Yes, usually it is summer time that brings thoughts of campouts and camping recipes, time for vacation and the kids are out of school.  However, our favorite time to go camping is in the fall – pick a long weekend when the weather is just cooling off, evenings are comfortably brisk, and the chill in the air invites you to enjoy the great outdoors. Now, it’s time for hiking and biking in the woods, tossing a Frisbee or football through the air, strolling around the lake, breathing deep and taking in the beauty of colorful turning leaves and a breeze blowing through the branches.  Ahhh – makes you wish you could go right now, doesn’t it? However, there is always the task of dishing up meals for everyone.  And so as not to ruin the overall relaxing vibe and reason for getting away and camping in the first place, we have put together a couple of super easy camping recipes and meal ideas for you (or the designated Campout Cook)!  

Steak and Potato Dinner 

1. Prep ahead before you leave home by placing steaks with marinade ingredients (olive oil, steak seasoning, salt and pepper) in plastic storage bags or containers for easy transport.

2. Prep potatoes before leaving home by washing them, pricking each one multiple times with a fork, spreading butter or margarine all over outside of potato, and wrapping each potato in aluminum foil tightly (twice – two layers of foil to protect the potato while in the fire coals). Then place all wrapped potatoes into a plastic bag or container for transporting.

3. At the campground, get a fire going hot; after about 30-60 minutes, you should have good coals around the edge of the fire. Place each foil-wrapped potato into the surrounding coals, turning after 15 or 20 minutes; allow to continue to cook until cooked through (roughly 50-60 minutes, depending on size of potato and heat of coals).

4. After potatoes have been cooking for a while, remove steaks from marinade and place on hot grill grate over fire, cooking to desired doneness (try to time this well with when you anticipate the potatoes being finished, so the steak and potatoes are ready around the same time).

5. Simple accompaniments to this meal would include heating up a can of seasoned green beans over the fire, and warming up fresh bread or rolls near the hot coals (with bread wrapped up in foil to protect from ash).

 

Chicken, Sliced Potatoes and Grilled Veggies Packet 

1. Prep chicken tenders or breasts before leaving home – rinse, place in a plastic bag or container along with marinade ingredients (olive or coconut oil, Cajun seasoning if you like it spicy, or simple salt and pepper and maybe a little Italian seasoning).

2.  Prep potatoes at home – wash, slice, place in plastic bag with melted butter, garlic powder, finely diced onion, and salt and pepper. Bring along a metal pan or heavy-duty foil for wrapping and cooking them in.

3.  Prep veggies at home - place washed, sliced fresh veggies (combination of carrots, squash, peppers, mushrooms – as desired) seasoned with salt and pepper in individual heavy-duty foil packets.

4.  At campground, over hot fire but indirect heat, place potatoes either wrapped in a large foil packet or in a flame-proof pan covered with foil and allow to cook until potato slices are tender (about 30 minutes, depending on amount of potatoes and heat of fire).

5.  After potatoes have been cooking for about 5 minutes, go ahead and place veggie packets either over indirect heat from the fire or situated among the outlying coals of the fire to cook.

6.  Place marinated chicken pieces on grilling grate over fire and cook until browned and cooked through (between 10 and 20 minutes – depending on size of chicken pieces and heat of fire).

For breakfast, mix up some pancake batter ahead and store in plastic container for easy pouring and transporting.  Prepare scrambled eggs ahead and transport in plastic bag or container, ready to pour into the campfire skillet.  Place a griddle over the fire for cooking up the bacon and pancakes that morning, and your hot delicious breakfast is ready in no time. Lunches are easy with cold sandwich fixings or some hot dogs and brats for roasting on sticks over the campfire (just remember to bring the condiments along, too).  Serve with some fresh fruit, baby carrots or celery sticks for a well-rounded meal. If you’re camping and have electricity, you could always bring along the crockpot, too; super easy to dump all ingredients needed for that dish into one container ready to pour into the crockpot for cooking all day while you are out enjoying nature.  Here are some terrific crockpot recipe ideas.

Now we can't  forget the highlight of camput "cooking"  – S’mores!  

Be sure to pack plenty of graham crackers, large marshmallows, and small chocolate candy bars or pieces; roast the marshmallows on sticks over the fire, place a piece of chocolate on a graham cracker, add the roasted marshmallow over the chocolate, and top off with another graham cracker for a deliciously sweet ending to the fun day (repeat as needed)! Remember you can keep all your favorite recipes (for camping, parties, birthdays, holidays, tailgating, and more) right here in your own online cookbook with Dish Dish – ready for you to find when you want them (no more digging through papers in a drawer or folder), add pictures and notes, share them with friends and family, and easily create menus and grocery shopping lists.  Get your free online recipe box started today! Be sure to share us with your friends and leave a comment about your favorite camping recipes.