10 Convenient Camping Meals for Dinner [2024]

Looking for ideas to optimize your next camping menu? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here you’ll find 10 convenient camping meals for dinner that you can make-ahead.

These meal ideas are designed to help you minimize prep time, cooking, dishwashing, and etcetera while camping. Less time spent dealing with all that equals more time spent having fun! Right?

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Meatloaf sandwiches make convenient camping meals for dinner

Meatloaf is something that can be made a variety of different ways. You can make it out of many different proteins and with many different seasonings. Furthermore, it can be served with a variety of different sides making it quite versatile.

Meatloaf is also super easy to transport and makes convenient camping meals for dinner. It can be served hot or cold! Yes, you read that right! It’s excellent both ways. Give me a cold meatloaf sandwich with ketchup, and I’m a happy camper! But if you don’t like it cold, it’s super easy to warm in a foil pack over a campfire.

Want to give it a try? Below is a list of what you’ll need to make my favorite type of meatloaf!

• Large mixing bowl
• Large mixing spoon
• Measuring spoons
• Knife
• Cutting board
• 2 small bowls
• Loaf pans (or a regular 9×13 baking pan)
• 3 pounds of hamburger
• 1/2 a pack of saltine crackers (crumbled)
• 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
• Homemade seasonings or a seasoning packet
• 1 or 2 Eggs
• Ketchup (enough to cover the entire top of the meatloaf)

Process

Begin by gathering your supplies and ingredients. Put your hamburger in a large mixing bowl. Add your seasoning packet (or homemade seasonings) and mix well. Next, chop your onion and crush your crackers. Add those to a large bowl followed by your egg(s). Then, mix until well blended.

Lightly spray your baking pan with cooking spray and place your hamburger in the pan. Form it into a loaf. You’ll cook it uncovered for 45 minutes in a 350-degree oven.

At the end of 45 minutes, carefully remove the meatloaf from the oven and top it with ketchup. Place the meatloaf back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes after which you’ll temp it. Once your meatloaf temps out, let it cool and place it in the refrigerator.

Prior to leaving for your trip, slice your meatloaf and place it in environmentally friendly zip top bags for transport in your cooler.

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Rotisserie chicken and roasted vegetables

Rotisserie chickens can make a variety of convenient camping meals for dinner! You can make sandwiches, salads, wraps, etcetera. They also pair well with a variety of different sides. Furthermore, they’re capable of feeding a lot of people making them a super thrifty option.

Rotisserie chicken makes convenient camping meals for dinner

You can rotisserie your own chicken or save some time by purchasing one that’s already cooked from your local grocery store. Below is a list of what you’ll need if you want to rotisserie your own chicken to make convenient camping meals for dinner!

• A rotisserie
• Kitchen twine
• A meat thermometer
• One whole chicken
• Season All

Process

To prepare, simply remove the innards from the chicken and properly tie the chicken with kitchen twine. You’ll want to tie the legs and wings of the chicken to its body and sprinkle Season All on the outside of the chicken.

Then, you’ll place your chicken in the rotisserie and cook it until its completely done. Cooking times will vary depending on the type of rotisserie you have as well as the size of your chicken. Temp your chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure it is completely done!

PRO TIP! Debone the chicken to transport it. You’ll save a ton of cooler space that way.

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Roasted vegetables make convenient camping meals for dinner

• Baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Large bowl
• Vegetables
• Oil
• Seasonings

Process

Choose the vegetables you want and wash them. Peel them, if necessary. Then, chop them into bite size pieces, and put them in a bowl. Pour some olive oil on top of the vegetables and add any seasonings you would like. Toss the vegetables until they are well coated.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and evenly place your vegetables on top. Cook them in a 400-degree oven for 45 minutes and check to see if they are done. If not, place them back in the oven for another 15 minutes or so.

Once done, let them completely cool before placing them in the refrigerator. Transport them in environmentally friendly zip top bags and reheat them in foil packs over a campfire.

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Sloppy Joes make convenient camping meals for dinner

Sloppy Joe’s don’t usually come to mind when thinking about camping food. BUT maybe they should? They make really convenient camping meals for dinner. The meat is easy to prepare, and it can be premade. It also packs well in environmentally friendly zip top bags, and it’s really simple to reheat in a pot over a campfire. I’m calling that a huge win with happy kids!

Want to add them to your next camping menu? Below is a list of what you’ll need!

• Size appropriate skillet
• Spatula
• Can opener
• 1 pound of hamburger
• 15 ounce can of sauce
• Hamburger buns

The process is super easy. Brown your hamburger in a skillet and drain it well. Then, add the sauce. Cook another 5 minutes or so until the sauce thickens. Let it cool and put it in the refrigerator.

