10 Quick and Easy Camping Meals to Enjoy Around the Fire

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Camping meals are one of the best reasons to go on a trip in the first place. You get to be with your people, telling funny stories and creating new inside jokes. Everyone’s just rounded up around the campfire and bonding over food. Life is good.

Most people gravitate toward trail mix or smores as they’re simply lazy camping food. They’re staple snacks that you can munch on while chatting. However, you also want to have filling and hearty meals. Save the small stuff for appetizers and desserts, and try these recipes for an easy campfire dinner. 

1. Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Buffalo chicken sandwiches are a high-impact and low-effort dish. You can bring a portable generator and a crockpot to the campground. Place chicken breasts in your slow cooker with buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Cover and cook in the late afternoon to have it ready by nighttime. 

Once the chicken is ready, shred and add it to buns. Bring extra vegetables to balance out the sauciness. Or if you want maximum quickness, make the sandwiches and put them in meal prep containers before heading to the campsite. Create easy camping meals for your family before even pitching your tent. 

2. Franks and Beans

Roasting hotdogs on a stick around the fire is a key camping tradition. There’s plenty of time when waiting for the meat to cook, so there’s so much room to tell stories and just joke around. You can put beans into a pot to have a side dish with your pot. 

Make sure your hotdogs and beans don’t go bad. You can use sustainable and compostable freezer bags to keep the ingredients cool. Squeeze in a couple of beers to unwind with your loved ones. 

3. Campfire Nachos

Campfire nachos are another easy meal you can whip up in the comfort of your tent. Bring a cast iron skillet with a lid over a fire. Add oil to avoid sticking. Afterward, evenly spread nacho chips over the surface.

Sprinkle whatever your heart decides over the top. You can cook ground beef in the pan before the nacho chips to add meat. Green onions, black beans, and cilantro are also important staples. Dollop on tomato sauce and cheese. Grill until it’s all melted together. 

4. Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp tacos are a handy camping meal. Soft tortillas are easy to grip onto, but hard shells are also nice if you prefer to have a crunch. Skewer your shrimp and cook them over the fire. 

Prepare the rest of your ingredients, such as tomatoes, onions and avocado. Create a garlic sauce and put them into a squeezy tube. You can leave the ingredients out and assemble them around the campfire while talking with one another. 

5. Steak Kebabs

Steak kebabs are an easy camping meal that can stay on the skewer. Cut up your sirloin into cubes and marinate it in soy sauce, barbeque sauce, and Worcestershire the night before the trip. Bring along mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and sweet pepper.

Once ready to eat, cut your vegetables and skewer them on a stick. Add pieces of steak in between and place them over the fire. You can brush and coat the stick with leftover marinade for extra flavor while cooking. 

6. Tortellini Soup

Soup is a cozy camping meal you can easily do in one pot. Tortellini is perfect to help you feel full during your adventures. Adding spice will also provide a bit of warmth. 

In a pot, brown the chopped onion and garlic. Add Italian sausage and grind it with a wooden spatula while cooking. Season with garlic powder, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes. Toss in the kale and tortellini right after. Pour extra vegetable stock if you want more liquids.  

7. Baked Potatoes

Skip the oven and create campfire baked potatoes. Cut them in the middle and poke them with a fork so they cook quickly in your aluminum foil. Add fillings like green onions and bacon bits before buttering them up and wrapping them. Cook on the campfire until tender.

White russet potatoes are usually the superior tater, but you could also go with sweet potatoes instead. They balance out the meatiness of your camping meal. Plus, they offer vitamins A and C compared to regular ones.

8. Veggie Sloppy Joes

Another plant-based food at the campsite is veggie sloppy joes. Red lentils are a good base for these, as they have a firm yet creamy texture that goes well with toasted buns. Boil and simmer them while stirring in a pot. 

From there, you can add chopped onions and Anaheim pepper to a pot over the campfire. Let it soften before pouring in tomato paste. Toss in the lentils before incorporating mustard, Worcestershire, and chili powder. 

9. Beef Burritos

Burritos are an easy camping meal you could whip up before the trip. You can make and wrap them for a hassle-free dinner. Alternatively, prep the ingredients and assemble them while around the fire. It’s pretty funny to watch friends and family struggle to close their burritos because there is too much filling. 

Cook ground beef and add taco seasoning. Chop lettuce, avocado, cucumber, peppers, zucchini, and more. Rice is also good for filling the stomach after a long, adventurous day. 

10. Pulled Pork Salad

Another meat-and-veggie combination is pulled pork salad. For the dressing, mix extra virgin olive oil with a bit of lime juice, ground pepper, and salt. Then, add thin slices of cabbage and carrot to a large mixing bowl.

You can roast pork in a crock pot or prepare it beforehand. Shred and add it to your salad base. Include sliced avocados, cucumbers, and pickles as you wish. Top every bowl off with sesame seeds, and enjoy. 

Savor Your Camping Meals

Camping meals don’t have to be complicated, especially when your ingredients are chopped up and ready to go. Serve dinner in a jiffy and get on with the rest of your campground adventures.