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10 Easy Dinner Camping Recipes


More from Outdoor Living Newsletter April Outdoor Living Newsletter
 
Grilled Honey-Cumin BBQ Pork
Grill some Honey-Cumin BBQ pork for a warm and filling dinner on your next camping trip.

After enjoying the outdoors all day, nothing is more comforting than tucking into a warm and delicious dinner with your family by the campfire.

The thing is, slaving away to whip up dinner is the last thing on any RVer or camper's mind. That's why they need dinner recipes that are not only healthy and delicious, but also quick to prepare and cook.

Here are 10 dinner camping recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, whether you're camping in an RV or a tent. The best part of these dinner camping recipes is that they can be prepared in advance, cutting back your cooking time.

Starters

1.  Avocado Dip

This quick and simple starter is a perfect way to keep those hungry souls at bay while waiting for dinner to be served.

Serves 6
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 16-ounce container plain yogurt
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Tortilla chips

Instructions

  1. 1.  Half the avocado and take out the seed by tapping your knife onto it.
  2. 2.  Spoon the meat into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocado meat until it becomes a rich paste.
  3. 3.  Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix them until they are well combined.
  4. 4.  Transfer this into a serving bowl and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

2.  Beef Barley Soup

This hearty soup can be served as a preamble to a sumptuous dinner or eaten as a meal itself. It can easily be converted into a vegetarian dish as well. Simply leave off the ground beef and replace the beef stock with vegetable stock.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 15-ounce can beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 15-ounce can mixed vegetables
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup quick barley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. 1.  In a large pot, cook the ground beef with a pinch of salt until it becomes light brown in color. Set the beef aside and drain the excess grease from the pot.
  2. 2.  Sweat the onions until they are clear. Add the ground beef, mixed vegetables, barley, rosemary, bay leaf and thyme.
  3. 3.  Pour in the beef broth and water into the pot, and bring this to a boil.
  4. 4.  Lower the heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. 5.  Pour into bowls and serve.

Entrees

3.  Alamo Chicken

Here's a quick and simple dinner camping recipe. You can marinade the chicken ahead of time and then store it in your fridge or cooler so that it's waiting for you come dinnertime.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • McCormick chicken seasoning
  • Hot sauce
  • 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. 1.  Combine the salt, pepper, chicken seasoning, hot sauce and cilantro in a small mixing bowl.
  2. 2.  Add the chicken breasts and coat well with the marinade. Set aside.
  3. 3.  In a large frying pan, cook the bacon strips until almost crisp. Set aside and drain off the excess fat.
  4. 4.  Pan sear the chicken breasts about 4 minutes on each side. Take the pan out of the fire.
  5. 5.  Place one bacon strip on top of each chicken breast. Top them with the pepper strips and onions.
  6. 6.  Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken until they are evenly covered.
  7. 7.  Place the pan in the oven. Bake until the cheese has melted.

4.  Campfire Fajitas

This dinner camping recipe is perfect when camping in a large group. Simply arrange all the sides around the campfire, and let them create their own fajitas. For a bit of variety, you can choose to use beef, pork, or even game that you successfully hunted with friends.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 large red bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 packet flour tortillas
  • Guacamole
  • Sour cream
  • Grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. 1.  Combine the olive oil, garlic, liquid smoke, salt, cayenne pepper, dried cilantro, dried oregano, and cumin in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
  2. 2.  Add the chicken strips and coat it well with the marinade. Set aside.
  3. 3.  Get the campfire going and place a campfire grate over it.
  4. 4.  Grill the chicken on one side of the campfire grate about 3-4 minutes on each side. Set aside.
  5. 5.  Melt the butter in a skillet heating on the other side of the grate. Add the bell peppers and onion. Sautee the vegetables until the onions become translucent. Set aside.
  6. 6.  Pour the guacamole, sour cream, and cheddar cheese into separate bowls and arrange the tortillas onto a plate. Serve.

5.  Chicken Stew with Tomato and Basil

The combination of tomatoes and fresh basil gives this easy dinner camping recipe a distinct Italian flavor, and best served with a warm slice of bread and freshly tossed greens.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken breasts, cut into strips
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 green pepper, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 large can chopped tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste or tomato puree
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • Fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • 4 baby zucchini, sliced
  • 1 can mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pitted black olives (optional)

Instructions

  1. 1.  Heat the oil in a large casserole pot or Dutch oven. Fry the chicken strips until they are brown. Set aside.
  2. 2.  Sautee the garlic, onion, and green peppers.
  3. 3.  Add the tinned tomatoes, tomato paste or puree, salt, pepper, sugar and water. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
  4. 4.  Add the zucchini slices, mushrooms, fried chicken strips, basil and pitted black olives. Cover and simmer over a very low heat for about 15-20 minutes.
  5. 5.  Stir in the grated cheese. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve.

