Ideas For Camping Meals For The Beginning Solo Camper

Solo camping for the beginner can be overwhelming. There’s so much to remember and that’s why you need a few ideas for camping meals that are easy to put together. After all, who wants to spend a lot of time on food prep when you’d rather be hiking or curled up with a good book. If you haven’t tried camping yet, this article may help persuade you to give it a go.

When I’m camping by myself, I want to enjoy simple meals with food I can easily prepare at home, and are delicious. 

My favorite ideas for camping meals

I do have a go to list of food I like to pack for easy camping meals. Most of my ideas for camping meals are centered around the campfire and because of that I am a huge fan of foil packet dinners. Throw together some veggies and a protein, seal it in a few layers of tin foil and put over the fire. 

Here’s the ingredients for my favorite foil packet meal.

• Zucchini 
• Sweet onion
• Sliced mushrooms 
• Precooked chicken pieces 
• Butter
• Optional cheese

Just slice up and add as much as you want into your packet, add a pat of butter, close with a layer of foil. Make sure you check your packet while it’s over the fire. 

My second idea for camping meals comes from the old trusty pie iron.  I adore pie irons and grew up on pudgie pies. Pudgie pies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, every time is the right time for a pudgie pie.

You can use bread or tortillas. For the filling, use your imagination. For breakfast use a precooked egg and sausage, with a little cheese. Use sliced cheese and ham for a lunch idea. Pudgie pies really shine for a sweet treat. Spread Nutella, or add pie filling, pudding, or chocolate inside your bread. Close up your iron and cook. When it’s finished you can drag it in powdered sugar! Yum! Just remember to spray or butter the irons before putting your bread or tortilla on for easy removal. 

Another one of my ideas for camping meals is something my friend Amy turned me on to my last camping trip. The campfire mac and cheese meal is my new camping favorite! It’s easy and you can get creative with your ingredients. 

Bring along pre cooked elbow macaroni and small foil tins you can buy at the dollar store. Add macaroni, the shredded cheese of your choice (as many different kinds as you want), sour cream, and then anything else you’d like. I add a protein like chicken, veggies, any spices and herbs, cover with foil, put on your campfire grate, and cook! Campfire comfort cuisine. Here’s a list of possible add-ins.

• Chicken
• Pepperoni
• Pre-cooked ground beef
• Pre-cooked Italian sausage
• Turkey or chicken sausage
• Mushrooms
• Zucchini
• Celery
• Carrots
• Peas
• Avocado
• Tuna
• Peppers

Feel free to use your imagination. All of these options can be as healthy or as unhealthy as you like. 

One of my favorite ideas for camping meals and one that has become a sort of tradition is fast and easy pasta. I buy a bag of precooked tortellini or ravioli, a jar of any kind of pasta sauce, and some precooked Italian sausage. I bring a pan of water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook for the amount of time on the package. Meanwhile I heat up the sauce and add the sausage. Top with grated parmesan cheese and you have a fast and easy meal. Add a salad or fresh cut up veggies and you’re set. I always have leftovers with this one too.

For dessert instead of smores, which can be messy, I make my s’more in a sugar cone. Add broken up graham cracker pieces, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, wrap in foil and put on the grate over the fire or on the hot embers. 

So you arrive at the campground and are all set up. It’s late and you’re hungry and you don’t have the energy to cook. Why not carry out? This suggestion comes from my cousin. They research local eateries beforehand if they are camping near civilization. They pick a place on their first night at the campground and get takeout. Or sometimes they order delivery. I loved this suggestion even for us solo campers. 

Camping meals can be fun, easy, and healthy. I actually enjoy making simple meals while I’m camping more than what I like to cook at home. Probably because I’m usually solo so I never have to think about what anyone else likes. And there is just something about cooking outdoors, especially over the campfire that I love. 

Try my ideas for camping meals and let me know what you think. If you have a favorite camping meal idea, let me know! 

Everyone should know some basic general camping safety rules from KOA.

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