Camping is a unique way of spending time in nature. It allows you to bond with your family, enjoy everything that nature offers, learn survival skills, and enjoy new scenery. Aside from the equipment needed for camping, the other significant items you need involve your meals. However, there is absolutely nothing that compares to camp side cooking and dining, which is why so many love camping.
Continue reading to discover some must-have items for camping and four delicious and easy meal ideas to fuel your family when camping.
Even though camping looks like one of those adventures where not a lot of equipment is required, there are some things necessary that will make your trip more enjoyable. Some of those items are:
- Tent and comfortable mattress
- Warm blankets
- Portable lamp
- Portable generator
- Grill and pans for cooking
- Warm comfortable clothing including rain gear
- Bug and mosquito repellents
Campfire Nachos
This delectable and cheesy dish has layers of flavorful ingredients that will create a dance party in your mouth. Although the ingredients are listed below, this dish is entirely customizable.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound pre-cooked and seasoned ground beef
- 1 large bag of tortilla chips
- 1/2 pound shredded Mexican cheese
- 1/2 pound shredded Colby
- 1 can of chilies
- 1 whole diced onion (cooked with ground beef)
- 1 can of fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of roasted green chilies
- 1 can of black olives
- Sour cream – optional
- Pan
- Foil
Build your fire and open all the cans – drain the olives and black beans juice. Add a little of your fire-roasted tomatoes to the bottom of your pan. Then you will begin layering your other ingredients (except the sour cream), starting with a layer of tortilla chips, adding some of your ground beef and onion mixture, a layer of cheese, and your other ingredients. You want to build layers until all ingredients are used. Cover your pan with a lid or foil and put the pan on the grill for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, garnish with sour cream and enjoy.
Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs
One of the best things about kebabs is that they can get prepped entirely at home, and all you have to do on the campground is cook. And if you are visiting the New York State park camping grounds, you can leave your grill at home. They have tents, grills, tables, and everything else to make your trip easy and enjoyable.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds chicken breast – cut into cube 1-inch cubes
- 2 large onions
- 2 zucchinis
- 2 large red peppers
- 1green pepper
- Disposable skewers
Wash and cut chicken breast into 1-inch cube pieces. Wash and dice all vegetables into 1-inch pieces. Begin adding your cubed meat and vegetables to the skewers in layers. Use the same layering pattern on all of the skewers—place them in a foil-covered pan in your cooler for transport. Place a single layer of the kebabs directly on the hot pal. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
Delicious Shrimp and Vegetables
Camping doesn’t mean you have to shy away from sound and healthy eating. This dish is completely satisfying for those on a health quest. This is another meal that can be prepared at home and cooked at the campsite.
Ingredients:
- Foil
- 2 pounds cleaned and deveined shrimp
- 1 onion
- 1 pound butter
- Cooking spray
- 1 zucchini
- 1 red pepper
- Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon pepper, old bay seasoning.
Wash and slice your vegetables. Season the shrimp generously with lemon pepper and Old Bay seasoning and put it in a large bowl. Season your vegetables with the other herbs and spices to taste in another bowl. Add your vegetables to the shrimp bowl and combine. Cut foil into 6-inch pieces. Spray the dull side of the foil with the cooking spray. Add several spoonfuls of the shrimp/vegetable mixture to the foil. Add several pats of butter to each foil packet. Close the foil so that it creates a cooking tent. Refrigerate until you are ready to cook. Add the foil packets directly to the grill on a hot grill—Cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.
Camping Breakfast Bowl
There is no better way to get the day started than a delicious hot breakfast, and camping is no exception.
Ingredients:
- 8 to 10 uncooked eggs
- 1 pound of bacon cooked and crumbled
- 3 potatoes cut into cubes and fried
- 1/2 pound butter
- 1 onion cut and cooked with the Potatoes
Add a large skillet to a warm grill. Melt the butter and add the cooked potatoes, onion mixture, and bacon. Cook until thoroughly warmed. Crack eggs into a bowl and mix. Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes and bacon and cook until the eggs are done. Serve hot.
Fuel Up with These Easy Meal Ideas
As you have read, camping is an inexpensive and memorable way to spend time with your family. Although enjoying nature is the primary reason that people enjoy camping, cooking and serving meals is important. There are four recipes above that are delicious, easy, and will fuel your family while camping.
