Quick and Make-Ahead Camping Meals

If you are looking for some meal recipes that can be prepared quickly at camp these are for you. These quick easy make-ahead camping meals are perfect for the day you arrive at camp or the day you are packing up to head back home.

Walking Tacos

Walking tacos are great because you can prep everything at home. At camp all you need to do heat the meat of your choice and serve. If your RV is equipped with a microwave reheating your taco meat can be done in a minute or two.

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

people

Ingredients

Taco Meat

1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning

Topings

5 package fritos individual serving size
2 cups lettuce shredded
1 whole tomato diced
1 package sour cream squeeze bottle for easier serving and no cleanup
1 jar salsa

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

people

Ingredients

Taco Meat

1 lb ground beef
1 package taco seasoning

Topings

5 package fritos individual serving size
2 cups lettuce shredded
1 whole tomato diced
1 package sour cream squeeze bottle for easier serving and no cleanup
1 jar salsa

Instructions

At Home

Place ground beef in large skillet. Cook over medium heat until browned. Removed excess fat from skillet. Add taco seasoning according to direction on packet.
Allow to cool and store in microwave proof container.
Chop lettuce tomato and onion and store in plastic storage bags.

At Camp

Re-heat taco meat using microwave, stove top or campfire.
Set chips, meat and toppings out on picnic table.
Take a bag open it and slightly crush the chips to break them into smaller pieces.
Add toppings directly to bag and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Variations

For a healthier option use ground turkey and SunChips.
To mix things up a little bit you could try different chip varieties like Fritos.

walking tacos

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Campfire Mac-n-Cheese

This recipe is one I make on almost every camping trip. All the prep work is done at home. Then individual servings are cooked on the campfire grill in foil pans. Grilled hotdogs go great with this recipe.

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

person

Ingredients

1/2 cup macaroni noodles cooked
1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese shredded
1 tbsp milk
1/2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 foil pan small loaf size
aluminum foil

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

person

Ingredients

1/2 cup macaroni noodles cooked
1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese shredded
1 tbsp milk
1/2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 foil pan small loaf size
aluminum foil

Instructions

At Home

Cook macaroni noodles rise and store in plastic storage bag.

At Camp

Add noodles to each pan.
Add remaining ingredients and mix slightly. Try to leave a nice layer of noodles on the bottom.
Cover pan with foil.
Place on campfire grill grate. Try place pans around the edge of the grate not directly over the hottest part of the fire to prevent the bottom from burning. Let cook 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from fire and allow to cool for about a minute then open, stir and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Variations

Add some garlic powder or cayenne pepper to spice it up.
While the man-n-cheese is cooking add some hot dogs to the middle of the grill and then cut them up and mix in with the mac-n-cheese before eating.

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Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches are one of my favorites when we head to the campground after working a full day. On those days you need a quick easy meal. For this meal there are 2 options one is super easy, the second requires more work at home, but is worth the extra effort.

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

people

Ingredients

Option 1: Super Easy Pulled Pork Sandwiches

1 package prepared pulled pork Jack Daniels or GFS both make great pre-made pulled pork
1 package sandwich buns choose you favorite sandwich bun

Option 2: Great Tasting Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

6 lb pork shoulder also know as pork butt
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/4 cup BBQ rub click the link at the end for my rub recipe
6 oz apple cider vinegar
1 bottle BBQ sauce choose your favorite, I like Sweet Baby Ray's
1 package sandwich buns choose you favorite sandwich bun

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Make-Ahead

Servings

people

Ingredients

Option 1: Super Easy Pulled Pork Sandwiches

1 package prepared pulled pork Jack Daniels or GFS both make great pre-made pulled pork
1 package sandwich buns choose you favorite sandwich bun

Option 2: Great Tasting Oven Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwiches

6 lb pork shoulder also know as pork butt
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1/4 cup BBQ rub click the link at the end for my rub recipe
6 oz apple cider vinegar
1 bottle BBQ sauce choose your favorite, I like Sweet Baby Ray's
1 package sandwich buns choose you favorite sandwich bun

Instructions

Option 1: At Home

No prep required at home.

Option 2: At Home

Coat pork shoulder with yellow mustard.
Sprinkle rub onto pork shoulder and pat in (use rubber gloves if you have them).
Place on rack in roasting pan cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
Remove pork shoulder from refrigerator and preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Pour apple cider vinegar or juice mixed with 50-50 with water to cover bottom of pan.
Cook pork shoulder for about 6 hours or until the thickest part reads 190 degrees. Check every hour to make sure there is a layer of vinegar or juice in the bottom of the pan.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
Shred fork using 2 large forks or pork claws.
Refrigerate for later at camp.

At Camp

Re-heat pork in microwave, stovetop or over fire. To prevent drying out mix some BBQ sauce in with the pork when re-heating.
Serve with sandwich buns and BBQ sauce.

Recipe Notes

Variations

If you have a smoker this recipe is great. Put a pan of apple cider vinegar or juice under the pork and use apple wood chips for a great flavor. Smoke at 250 degrees for about 8 hours until meat reaches 190 degrees.

Equipment

If you don’t already have a set pork claws make shredding meat quick and easy.

Rub Recipe

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Packet Potatoes

Packet Potatoes are a tasty and simple side dish that can be prepared in no time. These packet potatoes are a great with a wood fired steak.

Course

Side Dish

Cuisine

Camping

Servings

people

Ingredients

4 potato medium size
1/4 onion chopped
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
aluminum foil

Course

Side Dish

Cuisine

Camping

Servings

people

Ingredients

4 potato medium size
1/4 onion chopped
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
aluminum foil

Instructions

Slice potato into ½” cubes and chop onion.
Roll out 2 pieces aluminum foil about 1 foot long for each packet.
Lay potato cubes in middle of first piece of foil.
Mix in ½ tbsp butter cut into small pieces.
Sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper and add onions.
Sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper and add onions.
Fold foil in half long ways and then double fold the edge. Then double fold the sides.
Place on second piece of foil and fold the same way.
Repeat for each packet.
Place packets on campfire grill grate and cook about 40 minutes to 1 hour rotating packets until potatoes are tender.
Remove from grill and allow to cool slightly then serve and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Variations

If you want to spice it up add some cayenne pepper.

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