Camping is fun for a variety of reasons: spending time outdoors, enjoying the beauty of nature, and, of course, having delicious meals. The food selection seems to be plentiful when it comes to meat-lovers, while vegan campers are often left out with some grilled vegetables or ready-made snacks.
If you’ve found yourself in such a situation, this compilation of ideas is for you. Read ahead to discover the recipes of vegan camping meals that are fast to make yet extremely tasty!
Top 6 Fast and Tasty Vegan Camping Meal Ideas
Whether you prefer a light or heavy meal, there are plenty of vegan camping recipes to satisfy your hunger. Here are our top picks:
1. Porridge
While porridge might be a part of your regular morning routine, don’t underestimate its potential when camping. It’s a nutritious, tasty, easy, and healthy breakfast option that is entirely customizable – from the choice of grain and milk alternatives to the toppings.
Below you’ll find the ingredients that you can choose from to create the perfect vegan breakfast combo at the campsite in a matter of minutes.
First, pick the type of grains to pack on your trip. Some amazing options include:
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Amaranth
- Teff
- Millet
- Sorghum
- Rye
- Barley
- Farro
- Bulghur
- Kamut berries
Apart from making water-based porridge, you can consider yogurt and milk alternatives based on the following products:
- Soy
- Pea
- Coconut
- Oat
- Almond
- Cashew
- Peanut
- Flax
- Hemp
- Rice
- Walnut
- Macadamia
- Pistachio
- Hazelnut
- Pecan
- Banana
As for the toppings, your imagination is the limit. Here are some of our all-time favorites:
- Fresh berries
- Fruit slices
- Peanut butter
- Raisins
- Granola
- Nuts
- Dates
- Syrups
- Jam
What a plethora of amazing flavors! Soak the grains of choice overnight or prepare the porridge in the morning over a campfire - it will taste great either way.
2. Open Sandwich
An open sandwich is one of the simplest yet greatest vegan camping breakfast recipes, as it’s a fully customizable meal that doesn’t have to involve animal protein.
All you have to do is bring your favorite type of vegan bread with you, alongside some toppings. Here are some unusual combos you are sure to enjoy:
- Tofu, avocado, vegan cheddar, and tomatoes
- Cashew cream cheese, finely sliced tomatoes, cilantro, and red onion
- Vegan mozzarella, pesto, and tomatoes
- Roasted eggplants and mushrooms, and vegan garlic and herb cheese
- Salty vegan cheese, roasted sweet potatoes, balsamic vinegar, and vegan mayonnaise
Remember that the bread slices can be easily substituted by a vegan bagel or focaccia.
3. Roasted Apples
Apples roasted over a campfire are beloved by many outdoor enthusiasts. However, if you’re tired of this recipe’s traditional version, here are some ways of spicing it up without spending too much time on cooking:
- Stuffed apples. Cut out the apple’s core and stuff it with raisins, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey. Wrap it in foil and place it over the coals.
- Apple pie packets. Cut the apples and place the slices on a piece of foil alongside honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cranberries. Close the foil packet and place it over the charcoals.
- Campfire apple crisp. Place a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and saute apple slices with some vegan butter until they soften. Add brown sugar and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. You can also mix in a tablespoon of bourbon, if available. Continue cooking for a while, then remove from heat, and sprinkle with granola.
Cinnamon and raisins are classic toppings for roasted apples. However, you are free to try some unusual combinations like almond butter, orange marmalade, dates, or jam.
4. Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas Pita
This plant-based main course is fast to make yet incredibly tasty. Pack some cauliflower, chickpeas, vegan tzatziki, pita bread, and greens of choice, and you’re ready to prepare a finger-licking lunch!
Keep in mind that roasting cauliflower in a foil packet over a campfire may take up to 1 hour, depending on the heat. That’s why it’s best to prepare it at home by cooking it until it is al-dente.
This way, at the campsite, you will only need to roast the cauliflower for it to achieve a golden color. Put it in a dutch oven together with pre-soaked or canned chickpeas, add spices of choice, and your topping is ready. Place it on top of a heated pita flatbread, add vegan tzatziki and herbs, and enjoy!
5. Vegan Sloppy Joe
To prepare one portion of this tasty vegan burger, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 0,5 tablespoon oil
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced bell pepper
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 0,25 cup of red lentils
- 0,25 cup of quinoa
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- Vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 vegan burger buns
- salt and pepper
Heat the oil over medium heat in a pot, then add chopped onion and bell pepper. Saute until soft, add tomato paste and cook for another minute, then add some minced garlic. After that, pour in some water, add red lentils, and after a couple of minutes - some quinoa. Bring the mix to a boil and then simmer it. Add Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
When the sauce thickens, it’s ready. Serve it on toasted buns with your favorite sides and toppings, and get an energy boost for the rest of the day!
While this recipe is quick to prepare, you can speed it up even more by precooking the quinoa-lentils mix at home and transporting it to the campsite in a cooler.
6. Veggie Skewers
These vegan skewers look amazing, are extra tasty, and can be eaten as they are or with sides like couscous or salad.
The recipe is simple: mix maple syrup, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic granules to your taste to create a marinade. Prepare vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, eggplants, and zucchinis and marinade them for approximately 20 minutes. After that, it will only take about 5 minutes for you to grill them over a campfire when loaded up the skewers.
Vegan Camping Snack Ideas
While having a vegan camping menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is great, you are most likely to want some additional small meals throughout the day. Here are some excellent vegan-friendly snack ideas that you can buy or prepare at home:
All the vegan camping meals and snacks included in this compilation are tested by seasoned travelers and are sure to brighten up your trip. Enjoy!
