Avoiding any unnecessary stress is the best approach to guarantee you get the most out of your camping experience. Planning your trip and preparing make-ahead camping meals are some ways that will save you some time and give you peace of mind at the campsite.

You might have encountered numerous bland and dull freeze-dried foods or hot dogs as ideas for make-ahead meals, but the recipes we’ve selected for you are different. Here’s a special list of trouble-free camping meals that are not only healthy but also delicious!

5 Delicious Make-Ahead Meals for Camping

The camping meals you can make ahead of time that we have collected here are healthy, quick to prepare, and don’t require any ingredients that are hard to find. All you have to do is prepare them at home, store them at a proper temperature, and transport them to the campsite. Simple as that!

1. Breakfast: Sugar-Free Banana Bread

Banana bread is a great make-ahead breakfast option for campers, as it’s tasty and nutritious. This sugar-free recipe is sure to become your favorite:

Ingredients

• Oat flour
• Ripe bananas
• Dates
• Soy milk
• Lemon juice
• Cinnamon
• Crushed nuts
• Raspberry chia jam (put raspberries, chia seeds, and water in a bowl and mash berries with a fork)

How to Prepare

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F and 180° C; meanwhile, grab a loaf pan.
2. Put all the wet ingredients into a blender and blend them until they reach a smooth consistency.
3. Place all the dry into a mixing bowl.
4. Pour in the wet ingredients mixture from the blender and mix to create a consistent batter.
5. Mix in the crumbled nuts using a spatula, then pour the mixture into a buttered loaf pan.
6. Using a fork, spread the raspberry chia jam over the banana bread. You can also place extra diced bananas on top.
7. Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes.

Banana bread is great to be eaten on its own or with toppings like jam or peanut butter. Enjoy!

2. Lunch: Quinoa Salad Jars

There are plenty of variations of quinoa salad jars, but here’s our favorite one:

Ingredients for Lemon-Dill Dressing

• 100 grams of olive oil
• ¼ cup of water
• 6 teaspoons of white vinegar
• A clove of garlic
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• Lemon juice to taste
• Fresh dill and parsley to taste

Ingredients for Salad Jars

• 170 gram or 2 cups of quinoa or couscous. You can also use your favorite pasta.
• 2 pints of grape tomatoes
• 2 cucumbers
• 1 or 2 small jars of sun-dried tomatoes or peppers
• 400 grams of feta cheese

How to Prepare

1. Put all the lemon-dill dressing ingredients in a blender and blend until they form a smooth mixture.
2. Cook quinoa or couscous as per package instructions and set it to cool down.
3. In a salad jar, layer some dressing, then add the tomatoes and sun-dried peppers, quinoa, cucumbers, and cheese.

Seal the jars and store them at a cold temperature, where they can last for up to 4 days. Remember that you can experiment by adding different ingredients to match your taste best!

3. Dinner: Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This slow cooker beef stew will surely fill you up and keep you warm even on the coldest days. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• Beef stew cubes
• Carrots or baby carrots
• Tomato sauce
• Red potatoes
• Bay leaves
• Powdered onion soup mixture
• Canned Cream of Mushroom soup
• Canned green peas

How to Prepare

1. Start by applying non-stick cooking oil to the base of your slow cooker.
2. Add the beef cubes, sliced carrots, diced red potatoes, and bay leaves into the slow cooker.
3. Combine the onion soup mix, creamy mushroom soup, tomato sauce, and peas in a mixing bowl.
4. Mix the ingredients thoroughly before pouring the resulting substance over the meat and vegetables.
5. Ensure that the ingredients are mixed and spread evenly, cover the slow cooker, set the temperature to “low”, and set the clock for 7-10 hours.

You can freeze this beef stew in a freezer bag and reheat it at the campsite.

4. Dessert: Blueberry Muffin Bites

Blueberry muffins are the perfect dessert loved by many. Here’s its mini-version that’s easier to pack with you on a camping trip:

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of nuts butter or seed butter
• ¼ cup of applesauce and maple syrup
• 2/3 cup coconut flour
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of fresh or dry blueberries

How to Prepare

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Place the fresh blueberries on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 40-45 mins.
3. Combine the nut butter, apple sauce, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
4. Add coconut flour and salt.
5. Mix in the blueberries with a spatula.
6. Form 12 balls out of the resulting dough.
7. Refrigerate until solid for 3-4 hours.

This dessert is vegan and paleo-friendly!

5. Snack: Crispy Chickpeas

Even if you have really nutritious make-ahead camping dinner, breakfast, and lunch meals, you’re still likely to want a snack in between. Here’s an idea we love:

Ingredients

• 16-ounce can of rinsed and dried chickpeas
• 3 teaspoons of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of granulated sea salt
• ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, garlic powder, and cumin powder

You can also use maple syrup or honey if you prefer a sweet snack.

How to Prepare

1. Combine the chickpeas, olive oil, salt, and seasonings of choice in a mixing bowl.
2. Preheat the oven to 400°F and roast the chickpeas for 20-30 minutes until it becomes crunchy.
3. Let the chickpeas cool down for a while and store it in an airtight jar.

Enjoy!

Make-Ahead Camping Recipes Will Transform Your Trip!

In conclusion, these simple, tasty, and healthy make-ahead camping meals will fuel you for a day of exciting outdoor activities. Preparing food in advance will spare you time and storage space when camping, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience!