59+ No Refrigeration Camping Meals & Recipes (shelf-stable food ideas)
Do you ever want to make camping food with ingredients that require no refrigeration? If you are short on cold food storage space … or have none at all … these ingredients for no refrigeration camping meals start and end with your pantry!
VIDEO: Camping Meals No Refrigeration
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Easy Camping Recipes Using Non-Refrigerated Food
You should know how to keep food cold while camping because most camping recipes use ingredients that are refrigerated. But, if your cold food storage space is limited or non-existent, you need recipes, like these, that use pantry-only, shelf-stable ingredients. These are perfect for simple camping trips with minimal gear!
1. 4 Ingredient Banana Pancakes
Pancake recipes typically use eggs and milk but this one doesn’t use either. Here we use 4 simple, non-refrigerated ingredients to create a delicious, vegan-friendly, healthy meal without using refined sugar.
2. 5 Can Chili
This is a hearty camp dinner that can be made over a campfire or as one of our easy camp stove recipes. It uses canned chicken to provide the meat that does not require refrigeration unless you have leftovers … which you won’t!
3. Mexican Spicy Nuts
Many flavored nuts use perishable fats but this one uses olive oil to make this camp snack you can’t stop eating! These nuts are a little salty, sweet and have a touch of heat.
4. Campfire Corn On The Cob
In the summertime, you can make an entire meal of corn on the cob. It is tender, sweet and does not even need butter when it’s in season!
5. Peachy Nutty Pancakes
This recipe uses just-add-water pancakes (which can be quite boring) but the peach topping makes them extraordinary! Instead of using fresh fruit, this yummy breakfast makes great use of canned peaches.
6. Grilled Potato Wedges
This recipe makes the best “French fries” and they don’t need any dipping sauce. But, if you decide to serve them with our Chipotle Mayonnaise, you will have to refrigerate the extra mayo.
7. Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Who doesn’t love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter? The ingredients in this recipe are all non-perishable but in order for the chocolate to harden, you’ll need to make them during the cooler camping months … or … just lick your fingers in the summer! LOL
8. One-Pot Spaghetti
Did you know you don’t have to boil water to cook pasta? You can cook it right in the jarred tomato sauce! If you are able to carry a pound of Italian sausage, you can make this One Pot Spaghetti with meat or just skip the sausage and make it meatless!
Coleman Fold N Go 2-Burner Propane Stove
9. Black Bean Burgers
Who needs meat when you can do Black Bean Burgers like these!
10. Boxed Mac and Cheese
It’s always a good idea to read the package directions when planning convenience foods on your menu. You usually just boil the pasta in water, drain it then stir in a package of processed cheddar cheese. Otherwise, if the cheese is in a powdered form, you may have to add some milk and butter. The best way to add the liquid is to use canned evaporated milk or canned chicken broth and just skip the butter.
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11. Pesto Chicken Pasta
This Pesto Chicken Pasta Recipe uses jarred pesto and canned chicken. It is the perfect pantry ingredient recipe.
12. Greek Lentil Soup
Yes please, I’ll take a bowl of hearty Greek Lentil Soup!
13. Campfire Smores Recipes: 10 Mouth-Watering Smore Variations
Most of our 10 smores variations use non-perishable ingredients. But, we do have a few that use things like bacon … yes, I said bacon! You can always stick with the traditional graham crackers and chocolate bars, but swapping out for some of my favorite ingredients provides a whole new dimension of different flavors and textures that will satisfy your sweet tooth!
Camping Food No Cooking No Refrigeration
No cook camping food ideas are lifesavers when you are camping without fire due to fire restrictions at your camping site. In those situations you may be restricted to open flame cooking with propane camp kitchen equipment that has a quick shut-off mechanism. In those instances, my camp stove recipes are the best choice to make delicious meals.
If you are prohibited from cooking in dry conditions, or you are car camping and don’t have much space for cooking gear, you can still make simple meals and quick snacks with these no cook recipes.
14. Mexican Three Bean Salad With Corn
Our Mexican three bean salad is a great camping food no cooking, no refrigeration side dish. You can also enjoy it as a hearty meatless main course, if you prefer, as the beans are packed with protein!
Camp Casual Bowl & Servers Set
15. Boiled Egg Sandwich
Hard-boiled eggs make a great snack right out of the shell with a little salt and pepper. Another good option to use them is by slicing them and layering with a few tomato and onion slices to make a quick sandwich on a nice crusty bread, bagel or croissant for quick and easy camping meals.
