credit: Marti87114
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Who knew you could make stew without a pot? These easy foil packets are tucked into campfire coals to cook. "Friends loved this when I made it camping," says reviewer RAVENSKYLAR. "Only thing is that I made them up at home, and stuck them in the cooler so they were ready to pop in the coals after a long day fishing, and used multiple sheets of foil for each one so they didn't leak. "

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Killer Bacon-Cheese Dogs

Credit: Shearone
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Hot dogs may be standard camping fare, but this recipe takes it up a notch. Savory bacon is paired up with creamy Swiss cheese and sweet barbeque sauce to create a trifecta of flavor. 

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Campfire Foil Packs

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine
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"These are easy to make for camping, my husband loves them," says recipe creator Natural Chef Michelle. "We prepare them at home and then leave them in the cooler until we are ready to cook."

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Cowboy Casserole

Credit: Melissa Goff
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Made with hearty bacon, beef, and beans, you'll feel like a true cowboy stirring up this meal under the stars. Canned biscuits are layered on top of the beans and beef mixture, baking the flaky golden perfection in the Dutch oven.

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Chicken and Chorizo Chili

Credit: Linda T
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With a kick from chorizo and chili powder, this ground chicken chili equal parts delicious and easy to make. Just set up your Dutch oven over the fire, and you'll have a filling meal in about an hour.

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Beef Shish Kebabs for Freezer Cooking

Credit: Holiday Baker
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This meal is perfect for camping, as you can prepare, marinate, and freeze all the ingredients in advance in a zip-lock bag. When you're ready to go, dinner is ready for the grill. For more prep tips, check out 5 strategies for easy camp cooking.

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Earth, Sea and Fire Salmon

Credit: Patty Cakes
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Here's another one of the foil packet recipes for camping that we just love. It's the ultimate quick campfire meal: salmon, potatoes, and veggies all cooked in an aluminum foil packet.

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Big Ray's Kielbasa Cabbage Skillet for a Crowd

Credit: lutzflcat
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Cabbage, sausage, and potato all simmer together in a smoky tomato sauce. This is camping food at its best. Instead of bringing large jars of spices, store what you need in an empty Tic Tac box.

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Omelet in a Bag

Credit: My Hot Southern Mess
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You'll wonder why you didn't think of this before. Cook your bagged omelet in a saucepan of boiling water for super quick clean-up.

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Flaming Burritos

Credit: Kristen R
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This tried-and-true Girl Scouts® inspired recipe is quick to make, and requires minimal clean-up. Serve with salsa and some sour cream on the side.

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By Hayley Sugg