Foods I love to Camp With
Is there any question worse than “what’s for dinner?”
Food’s you eat while camping could make or break your trip. This is absolutely the time for you to pull out your favorite, rib sticking, comfort foods. I have a few standards I will always bring with me. And then I have a few rules I live by no matter what the trip is.
Number 1 Favorite: Pizza Pasta!
This is by far the easiest, but favorite, of every trip I bring it on.
1 pound Italian sausage
4-8 oz grated mozzarella
2 cans diced tomatoes
1-2 Tbs Italian seasonings
1 bag mini pepperoni
1 pound of pasta cooked- rigatoni is my favorite
Any additional pizza toppings prepared your preferred way
You simply brown the sausage, add the canned tomatoes and seasonings, and then stir in the rest of the ingredients. It takes under an hour, and everyone loves it!
Number 2: Tacos and Rice
Chicken or beef cooked with taco seasoning
Cheese
Hot Sauce
Tortilla Shells
All your favorite toppings
Uncle bens ready rice packets- I like pilaf with this for some reason
Aidell’s Sausages are my favorite to bring camping, they taste amazing over the natural smoke of a campfire.
Number 3 : I also really like to make these potato packets. They’re easiest to make ahead of time and require minimal work when camping.
A bag of shredded hash brown potatoes
One stick of melted butter
8 oz of sour cream
4-8 oz of cheddar cheese
4-8 slices of crumbled bacon
Chopped Green onion to taste
Garlic powder
Salt
Pepper
Put all ingredients into a bowl except for the bacon.
Lay out four large squares of foil.
Place mixture evenly on all four squares.
Divide bacon among packets. Fold foil in half then roll up the sides.
I like to freeze these before a trip and eat them on the second or third night. They help keep my cooler chilly and they’re great after a long hike.
To cook them I carefully put them in the bottom of the campfire turning frequently. Cook for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
The recipe below is easiest with just hot dogs. But if I feel fancy I may cut up some chicken or steak to throw in! It also tastes great over white or brown rice!
Number 4: Marinated Hot Dogs and Veggies
Okay this one might seem weird, but hear me out. It is EASY! The marinade tastes great with the hot dogs and the veggies have a tangy vinegary flavor. This dressing is slightly Greek tasting to me, but it reminds me of summer days as a child. I listed some veggies I always add to my mix, but feel free to add whatever you’d like. I always prepare these the day before my trip for maximum flavor.
One pack of Nathan’s hot dogs
A bottle of Speide State Fair Sauce (It’s not that expensive, but then you know what to look for)
Bell pepper, Onion, canned potato, mushrooms, mini corn, cherry tomatoes
Leave hot dogs whole or chop in half. Place into a Ziploc bag.
Cut up all your veggies and place into another Ziploc bag.
Divide bottle of marinade between two bags, I typically need more in the veggie bag.
To cook them I skewer up the hot dogs and cook over the fire. I will put my cast iron skillet on top of the grill over a fire pit, or use my camping stove. Cook until they’re done to your liking. 10-20 minutes. I’m not against the use of ketchup or mustard on these hot dogs.
And of course, you can always bring a big frozen bag of your favorite chili or soup.
French Onion and Chicken Soups!
How I make the most of my meals:
I always try to have a drinks cooler and a food cooler. I got my cooler on sale with a gift card. It’s heavy, but it does the job. I will prep it always with a block or bag of ice the night before I need to pack it. Especially since it lives in my garage in the Vegas heat. If it’s just me or me and one other person, I will use one cooler. No one wants a hot Gatorade after hiking for ten hours. But more importantly, no one wants food poisoning. Having two coolers ensures you can keep your food cooler closed as much as you can while also enjoying a refreshing beverage.
I have a cast iron skillet I only take camping. It’s pretty small, but I make sure to clean it well when I get home and might even re-season it . Then it goes right back into my camping bin.
This little grill is perfect for the back country. I just don’t want to deal with my camping stove at the end of the day.
I save little packets of sauces and seasonings from all my favorite restaurants. Especially mayo!
Always bring baked goods! Cookie bars are a must!
Stuffed cookies are addicting and deadly! I make these when we’re going to be celebrating something special!
If you want to be basic that’s okay. But I recommend making s’mores with chips ahoy chewy cookies and peanut butter cups. You can thank me later.
I’ve also brought multiple lasagnas camping, as well as a few other casseroles. Let me know if you want more info on how to make and reheat them.
