Family Camping Food Ideas – 58 Recipes to Keep Your Family Well Fed and Happy

Breakfast Cereal

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If you’re wanting a simple life when it comes to mornings, cereal might just be the perfect choice for you. The only consideration you will have is making sure you have some milk with you.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: No need, just pour and east

Granola

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Granola is an easy way to fill those hungry tummies in the morning with something a little more substantial than just cereal.

You can make your own granola at home, like this one from BBC Good Food, or simple buy some from your local supermarket. Add some fresh fruit to make it a bit more healthy and colourful.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: Make the granola at home yourself if you want something not store-bought.

Granola S’mores

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If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can make granola s’mores on the campfire.

This recipe from The Big Man’s World shows you how to make these from scratch.

If you would prefer a more straightforward approach to your family camping cooking, but still love the recipe idea, you could prep the granola at home in a foil packet before going to camp.

It’s not the healthiest, but the kids will love it.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove and foil.
• Cook ahead: Make the granola at home yourself and seal in foil

Porridge

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Whether you prefer it salty like the Scots or just need something sweet to eat, porridge is a great meal for camping trips.

My kids love peanut butter and banana porridge, so this is what we will have at least one of the mornings. I make this using quick oats (like Ready Brek) and some hot milk.

For a really delicious and simple sounding approach to porridge when camping, Vegan on Board has some great ideas on a cleaner way of cooking your porridge as well as some great flavour combinations.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove and a pan
• Cook ahead: None. This is very much a prep at camp breakfast

Overnight Oats

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I was pretty late to the game in realising just how amazing and easy overnight oats were.

All you need to make some great tasting overnight oats is some rolled oats, milk or water and some frozen fruit. For extra flavour, you can add something sweet like honey or syrup.

If you’re not sure on what quantities to use, BBC Good Food has a great recipe for Peanut Butter Overnight Oats, which is simple and delicious.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can prepare this at home in advance and keep it chilled for when you need it.

Homemade Breakfast Bars

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For those wanting to save on washing up and after a grab and go breakfast, you could make your own breakfast bars.

Breakfast bars have a lot of the same ingredients are porridge, with some extra added elements to make them into a taste sensation.

These Oat and Cranberry Bars from BBC Good Food would make a super tasty quick breakfast.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: Would all need to be cooked at home

Breakfast Fry-Up

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For those who want a nice hearty breakfast in the morning, look no further than a camping breakfast fry up.

You can go for a simple breakfast of bacon, sausages, eggs and beans, or you could go for something a bit fancier, like this Smoky Bean Brekkie by BBC Good Food.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: None. This will need to be made fresh at camp.

Egg and Sausage Breakfast Taquitos

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If you like the sound of a savoury breakfast, but you don’t fancy all the washing up of a full cooked breakfast, you could try this Egg and Sausage Taquitos recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch.

All you need is some sausages, scrambled eggs and tortillas and you’re good to go. Feel free to add any extras if you want to “pimp up” your Taquitos.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: None. This will need to be made fresh at camp.

Cheesy Scrambled Egg Croissants

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For another tasty handheld breakfast treat, these Cheesy Scrambled Egg Croissants from BBC Good Food will put some pep in your step.

Get some grated cheese and combine with scrambled egg. Stick this inside a croissant and you have a great hot breakfast to warm your families tums.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: None. This will need to be made fresh at camp.

Pancakes

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Another great choice for breakfast when camping is pancakes. They are surprisingly easy to make and you can pre-mix your dry ingredients, so all you need to do is add milk and eggs to cook.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: You can pre-mix the dry ingreadients to make your life at camp easier.

This BBC Good Food No-Weigh Cinnamon and Yoghurt Pancake recipe is specifically created for camping.

Cheesy Bacon and Egg Hash

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For a delicious breakfast treat, this Cheesy Bacon and Egg Has recipe from Cafe Delites is surprisingly easy to make and will make your whole very happy (and hopefully full).

