When people say \u201ccamping,\u201d they could mean many different things. The type of camping trip you go on directly impacts the kind of food you can pack and cook along the way. For example, backpackers are limited in how much weight they can carry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few things to consider when planning your summer camping meals: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- How heavy can the food be?<\/li>
- How many calories do you need to eat?<\/li>
- How long can you take to cook?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Another important consideration is the way you cook. If you have a camp stove, cooking meals may be faster. However, cooking over a fire puts a delicious smoky taste into your food \u2014 and it\u2019s cozy if the weather turns wet<\/a> or chilly at night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Foil Packets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Foil packets are one of the easiest and most delicious ways to cook while camping. You assemble the ingredients together in foil packets, keep them in a portable fridge and then cook the foil packets on the grill until the meat and veggies inside are done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The amount of recipes and substitutions you can make with foil packets is incredible. Because you prepare most of this meal before leaving for your trip, it\u2019s also fast. You can cook these foil-packet meals right on hot coals or put them on a grill above the fire. All you need is a roll of tin foil, a sharp knife and a cutting board, and you\u2019ll be set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few ideas for foil packet camping recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crab Legs and Sausage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chop up red potatoes, corn on the cob and red hot dogs. Wrap them in double aluminum foil with a pound of cooked crab legs<\/a> and a quartered lemon. For enhanced flavor, add butter, salt and a pack of Old Bay seasoning. Switch out the veggies or seafood for other similar meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chicken and Sweet Potatoes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Combine chopped sweet potatoes, peaches<\/a>, red pepper and chicken in foil packs. Carefully seal the foil packs and cook over a grill or hot coals. Flip the packets every few minutes to ensure even cooking and be careful not to burn your fingers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t like red pepper? Switch it out for broccoli, carrots, onions or another favorite. The options for foil-pack meals are as limitless as they are delicious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Skillet Meals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Another classic, skillet meals work well if you can pack a skillet for your trip. Cast iron is the best option because it adds flavor to your dishes and is easy to clean. However, a stainless steel skillet also works well if you\u2019re backpacking and need to carry less weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few options for making a delicious, one-pot skillet meal over a campfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Egg and Veggie Skillet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This dish works well for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Chop up some potatoes and cook them in the skillet<\/a> until soft. Add eggs and cook them either scrambled or fried over low heat. Add green onions, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper for amazing flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chicken and Rice Skillet <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For this meal, you can either use pre-cooked rice or cook the rice in a separate pot while you make the meat in your skillet. Cook marinated or seasoned chicken in your skillet, flipping often to cook each side evenly<\/a>. Add carrots, peas, broccoli or other veggies of your choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To spice up these skillet meals, consider purchasing premixed spice packs to take with you. There are so many different kinds of skillet meals to consider \u2014 simply switch out the protein, veggies and spices for a thousand different delicious dishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Camping Burgers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Burgers are another fantastic summer camping cookout option. You can grill them over a fire<\/a> or cook them in a pan on a camp stove. You could even wrap them in foil and cook them over a bed of coals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you cook a burger over a fire, it gets a delicious smoky flavor that\u2019s unparalleled by other options. However, it\u2019s the fixings that really make a campfire burger stand out. For the best burgers, take along these ingredients: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Hamburger buns <\/li>
- Pickles<\/li>
- Ketchup<\/li>
- Lettuce<\/li>
- Tomato<\/li>
- Shredded carrots<\/li>
- Onions<\/li>
- Beets<\/li>
- Pineapple<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Grill the onions and pineapple along with the burgers, then stack everything up into a tasty, filling, and nutritious burger. You can make sweet potato fries to go along with it. For a shish kabob version of this burger, chop the veggies and fruit up and grill them on a stick with sirloin steak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Campfire Desserts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Of course, no camping trip is complete without a sweet dessert around the fire in the evening. In addition to the traditional campfire desserts, there are many fun options to consider for your next camping adventure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
S’mores<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cooking s\u2019mores is the perfect way to use up the last embers of the fire after dinner. If traditional s’mores aren\u2019t your favorite, try dressing them up with Oreos, Nutella or peanut butter<\/a>. Experiment with different sizes of marshmallows and different flavors of chocolate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baked Apples<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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