I know that for most of us camping season is over, but I honestly just wanted to get some of these recipes and ideas out there so they don’t escape my brain forever. I have learned from experience that the key to good camping meals is meal prepping, and there are a number of things to remember when meal prepping that can save a dish from becoming a soggy, oily, or sour mess. So with that said, a lot of my favourite camping meals have also become my favourite meal prep dishes! Without further adieu…
Breakfast scramble. There are two ways I’ve done this and both are awesome. First, you can premake an omelette in a mason jar and then fry it up while you’re camping. Or, you can pre-chop bell peppers, onion, and potato and add to a container with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chilli flakes, salt, and pepper. Fry this up and serve with runny eggs in your camper or tent.
Pancakes, waffles, and french toast. These sweet classic breakfasts are so easy to prep for camping. Make them at home as you normally would, let them cool completely, store them in sandwich bags or plastic containers, and pop them on the frying pan in the camper or over the campfire to reheat. Serve with classic toppings pre-chopped to keep you from dirtying dishes while camping. (If you have a toaster, these can be preheated that way as well– pro tip: don’t buy Eggos at home, make bulk batches and freeze then pop in the toaster when ready to eat!)
Sandwiches. Okay, I know you’re probably thinking “no shit”. But I have learned some delicious sandwich ideas that are perfect for camping, along with a bag of potato chips or a baggie of trail mix. The secret to a great made-ahead sandwich? Don’t make it ahead. Seriously, we’ve learned from experience. Pack your bread separately from your fillings/toppings to prevent sogginess. These are my favourites: egg salad (eggs with relish, mustard, mayo, and LOTS of black pepper), chicken salad (chicken with mayo, finely chopped celery, finely chopped pickles or relish, and LOTS of black pepper), BLT with cheese, and ham with tomato and cheese (best toasted over the campfire).
Stir fry. This is such an easy dish to make while camping. Pre-chop all your veggies; I recommend bell peppers, broccoli, and red onion. We also love water chestnuts in our stir fry. Choose your protein and make an easy marinade to pack in an airtight container. Shrimp, chicken, beef, tofu– all are great options. For a grain, I suggest couscous because it is so easy to prepare.
Hickory roasted salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach salad. Sounds fancy, hey? Not at all. Buy a hickory or cedar-planked salmon from the grocery store and toss that on the campfire. Or, if you want to kick it up a notch, marinate your salmon in maple syrup and liquid smoke and store it in a container until you’re ready to make it in your camper oven or in tinfoil over the campfire. Bake or boil your potatoes (can be done in advance, as long as you have a way to heat them while camping) and mash with butter and cream. Prepare your spinach salad in advance, with whatever ingredients you prefer, but don’t add the dressing until you’re ready to serve.
Southwestern BBQ Chicken Bowls. This is such an easy meal prep. Cook rice with turmeric and put it in the bottom of your containers. Layer in lettuce, red cabbage, and a mixture of black beans, corn, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Add shredded chicken and goat cheese. Top everything with southwestern or chipotle sauce and your favourite BBQ sauce. This will keep well in the fridge for a week and is good warm or cold.
What are your favourite camping meals?
Let us know what you think!