If you want to rough it old-school while you explore the great outdoors, but don't exactly want to eat roasted beans out of a can, consider the convenience of make-ahead meals. Nothing's worse than sleeping outdoors without access to a shower than facing the wilderness on an empty stomach. It pays to be prepared. You already have your camping essentials and your hydration must-haves ready – now you just need to master these make-ahead camping meals and recipes that can easily be made ahead of time or prepped for easy cooking. Go, granola girl, go!
Tasty Pre-made Meal Ideas for a Camping Trip
Pressure Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Make a biiiig batch of this vegetarian chili, and freeze half of it for your next camping adventure. When your tent is set up and you're ready for dinner, simply reheat the chili over the campfire or grill, add your favorite toppings, and dig in. (via Brit + Co.)
Cast Iron Pizza
If you thought homemade pizza was incompatible with campground cooking, this gooey pie will change your mind. All you need for this pizza is pre-made dough, a skillet, and the will to live cheesily. (via Brit + Co.)
Campfire Peach Cobbler
Pack a can oof peach filling and chilled biscuit dough in a cooler, and heat it to sweet bubbly excellence over the campfire. With this easy recipe, dessert is taken care of in a jiffy. (via Brit + Co.)
Try These Pre-made Camping Meals
Barbecue Black Bean Tacos
Vegetarians can still enjoy the meaty taste of barbecue with these well-seasoned black bean tacos, heated on a grill for *maximum* smokiness. (via Brit + Co.)
Chicken Pepperoni Casserole
Camp squad can't agree on chicken v. pizza? Settle that heated debate with this make-ahead casserole, filled with chicken breast, tomato sauce, and three kinds of cheese – yes, three! 😋 (via Brit + Co.)
Pineapple Pork Kebabs
These skewers actually benefit from being made in advance; they'll have extra time to soak up the savory-sweet marinade while you're on your way to camp. (via Brit + Co.)
Make Ahead Camping Recipes for Your Summer Trips
Summer Fruit Crisp
Satisfy end-of-day dessert cravings with this resourceful crisp, made with an oatmeal-brown-sugar base. (via Brit + Co.)
Lamb Burgers
There's a fair amount of advance prep for these burgers, but when you bite into the flavorful patties after a full day, the make-ahead camp meal planning will have been *well* worth it. (via Brit + Co.)
One-Pot Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili
Recap the day's adventures around the campfire with hearty bowls of chili. This meat-free version made with sweet potatoes and black beans is a *super* easy make-ahead camping meal – and it reheats in no time. (via Brit + Co.)
Vegan Portuguese Kale Soup
Don't forget to bring lots of crusty bread to accompany this slightly spicy soup, which is swimming with potato pieces, lima beans, and vegan sausage. (via Brit + Co.)
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
If you're somewhat challenged when it comes to starting a campfire, have no fear. This budget-friendly vegetarian meal comes together in minutes, no heat necessary. (via Brit + Co.)
Jackfruit Burrito Bowls
Pack your burrito bowl components in separate containers to avoid sogginess, then reheat the rice, beans, and jackfruit at camp before serving this delicious *and* nutritious make-ahead meal. (via Brit + Co.)
Make-Ahead Spinach Mushroom Gnocchi Casserole
Thyme-flavored three-cheese pasta is *so* cozy, you'll be tempted to eat it while curled up in your sleeping bag. (via Brit + Co.)
Fruit Skewers with Mason Jar Whipped Cream
Get your daily serving of fruit in the form of dessert with these cinnamon-sugary foil packets. While you fire up the skewers, put your friend on jar-shaking duty to make the whipped cream. (via Brit + Co.)
Easy Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
Whether you use it to sop up some chili, or slather it with honey butter for breakfast, slightly sweet cornbread is always a nice camping treat. Pre-portioned muffins mean you don't have to bother slicing cornbread at camp. (via Brit + Co.)
Asparagus and Goat Cheese Frittata
Camping with a sophisticate? Show them you know about fine cheeses with this frittata, which looks and tastes fancy, but really has just five ingredients and only requires that you don't burn it. (via Brit + Co.)
S'mores Sweet Potato
Cook and stuff these sweet potatoes ahead of time, wrap them in foil, then let them become molten goodness over the campside stovetop. (via Brit + Co.)
Campfire Cones
Omit the bananas, and these campfire cones become a make-ahead dessert. Stuff small sugar cones with your favorite blend of chocolate candies and marshmallows, then wrap in foil. Place them over the campfire at the end of the night for a few minutes, until the candy inside is gooey and melted! (via Brit + Co.)
