7 Easy Camping Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Lumberjack Breakfast Foil Pack

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

This hearty and super easy breakfast is one of our favorite quick camping meals, especially if we’re heading out for a fun day on the trails. 

This recipe is fully customizable, so let the kiddos pack their preferred ingredients and have some fun building their breakfast!

What You’ll Need:

• Sausage, bacon, or vegetarian option
• Frozen hash browns 
• Eggs (1-2 per foil pack)
• Choice of veggies (chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, sliced peppers, etc.)
• Shredded cheese

How to Make It:

1. Take a large piece of foil and lightly add cooking spray. 
2. Add protein (meat or vegetarian option), then top with a handful of hash browns, and sprinkle on your veggies. 
3. Crack 1-2 eggs on top and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
4. Close up the foil pack and place on your grill for 15-20 minutes.
5. Remove from grill and add shredded cheese. Place back on the grill for a few more minutes to melt cheese. 
6. Unwrap and enjoy!

Don’t forget your favorite spices or hot sauces for some extra flavor. Pair your foil pack with a side of fresh fruit for a nutritious brunch by the morning campfire.

Campfire Nachos

Whether at home, on the road, in your camper van, or next to the campfire, you can never go wrong with nachos! You can enjoy these as a snack or as an appetizer before one of your campfire dinners. 

Whip them up in a cast iron and share the tasty goodness with everyone. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a large sheet of foil can also do the trick.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Servings: 4-6

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ lb tortilla chips
• Pico de Gallo (fresh or canned)
• Shredded Mexican cheese blend (at least 1 cup)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 can of black or pinto beans, drained
• 1 large avocado, cubed
• 4-5 green onions, chopped
• Fresh cilantro, chopped (season to your preference)
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Optional: chicken, beef, steak, or vegetarian protein
• Optional: can of jalapenos or green chiles

How to Make It:

1. Lightly oil your cast iron skillet or sheet of foil.
2. For your first layer, evenly spread half of the chips out in the skillet and top ¼ can of tomatoes, black beans, and ¼ cup of cheese. Add a handful of avocado, cilantro, and green onions. Repeat for a second and third layer (if you’re adding meat or spicing things up with jalapenos or chiles, be sure to include them in this step).
3. Place nachos over fire and let sit for about 10 minutes or until the cheese has fully melted. 
4. Remove from fire, squeeze limes over the nachos, and serve hot.

Enjoy these straight from your skillet or dish out servings to everyone. Take things to the next level with sides of salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

Deconstructed Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

While kabobs can be fully tailored to your taste, this recipe offers bright, tropical flavors that are perfect for summertime grilling.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Marinating time: 1 hour

Cook time: 20 minutes

What You’ll Need:

Marinade:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger or ginger paste
• 1 juiced lime or 5-6 tsp of lime juice
• 1 tsp salt

Skewers:

• ½ pound of chicken (boneless, skinless thighs work best), cut into 1-inch pieces. For a vegetarian version use tofu or meatless chicken option.
• 1 medium red onion, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium bell pepper, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 8 large mushrooms (crimini have the best flavor), cut into 1-inch cubes
• Pineapple wedges, cut into 1-inch cubs

How to Make It:

1. Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a large bowl or ziplock bag.
2. Add chicken to the marinade, cover, and let sit for an hour. Place in your cooler or camper van fridge if you plan to marinate it for longer.
3. In a cast iron skillet, cook the chicken in olive oil until done. 
4. Wrap red onions and other veggies in foil and let cook over the fire for 10-15 minutes.
5. Combine all ingredients and pineapple in a skillet over the fire and let everything cook together for 2-3 more minutes.

To round out the meal, enjoy your deconstructed kabobs with a side of rice, potatoes, or a green salad.

Campfire Mac n’ Cheese with Sausage

Truly one of the best camping meals for kids — you can never go wrong with mac n’ cheese. Heck, it doesn’t matter your age, this classic is loved by people of all ages!

