Tasty Camping: Tips and Tricks for Great Outdoor Food

Essential Equipment

Before anything else, you need the right gear to cook well outdoors. Stop by a specialized shop to make sure you have tools that match your culinary ambitions.

• A good cooler
• A cast-iron skillet and/or a pot
• Skewers for grilling over the fire
• Aluminum foil (you can cook everything with it! Wrap your food, place it over the fire, and you’re good to go!)
• A good knife (pro tip: chop your veggies ahead of time! The knife will serve you for last-minute touches.)
• Containers to keep fruits and vegetables fresh

Not planning to cook directly on the campfire? Bring a portable burner.

6 Tips for Eating Well While Camping

1. Maximize Prep and Save Space

As any good camper knows, the success of a trip comes down to preparation! Plan your meals ahead of time and prep as much as you can before leaving.

There’s nothing wrong with choosing ready-to-cook products or items that save you both prep time and luggage space. In fact, it’s even better!

For example, choose butter cookies with chocolate chunks for your evening s’mores—you’ll only need to add a marshmallow between two cookies! Fewer ingredients to pack, more space saved.
For refreshing drinks, think cold-brew coffee packets or infused cocktails. Bring breakfast bars and nut mixes for quick snacks throughout the day.

There are so many great products out there to help simplify your camping meal prep.

2. Explore Different Meats for Grilling

You can grill so much more than store-bought hot dogs! Stock up at your butcher, local market, or grocery store before leaving. Bring smoked meat sausages, marinated chicken skewers, duck steak, veal keftas, or even smoked bacon for breakfast.

Choose ready-to-cook products—they’ll save you time. After all, you’re on vacation!

3. Add Cheese to the Menu

As a snack or meal ingredient, cheese is an excellent source of protein (and indulgence!). Snack on cheese curds during a hike, make halloumi skewers for dinner, or wrap a wheel of brie in foil and melt it over the fire for the perfect appetizer.

4. Switch Up the Spices for Fresh-Caught Fish

If you plan to eat your daily catch, you’ll want to prepare it differently each time to keep things interesting. Pack small jars filled with different spice blends: lemon-pepper seasoning, a mix ideal for gravlax, or a fish-specific seasoning blend.

Switch it up depending on the fish you catch and what you feel like that day.

5. Elevate Your Meals With Exceptional Condiments

Prepare lots of small dishes in advance and freeze them—they’ll double as ice packs in your cooler! When it’s time to reheat or serve them, add a gourmet finishing touch.

Try black garlic paste on a pizza, yellow mustard in egg sandwiches, or bring a dip to enjoy with pre-cut veggies. A great condiment can completely transform a previously frozen dish.

6. Use What You Forage

A fan of wild mushroom picking? Add carefully harvested mushrooms to an omelet (pre-crack your eggs into a bottle!) or toss them into a pasta dish—just be absolutely certain they’re edible!

If you come across wild berries like blueberries or strawberries, add them to pancakes (using batter you prepared at home and stored in a Mason jar).
Be creative (and responsible!) with what nature provides.

In short, eating well while camping is easy—and essential! Just because you’re in the woods, far from your kitchen, doesn’t mean you can’t whip up delicious meals with local flavors.
Get your skillets ready!