Camping Food Ideas Your Family Will Love

Camping season for most families may be over for the time being, but that’s no reason why you can’t plan for next year’s trails and expeditions for yourself, friends and loved ones. An alternative, you may be considering going abroad to satisfy your camping itch, to places where the climate is more forgiving. Whatever the reason, food is probably the primary concerns of any good camping trip. After all, phoning for pizza to feed the family is not an option, and many would argue it goes against the spirit of the trip in any event.

 But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat and eat well. There are many ideas for camping food and meals that both you and your family will really get a kick from.

 

1. Eternal Soup

Eternal soup is a camper’s staple. So called because, in theory, it can last for as long as it’s needed, eternal soup is basically a large perpetually cooking pot of soup or stew that’s left over the fire. The idea is that it’s always there if ever someone needs something to eat, and thus anyone can grab a ladle and help themselves. Its ingredients can include anything that comes to hand, whether it’s meat, vegetables or anything else.

If ever the soup starts to get a little low, then water is simply added to top it back up again and new ingredients are added to maintain the flavor. Eternal soup is an excellent camping food for particularly large groups camping somewhere over a long period, and can provide nourishment for as many as is required. It does not always need to be boiling – simply cover the pot whenever it’s not in use to keep bugs and other debris out and reheat it whenever it is needed again.

2. Grilled Smokies

There’s nothing quite like cooking meat over an open fire to really get some rich, smoky flavors soaking into the meat. Nowhere is this more satisfying than grilled smokies, essentially fire-roasted sausages that can then be placed into a bun and eaten with onions, light salad, and mustard or relish. Ordinary hot dogs can also be substituted if preferred.

It’s up to you what other seasonings and ingredients you use, but the result is a tasty light lunch that really serves up a treat.

3. Grilled Pizza Sandwiches

Get a camping frying pan and prepare it as you would for regular grilled cheese sandwiches. However, spice things up a little by adding a layer of tomato sauce to the bread before laying down some thick slices of cheddar, and then laying down slices of pepperoni, ham, mushrooms or whatever you prefer.

The result is s deliciously satisfying and surprisingly a very filling sandwich with all the tasty goodness of pizza. And like all pizza, it’s just as tasty when left to cool, so feel free to take some with you as a packed lunch when hiking.

4. Hobo Burgers and Taters

A popular family favorite, hobo burgers and taters are a delicious camping meal that’s surprisingly easy to make. Simply dice up some potatoes, onions, carrots, and cabbage, and placing it all within a tinfoil wrapping. Each person should have their own packet. Then take a burger patty and crumble it up into pieces over the top. Feel free to add some seasonings and flavoring, such as sage, salt, and pepper, or hot chili sauce, and wrap the mixture up.

Cook the packets up until the meat is browned and potatoes soft, and be sure to rotate the packets frequently to ensure that every side is cooked evenly. If overcooked, you may wind up with potato sticking to the foil. Try using oil or butter to keep this from happening.

5. S’mores

This is a campers’ classic. Take two cookies or crackers and place them bottom side up. Melt some chocolate over the fire and carefully spread an even layer on each biscuit. Once that’s done, grab a marshmallow or two and again melt them over the campfire until they’re soft and gooey, and spread that over the biscuit as well. Turn both into a sandwich and enjoy, and you’ll quickly learn why they’re called “s’mores”.

For a variation on the classic, try adding new ingredients into the mix. For example, why not use a layer of raspberry jam instead of chocolate?

Whichever tasty treats you decide to make and indulge in, be sure that you store them properly so that you keep out the critters. Storing them in a tightly sealed container and placing them in a backpack can prevent animals from “sharing” your ingredients.