10+ Clever Camping Food Ideas and Hacks

Can't take the heat? Stay out of the kitchen! Instead, take your culinary expertise to the campsite with these helpful camping food ideas and hacks.

August 27, 2021

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Photo By: Jennie Andrews / PopFizz

Make Campsite Dining Easy With Helpful Ideas and Hacks

Camping is affordable, family-friendly and a wonderful way to connect with nature. Time to pack up your tent, fill the cooler and head to the woods. But before you do, we've got some camp-friendly food ideas and hacks that will make your mountain getaway effortlessly easy and oh-so-delicious.

Pre-Cut Your Vegetables to Save Time and Space

Pre-cut your vegetables and stash them in reusable bags to save major time once mealtime comes. Plus, this way, you can avoid unnecessary clutter and leave the chef's knife and cutting boards at home.

Easily Roast Vegetables on a Campfire With Aluminum Foil

Because vegetable prep is already done, you have more time to focus on your campfire cooking skills. To easily roast vegetables over the fire, start by pouring 1-2 tablespoons of oil on a piece of aluminum foil.

Coat Vegetables in Olive Oil and Wrap in Aluminum Foil for Cooking

Place your pre-cut vegetables in the oil and season to taste. Next, wrap the vegetables up tightly in the foil and tuck them into the fire until tender.

Save Space by Packing Spices in a Pill Case

If you love to cook (and eat, of course!), you're going to want your campsite cuisine to be packed with flavor. Instead of bringing along your entire spice drawer, save space by storing spices in a pill case.

Efficiently Bring Along Plenty of Spices for Your Camping Trip

Depending on the size of the pill case you use, you can easily fit 1-2 tablespoons of spices in each day slot.

Infuse Your Vegetables With Flavor With Spices

Adding your favorite spices plus a tight aluminum foil wrap is sure to infuse your vegetables with intense flavor.

Put Flavorful, Fire-Roasted Vegetables on Your Outdoors Menu

Once the veggies are tender, peel back the aluminum foil and check your work.

Ensure Your Eggs Arrive Safely to the Campsite in a Glass Jar

Getting eggs home from the store unbroken is hard enough, let alone getting them to your campsite. To aid in your efforts, go ahead and crack your eggs into a large glass jar.

Scramble Eggs in a Jar by Giving Them a Shake

Once breakfast time comes, simply crack open the jar and pour your desired amount into a greased cast-iron skillet. For extra scambled eggs, give the jar a good shake before opening.

Learn More: How to Clean and Season Cast-Iron Cookware

Generously Grease Cast Iron to Keep Eggs From Sticking

Avoid burnt-on egg mess: Always give your cast-iron a quality seasoning and use plenty of bacon fat, butter or oil.

Learn More: Cast Iron Cleaning Tips

Save Space and Avoid Messes by Packing Pancake Mix in a Squeeze Bottle

Who wants to clean up the inevitable mess that comes with whipping up pancake mix at a campsite? Not us! Leave the mixing bowls at home and skip this step altogether by storing dry pancake mix in a squeeze bottle.

Combine Water and Pancake Mix in a Squeeze Bottle and Shake to Mix

Ready to eat? Simply pour a little water into the squeeze bottle and give it a good shake. Adding just a little water at a time will ensure you don't overdo it.

Perfectly Portion Out Pancakes by Squeezing Batter Into a Pan

Once mixed, squeeze out perfectly portioned pancakes on an oiled cast-iron skillet. Don't forget to add your favorite toppings. Bring along blueberries, chocolate chips or even pre-cut banana pieces.

Dress Pancakes With Syrup Stored in a Camp-Friendly Glass Jar

Once your pancakes are good and golden, top them with your favorite syrup. And just like eggs, syrup travels better in a small glass jar.

Give Yourself a Healthy Alternative to Hot Dogs by Packing Pre-Made Salads

Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows may be the pinnacle of fireside feasting, but sometimes something a little healthier is needed to keep you full of energy for a weekend full of adventure. While packing all the makings of a good salad would take up tons of space, this pre-made salad keeps things nice and tidy (oh, and did we mention delicious?).

Combine Your Favorite Salad Components in a Glass Jar at Home

Start by grabbing a small jar with a sealable lid and your favorite salad components. We chose a zesty vinaigrette, chickpeas, cubed provolone, cubed salami, giardiniera and arugula.

Put Dressing on the Bottom of a Glass Jar

To keep the top layer of greens as dry as possible, start by adding your dressing to the bottom of the jar.

Create Layers of Flavor for Your Pre-Made Salad

Next, layer in chickpeas (drained and rinsed), cubed salami, giardiniera and cubed provolone.

Place Your Favorite Salad Greens on the Top

Finally, add your arugula to the top. Arugula is pretty good at packing without bruising, so don't be afraid to squeeze in as much as you want. Trust us, the hardest part of this recipe will be saving it for the trip!

Make Morning Coffee an Effortless Task

If you're anything like us, waking up in the great outdoors without a cup of coffee is like camping without a fire. Luckily, we've got the perfect way to make brewing your morning cup of joe an effortless task.

Make Pre-Portioned Coffee Bags With a Coffee Filter and String

For pre-portioned coffee servings, fill a coffee filter with 2 tablespoons of ground coffee and tie off with a string.

Combine Coffee and Water in Your Favorite Mug

Once the birds start chirping and the sun is up, fill your favorite mug with hot water and toss in the coffee. Let steep for four minutes then remove. Add cream and sugar to your liking or enjoy it black, just make sure to pack enough for a second cup.

Swap Ice for Frozen Water Bottles and Avoid the Watery Mess

Though nothing compares to your refrigerator, there are a few ways to improve the function of your cooler. To start, replace traditional ice with frozen water bottles. Voila! DIY ice packs. And, instead of being left with a watery mess once they melt, a refreshing beverage awaits you.

Neatly Arrange Your Food and Add Ice Last to Keep Things in Place

Neatly arranged water bottles lining the bottom of the cooler also make a sturdy foundation for other foods. For longer camping trips that require more cooling, add traditional ice after you fill the cooler. This will keep everything in its place during the car ride.

Keep Small Items Accessible and Dry With Baskets

Should you choose to add ice, placing some baskets on the top of the ice will keep small items accessible and, more importantly, dry.

Keep More Fragile Chilled Items Safe in Baskets

Baskets are also the perfect spot for storing things like chocolate and butter so they can stay cool without getting crushed.

Store Nonperishables in a Seat-Mounted Shoe Organizer

For dry goods and nonperishables, a shoe organizer is the perfect storage solution. Suspend it from your car's headrests by sliding the posts through the grommets. Warning: This tip is so useful, the organizer may become a year-long accessory in your car.