Camping Menu?

[Blackhawk]

I'm pretty sure I've got the camping menu figured out, but open to suggestions.

In the past when camping with kids and grandkids it seemed like I spent all my time cooking and cleaning up rather than participating in fun activities. In the future I plan on cereal and honeybuns for breakfast, sandwiches/chips/fresh fruit for lunch, snack bars and GORP for snacks, and only cook one meal a day. On an extended trip this might be stew one night, burgers/hotdogs another, hobo meals in foil cooked in the coals of a campfire, chili, etc.

Looking for further suggestions, ideas with limited preparation and cleanup.

 

[AustinBR]

I'm pretty sure I've got the camping menu figured out, but open to suggestions.

In the past when camping with kids and grandkids it seemed like I spent all my time cooking and cleaning up rather than participating in fun activities. In the future I plan on cereal and honeybuns for breakfast, sandwiches/chips/fresh fruit for lunch, snack bars and GORP for snacks, and only cook one meal a day. On an extended trip this might be stew one night, burgers/hotdogs another, hobo meals in foil cooked in the coals of a campfire, chili, etc.

Looking for further suggestions, ideas with limited preparation and cleanup.

I eat Peak Meals on every backpacking trip I go on. Just add boiling water and you've got a really solid meal that's got ~50g of protein. My wife even likes them enough where we've had them at home before, LOL.

They're super easy and when you're done, you have nothing to clean up.

 

[3fifty7]

Steaks are easy to cook in a small cast iron skillet over coals. If we stay 2 or 3 nights I’ll precook a chili, red beans and rice, soup etc and freeze it. Use it as ice in the cooler and cook/reheat in a single pot for a hot meal.

 

[N4sir]

You've got to cook bacon on a camping trip! Taste better cooked outdoors.
Blt's are easy enough.

 

[sksshooter]

what kind of camping are we talking here? backpacking, driving to and putting up a tent or rv? i'm not a backpacker, have pretty much given up tent camping but did quite a bit in my younger years. we have a camper these days so have different facilities available now.

 

[marinetaco01]

only advise I’ve got for car camping is I prep everything ahead of time and pre cook what I can. I hate spending time cleaning as it takes away from time I can spend doing things with the kids.

Chili pre made and frozen has been a go to for dinners. Didn’t see it mentioned yet.

 

[Blackhawk]

what kind of camping are we talking here? backpacking, driving to and putting up a tent or rv? i'm not a backpacker, have pretty much given up tent camping but did quite a bit in my younger years. we have a camper these days so have different facilities available now.

I should have added details in my original post. Usually this is driving to the site and putting up tents(s). Mostly a family expedition, anywhere from 10-20 people. Most recent trip was to the Buffalo River in Arkansas for 5 days, canoeing, hiking, bike riding.

 

[DBMJR1]

Whisk eggs for scrambled eggs and store them in a empty water bottle.

 

[Jstudz220]

Steaks are easy to cook in a small cast iron skillet over coals. If we stay 2 or 3 nights I’ll precook a chili, red beans and rice, soup etc and freeze it. Use it as ice in the cooler and cook/reheat in a single pot for a hot meal.

This is the way to do it imo. Maybe cook one large meal while at the camp if staying for a few days.

 

[Harrycheese]

I like to dehydrate or freeze meals and heat them up. Also eat on paper plates and burn them

 

[AustinBR]

I should have added details in my original post. Usually this is driving to the site and putting up tents(s). Mostly a family expedition, anywhere from 10-20 people. Most recent trip was to the Buffalo River in Arkansas for 5 days, canoeing, hiking, bike riding.

Oh, in that case, the world is your oyster.

Steaks
Sausage
Cast iron pan pizza
Hot dogs
Potatos wrapped in foil cooked in coals (add bacon grease around the potato for more yum yum)

 

[sksshooter]

10-20 people really eliminates you doing much time saving options. Sounds like its time to just suck it up and accept you are the camp bitch. Once you do that, you can begin recruiting helpers. Once you aquire and train said helpers you will become the camp master... then you can plan and direct the meals but the son in laws, brothers, cousins and similar do the work while you drink cold bear and orchastrate. If you do it any other way then its likely wrong.

