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20 of the easiest camping meals for families

Kids can be picky eaters so we’ve made sure the recipes below can all be tailored to your family’s taste buds. We know that you’d rather spend your time enjoying your family camping trip rather than standing over a pan for hours so these ideas are quick and simple. Carry on reading for quick, easy camping meals for kids that the whole family are sure to enjoy.

1. Grilled mini pizzas

This recipe requires access to a grill and is perfect for getting the kids involved in the preparation because it’s super easy. mini pizzas (shutterstock, bernashafo)

Ingredients:

  • English Breakfast muffins (half for one pizza)
  • Pizza sauce
  • Cheese (the pre grated bags are perfect when camping)
  • All of your favourite toppings

Directions:

Spread your pizza sauce on halves of the muffins. Sprinkle generously with cheese and add toppings as desired. Place in griddle pan and grill until the cheese is melted and toppings cooked.

2. Cheeseburgers

Burger

A staple of every camping trip.

Ingredients:

  • Beef mince
  • Diced red onion
  • Finely chopped garlic cloves
  • Seeded burger buns
  • Slices of cheddar cheese

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the beef mince, garlic and onion. Shape them into patties using the palm of your hand. Cook them on the griddle and and sporadically turn them until cooked through. Place the cheese on top and cook until melted. Place the cheese-covered patty in the bun and enjoy!

3. Camp nachos

Nachos (Shutterstock, Brent Hofacker)

Fun sharer with plenty of room to experiment with toppings. 

Ingredients:

  • Bag of tortilla crisps
  • 1 can of refried beans
  • Black olives (or substitute with preferred topping)
  • Grated cheese
  • ½ diced onion
  • Two tomatoes
  • 1 jar of salsa
  • Jalapeños (or substitute with preferred topping)

Directions:

Place a layer of crisps on the bottom of a large pan followed by half of the beans, cheese, onion, tomatoes, salsa and any other toppings you’ve picked. Place a second layer of crisps on top, followed by the remaining ingredients. Cover the pan with foil and let it cook for 10 – 15 minutes until the cheese is melted. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

4. Chilli con carne

Chilli-con-Carne
Cook this simple recipe in one pot.

Ingredients:

  • Beef mince
  • Diced white onion
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Kidney beans
  • Cumin

Directions:

In a frying pan, cook the beef mince and onions until browned. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan along with the drained kidney beans. Continue to cook until mixture thickens and add a pinch of cumin to add a bit more flavour.

5. Breakfast burritos

Breakfast-Burrito (Shutterstock, designs by Jack)

Tasty breakfast favourites wrapped in a yummy tortilla. 

Ingredients:

  • Tortilla wraps
  • Sausages
  • Bacon
  • Fried onions
  • Grated cheese

Directions:

Lay a tortilla wrap (one per person) on a piece of foil. Place all ingredients into the centre of the wrap before folding up into a burrito shape. Wrap foil around the burrito and warm over your camping stove for 5 minutes on each side, or until the cheese is melted and ingredients warmed through. Allow the cheese to cool for a few minutes before serving.

6. Fish in foil

Fish-in-foil

Flaky and tender fish fillets.

Ingredients:

  • White fish fillets
  • Olive oil
  • Lemons
  • Tin foil

Directions:

Place your fish fillet in a square of tin foil and drizzle over olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Wrap the foil around the fish and cook on the griddle until the flesh is opaque. Serve on its own or with vegetables and/or rice. 

7. Fried rice

Fried rice (Shutterstock, Foto2rich)

Great for sneaking in vegetables and perfect for using up any fresh ingredients before heading home. Switch up the vegetables with any left overs or favourites. 

Ingredients:

  • Around 1 cup of cooked rice
  • 1 or more eggs
  • Tinned corn
  • Chopped mushrooms
  • Red or yellow diced pepper
  • ½ a tin of chopped tomatoes (drain well)
  • Diced carrot
  • Diced onion
  • Protein of choice (beans, chicken, chorizo)
  • Soy sauce
  • A little oil for cooking

Directions:

Scramble eggs in a little oil until cooked through, remove from pan and put to one side. Fry the onion in the pan until translucent, add additional vegetables and protein at this stage. Add rice, followed by soy sauce, mixing all ingredients well. Finish by stirring through the egg and serve once cooked through.

8. S’mores

Smores (Shutterstock, Elena-Shashkina)

The ultimate camping treat. 

Ingredients:

  • Any biscuit or cookie
  • Milk chocolate
  • Marshmallows

Directions:

Grab two biscuits and wedge milk chocolate between them. Over your griddle, toast marshmallows and place between the biscuits. Enjoy this delicious, gooey mess beneath the stars.

9. Potato boats

Potato boats (Shutterstock, Tatiana Volgutova)

Baked potato with plenty of your favourite filling and an added twist. Bake your potatoes in advance at home, wrap in foil and you’re ready to go. 

Ingredients:

  • Baked potatoes sliced width ways several times (switch things up by using sweet potato)
  • Sliced ham (optional)
  • Grated cheese (optional)
  • Baked beans (optional)

Directions:

Place your favourite baked potato fillings in-between each slice of baked potato. Wrap the filled potato in foil, making sure to seal well. Place in pan over your gas stove and warm until ingredients are piping hot. Allow to cool before unwrapping and serving.

