10 Easy Camping Recipes That Will Impress Everyone at Camp
Forget boring sausages and instant noodles. These easy camping recipes use simple ingredients and basic camp cooking equipment to deliver seriously good food.
Camp cooking has come a long way from burnt sausages and baked beans from the can. With a little preparation and the right recipes, you can eat incredibly well in the bush. These ten recipes work with basic camp cooking equipment and deliver restaurant-quality results.
1. One-Pot Chicken and Rice
The ultimate camp meal — everything cooks in one pot, minimal washing up, and it feeds a crowd. Sauté diced chicken thighs with onion and garlic in a camp oven, add rice, chicken stock, and your favourite spices, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Add frozen peas at the end. Serves four with barely any effort.
2. Camp Oven Damper
Nothing says Australian camping like fresh damper cooked in the coals. Mix 3 cups self-raising flour with a pinch of salt, add enough water to form a soft dough, shape into a round loaf, place in a greased camp oven, and bury in hot coals for 30-40 minutes. Serve with butter and golden syrup.
3. Foil Packet Salmon
Tear off a large piece of foil, place a salmon fillet in the centre, top with lemon slices, capers, dill, and a knob of butter. Seal the foil tightly and place directly on the grill or in coals for 12-15 minutes. The foil creates a steaming effect that keeps the fish incredibly moist.
4. Shakshuka
This Middle Eastern egg dish is perfect for camp breakfasts. Fry onion, capsicum, and garlic in a pan, add a can of crushed tomatoes and spices (cumin, paprika, chilli), simmer until thick, crack in 4-6 eggs, cover and cook until eggs are just set. Serve straight from the pan with crusty bread.
5. Campfire Nachos
Line a cast iron pan or camp oven with corn chips, top with canned black beans, shredded cheese, and jalapeños. Cover and place over low heat until cheese melts. Top with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Arguably better than restaurant nachos and ready in 10 minutes.
Prep Tips
The secret to great camp cooking is preparation at home. Pre-chop vegetables, pre-marinate meats, and pre-mix dry ingredients into labelled zip-lock bags. Store everything in a well-organised cooler and you'll spend your camp time eating and relaxing rather than cooking and stressing.