45+ Make Ahead Camping Meals That’ll Make You Say, YUM!

These make ahead camping meals are a convenient way to eat yummy meals. Whether you have an action-packed camping trip planned or you just want to be lazy and relax on simple camping trips, you don’t want to sacrifice eating awesome food!

Psst we’re compensated…see our disclosures.


Dinners

1. Dutch Oven Thai Campfire Chicken Recipe

This Thai chicken is one of my favorite make ahead meals because it has soooooooo much flavor and it is a really unique recipe. It is another one of my freezer bag meals that you just have to defrost at the campsite and cook in your camp Dutch oven over a campfire.

Make-Ahead Dutch Oven Thai Campfire Chicken Recipe by CampingForFoodies

Try this Thai chicken and you’ll see why it is one of our favorite winter camping recipes that we cook while we gather around a hot campfire!


2. French Dip Beef Sandwiches Dutch Oven Campfire Recipe

Big and hearty warm sandwiches are so good for a fast camping dinner meal! This French dip is one of my “dump and cook” freezer meals. Just get your campfire going and simmer this beef in the flavor-filled juice that you’ll use for dipping!

French Dip Beef Sandwiches Dutch Oven Campfire Recipe by CampingForFoodies

3. Beef, Broccoli & Carrot Camping Stir Fry

Veggies are easy to prep at home and this beef actually tastes better if it sits in the marinade overnight. That’s why this stir fry makes a great “dump and cook” camp dinner.

Beef Broccoli And Carrot Camping Stir Fry by CampingForFoodies features a plate full of food sitting on a picnic table at a campsite, ready to be served for dinner. The beef, broccoli and carrot stir fry is sitting on a bed of brown rice and topped with sesame seeds. In the background is a beautiful forest under a pretty blue sky on a sunny day.
Beef Broccoli And Carrot Camping Stir Fry by CampingForFoodies

4. Dutch Oven Chili Mac

This classic one-pot comfort food is easy to make at the campsite but you can also make it at home, refrigerate it for a couple of days and just reheat it at the campsite. The beef, beans, tomatoes, onions and cheese combine with the macaroni to create a meal filled with carbs and protein … perfect for campers who need energy during their trips.

Dutch Oven Chili Mac by CampingForFoodies features a cast iron camp Dutch oven sitting over a campfire on a cooking grate, it is filled with chili mac that is being served, another single portion is placed alongside the Dutch oven in a blue camping bowl with a spoon in it and ready to eat with text over the image that reads Dutch Oven Chili Mac.

5. Grilled Flat Iron Camping Steak Recipe

Try this easy and fast steak on your next camping trip! It only takes about 8 minutes to grill! The simple homemade marinade uses brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and salt to provide tons of flavor to an affordable protein.

Simple Camping Recipe Grilled Flat Iron Steak by CampingForFoodies features flat iron steak that has just finished cooking and is sitting on a propane camp grill with a side dish foil packet alongside, both are ready to be removed from the grill to be served at the campsite with text over the image that reads flat iron steak.

6. Smoked Ground Beef Chili

Chili is always a great recipe to reheat at the campsite but this can also be prepped ahead and just cooked in a portable tailgate smoker at camp. The amazing flavor comes from the combination of ground beef, bacon, onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, spices and three types of beans.

Smoked Ground Beef Chili by CampingForFoodies features an aluminum foil pan filled with smoked chili that has been smoked in a portable pellet grill and includes hamburger, bacon, onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, spices, three types of beans, tomatoes and sauce that is ready to be served at the campsite.
Smoked Ground Beef Chili by CampingForFoodies

7. BLT Camping Wraps

Wraps are really easy to make ahead and can be wrapped in plastic or parchment paper for eating later on camp trips or in a vehicle on long road trips.

BLT Camping Wraps by CampingForFoodies features a chopped salad of bacon, lettuce and tomatoes tossed in mayonnaise and wrapped in a wheat tortilla placed on a blue camping plate ready to be served at the campsite for a quick lunch or light dinner meal.