6.  Corned Beef Spaghetti

This is a great dinner recipe to prepare when camping with kids and teens. You can make the sauce in advance and then store it. Come dinnertime; simply cook the pasta, heat the sauce and you're good to go.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 can corned beef, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 can peeled tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 tube tomato puree concentrate
  • 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Spaghetti
  • Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. 1.  Heat the oil in a large pot. Sautee the onions and garlic until they are almost soft.
  2. 2.  Add the corned beef, tomatoes, tomato puree, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Set aside.
  3. 3.  In a separate pot, simmer the spaghetti in salted water according to the packets cooking instructions. Drain well.
  4. 4.  Top the spaghetti noodles with the sauce. Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese and serve.

7.  Grilled Fish with Chili-Corn Salsa

Here's something for all you RVers and campers that love to go fishing while on a camping trip. The chili-corn salsa in this dinner camping recipe can be made in advance and stored in your fridge or cooler. It also goes well with practically any kind of fish. If nothing bites, not to worry. You can always head over to a supermarket to get some, or simply replace this with any kind of meat you have with you.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the Grilled Fish

  • freshly caught fish or 11/2 firm-textured fish steaks or fillets such as salmon, halibut, sea bass or swordfish, each 1 inch thick
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil

For the Salsa

  • 1 cup cooked corn
  • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1/4 cup green onions with tops, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup canned green chilies, diced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1.  In a small bowl, combine the corn, tomato, green onions, green chilies, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and cumin and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  2. 2.  Place a camping grate over a solid bed of hot coals evenly coated with grey ashes.
  3. 3.  Brush the fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the fish onto the grate. Cook for 4-5 minutes, turning the fish once on each side.
  4. 4.  To serve, place a piece of the grilled fish onto a plate. Spoon a bit of the chili-corn salsa on the side. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs.

8.  Grilled Honey-Cumin BBQ Pork

These scrumptious foil packets can be made well ahead of time. Best part of it is that you don't have to worry about washing any dishes after. Simply toss these packets onto the grill, tuck in using your hands, and then throw the foil when you're done.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless pork ribs or loin chops, each 3/4 to 1 inch thick
  • 2 large ears of corn, cut into 6 pieces
  • 2 cups refrigerated cooked new potato wedges
  • 1 cup baby-cut carrots, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 4 18x12 inch aluminum foil sheets

Instructions

  1. 1.  Heat a camping grate over a campfire or gas grill.
  2. 2.  Combine the barbecue sauce, honey, and cumin in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
  3. 3.  Spray one side of each of the aluminum foil with cooking spray. Place 1 pork rib or loin chop, 3 pieces of corn, 1/4 cup carrots and 1/2 potato wedges onto the center of the aluminum foil.
  4. 4.  Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of salt on the pork and vegetables.
  5. 5.  Spoon 3 tablespoons of the barbecue mixture over the pork and vegetables.
  6. 6.  Make the packet by folding the foil over the pork and vegetables so that the edges meet. Seal the edges by making very tight ½ inch folds. Leave space on the sides of the packet to make room for circulation and expansion.
  7. 7.  Place the packets on top of the grate or gas grill, making sure that there is about 4 to 6 inches of space between the bottom of the packet and the flames. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Take the packets out from the heat and let it rest until you can hold the foil packets with your bare hands.

Desserts

9.  Fried Apple Pie

The great thing about this dessert is that it's easy to make and very versatile. Double or triple the recipe to serve as a sweet ending to a sumptuous dinner when camping with friends, or make several kinds of pies by simply changing the pie filling you use.

Serves 4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 can biscuit dough
  • Ready-to-use apple pie filling
  • Oil
  • Cinnamon
  • Sugar

Instructions

  1. 1.  Heat the oil in a skillet. Roll out two pieces of biscuit dough until it's about half an inch thick.
  2. 2.  Spoon the apple pie filling in the center of one of the biscuits. Cover this with the second piece of biscuit.
  3. 3.  Using a fork, press the sides of the biscuits to seal it off and prevent the filling from leaking out while cooking.
  4. 4.  Place the pie onto the skillet and fry until it is brown underneath. Flip the pie carefully to brown the other side.
  5. 5.  Remove the pie from the pan and place onto a plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Serve.

10.  Rocky Mountain Cake

End a sumptuous dinner with family and friends with this quick and simply chocolate-y dessert that's sure to be a winner every single time. Best part about this is that there's no baking or cooking involved!

Serves 10
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf of angel food cake
  • 1 small package instant chocolate pudding
  • 1 large tub of Cool Whip
  • 1 small package toffee chips

Instructions

  1. 1.  Slice the angel food cake in half, horizontally.
  2. 2.  In a small mixing bowl, mix the Cool Whip and instant chocolate pudding.
  3. 3.  Spread half of the chocolate mixture over the bottom half of the angel food cake. Sprinkle half of the toffee chips evenly over the chocolate mixture.
  4. 4.  Place the top half of the angel food cake over the toffee chips.
  5. 5.  Spread the remaining chocolate mixture over the cake and sprinkle the remaining toffee chips. Slice and serve.
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