10 Make Ahead Camping Dinners That’ll Save Your Sanity

Let’s be real – after a full day of hiking swimming or just trying to keep the kids from wandering off into the wilderness the last thing you want to do is spend an hour prepping dinner from scratch. That’s where make-ahead camping meals become your absolute lifesaver!

These recipes let you do all the heavy lifting at home in your comfortable kitchen then just heat and eat when you’re ready to chow down around the campfire. Trust me your future camping self will thank you for this prep work.

1. Hearty Campfire Breakfast Scramble

This isn’t just for breakfast – it makes an amazing dinner too! Everything gets mixed together at home so you’re basically just reheating a complete meal.

Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup cooked breakfast sausage (crumbled)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup diced bell peppers
• ½ cup diced onions
• 1 cup diced potatoes (pre-cooked or frozen hash browns)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp butter (for reheating)

Instructions:
At home: Whisk eggs with milk salt and pepper in a large bowl. Cook the sausage and let it cool completely. Sauté bell peppers onions and potatoes until soft then let everything cool. Combine the cooked sausage veggies and cheese with the eggs. Pour into a large ziplock bag or airtight container and store in your cooler3.

At camp: Heat butter in a skillet over your camp stove or fire. Pour in the scramble mixture and cook stirring occasionally until eggs are set. Serve as-is or wrap in tortillas for handheld goodness3.

2. Foil Pack Chicken Fajitas

These little flavor bombs are perfect for camping because cleanup is basically non-existent. Just toss the foil on the fire and you’re golden!

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced thin)
• 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 small onion (sliced)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 4 small flour tortillas
• Shredded cheese salsa and sour cream for serving

Instructions:
At home: Combine sliced chicken bell peppers onions olive oil and all seasonings in a large bowl. Toss everything until evenly coated. Divide the mixture onto four large sheets of aluminum foil and seal each packet tightly3.

At camp: Place foil packs on a grill grate over the fire or directly on hot coals. Cook for 15-20 minutes flipping once until chicken is fully cooked. Watch out for steam when opening! Scoop into tortillas and top with your favorites3.

Pro tip: Marinate the chicken in lime juice and extra seasoning before sealing for even more flavor punch3.

3. Dutch Oven Chicken Marbella

Want to impress your camping crew? This gourmet dish with chicken thighs olives garlic and sweet prunes will have everyone thinking you’re some kind of camping chef wizard.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 chicken thighs
• ½ cup pitted green olives
• ½ cup pitted prunes chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar (non-alcoholic)
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
At home: Mix everything together in a large container or ziplock bag. Let it marinate in your fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight1.

At camp: Transfer to your Dutch oven and cook over coals for about 45 minutes until chicken is cooked through and tender. The flavors meld together beautifully!

4. Chicken Tortilla Stew

This is basically a dump-and-go meal that cooks itself while you’re setting up camp or relaxing by the fire.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken breast cubed
• 1 can black beans drained
• 1 can corn drained
• 1 jar salsa
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• Tortilla chips and cheese for topping

Instructions:
At home: Combine everything except toppings in a gallon ziplock bag. Freeze or refrigerate until your trip2.

At camp: Dump contents into your Dutch oven and cook over charcoal for about an hour stirring occasionally. Top with crushed tortilla chips and cheese2.

5. Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese

Let’s face it – everyone loves mac and cheese and this camping version gets those crispy edges that are absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 2 cups sharp cheddar shredded
• 1 cup mozzarella shredded
• 3 cups milk
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• ½ tsp paprika

Instructions:
At home: Cook pasta according to package directions. Make cheese sauce by melting butter whisking in flour then gradually adding milk until thick. Stir in cheeses and seasonings. Combine with pasta and transfer to aluminum pans2.

At camp: Place on a grate over the campfire and heat until bubbly and golden on top. Those crispy edges are pure magic2!

6. BBQ Chicken

This saucy tender chicken is incredibly versatile – use it in wraps on sandwiches or pile it high on nachos for an epic camping feast.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
• 2 cups BBQ sauce (divided)
• 1 onion sliced
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:
At home: Season chicken and cook in a slow cooker with half the BBQ sauce onion brown sugar and vinegar for 6-8 hours. Shred and mix with remaining sauce. Store in containers1.

At camp: Just reheat in a skillet or pot and serve however you like. It’s that simple1!

7. Chicken Salad

Perfect for those nights when you want something lighter but still satisfying. This Greek yogurt version is tangy and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked chicken diced
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 celery stalks diced
• ¼ cup red onion minced
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried dill
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Bread or wraps for serving

Instructions:
At home: Mix everything together and store in an airtight container in your cooler1.

At camp: Serve on bread in wraps or even in lettuce cups for a lighter option1.

8. Sloppy Joes

This classic comfort food is perfect for camping because kids love it and it’s basically impossible to mess up.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
• 1 onion diced
• 1 bell pepper diced
• 2 cups ketchup
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp mustard
• Hamburger buns

Instructions:
At home: Brown the meat with onion and bell pepper. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool and store in containers1.

At camp: Reheat in a pot over your camp stove and serve on buns. Easy as pie1!

9. Tuna Salad

A no-brainer for easy camping meals especially when you want something that doesn’t require any cooking at camp.

Ingredients:

• 3 cans tuna drained
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 1 small onion minced
• 2 hard-boiled eggs chopped
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
At home: Mix everything together and store in your cooler1.

At camp: Serve on bread crackers or in wraps for quick lunches or light dinners1.

10. Chicken Pineapple Kabobs

These colorful kabobs are as fun to make as they are to eat and the sweet-savory combo is absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken breast cubed
• 1 fresh pineapple cubed
• 1 red onion chunked
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Wooden skewers

Instructions:
At home: Cut chicken and pineapple store in separate bags. Mix marinade ingredients in a container1.

At camp: Marinate chicken for a few hours then thread onto skewers with pineapple and onion. Grill over the fire until chicken is cooked through1.

Final Thoughts

Pro tip: Bring a really good cooler and plenty of ice to keep everything fresh. And don’t forget a reliable camp stove as backup – sometimes the fire just doesn’t want to cooperate!

The beauty of these make-ahead meals is that you get to enjoy all the fun parts of camping without spending your entire trip standing over a hot stove. Your fellow campers will think you’re some kind of outdoor cooking genius but we’ll keep it our little secret that you did most of the work in your comfortable kitchen at home!