8. Take-Out Pizza

If you don’t have enough time to make your own food, you can always reheat takeout meals on your trip. If you’ll be eating cold pizza … great. If you want to reheat it, I recommend getting enough smaller pizzas to feed the whole family (large pizzas can be hard to transport, refrigerate and handle when re-heating). Then, wrap them in foil or place them in a large cast-iron skillet with a lid and heat over medium heat from a campfire or camp stove. You don’t want the bottom to burn before the pizza is heated through. Top with a little parmesan cheese and dinner is served!


9. Campfire Stew Dutch Oven Camping Recipe

There are a couple of make ahead options for this stew. You can make the entire recipe at home and refrigerate it until you are ready to re-heat it at the campsite. Or, you can prep the meat and veggies at home, then just cook this hearty stew over your campfire. This is one of my easy camping meals for large groups that is easily scaled-up to feed an entire crowd!

Campfire Stew Dutch Oven Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies

Camp Chef Dutch Oven Carry BagCamp Chef Dutch Oven Carry BagCamp Chef Dutch Oven Carry Bag

 


10. Italian Chicken Cacciatore Dutch Oven Camping Recipe

You know how much I love dump and cook camping freezer meals! This cacciatore is fast, filling and fabulous! I like serving it with a salad and garlic bread for a hearty campfire meal!

Italian Chicken Cacciatore Dutch Oven Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies

kim cooking outdoors
Send me FREE camping tips!

I want "5 Secrets To Successful Camping Trips" plus weekly camping tips & recipes.


11. Campfire Hobo Stew Recipe In Foil Packets

When I make this hobo stew at the campsite, I set up an ingredient bar and let each camper build their own foil packet. When doing this as one of my make ahead meals for camping, I just prep all of the ingredients at home and transport them in individual food storage containers to the campsite. Then I just pop off the lids and set them out to create the ingredient bar.

Hobo Stew Recipe For A Campfire That Cooks In Foil Packets - Camping For Foodies .com

Let your imagination run wild and create more hobo recipes. Shrimp boil foil packet meals are yummy. So are bbq chicken foil packets. Just make sure you don’t add acidic ingredients, like lime juice, to your packets with your meat and veggies … otherwise, they’ll begin to “cook” in your cooler.


12. Campfire Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

Chili is a hearty meal that always comes to mind when thinking about make ahead camping food. It actually tastes better when it sits for a day or two. You can make this chili at home and refrigerate it for a few days to reheat it at the campsite.

Alternatively, you can make it at home then freeze it for future camping trips. When I do that, I like to make a double batch so I have one dinner for home and a second dinner for a camping trip but only one cooking/clean up event. Making multiple batches of this chili works well if you are feeding a large crowd. It’s also low carb if you’re looking for keto camping food ideas.

Dutch Oven Campfire Chili - Camping For Foodies .com

Dump and reheat meals are particularly great for limited mobility camping. For people with mobility challenges, it is easier to prepare food at home in a kitchen that has been modified for accessibility and then just reheat the food at the campsite.


13. Campfire Dutch Oven Gumbo Recipe

As far as camping recipes goes, this gumbo is one of my most complicated and time consuming recipes but the flavors are worth the effort! Some of our camp days are “lazy cooking days” where we just hang out at the campsite, read a book, play a few games and tend to a long-cooking meal throughout the day. But, you can easily make this gumbo at home and just reheat it at the campsite too.

Dutch Oven Gumbo Campfire Recipe - Camping For Foodies .com

14. Asian Beef And Broccoli Camping Dutch Oven Recipe

This beef and broccoli is what I call one of my “dump and cook” freezer meals for camping. You just have to put all of the ingredients in a freezer bag at home, lay it flat in your freezer and freeze it.

I like making these because I just take it out of the freezer and load it into my RV refrigerator or cooler to transport it to the campsite. Then, after it is defrosted, just dump the entire contents of the bag into a camp Dutch oven and cook it over a campfire.

