Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the outdoor fun has to stop. Camping can be an enjoyable year-round activity—especially when you have a weekend’s worth of delicious meals to eat. And there’s nothing more satisfying than cooking a simple meal over an open fire.
Sure, s’mores are great, but it’s best to bring a variety of ingredients for well-planned meals to ensure that your time spent eating is just as memorable as the rest of your trip.
Easy Foil-Packet Tilapia and Vegetables
Fresh Tilapia with roasted vegetables makes for a satisfying camp lunch or dinner. The recipe suggests chopped green peppers, mushrooms and zucchini, but feel free to incorporate any other veggies you’d like. Remember to season the fish with lemon juice, cumin, thyme and/or garlic powder for an extra kick of flavor.
To take this Tilapia and roasted vegetable dish to the next level, make a cream sauce using fresh dill weed, margarine, lemon juice and cream cheese.
Try the recipe: Easy Foil-Packet Tilapia and Vegetables from 50 Campfires.
Foil Wrapped Baked Sweet Potatoes and Chili
This hearty meal is the perfect thing to cook if you’re camping in cooler temperatures. (Summer can’t last forever!) The one-pot dish calls for ingredients like olive oil, diced onions, beer (or another broth), beans, spices and tomato paste, and leaves plenty of room for creativity—add or subtract components as desired.
You can choose to eat your roasted sweet potatoes as a side, but you can also cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise and layer the chili, onions and fresh herbs inside. We recommend the latter.
Try the recipe: Foil Wrapped Baked Sweet Potatoes and Chili from Fresh Off The Grid.
Corn and Bean Salad
For a light, no-fuss camp meal, prepare a fresh and nutritious salad. This simple corn and bean mix is tossed with tomatoes, cilantro, onion, peppers and lime juice, so you can feel good about what you’re eating; the meal is full of protein, fiber and vitamins A, C and B2.
Make the dish ahead of time and store in a cooler, or pack the ingredients and prep at the campsite. Serve plain in bowls or pair with tortilla chips or lettuce wraps.
Try the recipe: Corn and Bean Salad from A Pretty Life In The Suburbs.
Rosemary Tilapia
Is there anything tastier than crispy, smokey fillets cooked over an open fire? After a full day of hiking, swimming and other outdoor activities, this simple recipe will satisfy campers in need of a hearty, protein-rich dinner.
Bonus: the dish is as convenient as it is delicious. Aside from packing Tilapia fillets and a couple sprigs of fresh rosemary, you’ll only need the campsite cooking essentials: salt, pepper, foil and olive oil.
Try the recipe: Rosemary Tilapia from OutdoorHub.
Cheesy Garlic Fries in Foil
Gooey, cheesy garlic fries smell positively divine roasting over a campfire. With ingredients like garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, chives and cheese, this recipe will suit the tastes of every camper. Simply bake seasoned and oiled potato wedges over the fire for 20 to 30 minutes, and then sprinkle with cheese and put back on the heat for an additional three minutes.
Try the recipe: Cheesy Garlic Fries in Foil from Damn Delicious.
Camp meals may be fun to make and delicious to eat, but they also require ample planning and preparation. Remember to bring the basics (olive oil, salt, foil, cutting boards) and try to prep as many things as you can ahead of time. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or novice camper, preparing a meal in the great outdoors is a rewarding experience for everyone.
For easy recipes that you can prepare before setting up camp, check out these five fresh meal prep ideas.
Photo Credits: Vera Petrunina / Shutterstock Inc., Mommity, Fresh Off The Grid, photogal / Shutterstock Inc., Chocolate Salad, Damn Delicious