Easy Camping Dinner Ideas for the Campfire and Camp Stove

After a day outdoors, everyone is hungry, and nothing beats a hot dinner around the fire. The best camping dinners are simple, filling and easy to clean up. The video from Tastemade below shows several easy camping dinners and desserts, and here are more ideas and tips to make camp cooking easy.

Plan and prep at home

The secret to stress-free camp dinners is doing most of the work before you leave:

• Chop vegetables and store them in labeled containers or bags.
• Marinate meat at home and freeze it flat in bags. It doubles as ice in your cooler.
• Pre-mix spice blends, sauces and dressings.
• Cook and freeze chili or stew to reheat at camp.
• Plan meals so ingredients overlap. For example, peppers and onions for both fajitas and breakfast scrambles.

Foil packet dinners

Foil packets are a camping classic: easy to make, customizable and almost no cleanup.

How to make them

Lay out heavy-duty foil, add your ingredients, season, and fold into a sealed packet. Cook on hot coals or a grill grate, flipping once, until everything is cooked through.

Ideas to try

• Sausage, potatoes, peppers and onions
• Salmon with lemon, butter and green beans
• Chicken with corn, black beans and salsa
• Burger patties with sliced potatoes and carrots

Cut potatoes small so they cook in time, and pack out the used foil.

Skewers and kebabs

Skewers cook quickly over a fire or grill, and everyone can build their own. Try chicken with peppers and onion served with tzatziki, steak with mushrooms, shrimp with pineapple, or halloumi and vegetables for a vegetarian option. Metal skewers are reusable and don’t burn, while wooden skewers need soaking first.

One-pot and one-pan meals

A single pot or skillet on a camp stove can make a complete dinner:

• Chili: reheat a batch made at home, or make it at camp with canned beans.
• One-pot pasta: cook pasta in a measured amount of water with sauce and vegetables, so there’s no draining needed.
• Fajitas or tacos: sizzle meat and veggies in a pan and serve in warm tortillas.
• Fried rice: use precooked rice, frozen vegetables, eggs and soy sauce.
• Soups and stews are perfect on cool fall nights.

Campfire nachos

Layer tortilla chips, cheese, beans and toppings in a cast-iron skillet or foil pan, cover and set it near the coals until the cheese melts. Add salsa, sour cream and avocado at the table.

Grilled classics

Burgers, hot dogs, sausages and grilled chicken are easy wins, especially with kids. A grill grate over the fire ring or a portable grill gives you more control than cooking directly in the flames.

Easy camping desserts

• S’mores, of course, or try them with peanut butter cups or cookies instead of chocolate
• Campfire banana boats: slit a banana, stuff it with chocolate and marshmallows, wrap it in foil and warm it on coals
• Baked apples with cinnamon and brown sugar in foil
• Pudding cups or brownies made at home

Breakfast-for-dinner

Don’t overlook breakfast foods at night. Pancakes, breakfast burritos, and bacon and eggs on a griddle are quick, filling and comforting after a long day. A grill pan or skillet over the stove makes them easy, and kids love the novelty.

Feeding a group

For larger groups, set up a “build your own” bar, such as tacos, baked potatoes or skewers, so everyone can choose their own toppings. Assign each family or person a night to cook, and keep a shared list of ingredients so nothing gets doubled up.

Cooking tips

• Cook over glowing coals, not tall flames. They give steady, even heat.
• Bring a meat thermometer for chicken and pork.
• Keep raw meat in a separate, well-sealed container at the bottom of the cooler.
• Clean up promptly and store food securely to avoid attracting animals.

For more make-ahead inspiration, see our guide to camping meals you can prepare ahead of time, and choose the right setup with our guide to choosing a camping grill.

FAQ

What’s the easiest camping dinner?

Foil packets or reheated chili made at home. Both need minimal gear and cleanup.

How do I keep food safe while camping?

Keep cold food in a well-iced cooler, store raw meat separately, and cook meat to a safe temperature.

Can I cook camping dinners without a fire?

Yes. A camp stove handles one-pot meals, fajitas, pasta and soups easily, and it’s essential when there’s a fire ban.

What are good vegetarian camping dinners?

Veggie and halloumi skewers, bean chili, veggie fajitas and foil-packet vegetables with cheese.