Asian Beef And Broccoli Camping Dutch Oven Recipe by CampingForFoodies

15. Campfire White Chili Recipe

One pot camping meals are some of my favorite make ahead camping recipes. This white chili is an easy on-site recipe but if you want to make it at home, you can just refrigerate it and then reheat it at the campsite. I love making several batches of this recipe if I need to feed a large crowd.

Campfire White Chili Recipe - Camping For Foodies .com

16. Hot Italian Sausage Soup Campfire Recipe

If you are camping in cooler weather, this soup is one of the best make ahead camping meals! I actually love making this at the campsite around a warm fire but I have also made this at home, refrigerated it and then just reheated it at the campsite. It is so hearty and filling that I serve it with a loaf of crusty bread and call it dinner but it can also be served as a starter for an Italian meal.

Hot Italian Sausage Soup Recipe - Add Crusty Bread To Make A Meal - Dutch Oven Recipes For Camping - Camping For Foodies .com

17. Panzanella Salad No Cook Camping Recipe

I absolutely LOVE cooking at the campsite but there are some no-cook recipes that are yummy! So, I have to put away the charcoal to enjoy some really refreshing camping meal ideas. This salad is easy to make onsite but it is also one of my favorite premade meal ideas for a camping trip.

When I make this recipe at home, I do all of the chopping and make the dressing in my home kitchen … then I transport the individual ingredients to the campsite in food storage containers that are in my RV refrigerator or camp cooler. Just before we are ready to eat this amazing salad, I just toss all the ingredients together and serve! I promise, you won’t want to put your fork down!

No Cook Camping Recipe Panzanella Salad by CampingForFoodies

18. Hot Dogs

The classic camping “reheat meal” is old fashioned hot dogs. If I’m doing something this simple, I like to jazz them up by making them Chicago-Style. I boil or grill the dogs and steam the buns. Then top with onions, cucumber, tomatoes and mustard. My family also likes them with grilled green bell peppers and a shake of chili powder.


19. Chicken And Veggie Camping Kabobs

Meat and veggies cooked on skewers are perfect opportunities to do your camping meal prep at home. You can do all of the chopping, marinating and threading before you leave your house or you can just do place the ingredients in plastic bags and thread onto sticks at camp for easier transportation.

Chicken Shish Kabobs by CampingForFoodies features skewers of grilled chicken and vegetables including charred cherry tomatoes, yellow bell peppers and mushrooms sitting on a propane camping grill ready to be served at the campsite with text over the image that reads chicken shish kabobs.

If you want to add a little tropical flavor, turn these into pineapple chicken kebabs!


20. Diablo Sandwich

Why have regular sloppy joes when you can have Tex-Mex style sandwiches that are slightly spicy! You can prepare the meat mixture in advance then just reheat it at the campsite for a quick dinner.

Diablo Sandwich Recipe by CampingForFoodies features a hot sandwich on a blue camping plate. The red and brown color hamburger is mixed with yellow corn, bright green cilantro and avocado slices. The plate is set on a firewood log with blue sky in the background.
Diablo Sandwich Recipe by CampingForFoodies

Sides

21. Refrigerator Cucumber Salad

Combine English cucumbers, red onion, bell pepper and garlic with a simple homemade dressing and refrigerate for a day or two and you’ll have the freshest salad you can imagine. It’s perfect for summer camp trips.

Refrigerator Cucumber Salad by CampingForFoodies features a blue camping bowl on a tree stump filled with cold sliced vegetables including green English cucumbers, red onions and red bell peppers tossed in a simple homemade dressing with fresh dill.
Refrigerator Cucumber Salad by CampingForFoodies

22. Polish Potato Salad Recipe

This is an easy retro side dish that is the perfect pairing for grilled meats and sandwiches. The tender potatoes are tossed with hard boiled eggs, onion and celery in a simple homemade sauce.