This is another great food to take camping because it’s easy to make and can be as simple or complex as you want. While we’re giving you our saucy spin, you can personalize this recipe however you like.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

What You’ll Need:

• 1 box elbow macaroni
• 1 8-10 oz jar alfredo sauce 
• 1 ½ cup shredded cheese
• ¼-½ cup milk 
• 1 package sausage (kielbasa pairs well), bacon, or other meat of choice (or skip the meat and use your choice of veggies instead)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How to Make It:

1. If you’re including meat, first cook it in your cast iron skillet. Drain excess fat and set aside.
2. Cook macaroni in a separate pot (or prepare ahead of time at home and shock with cold water). Bring water to a boil, salt water, and cook for 8-10 minutes. Drain water and set aside.
3. Add noodles, sauce, cheese to the skillet. Slowly add milk and stir (start with ¼ and add more if needed).
4. Leave your skillet over the fire for 5-10 minutes, stirring until cheese is melted and mixed in.
5. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

For a little extra flavor, add in chopped green onions and red pepper flakes.

Cheesy Asparagus Foil Packs

Every camping food checklist needs side dishes, and this melty campfire recipe is a perfect complement to your main course. Plus, if your kiddos take a little convincing to eat their veggies, there won’t be any arguing here!

If you aren’t feeling asparagus, you can always swap in broccoli or cauliflower to change things up.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

What You’ll Need:

• 1 lb asparagus, ends trimmed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• ½ lemon, juiced
• Red pepper flakes
• Dried oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Grated parmesan to garnish

How to Make It:

1. In a large bowl, toss asparagus in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and oregano. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
2. Divide asparagus into 4 foil packs, then sprinkle with cheese.
3. Fold and seal packs and place on grill or campfire for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and asparagus is tender.
4. Garnish with parmesan (and more red pepper flakes for some spice).

If you want to up your cheese game, substitute fontina, brie, or Gruyère for a more gourmet experience.

Campfire Popcorn

While many of our camper vans are equipped with microwaves, popping popcorn over a campfire is just as easy (and more fun). Whether it’s an easy snack for a day exploring or a treat to accompany movie night in the van, campfire popcorn is a must camping recipe.

Gather your favorite popcorn toppings, and don’t forget the butter or nutritional yeast!

Prep time: Less than 5 minutes

Cook time: 4-5 minutes

Servings: 4

What You’ll Need:

• Pie tin
• ¼ cup popcorn kernels
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• Salt, to taste
• Optional: butter

How to Make It:

1. Toss kernels and vegetable oil in your pie tin. If you don’t have a pie tin, you can shape a large sheet of foil into a shallow bowl shape.
2. Cover top lightly with foil to create a dome shape (this allows room for kernels to pop).
3. Place over fire and listen for the pops.
4. Using a pair of tongs, shake the tin or foil lightly until the popping stops.
5. Season with salt, garlic, powder. Add butter if you prefer.

Making the popcorn is a little event itself, and one your kids will enjoy doing with you. This is sure to become a favorite on your food camping list.

Pot of S’mores

S’mores are obviously a beloved classic camping food. But once you and your family try this new take on the quintessential campfire desert, there may be no going back!

And don’t worry — all the fun of making s’mores can still be enjoyed as you create this tasty treat.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

What You’ll Need:

• 1 package graham crackers, crushed
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups mini marshmallows
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

How to Make It:

1. Line a cast iron skillet with aluminum foil.
2. Combine cracker crumbs with butter and press into bottom of your skillet.
3. Pour milk over crust mixture and sprinkle with chocolate and butterscotch chips.
4. Top with marshmallows and cover with foil. 
5. Allow for campfire to lower until wood or briquettes are covered with white ash. Place skillet over fire at this point. 
6. Cook until marshmallows begin to melt, about 15 minutes.
7. Serve up warm. 

The only hard part about making this dessert is having to wait for the skillet to cool down before safely eating!

Book Your Next Family Road Trip With GoCamp

With this solid list of campfire recipes to share with your family, you’re one step closer to being ready for your next adventure outdoors.

No matter the experience your family is looking forward to, we can accommodate with the perfect camper van rental for your next trip. Check out our full line-up of vans to see what fits you best!