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: You can chop up the ingredients ahead of time as long as you are able to keep them fresh

Egg in a Hole

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For a really simple breakfast that my kids absolutely love, you could make Egg in a Hole!

This recipe is simple some fried buttered bread with a fried egg in the middle.

Pro tip: Add some cajun spice to it for a truly awesome, yet simple breakfast.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: None

Breakfast Parfaits

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If you would like a truly prepared in advance meal you should look at doing breakfast parfaits.

Not only are these perfect for Instagram, they are also super tasty and, with the addition of fruit, super fresh.

Favourite Family Recipes have a great method for making these, though it really is as simple as mixing yoghurt, fresh fruit and granola.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can mix the fruit and yoghurt together ahead of time. Keep the granola separate to avoid it going soggy.

Sandwiches

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Sandwiches are a simple lunch for when you’re camping with your family.

If you’re planning on hanging around your camp all day and want to make something super tasty, try these Hot Ham and Cheese Campfire Sandwiches by Taste & Tell.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can prep your sandwiches ahead of your camping trip and keep them cool until needed.

Wraps

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If you’re worried about your bread going off, you could always switch it for tortillas and have wraps instead.

You can put pretty much the same ingredients in a wrap as a sandwich and it will still taste great, or you could make something a bit different like this Sweet & Spicy Cashew Chicken Salad Wrap by Fresh Off The Grid.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can prepare your fillings ahead of your trip and then prepare them on site.

Salad

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Those looking to cut the carbs might want to opt for a fresh summer salad for their family.

You can put pretty much anything in a salad you want. If you’re uninspired, this Epic Summer Salad by BBC Good Food sounds delicious.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can prepare your vegetables in advance if you would like to.

Sharing Bread

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If you want to prepare something ahead of your trip that requires no at camp preparation, you should try baking some sharing bread.

There are plenty of recipes for different types of sharing bread. This recipe for Cheese & Pesto Whirls by BBC Good Food is a simple and delicious sharing bread.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You will need to make these in advance of your camping trip

Soup

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If you want something warm, yet simple for lunch, soup is usually a winner with the whole family.

You can choose to make a soup to take with you or just bring some tinned options.

Pro-tip: To save on having to cook in lots of batches, try to all have the same flavour soup.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Cooking Pot.
• Cook ahead: You can prepare your own soup in advance if you would prefer to make your own

Walking Tacos

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Sometimes what it comes to a family meal a little ingenuity is all it takes to make a simple yet tasty meal.

Walking Tacos (recipe here from Taste of Home) are simple to make and can be prepared in advance. Simply warm your taco mix at camp for a hot meal on the go.

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove, Cooking Pot.
• Cook ahead: You can prepare all of the beef and sauce before you go and just heat up once you get to camp.

Veggie Pin Wheels

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Lunch is an excellent chance to get some veggies into your family, so why not do that with some veggie pin wheels.

This is a pretty simple meal (see this recipe from Dinner At The Zoo for inspiration). All you need is a tortilla wrap and some fresh vegetables and you’re good to go.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: These can be made in advance at home and kept chilled for when it’s time to eat.

Cheese, Crackers and Cooked Meat

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For a simple, no-cook meal, you could have cheese, crackers and cooked meat.

My kids love “snacky tea” at home, where they can choose different little bits to eat and this is no different.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – No prep required

BBQ sausages with smoky tomato sauce

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If you’re looking for something to take your BBQ to the next level, these BBQ sausages with smoky tomato sauce will add an extra kick to your meal.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill, Brush (or something to spread the sauce with)
• Cook ahead: The sauce should be cooked ahead of time

Get the recipe at BBC Good Food

Cowboy chicken & bean stew

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A simple meal that you can prepare almost entirely in advance. Just warm up the stew over a flame and add some tortillas.

• Equipment required: Stove (gas or solid fuel), a cooking pot
• Cook ahead: The stew can be cooked ahead of time

Get the recipe at BBC Good Food

Burgers

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There’s something very satisfying about a simple burger when out camping. You can either buy some pre-made burgers or make some yourself (recipe below).