Polish Potato Salad Recipe by CampingForFoodies features a bowl of fresh potato salad tossed in a light yellow colored dressing made from mustard and mayonnaise along with freshly chopped onion, celery and hard boiled eggs then sprinkled with deep red paprika.
Polish Potato Salad Recipe by CampingForFoodies

23. Easy No Cook Healthy Southwest Camping Salad Recipe

Talk about yummy make ahead camping recipes! This Southwest salad can be served as a side salad or a main course by just adding some cubed cooked chicken. You can make it at home and refrigerate up to 2 days.

Easy No Cook Healthy Southwest Camping Salad Recipe by CampingForFoodies is one of our simple optional make ahead camping recipes that is fast enough to make at the campsite and is a great cold side salad for summer camping, great vegetarian lunch or hearty camping dinner by adding a little protein and great for camping potluck side dishes too!

24. Campfire Veggie Packets

A big foil pack of fresh veggies is a healthy and simple side dish for quick dinners. Just combine the packet at home and keep in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. Then, just toss the packet over hot campfire coals and cook till veggies are softened.

Campfire Vegetables by CampingForFoodies features a foil pack of cooked vegetables including broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes and garlic ready to be served at the campsite and text over the image that reads campfire vegetables.

25. Camping Foil Pack Sweet Potatoes

We bring a little taste of home on our Thanksgiving camping trips. We actually do an entire turkey dinner with all the trimmings. But, we don’t do a sweet potato casserole because we only have so much oven space. Instead, we do these spiced potatoes in foil packets. This cooking method is an easy way to make individual servings and make cleanup a breeze. Happy Camping!


26. Greek Tomato And Feta Pasta Salad Camping Recipe

Pasta salads that are served cold are awesome premade camping meals! This pasta salad has bold flavors with the feta cheese, Kalamata olives and pepperoncini peppers. I like to serve it on the side with a grilled chicken breast.

Greek Tomato And Feta Camping Pasta Salad by CampingForFoodies

You can also just cube grilled chicken and add it directly to the cold pasta salad to make a refreshing main course.

We’ve got more camping pasta recipes you really should try!


27. Potato Salad With Bacon And Chives Make Ahead Camping Recipe

When you can make a recipe and it tastes better after it rests for a day or two, it is a great item to make ahead for your camping trips! This potato salad is one that my family goes crazy over so I often make a double batch!

Potato Salad With Bacon And Chives Make Ahead Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies

28. Dutch Oven Biscuits

These easy biscuits can be made at the campsite in about 30 minutes … or made in advance for a quick breakfast or a side for soups, stews and chili meals.

Dutch Oven Biscuits by CampingForFoodies features 9 freshly baked golden brown biscuits that are nestled in a black cast iron Dutch oven at the campsite ready to be served with text over image that reads Dutch oven biscuits.

29. Fresh Summer Fruit Tossed In Honey Mint Syrup Camp Recipe

Fresh fruit salads take a bit of prep work to clean and chop the fruit but they taste so amazing when you put in the effort! The secret to this recipe tasting so fantastic is the easy honey mint syrup.

It takes a regular fruit salad and turns it into a refreshingly yummy dessert! You can do this as a make ahead camping recipe by prepping the fruit and making the syrup at home … then just toss everything together at the campsite!

Fresh Summer Fruit Tossed in Honey Mint Syrup from Camping For Foodies

30. Broccoli Sunshine Salad

This fresh broccoli salad tastes better after the flavors marry for at least a few hours but you can actually make this recipe days in advance and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to serve it.

Broccoli Sunshine Salad by CampingForFoodies features a bowl filled with a colorful salad with green broccoli, red onion, crispy brown bacon, sweet raisins and sunflower seeds all tossed in a simple homemade dressing ready to be served at the campsite.
Broccoli Sunshine Salad by CampingForFoodies

31. Campfire Dutch Oven Jalapeño Cornbread Camping Recipe

You really can’t have chili without a nice crusty bread … or better yet … cornbread! This cornbread is something you can easily make at the campsite or make ahead at home and just freeze it until you are ready for your camping trip.

