Meal Planning Week 21 – 14 Delicious Recipes for Camping
Meal Planning Week 21 has delicious recipes for Camping. Even though the weather is still chilly, add these recipes to your next camping trip!
Yes. I realize it is February and camping is probably the last thing on your mind right now. But I’m a planner. And, just like any other day of the week, I like to plan those meals, too. I mean, there’s nothing more frustrating than coming back to camp after a long hike and have to figure out what’s for dinner. Besides, planning the meals ahead of time means you can do some prep work before you head out on your trip.
I feel I need to caveat this Meal Planning Week 21 list. This is mainly for car camping and not, like, backpacking camping. That’s a completely different list of food. What’s the difference between car camping and backpacking? Well, backpacking means you hike to a campsite. Which means you have to carry EVERYTHING with you. Your water, food, clothes, tent, sleeping bag and pad. EVERYTHING.
Car camping is just that. You drive to the camp site. So, you can carry whatever fits into your car. Including all the coolers and ice you need for your trip. Along with the comforts of home like electricity to charge your devices or to fill up an air mattress. However, don’t use an air mattress for cold weather camping. It just doesn’t work out right. The cold air in the mattress just sucks the body heat right out ofyou. I have experienced this firsthand.
What is the best camping food?
Yeah. I know. That’s sort of a loaded question. It’s full of all kinds of opinions. Maybe it’s not so much cuisines as it is about convenience. For Meal Planning Week 21, you’re not going to make eggs benedict. Let’s just put that right out there. But you can make a frittata in a cast iron skillet. Chilaquiles, hash, pancakes, and French toast are all things you can easily whip up camp side.
Start with recipes you’re familiar with. Macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. Things like that for the best camping food. They’re easy to make and total comfort food. Sloppy joes, chili, even tacos are good for camping. You can prep the toppings and ingredients and store them in containers. This makes dinner easy to throw together for the hungry masses.
What are some camping food essentials for this Meal Planning Week 21?
Aside from the obvious like a stove, matches, cooking utensils, pots and pans there’s a few other things you might not think about. A bowl for washing dishes. Potholders. A can opener, bottle opener, or corkscrew (if you’re bringing wine). A knife and cutting board. Actually, I would bring two cutting boards. One for meat and one for everything else.
Plastic bags and foil. You never know when they will come in handy. Plastic bags are great mixing things, too. Like, put your eggs in there then just squish them with your hands to scramble them. You can even simmer the eggs in the bag in water to cook them.
Meal Planning Week 21 helps with preparing for camping, too. Don’t forget measuring cups and spoons. I always forget these. Spices! Beyond the salt and pepper. I have garlic salt, chili powder and cumin, Italian seasoning, and Cajun seasoning. These are spices used most in the house. So why not take them camping?
For actual food, cereals and breads are always good for easy breakfast and lunch. Rice makes for a great one skillet meal in the cast iron skillet. Powdered milk. I know. You’re looking at my funny. But it’s perfect to add to tea and coffee. And makes packaged cocoa creamier. Try adding some to your mac and cheese. You’ll thank me later.
Cooking oils or sprays! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve headed out and forgotten these. Tongs. They’re so handy for many things. Those long forks to roast hot dogs and marshmallows on. Yes, they seem like a single use item, but they do come in super handy to roast hot dogs the easy and fun way! Same with marshmallows for s’mores.
What are some camping food tips?
A great tip for Meal Planning Week 21 is to freeze foods and beverages before putting them in the cooler. You’ll need less ice, and they will help keep fresh food cool longer. Then drink or eat them as they thaw. Bottles of water are great for this! So are fruits and veggies. Stir the fruit into oatmeal or pancakes. Use the veggies for some foil packets or stir into eggs for a frittata.
Take snacks. Trail mix, nuts, granola. These are all healthy-ish snacks to have on hand for hungry campers. They’re a great way to curb the hunger after a day of hiking before dinner is on the table. And they’re great when you get an attack of the munchies by the open fire.
Don’t forget your camp stove for Meal Planning Week 21. And make sure you have plenty of fuel for it. You can’t always rely on a grill or cooking on the open fire. Some sites might not have a grill. And sometimes the weather doesn’t always cooperate for cooking on a open fire. Granted, that’s when foil pack meals come in handy, but we’ll get to those later.
Towels, sponges, and biodegradable dish detergent. If you’re cooking, you’re making dirty dishes. And you’ll need a way to clean them. Most don’t think about eco-friendly dish detergent. But you’re in the woods. Do you think all those bubbles are chemicals are good for the environment? No. While you’re at it, skip the paper towels or find ones that are biodegradable, too.
What is camping food in foil or camping food in pouches?
Oh my. If you don’t know, you’re in for a treat! Cooking food in foil packets is the best camping food! I learned that the first time I went away to camp. We made hobo packets. They consisted of ground beef, some veggies, and potatoes. We closed the packet and set it in the coals. The radiant heat from the coals cooks the contents and gives it a little smoky flavor. Foil packets are a camping must!
This method works for so many different combinations of meats, veggies, and flavors. Besides the standard ground beef and potatoes, put your creative thinking cap on! How about chicken, ham, some zucchini and Swiss for cordon bleu packs. Shaved beef, peppers, onions, and provolone. Cheesesteak foil packets! Make an Asian packet with some chicken, pineapple, peppers, and stir fry sauce. The best part is you can make these in the oven or air fryer! No camping necessary.
Camping food in pouches is more like what you take when you’re backpacking. It’s typically a ready to eat meal that you add hot water to and then eat it. However, there are recipes out there for cooking in high quality freezer bags. For me, I have a vacuum sealer. I can easily prepare meals in those then drop in some simmering water to cook.
Think is easy things to cook like couscous, oatmeal, grits, rice. They only need water and some flavors, some veggies, and a little salt and pepper to make a wholesome meal. And yes, grits can be sweet. But don’t think that oatmeal is only sweet. It can be savory, too! Yeah. I know. It took me yeas to realize this, too.
Cookies! You can bake and take or make the dough ahead of time then cook it in the skillet camp side. Same with brownies. The last time I did car camping, the host made a cake. There’s quite a bit you can do with a skillet, some dough, and a campfire. While s’mores are delicious, try one of these dessert ideas. Or try this fresh coconut ice cream next time you go camping!
There are always puppy chow recipes. You can make them in many different flavors. I recently shared a strawberry version on my Facebook page. It looked so pretty and sounded perfectly delicious. You’ll have to find it and check out the recipe. It’s fun!
Just look at those cookies! They are the perfect back and take for your camping trip. Along with many other cookies recipes I have on my blog. Not so much the macaron, but the other cookies are perfect for your camping trip.
I hope I have given you some inspiration for weekly meal plan 21. My intent is to inspire you to get outside and have some fun with your family. You don’t have to go camping to enjoy these recipes. These are perfect for a backyard barbecue. Even the ice cream maker is fun to do at home. Sitting around the living room! Heck, have a camping trip in your living room! Or your backyard. Just spend some quality time with your family this summer.
Meal Planning Week 21 - 14 Delicious Recipes for Camping
Lemon Bay Pan Roasted Shrimp
Meal Planning Week 21 has delicious recipes for Camping. Even though the weather is still chilly, add these recipes to your next camping trip!
Grilled Southwestern Steaks with Grilled Mexican Street Corn
Peach Crisp Popsicles
Peach Crisp Popsicles have delicious summer flavor in an easy to whip up frozen dessert. The granola adds the texture of a crisp without heating up the kitchen.