• Equipment required: Grill or Gas Stove with Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: You can prep any accompaniments ahead, such as sauces or cheese

The burger patty recipe can be found at Country Living.

Kebabs

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Kebabs are a simple way to encourage your children to eat some vegetables as well as just meat,

On your skewers you can add your meat, such as chicken or pork, onions, peppers and any other vegetables that are big enough to skewer.

• Equipment required: Grill, skewers
• Cook ahead: You could chop the vegetables and meat ahead of time or even prep the skewer entirely at home.

Here is a great recipe for Marinated Chicken and Onion Kebabs from Country Living.

Tin Foil Sausage and Veggies Dinner

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A great way to get some veggies into the family is cooking then inside a foil packet.

This recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron contains plenty of veggies and has the added bonus of some tasty sausage as well.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas hob and cooking pot
• Cook ahead: You could chop the vegetables and meat ahead of time and even create the foil packets themselves so they are ready to go when you are.

Campfire Pizza

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If you’ve never tried a pizza cooked in a frying pan before then you’ve probably never had a campfire pizza either. Making pizzas over a campfire is surprisingly simple and quick.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas hob and frying pan
• Cook ahead: You should prepare/buy your pizza dough in advance of your trip to make things easier for you. Any toppings can be chopped ahead of time to make the experience a little easier

This recipe from The Kitchen Magpie shows you just how easy it is to make delicious pizza when camping.

Campfire Quesadillas

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As a family we love Mexican food, so campfire quesadillas go straight onto our list for a campfire meal. They are so easy to make and taste great. If you don’t like Mexican food, you can use pizza toppings instead.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas hob and frying pan
• Cook ahead: What you put inside your quesadillas should be prepared in advance to make the cooking time quick and easy

Try this recipe from The Spicy Apron.

Mac N Cheese

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In my opinion, Mac N Cheese is the ultimate straightforward comfort food. If you want to get those little tummies full and warm with little effort, this should be a go-to meal for you.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas hob and a cooking pot
• Cook ahead: I would grate your cheese in advance so that you just have to grab a handful (or two) once the pasta is cooked. You could cook the whole thing in advance and just warm it on the BBQ in foil if you want a really easy cooking time

Try this recipe from Lauren’s Latest.

Campfire Baked Potatoes

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If you’re looking for something simple and filling for you and the family, then a campfire baked potato would be a good choice. Wrap it up in foil and stick it straight on the fire to cook. Just add you favourite filling to transform this humble potato into a delicious filling meal.

• Equipment required: You just need fire and foil.
• Cook ahead: You can grate any cheese or chop and larger food up before leaving home for this one.

Try this recipe from Tesco.

Potato Salad

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For a fully prepared ahead experience, a potato salad is a good choice.

This can be prepared completely ahead of time and whipped out when you are ready to eat. It can work as a meal on it’s own or as a side to something else, such as grilled chicken.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: You can cook the whole things ahead at home to make your life on camp as simple as possible.

Try this recipe from BBC Good Food

Hot Dogs

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Kids love hot dogs! Actually, I love hot dogs!

Camping and hot dogs go together than Mac N Cheese, particularly if you are taking a BBQ grill with you for the charred (not burnt) effect.

You can choose to use “proper” sausages for this one or just stick with traditional hot dogs, but boy is it a treat for everyone when you do have them. And they are so simple to cook too!

• Equipment required: Grill or gas stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: Nothing, but they are very easy to make anyway. You can prep a more advanced sauce ahead, but I would just use ketchup and mustard

If you’re not sure how to cook hot dogs, Nathan’s Famous has got you covered.

Steak and Potatoes Hash

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If you want to have a delicious dish that is easy to make when camping with the family, Steak and Potatoes Hash might just be what you need.

This recipe from Cafe Delites will not only fill a hole, it will do it in style.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: You can prepare pretty much the full foil packet in advance at home and simply cook it once you get to camp.

Campfire Nachos

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Everyone love nachos, right?!