Just make sure you tightly wrap it in plastic wrap so it stays nice and fresh. Once you defrost it, wrap it in some foil and toss it over a campfire to get it warm and toasty before serving.

Campfire Dutch Oven Jalapeno Cornbread Camping Recipe perfect for outdoor cooking and a side dish for your camping meals

32. Dutch Oven Cornbread

Want a cornbread that has a more classic flavor profile? Try this one that is easy, quick and is made with cornmeal and canned creamed corn.

Dutch Oven Cornbread by CampingForFoodies features a black cast iron Dutch oven filled with a freshly baked recipe of golden-brown cornbread, set on the ground to cool, waiting to be served at the campsite.
Dutch Oven Cornbread by CampingForFoodies

33. Dutch Oven Baked Beans

I actually like making these baked beans at the campsite but they are also great to make at home and just re-heat at the campsite. They are almost an entire meal that includes hamburger, bacon and five different beans in a simple homemade sauce.

Dutch Oven Baked Beans Cast Iron 5-Bean Recipe by CampingForFoodies features a black cast iron camp Dutch oven filled with five types of beans in a homemade sauce being stirred with wooden spoons as steam rises from the pot. This baked beans with hamburger and bacon recipe is ready to be served at the campsite.
Dutch Oven Baked Beans Cast Iron 5-Bean Recipe by CampingForFoodies

34. Mexican Three Bean Salad

I love this flavorful Mexican corn and chickpea salad recipe because it’s not a lot of work and the ingredients are all from the pantry. Recipes made with shelf-stable canned and dry ingredients are a great way to reduce your requirements for cold storage space when you’re going on longer trips and need to carry food to feed lots of people.

But, if you have plenty of cooler or refrigerator space, you can combine the ingredients at home and refrigerate the dish until you’re ready to eat it as a quick snack or side dish with a larger meal.

The canned garbanzo, pinto and black beans are combined with Mexican style canned corn, roasted red pepper and green chilies then tossed in a simple homemade dressing.

Mexican Three Bean Salad Camping Recipe With Food Requiring No Refrigeration And No Cooking by CampingForFoodies

Get more ideas for healthy meals and camping food recipes requiring no refrigeration.


Appetizers & Snacks

35. Blue And Cheddar Cheeseball

This easy and sophisticated appetizer can be made several days in advance and holds well in a refrigerator or cooler!

Blue and Cheddar Cheeseball Camping For Foodies .com

36. Awesome Hot Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Dutch Oven Campfire Recipe

Doing this recipe as a make ahead camping appetizer is easy. Just assemble all of the ingredients and put them in a food storage container, refrigerate and then transport to the campsite. Before you are ready to eat this dip, just let it get to room temperature, spread it into your camp Dutch oven and bake till bubbly.

This awesome hot cheesy spinach artichoke dip campfire Dutch oven appetizer recipe is one of our favorite camping recipes and easy campingforfoodies appetizers for outdoor cooking over campfires!

37. Rosemary Spiced Nuts Camping Snacks Recipe

These nuts are one of my favorite make ahead camping snacks because they are so easy and so good! The recipe is so simple that making it at the campsite is a breeze but these nuts can also be made at home and just transported in a food storage container. This recipe makes a fairly big batch which is great if you are bringing something to a pot luck!

Rosemary Spiced Nuts Camping Snacks Recipe by CampingForFoodies

38. Basil Butter Recipe

Flavored butters can be made well in advance of your trips and stored in the refrigerator or freezer. They add great flavor to grilled meat and veggies … we really love this basil butter on our Campfire Corn On The Cob!

