Easy Camping Recipes: Dining in the Great Outdoors

With the heat of summer finally fading, many families want to spend more time outdoors. What better way is there to do that than with a family campout and some easy camping recipes?

Of course, you’ll need the right camping gear – tents, sleeping bags, and all the rest. You’ll also need a few easy camping recipes so you can cook up delicious food for everyone right over your campfire.

Whether you’re new to camping or an old hand, we’ve got you covered with some of the easiest but most delicious recipes for cooking over the open coals or with your trusted Dutch oven.

Mac ‘n Cheese

We’ll start with one that’s sure to please just about everyone in your crowd – macaroni and cheese. But this recipe’s got a twist. You’ll make it in your Dutch oven over glowing coals.

First, make sure you have a four-quart Dutch oven, as well as a box grater for the cheese. For the ingredients, you’ll need:

• 2 cups elbow pasta
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbsp. yellow mustard
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• Garnish – chips, jalapenos, or whatever toppings you like

Build your fire and prepare the coals. Once the coals are glowing hot, place your Dutch oven over them and let it warm, then add the water, butter, salt, and pasta. Cover the Dutch oven with coals. Once the pasta is tender, add the cheese, garlic, and mustard, and then stir to combine. Serve with your choice of toppings.

Dutch Oven Sloppy Joes Easy Camping Recipe

Who doesn’t love a sloppy Joe? Savory, hand-held, and portable, they’re also the perfect camping food. Here’s what you need to bring these together in your Dutch oven:

• 2 lbs. ground beef (or meat of your choice)
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
• 1 2/3 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. white vinegar
• 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp. steak sauce
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. ground mustard
• 1/4 tsp. paprika (sub smoked paprika for a more savory recipe)
• Hamburger buns

Cook the meat, onion, celery, and pepper in the Dutch oven over glowing coals. Once the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, add the seasonings. Simmer for up to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve hot with hamburger buns.

Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup

Soup is the perfect option for eating outdoors on a cool, fall night, and this stuffed bell pepper soup is sure to be a hit with the entire family. It comes together quickly, doesn’t require a lot of work, and is big on flavor! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 lb. ground beef (or ground meat of your choice)
• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 2 cups broth (beef, vegetable, chicken, etc.)
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3/4 white onion, minced
• 2 garlic bulbs, minced
• One 12-ounce can of tomato sauce
• One 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes
• One 4-ounce can of green chilies
• Salt and pepper

Cook the ground beef and vegetables in your Dutch oven until done. Add the broth and remaining ingredients. Stir to combine and then bring to a simmer and cook until the rice is done. Serve hot.

Sausage and Hashbrown Campfire Bake Easy Breakfast or Dinner Camping Recipe

Make sure to get your day started right with this hearty, delicious breakfast! It’s savory and delicious and can be made entirely at camp or partially prepped at home to save time. You’ll need:

• 1 lb. breakfast sausage
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 24 eggs
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups of shredded cheese (we recommend cheddar)
• 1 bag frozen, shredded hashbrowns
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste

First, brown the sausage in your Dutch oven. Add the onion and cook until it is done. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and soup. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the sausage and onion from the Dutch oven and then layer 1/2 the mix on the bottom of the Dutch oven. Layer 1/4 of the hashbrowns, then top with a layer of egg and cheese. Repeat layering your ingredients until they have all been used, with the last of the hashbrowns on top.

Put the Dutch oven back on the coals and layer some on top. Cook for about 45 minutes to an hour. Remove the lid and top with more cheese, then recover and cook until the cheese is completely melted and gooey. Serve hot.

Dutch Oven Cheesecake

We’ve got options for breakfast and dinner, but what about dessert? This campfire cheesecake turns out beautifully, even when cooked on hot coals. You’ll need to prep the batter the day before.

• 16 oz. cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 graham cracker pie crust

The day before your camping trip, soften the cream cheese and let the eggs come to room temperature. Combine them and whip using a hand mixer, then add the sugar, vanilla, lemon juice, and sour cream. Keep mixing it until it has a smooth, creamy consistency.

Pour your batter into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in the cooler until you’re ready to make it. When it’s time to bake, get your fire ready (coals, not flames), and preheat your Dutch oven.

Make an X with parchment paper in the Dutch oven, then place the pie crust on the X. Shake the batter to make sure it’s combined, then pour it into the pie crust. Put the lid on the Dutch oven, layer the coals on top, and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Turn the oven one-quarter turn every 15 minutes. Let the cheesecake cool, and remove the Dutch oven, before serving.

Our Fall Family Camp Out

Speaking of family camping, don’t miss your chance to be part of the fun right here at Stoney Creek Farm! On October 28 and 29, we’ll host an all-night family campout. Bring your own camping gear and we’ll provide the beautiful natural space, as well as a presentation by our resident naturalist and even a glow dance party! It’s $15 per person or $30 per family, but spots are going fast, so make sure to reserve yours now!