If you love nachos, then you should definitely add campfire nachos to your camping meal list. They are easy to make and can be cooked in either a foil packet or covered in a frying pan.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: If cooking in foil, you can get the packet ready ahead of your trip.

Try this recipe from Spaceships and Laser Beams.

Grilled Prawn Foil Packets

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For a dish packed with different flavours and a variety of ingredients, you should try grilled prawn foil packets.

This “meal in a foil bag” combines prawns, potatoes, cooked sausage and vegetables to make an all in one meal for the whole family to enjoy.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: You can prep the foil bags in advance for a much easier cooking experience.

Try this recipe from Delish.

BBQ Chicken Foil Packets

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If you are enjoying the “meal in a foil bag” idea of cooking, you will really enjoy the BBQ Chicken Foil Packet recipe below.

This recipe is simple to make and can be prepared in advance of your camping trip. It also includes several vegetables, so you won’t feel as though you are just eating meat and bread the whole trip.

• Equipment required: Grill or gas stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: You can prep the foil bags in advance for a much easier cooking experience.

Try this recipe from Skinny Taste.

One-Pot Chilli

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For a real punch of flavour when you’re on your next camping trip, a one-pot chilli might be just what you need.

The joy with this meal is not only the lack of washing up required but the fact that it can be prepared in advance at home and simply heated up when at your site.

To make it truly one pot, you can cook some rice in a pot ahead of time and then use the same pot to warm the chilli!

Equipment required: Grill or gas stove plus a cooking pot

Cook ahead: You can prepare the chilli entirely in advance of your trip and simply warm it up when you need to cook it.

Try this recipe from Delicious.

Red Lentil Sloppy Joes

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Looking for a tasty vegetarian option when camping? This recipe for Red Lentil Sloppy Joes from Fresh Off The Grid not only looks amazing but is also simple to make fresh or ahead of your camping trip.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill or Gas Stove. Cooking pot
• Cook ahead: The sandwich filling can be made entirely ahead of time and warmed up at camp.

Grilled Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae

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If your looking for a warm, delicious camping dessert then look no further than this Grilled Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae recipe from Brown Sugar Food Blog.

Using cookie dough as a base (which you can make yourself if you wish) you simply cook the dough in foil on the grill and then add some ice-cream once ready. Yum!

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill or Gas Stove with a frying pan
• Cook ahead: You can make your own cookie dough if you wish

Apple S’mores

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If you like the idea of s’mores but want to make sure your family gets some fruit in their diet, you should try making Apple S’mores.

This Delish recipe for Caramel Apple S’mores covers the method for doing this, but essentially it’s just the same as normal s’mores with an apple instead of biscuits.

My favourite way to do this is to put peanut butter on the apple as well.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: None

Foil Banana Packets

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If you’re looking for a classic camping dessert look no further than a foil banana packet.

Making these is as simple as cutting a long slit in a banana, stuffing in some chocolate and marshmallows, wrapping it in foil and then sticking it on the heat.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: You could prepare these in advance ready to be cooked on the BBQ, but it is very easy to do at camp

Campfire Cones

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Cones are not just for ice-creams! Stuff one full of your favourite s’mores ingredients, wrap in foil and bake on the grill.

If you need a method to follow, Center Cut Cook has a really simple method for making these.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: You can fill your cones ahead of your trip to save some time on preparation

Caramelised Peaches

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For a tasty, fruit-based dessert, this Caramel Peaches with Pecans recipe by Simple Bites looks super tasty.

This is a great way to get some fruit in the family whist also having a delicious dessert. Add some ice-cream (if you have it) to make everyone extra happy.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: You can wrap these up in foil ahead of time and just add to the grill at camp.

S’mores Nachos

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If you want to have s’mores but don’t want the hassle of making sure the kids don’t burn themselves by the fire (or poke themselves with the skewers), you could do S’mores Nachos.

All you need to do is stick your favourite s’mores ingredients into a foil tray and bake. For campfire cooking, just stick some foil over the top as well.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: You can wrap these up in foil ahead of time and just add to the grill at camp.