16. Fruit And Nut Peanut Butter Stuffed Tortilla
Want a meal that is healthy and packed with protein? This stuffed tortilla makes a great breakfast, lunch, dessert or snack at the campsite or on the trial! The great thing about wraps is their ability to scale up or down to make camping meals for two, one, or to feed large crowds.
17. Avocado Tuna Salad
Make tuna salad but replace the mayo with mashed avocado. You’ll get more flavor out of a can of tuna packed in oil rather than water. You can serve it as a sandwich, wrap or a dip that is scooped up with tortilla chips.
18. Greek Veggie Wraps
Spread shelf-stable hummus on a pita, top with diced tomatoes, cucumbers and onions, then top with Kalamata olives. It’s a great idea to pack shelf-stable ingredients that come in small containers so you don’t have any leftovers that need to be stored in a cooler after opening.
Classic Organic Hummus, 1.75 Oz Cups, 7 Fl OzPearls Olives To Go!, Pitted Kalamata Olives, 1.4 oz
19. Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chips Apple Rings
Need a delicious snack after a long day on the hiking trail? Don’t reach for junk food! Slice apples into rings (you can cut out the core of each slice but it’s not necessary) spread peanut butter on top of the ring and dot with chocolate chips. You’re gonna want to try these on your next camping trip, they are so yummy and a healthy alternative to satisfy your craving for a sweet treat.
Make-Ahead Recipes That Require No Refrigeration
These are camping food recipes that require no refrigeration after they are prepared.
20. Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake
Our coffee cake is really easy to make at the campsite but it does use eggs and sour cream so just make it at home and you are good to go!
21. Campfire Dutch Oven Jalapeño Cornbread
You can make this cornbread at home and pack it to travel whole or sliced into individual servings. That is … if you don’t eat it all before you get to camp! LOL
22. Caramel Nut Brownies
These brownies are sooooooooo delicious and if you cut them into individual servings and wrap them at home, they travel well to make a sweet treat at camp!
23. Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread
You can pick up sweet breads from the bakery department of your favorite grocery store. The best thing about banana bread is it’s common availability. You can also make a homemade variety like this cinnamon bread that features raisins and pecans.
24. Teriyaki Beef Jerky
This Teriyaki Beef Jerky is savory with a little spice too. Make it at home and it is ready to pack without refrigeration for your trip.
37 Non-Refrigerated Camping Food Items
- Pre-popped popcorn
- Dried fruit
- Trail mix
- Hard boiled eggs
- Energy bars
- Dry cereal
- Bagels, breads, pitas and tortillas
- Canned tuna
- Nuts
- Canned sardines
- Crackers
- Processed cheese
- Hard cheeses
- Canned salmon
- Jerky
- Nut butters like peanut butter, almond butter
- Granola bars
- Almonds
- Canned soup
- Instant potatoes
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Fresh fruits like oranges, pineapples, apples (my favorite because they last a long time if kept out of the sun)
- Fresh fruits like carrots, cucumbers
- Potato chips
- Sunflower seeds
- Pasta and grains
- Chocolate chips
- Dry beans
- Fruit cups
- Shredded coconut
- Evaporated canned milk
- Powdered milk (you just add cold water)
- Shelf-stable soy milk (individual servings because it can be stored at room temperature but needs to be refrigerated after opening)
- Ramen noodles (just need to add a little boiling water)
- Pancake mix
- Instant oatmeal
- Dehydrated meals
- Hot cereal
- Breakfast bars
- Nut butter packs
- Fish pouches
- Summer sausage
- Beverage mixes
- Herbs and spices (this is a great way to add a variety of flavors to canned ingredients without taking up a lot of space in your gear box. See how to make your own camping spice kit).
- Individual packets of condiments: mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, soy sauce, hot peppers sauces (like Tabasco and Sriracha)
Grab-n-Go CondimentsHot Sauce Packet Assortment
Storing Fresh Vegetables
If you decide you want to add a few fresh items alongside your non-perishable food, you can add camping veggies to your menu. Some require no refrigeration and others require cool storage options. We’ve got tips for both!
Menu Planning Help
Meal Planning
Use my camping menu planner to stay organized when planning meals for your next trip. It’s FREE and you’ll get it delivered instantly to your inbox!
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