When I’m out camping with my kids, I want easy meals that I can put together quick and I know my kids are going to enjoy. I put together a list of 10 easy meals for camping with kids that are guaranteed to be a hit at your next camp out.
My Favorite Camp Kitchen Gear
- Roasting Sticks: These are great to have for roasting hot dogs, marshmallows, and Starbursts (don’t knock it till you try it!)
- Stove: I love my stove because it has one burner for a pot or pan and a built in skillet. It’s great because I don’t have to bring an extra pan if all i’m doing is making some bacon, quesadillas, or reheating already cooked food.
- Pancake Bottle Mixer: I love using a shaker bottle to mix up my pancake mix. I just add my pancake batter, water or milk, an egg if I want, and shake it up. Then I rinse it out, add soapy water, shake it again, and give it a good rinse. Super simple. Check out This Video if you want to see it in action.
- Sporks: I like having sporks in my cook bin so I don’t forget them. Plus my toddler things it’s fun to eat with them.
- Cutting Board: Like the sporks, I just like to have a cutting board already in my cook bin so I don’t forget one.
- Jetboil: When we’re going super simple, I will just bring my Jetboil Flash to boil water to add to our oatmeal or anything that needs hot water. If I want to cook something in a pot, I will use my Jetboil MiniMo since you are able to simmer. And don’t forget your fuel! Jetboils’ use a propane/isobutane blend that burns much cleaner. Don’t just use your regular propane or it will ruin your stove.
Campfire Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are a go to for our family and great meals for camping with kids because they are quick and easy and you can cook them multiple ways. We love roasting them over the fire, but when we don’t want to do a fire (or can’t because of restrictions) we just cook them on our grill. Bring buns, toppings, throw some fruit and carrots on the side and you got a great meal. Don’t forget your roasting sticks!
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
I love a grilled cheese at home but when you’re out camping, that buttery crunch is just taken to a whole new level. Just get your bread, butter both sides, and add whatever cheese you like in the middle. It can be sliced or shredded.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a versatile and easy meals for camping with kids that can be super simple or bulked up. All you need are some flour tortillas, shredded cheese, and any fillings your kids love – think cooked chicken, beans, or veggies. Place the cheese and fillings on one half of a tortilla, fold over, and cook on a grill or griddle until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden. Serve with salsa and sour cream for a bit of extra zing! This is my favorite
Campfire Chili
Campfire Chili is a hearty and warming dish that’s perfect for those cooler evenings around the campfire. Start by browning ground meat in a pot or Dutch oven over the fire. (Or you can bring already cooked meat!) Add in canned beans, diced tomatoes, and your favorite seasonings. Let it simmer until everything is heated through. Serve in bowls with some shredded cheese and a slice of cornbread on the side – perfect for dipping! This is also an easy one you can just make in a pot on your stove top if you are not doing a fire.
Walking Tacos
These were one of my favorite meals to eat when we camped as kids. Walking Tacos are not only delicious but also super fun for kids. Grab some small bags of tortilla chips, (I like Fritos but you can also do Doritos) and let the kids add in their favorite taco ingredients like ground meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, and salsa. The best part? There’s virtually no cleanup, as everything is eaten right out of the bag.
Pancakes
Breakfast for dinner is always a good idea to add to your list of meals for camping with kids. Prepare your favorite pancake batter at home and store it in a leak-proof container, or bring along a pre-made mix to which you only need to add water. I like to mix mine up in a Blender Bottle to contain the mess. Heat up your camping griddle or a skillet over the fire or on a camping stove, pour in some batter, and flip when the edges start to bubble. Top with syrup, fresh fruit, applesauce, or my personal favorite strawberry jam with sour cream.
Spagetti
Spaghetti is a campsite classic that’s easy to prepare and always a hit with the kids. Start by boiling pasta in a pot over your campfire or camping stove. In another pot, heat up some marinara sauce and add in cooked ground beef or meatballs and shred in a zucchini for extra nutrients, if you like. Once the pasta is done, drain it and mix with the sauce. Serve with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and some crusty bread for a satisfying dinner under the stars.
Tin Foil Dinner
Tin Foil Dinners are a camping classic. Lay out a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, and let the kids choose a combination of sliced veggies, a protein like ground beef or sausage, and seasonings. Seal the ingredients in the foil, and cook them over the campfire coals for about 20-30 minutes. Kids will be thrilled to open their personalized, steaming packet of deliciousness.
Pita Pizzas
What kid doesn’t love pizza? Especially when you can make it at the campsite! For this, you’ll need some pita bread, pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and your kids’ favorite toppings. Let them build their own pizzas on the pita bread and cook them on a grill or over the campfire until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Simple, fun, and delicious!
Baked Potato Bar
Bake some large potatoes in the campfire, and set out a variety of toppings like deli meat, cheese, bacon, broccoli, sour cream, chives, and anything else you fancy. Kids can have a blast customizing their baked potatoes, and it’s a great way to use up any leftovers from the previous meals.
When making baked potatoes at camp, you want to make sure you start earlier than you think. Potatoes take a while to cook all the way through and you don’t want to keep your little ones waiting.
If you enjoyed this list of camping meals for kids, make sure to check out my other Camping With Kids resources, here!
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Love these meal ideas, keeping it simple. Looking forward to our camping season with the kiddos. Can’t wait to try Walking Tacos!
Simple recipes are the best. I could turn the kids lose to make their own Quesadillas. Thanks for sharing!