My Favorite Tent Camping Recipes

Ah, camping!  The fresh smell of tall trees, the sound of rustling wind and flowing water – what’s not to love?  Whether backpacking, tent camping, or sleeping in an RV, getting outdoors and away from the daily grind is always a refreshing experience.  What most campers don’t want to do is take the daily chores with them, including meal preparation.

Image by Bacon And Tofu via Flickr

Camping food should be simple and made with easy-to-transport ingredients, yet still be visually appealing, aromatic and delicious. Menus should differ based on the type of camping; for tent camping, it is usually convenient to bring an ice cooler for easy storage of perishable ingredients, and most campers don’t have the space and weight issues that a backpacker has. With some fresh ingredients prepared at home before the trip, and a bag of pantry staples, it is easy to enjoy delicious food outdoors without sacrificing the laid-back relaxation of camping.

Although it is certainly possible to do all the preparation for these recipes while at your campsite, it is nice to be able to reach for a bag of pre-sliced vegetables and add them to the pot without having to wash, peel and cut them on the spot.  The secret to enjoying these outdoor meals is to produce them quickly without much last-minute effort; so except for those domestic types who find food preparation relaxing, the more pre-prep, the better.

The quickest, easiest camping recipe is Chili Billies.  This is great after a long day hiking, boating or swimming when everyone is on his last ounce of energy.  Kids love this; it tastes like junk food, but with the low-fat turkey chili and a light sprinkling of cheese, it packs a good protein/calcium punch. This is also nice for those who like to take their at-home healthy eating habits into the great outdoors; substitute baked chips and low-fat cheese.

Chili Billies (serves 4)

1 bag of corn chips (Fritos style)

2 cans of turkey chili with beans

1 cup grated cheddar or pepper jack cheese

1 small can sliced ripe olives

Plenty of napkins

Heat the chili in a saucepan (on camp stove or on a grate over the fire).  Line each of 4 plates with chips.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese evenly over the chips, smother with hot chili and top with olives.  Messy, but delicious!

Easy Potato Soup is a perfect recipe for a chilly evening outdoors. Nothing beats the smell of simmering soup wafting from the fire while relaxing with a cup of coffee or a camp cocktail. For easiest preparation, bring frozen peas in a small plastic bag in the cooler. They will defrost, so make this recipe within a couple of days.  With pre-diced carrots, celery and onions in another bag, this soup goes together in a jiffy.  Go ahead and season the vegetables at home, too; no need to carry spice containers to the campsite.

Easy Potato Soup (serves 4)

1 box scalloped potato casserole mix

6 cups water

1 celery stalk,

Diced 1/2 onion (white or yellow),

Diced 1 cup carrots,

Diced 1/4 cup frozen peas

1 ham steak,

Diced 1/2 tsp each (or to taste) celery salt and pepper

2 cups milk

Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add potatoes along with any seasoning packet from box.  Add vegetables, ham and seasoning, and return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender (about 30 min-will take longer if camping at high altitude). Stir occasionally.  Just before serving, add milk and heat through.

If a fishing expedition is part of the camping agenda, serve this delicious Rice and Veggie Skillet alongside freshly caught and grilled fish (fresh fish doesn’t need anything added to it when cooked immediately on an oiled grill-perfect outdoor cuisine!) Campers in the know bring chicken breasts to substitute…just in case the fish aren’t biting!

Rice and Veggie Skillet

1 box rice pilaf

2 tsp olive oil

1 medium zucchini, sliced thinly

2 medium yellow (summer) squash, sliced thinly

4 oz sliced mushrooms

1/2 red onion, sliced thinly

Brown the rice pilaf mix in olive oil. Add water according to package instructions, plus 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a boil. Layer the thin slices of red onion, zucchini and summer squash on top of rice, top with mushrooms.  Cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer 20-30 minutes until rice and veggies are tender.

For a special cookout meal with the whole gang, bring a good bottle of red wine to enjoy with steak and Bleu Cheese Potatoes.  Plan on a good night’s sleep after enjoying this meal, fireside with friends.

Marinate favorite cut of steak (3-8 oz per person, depending on appetite) for at least 2 hours, or up to 24 hours. Grill over hot fire and serve with Bleu Cheese Potatoes.  

Marinade:

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup red wine

1 cup beef broth

1 tsp. black pepper

Bleu Cheese Potatoes

12 red-skinned potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces

3 slices bacon

1/4 cup + 2 TB crumbled Bleu cheese

In a large skillet, preferably cast iron, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp.  Remove bacon from skillet, add potatoes, and stir to coat with bacon fat.  Fry potatoes, stirring frequently, until tender (about 25 minutes).  Remove from heat, crumble bacon and stir into potatoes.  Stir 1/4 cup of cheese into potatoes, top with remaining 2 TB, and serve with grilled steak.   Bon Appétit!

For dessert, feel like a kid again with the classic S’Mores. Most veteran campers know how to prepare this staple fireside treat:  Roast marshmallows on a skewer over hot coals and slide onto a chocolate-bar topped graham cracker.  Add another cracker to make a sandwich and enjoy.  For a more adult twist, try variations on the tried-and-true ingredients. Substitute chocolate grahams for a richer sandwich, or cinnamon grahams for a spicy kick.  Many adults find that using a very dark, bittersweet chocolate creates extra indulgence; try a chocolate bar with citrus peel or red chili for a true gourmet taste.

Life is good, camping makes it better, and enjoying delicious, easy-to-prepare meals in the great outdoors is life at its best.  Go, live a little.

Tags: camping food, camping recipes, easy potato soup, favorite tent camping recipes, S'mores, tent camping, Tent Camping Recipes, tent camping tips

This entry was posted on Monday, August 22nd, 2011 at 1:00 am and is filed under Camping Recipes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.