On a more serious note. Ive found larger groups like that respind well to grilled/bbq chicken quarters or bonless thighs. Preferably bonless thighs. They cook quick, they are forgiving and reheat well. Start them off on foil on charcoal or gas. Get them partially done then yank the foil and cook the rest of the way with or with out sauce. I prefer with. Caramelize a good sauce on them like some kinders gold and then chow down.

Another affordable and great option is thick cut boneless pork chops. Ive started buying thcok as in 1 1/4" thick bonless chops and sewring them like a good steak and finishing them around 140. They are damn near as good as a steak. You can buy a whole loin and slice as you want and cooke them up. Rhey reheat well as well. Burgers are also an easy one. Especially if you buy some good quality premade patties. Rhey cost a bit more but can cook from frozen and have been a favorite with my bunch.

 

[Magdump]

Like 3fifty7 said, cook ahead. Pour it in a Walmart wide mouth screw top container. Gonna give you an award winning easy veggie soup.
Beef is optional and delicious as is any type of pasta precooked and thrown in on the warm up.

1 onion minced or in the food processor
1 gallon V-8 juice. Get the spicy if your crew allows or mix one of each for a little fire, but plain is great too.
Large can of stewed tomatoes, any style.
Diced potatoes, carrots, cut canned green beans, canned corn and any other veggies you like.
Add juice, stewed tomatoes, minced onion, and the raw veggies, cover and low rolling boil them to death, along with browned beef stew meat. No real need for seasoning, but taste test once taters are tender, then add your fully cooked canned veggies of choice. Final heat, simmer, stir and the total cook time should be about 40 minutes. The precooked stuff should be thrown in later so it doesn’t get cooked down to nothing.
This is an amazing soup that my buds have asked for at campouts. It’s great with cornbread, btw.

We always do a big breakfast. I have cowboy coffee pots that I ready before I bed down and spark them off as soon as I exit the tent. I fill up a big pump carafe and people just show up. Cooking on a campout does take extra time and gear, but if you plan ahead, it shouldn’t rob you of fun time while you’re out.

 

[throwmesomething]

I'm a little late to the party but wanted to add to all of the good suggestions here. When I need something easy while camping my go to is the packets idahoan mashed potatoes. Make sure you get the ones that don't require adding milk. Beyond that just boil 2 cups of water per pack, drop the powder in when the water starts boiling, and whisk it with a fork until it thickens up. You can add a little parmesan cheese if you have the space for it and serve with hot links, fried spam, or summer sausage. Takes no time! Just wash the pot that night because the next morning the leftover potato goo gets hard and is a pita to clean out.

 

[AustinBR]

I'm a little late to the party but wanted to add to all of the good suggestions here. When I need something easy while camping my go to is the packets idahoan mashed potatoes. Make sure you get the ones that don't require adding milk. Beyond that just boil 2 cups of water per pack, drop the powder in when the water starts boiling, and whisk it with a fork until it thickens up. You can add a little parmesan cheese if you have the space for it and serve with hot links, fried spam, or summer sausage. Takes no time! Just wash the pot that night because the next morning the leftover potato goo gets hard and is a pita to clean out.

You can also throw in beef jerky or tuna!

 

[Peterpaul227]

About an inch thick bone in pork chops grilled over camp fire coals is hard to beat , get a good fire going with what ever wood your burning ,let it die down rack back the coals flat put a folding fire grill over the coals let ‘em cook about 8-15 mins ( depending on the about of wood coal ) flipping when needed . not something most do at home so it’s a good camp meal . doesn’t take long and keep a few pieces of wood burning on the side to burn off the grill when your done . I don’t do good w sides but others I’ve camped with make veggies in foil and it’s easy enough to get family and kids involved to take the work load off ( checking flipping wrapping the foil stuff ) .desserts can be done in foil too bananas foster ish type things that don’t take much prep . I mean everybody hanging around the camp fire anyway .

 

[john17427]

Back in the previous century when I was a backpacker, my go to was Lipton butter noodles with a can of Swanson chicken and Tony's. Got me in trouble though. One week the kids didn't like what she was fixing a few nights in a row so she said you cook. I made backpacker stew and they licked the pot. I was in the dog house for several days and never cooked for the kids again.

 

[AustinBR]

Thinking about cooking on the trail makes me shutter a little LOL.

I'm sooooo used to just boiling some water in a JetBoil, throwing it into a freeze-dried meal, and then having a hot delicious dinner ~10min later.