Basil Butter Recipe - Camping For Foodies .com

Desserts

39. Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

I like making no-bake cookies at the campsite with dough that uses shelf-stable ingredients that don’t require refrigeration, like these peanut butter balls. But, these are also great to make ahead and freeze, then you just defrost as many as needed on your trip.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Camping Recipe With Food Requiring No Refrigeration by CampingForFoodies

40. Caramel Nut Brownies Camping Recipe

These brownies taste AMAZING and they freeze really well too. Just bake them at home then slice, wrap and freeze individual slices for your future camp trip! This is a really great option when you are making camping meals for two and don’t want huge portions of dessert.

Caramel Nut Brownies Camp Recipe - Perfect for making in a Dutch Oven, Camp Oven or RV Oven - Camping For Foodies .com

Breakfasts

41. Breakfast Burrito Camping Recipe

Burritos are a quick and simple breakfast. You can cook the sausage, eggs and cheese at home then just stuff the filling in tortillas. Wrap them in tin foil and heat over campfire coals for a speedy meal.

Breakfast Burrito Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies features a sausage and egg breakfast burrito topped with sour cream and cilantro on a blue camping plate ready to be served at the campsite alongside a cast iron camp Dutch oven filled with the sausage and egg filling, all are sitting on a campfire grill grate in a campfire ring with text over the image that reads breakfast burrito camping recipe.

42. Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake Recipe

This coffee cake is easy to make on-site but also the perfect make ahead recipe for breakfast or a sweet treat for dessert.

Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake Camping For Foodies .com

43. Muffin Tin Eggs Campfire Recipe

These muffin tin eggs are an easy prep-ahead breakfast meal. Just prep the ingredients at home and transport to the campsite in food storage containers. Then you just have to bake them over your campfire!

Muffin Tin Eggs On The Campfire Recipe - The Perfect Camping Breakfast To Feed A Crowd - Camping For Foodies .com

44. Mason Jar Parfait

A great way to start your day is with an easy breakfast. This is one of the simplest make ahead recipes you can prepare. In mason jars or other single-serve containers with tight-fitting lids, mix Greek yogurt with honey or maple syrup … just enough to meet your desired level of sweetness. Add some fresh fruit and nuts then top with granola, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.


45. Bacon And Cheese Quiche Camp Dutch Oven Recipe

Quiche is the ultimate make ahead recipe because it is often served cold or at room temperature. It is easy to make at the campsite too!

Bacon And Cheese Quiche Dutch Oven Camp Recipe - Camping For Foodies .com

46. Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread

I like making sweet breads like banana bread with chocolate chips and this Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread at home and then just transporting it to the campsite so it is ready to slice and serve. It’s easy to wrap in foil so you can slightly heat it over hot campfire coals.

Easy Dutch Oven Cinnamon Bread Camping Recipe by CampingForFoodies. Slices of this golden brown bread are sitting on a blue camping plate and the remaining bread is in a black camp dutch oven ready to be sliced and served.

47. Overnight Oats

If you don’t want to cook in the morning, just make overnight oats. Place milk, oats, Greek yogurt and whatever flavorful fruit you want into a container with a tight-fitting lid, mason jars work great. Stir, cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 5 hours) for a cold version of this classic morning meal.


Easy Camping Meals

When people are looking for camping make ahead meals, they are usually doing it to make easy meals at camp. These recipes are not all make-ahead meals but they are easy and yummy!

Camping Meals Easy To Make Delicious To Eat by CampingForFoodies is a photo of sweet corn roasting over a campfire and a closeup of grilled flatbread with prosciutto, charred tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil on a serving plate ready to be eaten at the campsite.

There are so many ways to cook your make-ahead camp meals! If you love using camp stoves, you might want to think about also using refillable 1 lb propane tanks!

Awesome Original CampingForFoodies Make Ahead Camping Meals

More Camp Food Ideas

If you are looking for simple recipes you can make directly at the campsite, I’ve got options for every meal of the day.

If you’re looking for awesome ideas for yummy camping food, you’re in the right place! Here’s our entire camping recipes list.

Get FREE camping tips and recipes emailed to you!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *