If you go camping a lot, you know how repetitive camping food can be. Don’t get me wrong—as much as I love hamburgers and hot dogs over the open fire, they can get pretty boring after a while.
That’s why this article focuses on easy camping recipes the whole family will love! All of these recipes are able to be made around the campfire and will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Let’s dive in!
11 Easy Camping Meals for Family
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or camping dinner ideas, we’ve got you covered for your next family camping trip!
1. Camp Nachos
Campfire nachos in a cast iron skillet? Say no more. This is one of my favorite easy camping meals for family to make while over the fire.
Ingredients:
- Tortilla chips
- 1 can hot tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 can black beans (drained)
- 1 TBSP neutral oil
- Toppings of your choice (avocados, green onions, cilantro, lime)
Directions:
Lightly oil the bottom of your cast iron. Spread the chips onto the pan, followed by the tomato sauce, cheese, beans, and toppings of choice. Cover the dutch oven pan and grill over the campfire for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted. Serve with lime wedges and enjoy!
2. Breakfast Burritos
These breakfast burritos are perfect for the great outdoors! They can be made ahead of time and reheated over the campfire, too.
Ingredients:
- Flour tortillas
- 4 potatoes peeled, chopped, cooked ahead of time
- 1 lb bacon
- 8 eggs, scrambled
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese grated
- Toppings (such as green onions, salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, etc)
Directions:
In a portable camping stove, cook your bacon and potatoes (if you haven’t yet cooked them). Once cooked, crumble the bacon and scramble the eggs. While eggs are cooking, lay out the flour tortillas. Once the eggs are cooked, add all ingredients (minus the toppings and the tortillas) in a bowl, mix, and fold the mixture onto the tortilla. Wrap in foil and cook for 10-15 minutes. Add toppings, serve immediately, and enjoy!
3. Shrimp Scampi Foil Packets
Looking for a no-fuss recipe that can be topped over pasta or eaten on its own in a foil pack? This shrimp scampi is an easy camping meal that will satisfy all your cravings. While this shrimp scampi recipe has quite a bit more ingredients than most, it’s still an easy camping meal and we recommend you make it at least once!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 TBSP dry white wine
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 TBSP parsley
- 1 TBSP rosemary and thyme
- 1 TBSP freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more, to taste
- ½ TSP crushed red pepper flakes
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, butter, wine, garlic, rosemary, thyme, lemon juice, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes. Give it a good mix, then add the salt and pepper. Place the shrimp mixture onto the tin foil, and fold up each side over the shrimp (you want the shrimp to be completely covered). Place the tin foil packets on the campfire grate, and cook for 10-12 minutes (or until fully cooked). Garnish with parsley and serve immediately! Foil packet meals are some of our favorite meals and will satisfy the whole family!
4. Breakfast Sandwiches
Breakfast sandwiches are great at any time of the day (not just breakfast). This is one of the easiest camping meals for family you can make, too!
Ingredients:
- 4 english muffins
- 4 sausage patties
- 4 eggs
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- Butter to crisp up the muffins
Directions:
In a cast iron pan, crisp up the english muffins with butter until golden brown. Set aside. Cook the sausage patties for four minutes on each side (or until fully cooked). Place on the english muffins, and cook your eggs how you like them (sunny side up, scrambled, etc). Place on the english muffin and serve!
5. Campfire Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is one of the easiest (and delicious) campfire cooking ideas on this list (if I say so myself). This recipe can be a made ahead camping meal, too (cook everything at home, and heat over hot coals at the campfire).
Ingredients:
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup alfredo sauce
- ½ cup shredded cheddar, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup milk
Directions:
Cook the macaroni in heavily salted water over the campfire. Once cooked, drain the water and add in the alfredo, cheeses, and milk. Stir together and place into a disposable aluminum pan. Cover with aluminum foil until ready to serve and enjoy!
6. Campfire Banana Boats
If you’re looking for new camping dessert recipes, look no further than these incredible campfire banana boats! Honestly, you might forgo s’mores after this one (and that’s saying something).
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
- Toppings of your choice (chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, etc)
Directions:
Slice your banana down the middle (not all the way through) and pull the banana slightly apart. Stuff the banana with your nut butter and toppings, then wrap in foil and place directly on top of the fire (or on the center of the campfire grill grate). Bake for around 10 minutes, unwrap, and enjoy!
7. Cast Iron Brats with Peppers and Onions
Camp cooking has never been easier – these brats with peppers and onions can be made in a dutch oven (or frying pan) and make the perfect camping breakfast or camping dinner ideas.
Ingredients:
- 8 Italian sausage links
- 4 bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt and pepper
Directions:
While your campfire is heating up, cut up tin foil into 12” long sheets. Grill your sausages until charred (about three minutes per side) then place sausages onto the foil packet. Top with peppers and onions and drizzle each foil packet with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Fold each packet and cover the sausage and pepper mix the grill for 13-15 minutes (or until fully cooked). Serve immediately and enjoy!
8. Campfire Pigs in a Blanket
Pigs in a blanket take your traditional hot dog and elevate it. This one is a hit, especially with kids!
Ingredients:
- Hot dogs (or cocktail wieners)
- Pre-made crescent dough
- Toppings of choice (ketchup, mustard, etc)
Directions:
Wrap your hot dog (or cocktail wieners) in a portion of the crescent dough, stick it on a skewer, and roast over the campfire! Top with your favorite condiment and enjoy.
9. Walking Tacos
When we said we were going to give you easy camping food ideas, we weren’t kidding! These walking tacos take no time to make and you’re able to take them with you anywhere.
Ingredients:
- Single serve bag of chips (such as Fritos or Doritos)
- Ground beef
- Packet of taco seasoning
- Toppings (such as cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, etc)
Directions:
Brown your taco meat on your camp stove. Add in the taco seasoning and let simmer according to packet directions. While simmering, open your single serve chip bag, crush the chips, and spoon the meat inside. Assemble with toppings and you’re good to go!
10. Grilled Cheese
Looking for an easy to make lunch? Look no further than these campfire grilled cheese sandwiches! There are two ways you can go about making grilled cheese while camping – in a pie iron or directly on top of a grilling gate.
Ingredients:
- Bread
- Cheese
- Butter
Directions:
If making these grilled cheese sandwiches in a pie iron, spread butter on either side of the bread, place cheese in between the slices, and place in the pie iron. Grill over the campfire for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
If making these directly over the grilling gate, spread butter on either side of the bread, place cheese in between the slices, and wrap in a foil pack. Grill for 4-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Pie irons are a great convenient camping item to have one hand, so consider adding one to your repertoire.
11. Dutch Oven Lasagna is a easy camping meals for family
When we first realized we could make lasagna over a campfire, we were blown away. This is one of the best lasagna dishes we’ve had and it’s a pretty dang impressive meal to cook over the fire.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 ½ cups pasta sauce
- 12 oz fresh lasagna noodles, divided into 4 sets
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 ½ cup mozzarella shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano or basil
Directions:
Heat your coals and coat the bottom of a dutch oven pan with olive oil. Add ½ cup of pasta sauce, spread evenly over the bottom of the dutch oven, and assemble the first set of noodles. Then, add more sauce, 1 cup of spinach, and ⅓ cup of cheese. Repeat this process two more times. Sprinkle the dried oregano or basil over the top layer and cover your dutch oven pan. Place your pan on 8 hot coals and put any remaining coals on top of the dutch oven lid. Bake for 30 minutes or until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!
Whether you’re a first time camper or a seasoned vet, we hope you enjoyed these easy camping meals for family! Which was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. Happy camping!
