10 Great Meals for Camping with Kids

It's officially the kick off to the camping season this year. The line of campers impatiently waiting to escape the city is growing with each hour, so if you're caught in traffic, here's something for you! 

Camping food seems to get a free pass when it comes to nutrition, it's fun, tasty and easy. In my experience, you can get kids to eat more if they help make it, so this is a great chance for them to be involved. The best part is that there's usually little work involved for the cook! A fire, a stick, a grill, and some tin foil are about all you'll need!

If you're not out camping, your backyard BBQ works just fine.

I've put together some ideas that I remember from my childhood, years of working at summer camp, and things I've tried as an adult (but wish my parents knew about it when I was a kid).

Eggs in a Bag

1 small zipper freezer bag

Boiling water & pot with lid

2 eggs per person

omelette toppings (cheese, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms)

salt & pepper

Add 2 eggs and desired toppings to a zippered freezer bag (not sandwich - too thin). Close baggie and place in boiling water and cover for 8-12 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. Season with salt & pepper as desired and pour out of baggie onto a plate or eat right out of the bag.

A quick and easy breakfast.

Pancakes
1 cup Flour
1 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Combine this mix in a plastic zipper bag and take with you.
Add:
1 egg, beaten
1 cup Milk
2 Tbsp Oil

Stir until moist but lumpy. Cook for 2 minutes/side on a hot griddle or skillet.

Serve with Syrup, fresh berries or whip cream for a delicious breakfast!

Piggies in a Bannock Blanket

Make 1 Bannock Recipe (see below) and wrap Bannock around smoked link sausage or hot dog wieners. Using a stick or a grill over fire, cook until meat starts to bubble and dough becomes golden brown (and probably some black) and puffy. Meat should be cooked through.

Serve with Ketchup or Mustard as dipping sauce.

Walking Tacos

 nacho cheese or corn chips (individual bags)

cheese

chili or taco beef or refried beans

tomatoes & lettuce

sour cream, salsa & guacamole

Before opening crush the chips a bit & cut off the top part of the bag. 

Top with meat, cheese and any other toppings you'd like and use a fork or fingers to eat!

Bannock Mix

2 cups Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 Tbsp Sugar
1/4 cup Powdered Milk
*Add 1 cup Water when making

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a zipper bag and you've got a great bread option when camping. All you have to do is add the water, mix well and fry in a couple Tbsp of oil or fat or roast on a stick over an open flame. Top with Jam, peanut butter, cheese, butter, honey, or your favourite bread topping for a delicious easy camping bread.

Baked Potato  
Poke holes with a fork in a baking potato (russet is great). Wrap in foil and place over hot coals for 30-50 minutes (depending on size).

Let sit for 5 minutes and serve with bacon bits, tomato, green onions, cheese, chili, sour cream, butter, mustard...anything you want!

Hobo Packets

Combine your favourite ingredients in a double layer of aluminum foil (don't forget to use cooking spray) and cook over hot coals for 20-40 minutes (depending on the size and ingredients).

Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Traditional Hobo Packets include meat, potatoes, onion, carrots, butter & salt/pepper.
Be creative and use ingredient like ground beef patties, steak, chicken, sausage, carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, bacon bits, eggs, peas, broccoli, cheese, pineapple, mango, lemons, limes and any seasoning or sauces you'd like!

Campfire Mac & Cheese

1/ 2 cup Partially cooked macaroni
1 tsp butter
1 Tbsp Milk
1/4 cup Cheese, grated

Combine ingredients in an individual foil pie plate and mix well. Cover with a double layer of foil and cook over hot coals for 10 minutes. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Pina Colada Banana Boats

Cut a V in the top of a ripe banana and scoop our some of the flesh. Line the V with marshmallows and top with crushed pineapple, coconut flakes and dark chocolate chips.

Wrap in aluminum foil and cook over hot coals for 10-15 minutes until marshmallows are melted.

Eat with a spoon.

Nutella S'mores

Graham Crackers

Jumbo Marshmallows

Nutella

Spread nutella on two graham crackers. Toast marshmallows over fire with a stick until golden and melty. Sandwich melty marshmallow between nutella'd graham crackers and serve warm.

Watch out for the  gooey deliciousness that squeezes out the sides!

So if you're still trying to figure out what to make this long weekend, here's 10 great ideas that my kids love and I'm sure yours will too.

Happy Camping!

~Adel~

Want more camping ideas? Check out my Camping with Kids page!