It is officially July! For us that usually means the kick off to our Summer camping trips. This year is a little different for us since we are expecting our second baby girl in just a few weeks. So to get in the spirit of our normal vacation month, I decided to compile some Camping Cooking Tips & Tricks (+ Printable) to share with you!
We always joke that we usually eat our best when we go camping with both sides of the family. But it can be very true! Maybe because we all take turns with fun meals, or maybe because you are kind of forced to plan your meal before you go-so end up with some good stuff. Either way hopefully some of these Camping Cooking Tips & Tricks can help you with your next trip.
Make sure to check out my list of 20 Best Summer Camping Recipes, too!
Why go camping?
Camping continues to grow as a very popular activity many people especially this past year during the pandemic. More people wanted to get outside, be “socially distanced”, or didn’t want to have their trips canceled AGAIN. We love it because its a great time to disconnect from the normal world and reconnect with nature, family & friends! Plus it is generally an affordable vacation for us. So if you are an experienced camper, or just getting into the love of camping, check out some of these basic Camping Meal Ideas, tips, and tricks and also a checklist of things that will help making cooking while camping easier!
Items that may help you cook while camping
- Pie Irons
- Fire Cooking Grate
- Table Top propane grill, or your portable grill of choice
- Cast Iron Skillets
- Disposable Aluminum Pans
- Plastic Totes (to store your dry goods/ paper plates/ plasticware)
Camping Cooking Tips & Tricks Printable! Print it & Pin It for your next trip!
Cooking directly over the Campfire
What you need: Roasting sticks or similar, Pie Irons (Aka Hobo Pie makers)
Camping is often associated with the campfire as it can be a cozy place to gather or a source of food preparation. For those that do not want a lot of work, there is the standard hot dog or brats on a roasting stick. And of course the ultimate camping dessert….s’mores!
If you are looking for quick and easy snacks you can also make grilled cheese or other sandwiches in a square pie iron. We make pizza versions on every camping trip with all of your favorite pizza toppings! This can also be used for desserts by putting pie filling inside the dough (hobo pie) and using the same piece of equipment. This food may not be gourmet, but it is good, solid camping food, and it can allow people to take it easy and relax a bit. (great for late night meals after a long day in the sun and a few Sunshine Drinks!)
Hearty cooking in the coals
What you need: Foil or aluminum pans
Another way to make a campfire meal that is fairly simple and incorporates some solid comfort food is cooking all in one foil packs. Campers can start with a sheet of aluminum foil for each person. In the center of the foil, there should be placed raw meat, cut up potatoes, and vegetables such as carrots, green beans, and corn.
You can then season to taste with salt, pepper, and other flavor seasonings. The foil should then be wrapped around the food so that it is sealed relatively tight. An adult can then carefully the foil packages in the fire. They should be put in the fire long enough for the meat to cook, and then they can be removed. After a few minutes of cooling, they are ready to be unwrapped and eaten.
Campfire Grates
What you need: Cat iron skillets, aluminum pans
Cooking over a grate is one of the ways we cook the most during our camping trips. We have a grate that swivels on and off of the fire for easy loading and unloading. You can lower and raise to grate for hotter or lower heat.
You can cook in your cast iron skillets, pots and pans, and even my parents used to percolate their coffee this way. I have made peach cobbler and even my Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast Skillet right on the grate! When we are cooking for large groups this is a great way to cook your brats, corn, steaks, etc. Or you can put your meals in aluminum pans and cover with foil and cook that way, too!
Check out my Campfire Whiskey Peach Cobbler!
Portable Grills
What you need: portable grill of choice
Of course you can always pack up your favorite portable grill or table top camping stove. We recently bought a Blackstone Grill which we find great for camping! There is a large cooking surface that is perfect for breakfast, burgers, and fajitas!
So whatever kind of grill you bring like your Weber, small gas grill, or if you have room, your smoker….just make sure you don’t forget to pack your charcoal, propane, wood pellets, or wood chips to accompany all of your grilling needs!
Backpack Camping Cooking
What you need: water, pot or pan
Finally, there are always pre-packaged options, which can be particularly helpful when backpacking. These packages are often freeze-dried, and they can include various meats, pasta, and even desserts. In most situations, these are bagged and simply need to be cooked with water. The nice thing about these meal options is that they can be fairly simple and easy to prepare, even in less-than-ideal conditions. In some situations, they can be a bit pricey, so feeding a family may be expensive. But, in some situations, they may be the best option for the camping environment.
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