The Ultimate Guide to Camping Food for Families With Kids
Camping is an ideal way for families to get outside, explore nature and bond together. When the time comes to plan the camping trip, there’s one big decision you’ll need to make: what’s the best food to bring on your camping adventure? Camping meals need to be prepared with both taste and convenience in mind. If you’re a family with young kids, it’s important to also consider meals that the kids will like. Here’s the ultimate guide to the best camping food to bring that the whole family, especially your picky eaters, will enjoy.
[recommendations keyword=’what-is-good-camping-food-to-bring’]
Readily Available Foods
The first step of preparing for your camping meals involves stocking up on food that’s ready to eat and is easy to prepare. When you’re camping with kids, having instant food on hand that you can prepare quickly and with minimal effort can make the whole process of meal preparation easier. Here are a few great foods that fall into this category:
- Instant oatmeal, cereal, and other breakfast foods
- PB&J and other sandwiches
- Snacks like crackers, fruits, and veggies
- Instant mac and cheese
- Dehydrated meals
- Canned soups and chili
- Instant ramen
- Hot dogs and pre-cooked meats
- Instant coffee and tea
- Snack bars
Having these items in your camp kitchen can be helpful for spur of the moment meals, snacks, and drinks when you don’t have time to cook.
Grilling
Grilling is one of the best ways to create camping meals that your kids will love. While it may seem intimidating to light a charcoal grill at the campsite, with the right supplies it’s a relatively easy process. First, make sure your camp site has a safe place to light and use your grill. Once your grill is ready to go, you can throw on a variety of foods, from burgers and hot dogs to kebabs and vegetables. Here are a few easy favorites to grace your grates:
- Hamburgers
- Hot Dogs
- Sausages
- Steaks
- Kebabs
- Veggies like corn, peppers, and zucchini
- Foil packets of potatoes or other sides
- Grilled fruits like pineapple or peaches
- Eggs and bacon
- Pitas and flatbreads
Grilling can be a great way to make sure you stick to the basics while also being able to customize flavors and ingredients. When grilling with a family, it’s best to prep the supplies ahead of time to cut down on time when you’re actually at the camp site.
One-Pot Wonders
If you’re looking for an easy way to make meals for your whole family in a single pot, one-pot wonders are the way to go. These types of meals involve throwing ingredients into a pot and letting them simmer away until everything is cooked through. Many one-pot dishes are hearty and full of flavor, ideal for camping with picky eaters, and can be easily personalized to fit any taste. Here are a few family-friendly one-pot wonders:
- Chili and other soups
- Hobo meals with ground beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions
- Rice and beans with assorted vegetables and meats
- Casseroles with canned soup, veggies, and meats
- Stews with beef, potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms
- Macaroni and cheese with assorted veggies
- Quinoa dishes with assorted vegetables and proteins
Photo credit: Camp Kulin
Make Ahead Meals
Make ahead meals can be great for camping with families. This type of meal preparation involves making a dish in advance and freezing it until you’re ready to use it. While it may be a bit of a hassle to prep meals in advance, the benefit is that you don’t have to worry about making meals while you’re camping. When you get to the campsite, you can just thaw your pre-made meals and warm them up. Here are some delicious make ahead meal ideas you can prep in advance:
-
Lasagna or other pasta bakes
-
Enchiladas and burritos
-
Chili with assorted beans and vegetables
-
Tacos with turkey or beef
-
Pizza or calzones
-
Fruit crisp and cobblers
-
Cakes and muffins
-
Chili rellenos and enchilada casseroles
Desserts
No camping trip is complete without some delicious desserts. Everyone is sure to love s’mores, the classic campfire treat! Have a variety of marshmallow flavors, chocolate, and graham crackers on hand and let your kids customize their own. If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, try grilling a pan of apple crisp with oatmeal and butter, drizzled with a bit of honey. Or you can make banana boats by wrapping a banana in tin foil with chocolate chips and other goodies inside, leave them above the campfire for a few minutes to cook, and enjoy the Gooey goodness! Here are a few more camping dessert ideas:
- Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs
- Campfire Doughnuts
- Grilled Pies with Apples or Pears
- Campfire Colossal Cones
- Campfire Cupcakes
- Campfire Cinnamon Buns
Camping food doesn’t have to be boring or time-consuming. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can make camping meals your whole family will love. So if you’re taking your family camping with picky eaters in tow, try out some of these recipes and don’t forget to enjoy camping all the way.