Best Family Camping Stoves – 23 Stoves to Cook Up a Storm on Your Next Camping Trip

We’ve all been there. The smell of bacon drifting on the breeze from a neighbour’s deluxe camping stove, whilst you and your family stare into your lumpy porridge thinking “if only!”. In this guide, I will share with you what I believe are the best family camping stoves you can buy today.

If you’re in a hurry, here are my favourite family camping stoves:

What are the Different Types of Family Camping Stoves?

In this guide, I am defining a family camping stove as something you can use for cooking a meal that is more than just a single gas burner. It needs to be able to cook for a group of people, rather than just a couple.

There are three main types of family camping stove available:

• Gas stoves – These stoves are run on either butane or propane gas and use either canisters or bottles to provide the fuel
• Electric grills – Using mains power supply (which you will have with an electric hook up pitch) these grills usually come in the form of a hot plate, which you can cook directly onto
• Solid fuel grill – A solid fuel grill is effectively a BBQ, using solid fuel to create heat for cooking, such as charcoal

Which Type of Family Camping Stove Should I Buy?

When it comes to choosing a camping stove for your next family trip, which one you should buy really depends on what you intend to cook and how you would like to cook it.

For ultimate flexibility, a gas stove is the best choice. As these work in a very similar way to your gas hobs at homes, you can make a variety of meals, with only your stove and a couple of frying pans.

If you want a true outdoor experience, a solid fuel grill offers you a more exciting way to cook as you will be doing so over an open fire. The benefit here is that you can make some great tasting burgers and some camping s’mores over the open fire, which is great for the family. However, you are a little limited in terms of flexibility vs. a gas stove.

For those camping with an electric pitch, you may wish to opt for an electric grill. These are a fairly safe way to prepare food and can be used to fry your bacon and sausages, even when the weather is a little wet. The disadvantage here is that they are less flexible than a gas stove and the grill itself will require cleaning after each use (as opposed to just the pan when using a stove).

Best Gas Family Camping Stove

Gas camping stoves are by far the best choice for those looking for flexibility when they cook and also wanting to make more interesting meals for the family. With instant heat, there is no sitting and waiting for them to be hot enough to cook on. Most stoves allow you to use butane or propane, but check before you buy to make sure you get the right one.

Gas Stoves with Two Hobs

Campingaz 2 Hob Camping Stove – Recommended Two Hob Gas Stove

For those who don’t have tons of space for taking lots of cooking equipment on holiday, this simple Campingaz 2 Hob Camping Stove is a good choice.

Using just 160 grams of gas per hour, you won’t need to constantly change the gas supply in order to cook a simple meal. It also takes just 6.5 minutes to boil 1 litre of water, so you won’t have to wait too long to make a cup of tea for everyone in the morning!

Campingaz 100S Camping Stove

Outwell Olida Camping Stove

Campingaz 200S Camping Stove

Campingaz 400S Kit Xcelerate Camping Stove

Camplux JK-8620 Camping Stove

Campingaz 600Sg Xcelerate Camping Stove

Gas Stoves with Two Hobs and Grill

Campingaz Elite Camping Chef Double Burner And Grill – Recommended Two Hob Gas Stove With Grill

If you need two hobs to cook on, but would also like the ability to grill some food as well, the Campingaz Elite Camping Chef Double Burner And Grill might just be the best gas grill for you.

With its two gas hobs and separate grill, you can cook a wide variety of dishes on this stove. With a gas usage of 327 grams per hour, you also won’t need to constantly change the gas bottle as well.

Oypla Folding Travel Cooker

Outwell Portable Stove Appetizer Trio

Vango Combi IR Grill Cooker

Campingaz Xcelerate™ 400St Double Burner Stove And Toaster

Other Gas Stoves

Campingaz Camping Stove 1 Hob Multi-Cook Party Grill 400 CV – Multi Cook Gas Stove for Ultimate Flexibility

If you’re keen on getting a gas cooker, but want something that gives you more than just a simple gas hob to cook on, look no further than the Campingaz Camping Stove 1 Hob Multi-Cook Party Grill 400 CV.

Running off simple gas canisters, this cooker boasts multiple cooking options, which all pack down into one neat package. Want to grill some burgers? You can do that. Want a hot plate for frying? Also included. Want to cook a stir-fry for your evening meal? You got it. So many choices in this one small package.

Vango Diner Cooker – Three Hob Gas Stove

Outwell Jimbu Stove – Single Hob Stove With Grill Plate

Best Electric Family Camping Stoves

If you are pitching up to a campsite with an electric hook-up then you might prefer to go for an electric grill over a gas grill. With the guarantee that you won’t run out of fuel, this is a good option for those who don’t want to lug around multiple small gas canisters or one large gas bottle.

Quest Deluxe Maxi Frypan – Recommended Electric Family Camping Stove

If you want the convenience of an electric cooker for your family camping cooking, the Quest Deluxe Maxi Frypan is a great choice if you want more than just a simple hot plate/grill.

Using a hot plate to provide the main heat to the cooker, the addition of a lid helps to keep the wind from cooling your food down as well as allowing food to be cooked thoroughly.

Vango Scran Cooking Grill

Vango Scran XL Cooking Grill

Quest Large Griddle 1400W

Best Solid Fuel Family Camping Stoves

Solid fuel stoves are your “back to basics” cooking option. Solid fuel stoves come in the form of fire pits and BBQs. Whilst they take some time to get going, once you have heat, these are great for cooking truly delicious meat dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

If you want a more comprehensive guide to buying a BBQ for your camping trips, visit our guide to the best camping barbecues.

Femor 3-in-1 Charcoal Smoker Grill – My Recommended Solid Fuel Family Camping Stove

If you prefer the taste and experience of cooking over a fire, the Femor 3-in-1 Charcoal Smoker Grill is a great choice for your family camping trips.

Whilst it may be a bulky choice, if you have room in your car it is totally worth it. With the option to smoke, grill and use a section like an oven, you have a lot of options available to you with this BBQ.

Outwell Calvados Grill

Outwell Cazal Fire Pit

BergHOFF Tabletop BBQ

Summary

I hope my list of the best family camping stoves has helped you find your new stove for the next time you head out as a family. My favourite of all the stoves is the Campingaz Camping Stove 1 Hob Multi-Cook Party Grill 400 CV as you get lots of different ways of cooking as well as a low gas usage per hour, meaning you won’t need to change the gas bottle constantly when cooking.