Pineapple Cake Skewers

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Another great treat is Pineapple Cake Skewers, which are simply cake and pineapple on a stick.

Make sure you use a heavier cake, such as Madeira, as softer cakes with not hold on the skewers.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: You can prepare these skewers in advance for you to grill at camp

Dessert Quesadillas

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If you want to make s’mores but don’t have a grill, these Dessert Quesadillas by All Recipes can be made in a frying pan. Simple to make even for those with a gas stove.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill or Gas Stove, Frying Pan
• Cook ahead: None – Prepare at your camp

Campfire Caramel Apples

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Another great fruit-based dessert for you to try are these Caramel Apple Crumble Foil Packs by Averie Cooks.

You don’t just have to stick to these ingredients here, feel free to add some chocolate or marshmallows for an authentic camping feel.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: None – Can be prepared in advance ready for sticking on the grill when needed

Cake

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If you’re simply looking for something that is tasty to eat for dessert and aren’t fussed about the authentic camping experience cooking, they you could simply take some cake with you.

BBC Good Food has a great list of Classic Cake Recipes that you can bake ahead of your trip. This way you can guarantee something sweet and delicious without having to stress about cooking it on site.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: Should be made before you go

Traybake Dessert

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Just as is the case with baking a cake before you go, the same can be said for traybakes as well.

If you just need a strong sugar hit after a long day, something like the classic millionaires shortcake, which can be found on Olive Magazine’s Best Ever Traybakes page are sure to be a winner

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: Should be made before you go

S’mores

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Nothing says camping like toasting marshmallows over a fire. S’mores take the humble toasted marshmallow to another level, adding chocolate and bicuits into the mix.

Simple toast your marshmallows and then sandwich it in between two biscuits along with some chocolate.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill
• Cook ahead: None – Make at camp

Here is a method from Tesco Real Food if you don’t have skewers.

Hot Chocolate

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A great way to help your little ones keep warm at night is to have a warm drink before bed (but not too close of course as you don’t want a midnight toilet trip). Hot chocolate is a great choice to keep the little ones warm and happy.

• Equipment required: BBQ/Grill or Gas Stove and a cooking pot
• Cook ahead: None – Make at camp

Protein Balls

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For those families who will be doing a lot of walking and will need an energy boost to keep them going, Protein Balls are a great choice.

This recipe from Eating Bird Food shows you several ways to make these.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – prepare at home

S’mores Muddy Buddies

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Bruma Bakery has created this simple guide to creating S’mores Muddy Buddies, which are a very sweet snack to keep you and the kids going. All you need is a quick handful for an intense energy boost.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – prepare at home

Trail Mix

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Trail mix is the classic hiker’s go-to snack option for a quick energy boost.

Combining nuts, seeds and chocolate, you can easily create your own at home. The Healthy Maven has a great guide on making sure you don’t overload yours with sugar and get a great balance for your homemade trail mix.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – prepare at home

Flap Jacks

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Another good snack food to fill your tummies and give you an instant energy boost are flapjacks.

Using just 4 ingredients, you can create this delicious sugary treat that all the family will love. BBC Good Food has a great recipe for you to try if you need some guidance.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – prepare at home

Kendal Mint Cake

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For those times when you don’t want to prepare anything and just want a simple energy boosting snack, Kendal Mint Cake.

This humble snack is so popular with walkers and climbers for providing a quick energy boost, it has even been taken up Mount Everest!

Dried Cherry Almond Granola Clusters

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Granola not only makes a great breakfast treat but is also a great snack option as well.

It’s very easy to make your own granola and this recipe from Call Me PMC is fantastic for snacking on the go.

• Equipment required: None
• Cook ahead: None – prepare at home

Popcorn

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For a fun treat for the family, you could make some popcorn for the family.

If you’re having a campfire, you can make some campfire popcorn as per this recipe from The Cookful. Alternatively, make it at home and bring it with you.

• Equipment required: Campfire/Grill
• Cook ahead: You can make this at home if you would like.