Best Camping Menu

From S'mores to HotDogs Camping Food Tips

Need a camping menu? One of the best parts to the camping experience is the food. Nothing brings family and friends together like a great meal, and the great outdoors is no exception.

To make the most of your camping trip, a little preparation goes a long way.

Coolers and ice packs can be useful for keeping food cool. Lockable cooler chests can keep food frozen for a couple days, so they may be a great option if you don't have another means of keeping your food cold.

Be sure to pack resealable plastic containers, plastic baggies, foil wrap, earth-friendly dish soap and sponges. These items will go a long way in the storing, preparing and subsequent clean up of your meals.

Not only will these items make your mealtimes easier, it will cut down on the smell – that is a bonus as you do not want wild animals wandering onto your campsite!

Matches, cooking and eating utensils, salt and pepper, ketchup and BBQ sauce (and any other seasonings or condiments you can't live without) are smaller items you won't want to forget.

Wash and prep your fruits and veggies before you leave, it saves a lot of time.

Labeling your foods will help keep you organized. Marinate your meats and freeze them (in the marinade) before you go. Talk about a time saver! Just thaw and cook. Who knew camp cooking could be so good – and easy!

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Breakfast Camping Menu Ideas 

If you bring a cast iron pan and a grill for the camp ring then you can fry up some bacon, eggs and beans for breakfast. Just ignore the jealous looks from fellow campers.

Other breakfast ideas are fruits, pastries and even cereal (buy the milk at the mini mart in the morning).

Good old peanut butter and jam sandwiches are always a favorite camping breakfast with my kids. Or head to a nearby diner for breakfast with the kids.

Whatever you do get the kids to help you with the cooking and preparing as that is the fun part and the time when memories are created!!!

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Camping Menu for Lunch and Dinner 

S'mores are a must when camping with your kids. This tasty treat is always a hit. Take 2 graham crackers and place a piece of chocolate and a roasted marshmallow in between to make a sandwich. The hot marshmallow will melt the chocolate. Delicious!

One of my favorite family camping ideas is to put a different twist on the s'mores by adding a little fruit like raspberries, blueberries, sliced banana or strawberries.

Sandwiches are a great 'first day' food. While everyone is busy setting up – pitching tents and inflating mattresses, its hard to think about what to cook. Making great sandwiches in advance can make lunchtime easy for everyone, and how about that, no clean up!

Hotdogs and Hamburgers are easily cooked on an open fire. Just bring a hand held grill or a grill to place over the campfire ring. And don't forget to pack the ketchup.

Wrap some potatoes or sweet potatoes in tin foil. Stab them a few times with a fork and throw them right in the fire. Add some butter and salt-yummy!

Marinate some chicken place it in a grill basket and cook over the open flame. This one is a little trickier as you need to make sure the chicken is evenly cooked. Try to keep it away from the direct flame so it doesn't burn.

Grilled fish- whether you caught it yourself or packed a few filets, is a healthy and delicious dish. Simply season each side of the filet, baste with butter and put it on the grill, or fry it in a pan. Squeeze some lemon on it and enjoy.

Everyone, especially kids, loves pizza. Make your own campfire version by taking with you ready made pizza dough, pizza sauce, some mozzarella cheese and any toppings you want. If you have a pizza stone, roll out the dough and put it on the campfire. Once one side is cooked (about 10 min) flip it over and spread the sauce, cheese and toppings on top. Cover the pie with foil and let it cook until the cheese melts.

While lettuce may not hold up in a salad on the campsite, creating tasty and healthy versions is easy and nutritious. Beans, quinoa, beets salad or just about any veggie or grain can be used to make a great side. Simply combine what you have already prepped and packed and season and dress to taste.

If you are camping for longer than one night then freeze your meats and stick them in a cooler with ice. Keep the cooler in the shade so the ice lasts longer. 

Bring some veggies and dip or a salad. Pack them on ice in your cooler (see our packing list so you don't forget anything!). Hope you enjoy our camping menu! Tell us about other ideas you have!

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More Ideas for Travel with Kids

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