10. Tomato and basil pasta

Tomato-Pasta

Ideal for cooking in big batches for the whole family. 

Ingredients:

  • Pasta
  • Chopped tomatoes (optional)
  • Tomato puree
  • Vegetable stock cube
  • Basil

Directions:

Bring a saucepan of seasoned water to the boil. Cook your pasta in the saucepan until al dente in texture. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree and a crumbled vegetable stock cube. Stir and leave to cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in some basil leaves and serve. 

11. Omelette

Omelette

All you need is two ingredients and a pan.

Ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Any filling of your choice e.g. grated cheese, ham, bacon or mushrooms.

Directions:

Melt the butter in a frying pan. Whisk the eggs and pour them into the pan. Cook until the eggs start to become firm, but still runny on top. If you have any, add your filling(s) and fold it over with a spatula. Cook until golden and slide onto a plate. 

12. Sweet potato and bean tacos

Bean Tacos (Shutterstock, Koyjira)

Yummy pockets of nutritional goodness.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 can of black beans
  • 1 medium sweet potato (cut into ½ inch cubes)
  • Pack of corn tortillas
  • ½ a diced red onion
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon of cumin (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon of chili powder
  • Salsa (optional)
  • Avocado (optional)

Directions:

Add 1 tbsp oil to pan and cook potatoes for approx. 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cumin at this point and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Move potatoes to one side. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in pan, add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the beans and chilli powder to the pan and mix thoroughly, cooking until the beans are heated through. Add the potatoes back into the beans and warm through. Assemble the tortillas with the potato and bean mixture, adding any extras such as salsa and avocado and serve.

13. One pot macaroni and cheese

Macaroni Cheese (Shutterstock, JC Through The Lens )

This recipe will serve around 6 hungry campers, so adjust recipe accordingly.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of milk
  • 3 cups of macaroni pasta
  • 3 cups of grated cheese
  • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella (optional)
  • ½ cup cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard (optional)

Directions:

Add the milk and pasta into a medium saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil, stirring to stop the pasta from sticking. Once the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened, remove from the heat and add all other ingredients. Stir until smooth and creamy and serve hot.

14. Crispy BBQ Chicken

BBQ-Chicken

Crispy-skinned chicken covered in a sticky BBQ sauce. 

Ingredients:

  • Chicken drumsticks, wings and thighs
  • BBQ Sauce

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, mix the chicken and barbecue sauce. Carefully, lay them on the griddle and cook until crispy on the outside and white on the inside. 

15. Pork and pineapple skewers

Pork and Pineapple Skewers (Shutterstock, Igor Marx)

Ingredients:

  • Evenly cut pieces of pork
  • 2 tbsp of your favourite seasoning
  • ½ a small pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Skewers

Directions:

Mix the pork and seasoning. Thread the pork and pineapple onto skewers and brush with the oil. Cook the skewers for 3 minutes on each side on a barbecue or on your camping stove until nicely charred and cooked through. Serve with rice, salad or pasta with a squeeze of lime.

16. Cheese toasties

Cheese-Toastie

Tear the gooey, stringy cheese apart. 

Ingredients:

  • Grated cheddar cheese
  • Sliced bread
  • Butter

Directions:

Take two slices of bread and spread butter across one side of each. In a frying pan, place one butter-side down. Then, sprinkle your cheese on top and place the other slice of bread above that, butter-side up. Flipping sporadically, cook the toastie until both sides are golden and the cheese has melted. 

17. Marshmallow and fruit kebabs

Marshmallow skewers (Shutterstock, stockcreations)

Gooey after dinner treats, great for kids and adults alike.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag of marshmallows
  • Chocolate spread
  • Fruit of your choice (we like strawberries, bananas and grapes for this!)
  • Metal or wooden skewers

Directions:

With adult supervision, allow kids to thread a selection of goodies onto the skewers, alternating between fruit and marshmallows. Carefully hold over your gas stove until the marshmallows are toasted. Drizzle in chocolate spread, allow to cool and enjoy.

18. Scrambled Eggs

Scrambled-Eggs

The perfect way to start your day.

Ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Butter

Directions:

Melt a knob of butter in a pan. Mix the eggs and milk together and pour into the pan. Fold the mixture until the eggs are cooked and you reach your preferred consistency.

19. Chocolate baked bananas
Chocolate-bananas


A chocolate fix in minutes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 banana for each person
  • Chocolate chips or chunks
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Chopped nuts

Directions:

Place bananas onto individual foil sheets. Slice bananas lengthways (don’t cut all the way through) and insert toppings. Wrap in foil to seal the package and cook on your barbecue or camping stove for 10 – 15 minutes until the toppings are melted and the bananas gooey. Leave to cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

20. Chicken skewers

Chicken-kebabs

Slowly rotate skewered chicken and chunky veg over your camping stove. 

Ingredients:

  • Diced chicken breasts
  • Bell peppers
  • Diced red onions
  • Bottle of barbecue sauce
  • Pack of skewers

Directions:

In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken, onions, peppers and barbecue sauce. Carefully, thread the contents of the bowl onto skewers. Hold the skewers over the griddle and rotate until the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are chargrilled. 

That’s it for our easy camping meals for kids, we hope you get creative and enjoy these yummy recipes. Have you seen our camping packing list? It’s a great starting point and helps to take the stress out of a camping trip away.
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