As summer comes to a close, we realize that there are quite a few people trying to cram in some last-minute camping trips before it gets too cold to tent camp! That’s why we’ve put together this fun list of 10 quick and easy camping meals that you can throw together on a whim and then get back to spending your day in the Great Outdoors.
BREAKFAST:
1. Breakfast Scramble
Ingredients:
• Breakfast Sausage
• Egg
• Cheese
• Onion
• Shredded Cheese
• Butter
• Optional: Peppers, diced potatoes/hash browns, tortillas, salsa, whatever you have on hand.
Directions:
Whip out the cast iron and heat that bad boy up with a generous serving of butter. How much butter, you ask? However much your heart desires. Once heated, add in your breakfast sausage and cook completely before adding in your onions, peppers, potatoes and all of your other goodies. Cook until potatoes are tender (roughly 20 minutes depending on your fire) then add in more butter and your eggs. Let it cook until eggs are ready which usually takes about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and then serve. I personally like to smother mine in cheese and then put the scramble into a tortilla (to make fantastic breakfast burritos) but how you eat them is completely up to you. You can take out the egg and sausage to make a vegetarian form of this, as well! Just be sure to add in more veggies.
2. Good ol’ Breakfast Sandwich
Ingredients:
• English muffins, bread or bagels
• Sausage patties
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Butter
Directions:
Crisp up your choice of carbs in butter then set aside. Cook your sausage patties in the skillet then fry eggs in that same skillet so they can soak up all that greasy goodness. Fill the sandwich with sausage, runny egg, and a slide of cheddar cheese. Wrap in foil and then place over the fire until the cheese is melted. BAM. Serve that beast. Want to try it with pulled pork? Check out the ingredients HERE.
LUNCH/DINNER
3) Pudgy Pies - pizza edition
Ingredients:
• Bread
• Butter
• Marinara sauce
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pepperoni
• Optional: Extra pizza toppings
Directions:
It’s like a regular grilled cheese - but even better. Pudgy Pies are staple camping treats, but the pizza version might be one of my favorites. It wouldn’t hurt to have a cooking spray for this one, too! You’ll need a pudgy pie iron and the ingredients above to make this meal. Just assemble your sandwich in the pie iron and then stick in the first until the sandwich is golden brown. This simple recipe is one that will leave your family happy and fully satisfied.
4) Camping Quesadillas
Ingredients: (servings: 4 quesadillas)
• 4 medium-sized flour tortillas
• 2 8oz chicken breasts, grilled and sliced
• Shredded Mexican blend cheese (Fiesta blend works in a pinch!)
• Black beans - rinsed and drained
• Salsa and queso!
Directions:
There are a couple of different ways you can cook this bird, but the easiest way to do it is by cooking the chicken ahead of time! However, if you are cooking there, here is how to do it: Spread salsa and queso over one side of the tortilla and then fill half the tortilla with chicken. Add in black beans and cheese (to your liking) then fold the other side of the tortilla to close it. Place on a piece of tin foil large enough to cover the quesadilla; however, you will want to leave the ends open. Place the tortilla on the cooking grate over your camp. Keep over the fire until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy. Remove from the grate and cut! Foil can serve as plates! See the full recipe HERE.
5) Shrimp Boil Foil Packets
Ingredients
• Shrimp (we like medium, tail-on, and deveined)
• Pre-cooked Andouille/Kielbasa Sausage
• Zucchini cut into ¾ inch thick half slices
• Corn on the cob - cut into 8 pieces
• Lots of Garlic and Butter!
• Tony’s seasoning and or any other type of cajun spice blends
• Parsley (if you’re feeling fancy)
• Lemon - because shrimp
• Feeling adventurous? Add some walleye or whatever the catch of the day was!
Directions
Foil packet meals are the BEST and some of the easiest meals for around the campfire. They’re quick to prep and easy to serve/clean up. Roll out 18” of aluminum foil and then roll out 16” inches of parchment paper. Assemble ingredients in the center - layering by which ingredients take the longest to cook like the corn and zucchini. Then add the sausage and shrimp. Top with garlic, butter, and spices. Bring the short edges of foil together and fold to form a seam. Then roll the ends in toward the middle so you have two seams on the edges with one long one. Place on the fire grate or grill. You’ll know it is done cooking when liquid starts to steam and the packet begins to puff up. After 8-10 minutes, remove from heat and let packets cool for a minute or two. Then use the foil as your bowl! Top with a squirt of lemon and garnish with parsley. Find the full recipe HERE.
6) Walking Tacos
Ingredients:
• Frito Lay chips (packaged in individual bags)
• Taco meat
• Mexican blend of cheese
• Optional: Peppers, beans, sour cream, onions, salsa
Directions:
Save time by cooking your taco meat at home or bring out the large skillet to begin cooking your ground beef. You could cheat and buy a premade taco seasoning packet or you could make your own by combining cumin, paprika, garlic salt, crushed red pepper flakes, chili powder, pepper, salt, and some other popular spices. Find a homemade taco seasoning recipe HERE. Cook meat all the way through and then stuff into the chip bags. Top with cheese, onions, and other toppings. You could even substitute Fritos for Doritos if you’re looking for a different flavor!
DESSERT:
7) Campfire Banana Boat
Ingredients:
• Banana
• Something Melty - like chocolate chips!
• Something Sweet - like caramel sauce and/or marshmallows!
• Something Crunchy - like toasted coconut or graham crackers!
• See the full recipe and a full list of ingredient combinations HERE.
Directions:
We love tin foil recipes! You will want to cut your banana down the middle (along the concave side) - not all the way through! Just until the tip of your knife graces the other side of the peel. Then remove the banana and start to stuff the peel with your fillings! Wrap the banana in foil and then place on the grill or grate until fillings have melted and banana has warmed (about 10 minutes). Unwrap the banana and top with your crunchy ingredient!
8) Cloud 9 S’mores:
Ingredients:
• Mayana Chocolate Cloud Nine Mini Bars
• Graham Crackers
Directions:
This one is super simple (and local!). Mayana Chocolate, located in Spooner, sells a delicious chocolate bar called Cloud Nine that is made up of Marshmallow, Fleur De Sel Caramel and Dark Chocolate. This sweet and salty combo melted onto graham crackers are one of our favorite ways to eat s’mores! Bring wet wipes though because it can get messy!