Mason Jar Ramen
Instant noodles are a backpacking staple, but it gets better. Prep some mason jars of noodles, veggies, and seasonings at home, then fill with boiling water from your campfire kettle when you're ready to eat. (via Brit + Co.)
Make-Ahead Breakfast Cookies
Spare yourself the trouble of stoking a fire in the morning by bringing a no-heat breakfast with you. A blend of oats, banana, pineapple, and mango breakfast cookies, dotted with white chocolate chips, will energize you for a busy day outdoors! (via Brit + Co.)
Cheesy Swirl Bread with Cheddar and Fig
This particular homemade bread calls for weaving fig and cheddar into the dough, but you can go with whatever preserves and cheese you love together. Serve this with butter in the morning for breakfast, or as a side for supper. (via Brit + Co.)
Campfire Veggie Sausage Packets
Marinate chopped peppers, onions, and potatoes in your favorite seasonings. Combine the mixture with sliced vegetarian sausages when you reach your campsite, then wrap in foil and cook until steamy and *a little* browned at the edges. (via Brit + Co.)
Lemon Chicken and Potatoes in Foil
Individual chicken breasts are cooked atop mounds of Dijon-mustardy, lemony, herby red potatoes. Each camper gets their own chicken packet, and there are no plates to wash. Score! (via Damn Delicious)
Southern Skillet Pimento Mac and Cheese
Make your camping trip an ode to the South with this cheesy mac that's studded with peppers and crispy bacon. (via Pizzazzerie)
Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Foil Packets
Go the lazy-yet-tasty route with pre-made hash browns, salty ham, and a healthy handful of cheddar. Add a fried egg on top of each finished pouch for *extra* sustenance. (via Damn Delicious)
Make-Ahead Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches
Eggs, cheese, and bacon (or sausage!) tucked into a warm English muffin is *just* the combination to fuel you for the day's adventures. Simply pre-assemble and reheat on site. (via The Cozy Cook)
Grilled Bratwurst Kebabs with Veggies
There's nothing quite like the smoky aroma of sausages wafting off a hot grill. Fold yours into a hot dog bun, or eat it right off the skewer. (via A Fork's Tale)
Carne Asada Skillet Nachos
Gather around the campfire with a skillet full of crispy tortilla chips, piled high with tender steak, rich queso, and chopped veggies that you brilliantly prepped ahead of time. (via What's Gaby Cooking)
Prep Your Meals for Camping and Save Time
Migas Breakfast Casserole
Wake up your tent-mates in the tenderest way possible, with the aroma of gently reheating tortilla chips, jalapeños, and cheeeeese. (via Kitschen Cat)
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Leafy salads aren't... the best choice when camping. They just don't hold up well over time. Instead, make a salad full of crunchy veggies, herbs, and chickpeas that won't wilt in the cooler. (via My Food Story)
Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos
Whip up a batch of breakfast burritos to take on your next excursion. Move them from freezer to cooler, then heat up in the morning over your fire or grill. (via Unsophisticook)
Smoky Chorizo and Butter Bean Hot Pot
Few things are more comforting than a hot pot on a campfire. You can make this bite *completely* ahead of time, or prep the ingredients and cook it at camp. (via Lavender & Lovage)
Backpacker's Blueberry Crisp
Dinner's just *not* complete without a little something sweet, so what better way to satisfy a dessert craving than this easy blueberry crisp made with granola, sugar packets, and dried blueberries? (via Fresh Off The Grid)
Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas
If you make the filling of these crispy 'dillas ahead of time, you only need to assemble and griddle them at the campsite. Bonus points to this recipe for being vegetarian! (via Tabitha Talks Food)
Fried Pizzas
If you thought pizza was incompatible with camp cooking, color you wrong. Prepare your dough and toppings at home, pack your trusty skillet, and give it a try. After the initial fry over the campfire, add your toppings and continue cooking until the pizza's nice and melty. (via Pinch Of Yum)
Kung Pao White Beans Skillet
This vegan-ized skillet packs plenty of pre-hike fuel with white beans in place of chicken, plus crunchy peanuts. (via Full Of Plants)
Love these make ahead camping meals? There's more. Follow us on Pinterest for more easy recipes and hacks, join our newsletter, or sign up for our baking and cooking classes!
Additional reporting by Sally Jones and Justina Huddleston.
This post has been updated from a previous post from March 2019.
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Sara Cagle
Sara is a food and lifestyle freelance writer in Los Angeles. She writes a weekly events column for the Los Angeles Times and loves writing food content for Brit + Co. After all, the English language's most fun adjectives are best applied to delicious foods. In her free time, she's a hip hop dancer, avid moviegoer, and thorough face-mask user.
