Easy Camping Meals the Kids Will Love to Help Make

Jill Holtz

March 24, 2023

Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

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I have to admit we are not huge camping experts in our family, so when we do venture out for a camping trip overnight, the meals have to be super easy too – usually because we’ll be spending all our time setting up camp and remembering how to put the tent back up!

Camping offers so many opportunities to create lifelong memories and spend some real quality time together. Too often the thought of food on your camping trip revolves around sandwiches and convenience foods, but it is possible to cook some easy camping meals without a huge amount of effort. Check out our ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and even snacks! – to make your camping trip an all-round success.

Here are some easy camping meals that the kids will love to help make – beyond the usual s’mores! – that all taste great.

Easy Camping Meals: Breakfast Ideas

Campfire Skillet Breakfast

Campfire breakfast for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

Get ready for a day of activities with a hearty breakfast, thanks to this campfire skillet breakfast on All Recipes.

Bacon, potatoes and eggs are all cooked together for a very filling and satisfying camping breakfast.

Breakfast Foil Wraps

I love this idea from Delish.com for Breakfast Foil Wraps because you just mix up your ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag then make up foil packets to go on the campfire or grill.

Campfire French Toast

French Toast for easy camping meals - Mykidstime

French Toast is an ideal breakfast for camping, because it requires very little in terms of ingredients, prep or cooking space. Fresh Off the Grid’s tips for campfire French toast will help you create a yummy camping breakfast too!

Banana Bread

banana bread

Make up a batch of banana bread before you head off camping. It stores easily and doesn’t need to be refrigerated which can help if you have limited cool space.

Then just slice off a piece and toast it on some tinfoil on your campfire grate.

Overnight Oats

Overnight oats

Overnight oats are a really handy breakfast option for camping because you just mix up your oats with the topping or flavour of preference, leave overnight and it’s ready for the next morning.

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Easy Camping Meals: Lunch Options

Camping Hot Dogs

camping hot dogs for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

Sausages and hot dogs are really easy camping meals, and great for cooking over an open fire, but why not take it up a gear?

I love this idea from Frugal Coupon Living for camping hot dogs, which is super simple but looks yum.

You just need hot dogs or precooked sausages and some roll dough. Pop your sausage/hot dog onto the stick, wrap dough around and then into the tin foil to cook over the campfire.

Turkey Ranch Wraps

Turkey-Ranch-Wraps for easy camping meals - Mykidstime

Wraps are a really versatile lunch option when you are camping, and I love this recipe for Turkey Ranch Wraps from Life in the Lofthouse, combining turkey, bacon, cheese and ranch dressing for flavour.

Campfire Toasties

ham and cheese sandwich for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

Toasted sandwiches with a camping flair – perfect!

Make up your favourite toasted sandwich – ham and cheese or cheese and tomato are classics – then wrap it tightly in foil and toast on a grill grate or indirect campfire heat for 4-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and delicious!

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Easy Camping Meals: Dinner Ideas

One-Pot Pasta

One-Pot-Lentil-Protein-Pasta for easy camping meals - Mykidstime

This recipe for one-pot pasta from Fresh Off the Grid is a good one, not only because you can make it all in one pot, but also because it’s a good way to sneak in some veg. They’ve used kale, but you could also put spinach in or grated courgette.

If you don’t want to use lentil pasta, then just use regular or whole wheat pasta.

Tasty Tacos

tacos for easy camping meals - Mykidstime

The great thing about tacos is you can prep everything ahead of time.

I like to make up a batch of Mexican-flavoured meat, using minced beef, some ground cumin, ground coriander, ground paprika, and some dried oregano. Cook with a little water and you can add tinned tomatoes too if you like.

Other toppings to enjoy with the tacos:

  • grated cheese
  • refried beans heated up
  • salsa
  • guacamole
  • sour cream
  • salad (shredded iceberg lettuce is the handiest I find for using with tacos)

Then warm up your tacos quickly in your bbq frying pan for a couple of minutes. Put all the toppings out and everyone can put their own tacos together.

Campfire Pizza

pizza for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

To make campfire pizza you just need a few simple ingredients:

  • Pre-made pizza bases
  • Pizza sauce
  • Toppings e.g. sliced pepperoni
  • Grated mozzarella cheese

You can use either a grill rack or a frying pan large enough to fit the pizza base, then cook it over the campfire. Start by heating up the crust for a couple of minutes, then add on your sauce, the topping(s) and then the cheese.

Campfire Cheesy Garlic Potatoes

Campfire-Cheesy-Garlic-Potatoes for easy camping meals - Mykidstime

You could opt for jacket potatoes wrapped in foil for a comforting classic – or you could turn those jacket potatoes into delicious cheesy garlic hasselback potatoes, like these ones from Mountain Cravings, with just a tiny bit of extra preparation. Then all you have to do is sit back and let the fire do all the work. They are sure to be a hit with the whole family!

Campfire Macaroni and Cheese

campfire macaroni and cheese for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

This recipe from Nelliebellie.com for Campfire Macaroni and Cheese is sure to go down well with the kids! Take a favourite meal from home and bring it camping with you – it’s sure to be a hit.

You can also make this campfire mac ‘n’ cheese in advance, and then keep it until you want to cook it.

When it comes time for dinner, cook it on your campfire until it is all melty and delicious – just be careful not to put it on too high a direct heat.

Burgers

burgers

Who doesn’t love a burger? They are always a great standby meal for camping, but if you’re looking for something a little more child-friendly, what about making these mini burgers from Clodagh McKenna?

Not only are they easier (and more fun!) for kids to eat, but the smaller burgers are also quicker to cook on the BBQ.

Don’t forget to pack the ketchup!

Garlic Steak and Cheesy Bacon Potato in Foil

This garlic steak & cheesy bacon potato hash foil packs recipe from Cafe Delites can be cooked on the grill.

Tip: it’s best to choose better cuts of steak as they will be more tender.

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Easy Camping Meals: Desserts and Snacks

Grilled Bananas with Chocolate

baked bananas for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

The all-classic camping dessert of course is s’mores, but have you tried baked bananas with chocolate? They are DIVINE!

All you need for this easy camping dessert are:

  • Bananas sliced down the middle lengthways but with peel left on
  • Some squares of chocolate
  • Tinfoil

Put the banana onto the tinfoil, stuff some chocolate squares along where you sliced lengthways, wrap in foil and put onto the BBQ or campfire for about ten minutes. The banana will gently cook and the chocolate will melt in the middle, a delicious and gooey dessert.

For an extra treat why not add in some mini marshmallows like this recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking?

Campfire Apple Crisp

campfire apple crisp for Easy camping meals - Mykidstime

This recipe for campfire apple crisp from Cooking With Jax is very easy to put together. Core and slice your apples, then mix them with the crumble mix and make tin foil parcels.

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