At camp! Warm the Sloppy Joe meat in a pot over a campfire and serve on buns. Enjoy!

Smoked sausage and potatoes

Smoked sausage and potatoes make convenient camping meals for dinner that are certain to satisfy your hunger. You can make them several different ways, but I will share with you a really basic process. See what you need below!

• Skillet
• Spatula
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Smoked sausage
• Potatoes

Process

Slice your smoked sausage and set aside. Wash your potatoes, peel them, and chop them into bite size chunks. Put some oil in your skillet and set your heat to medium. Add your potatoes once the skillet is hot. Then, add your seasonings.

When your potatoes are about 3/4 of the way done, add your smoked sausage. Be careful now, so you don’t burn your smoked sausage. Once everything is completely done, remove the sausage and potatoes from the skillet and place them on a paper towel lined dish. Let them cool before placing them in the refrigerator.

To transport! Place your sausage and potatoes in foil packs. Then, place those foil packs inside environmentally friendly zip top bags before you put them in your cooler.

At camp! Remove the foil packs and place them on a grate over your campfire. Remember, you’re just warming them up, so you don’t need direct flames. You don’t want to risk burning your sausage during the warming process.

PRO TIPS! If you don’t want fried potatoes, roast them according to the roasted vegetable instructions above. For a super-fast version, you can use whole can potatoes! Just make sure you cut them into bite size pieces, add a little stick butter, and some seasonings.

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Garlic Parmesan Chicken makes convenient camping meals for dinner

Garlic Parmesan Chicken while camping? Yes please! This is super easy and very good.

• Baking pan
• Parchment paper
• Large zip top bag
• Chicken of choice
• One garlic parmesan seasoning packet

Line your baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside. Put your chicken in a zip top bag and dump in the seasoning packet. Then, shake it until all the chicken is covered. Transfer your chicken to the baking pan.

Set your oven to 350 degrees. Cooking time will vary depending on your choice of chicken. I recommend using a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken gets completely done.

Once your chicken is done, let it cool and refrigerate.

To transport! Gently place your garlic parmesan chicken in foil packs. Then, place those foil packs inside environmentally friendly zip top bags before you put them in your cooler.

At camp! Remove the foil packs. Gently open the top of each foil pack and add a tiny bit of olive oil or butter. This will help keep the chicken moist during the reheating process. Then, place them on a grate over your campfire until they are heated all the way through. Remember, you’re just warming them up, so you don’t need direct flames.

Goes well with potato salad and coleslaw! Want a good potato salad recipe? Read my post 10 Premade Easy Camping Meals for Lunches!

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Mexican bean dips make convenient camping meals for dinner

You can make Mexican bean dips a variety of ways, but I will share with you our family favorite! Below is a list of what you’ll need!

• A pan for the dip (circular with a 12″ diameter and 1″ sides works the best)
• Can opener
• Cutting board
• Knife
• A large plate or large flat dish
• Fork
• A wooden spoon
• Silicon frosting spatula
• Plastic wrap
• 2 cans of fat free refried beans
• 1 pack of mild taco seasoning
• 1 large light sour cream
• 4-8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can of black olives (sliced)
• 1 or 2 medium tomatoes (diced)
• 1 small jar of green olives (sliced)
• 1 bundle of green onions (chopped)

Process

Open both cans of refried beans and dump them on a large plate. Take a fork and mash the beans up as good as you can. Add one pack of taco seasoning to the beans and mix well. Take a wooden spoon and level the refried bean mixture in the bottom of the dip pan.

Now that you have a layer of refried bean mixture, you’ll begin adding the sour cream layer. Take a silicon frosting spatula and spread it evenly over the refried beans. Then, you’ll sprinkle your shredded cheese over top of the sour cream.

The remaining ingredients can be layered in any order you wish. Make sure you cover the dip with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator.

To transport! Carefully scoop the dip into portable food storage containers with a spatula and place them in your cooler.

PRO TIP! A knife helps to easily slide the dip off the spatula without damaging the layers.

At camp! Remove the dip from the cooler and serve with restaurant style tortilla chips.

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Ham steaks with pineapple makes convenient camping meals for dinner

Ham steaks make convenient camping meals for dinner, and they pair well with a variety of different sides. Below is a list of what you’ll need if you want to add them to your next camping menu!

• Baking pan (with sides)
• Small bowl
• Can opener
• Ham steaks
• 1/8-1/4 cup of brown sugar (more or less depending on your personal preference)
• A can of pineapple chunks

Process

Take your ham steaks and place them in a baking dish with sides. Open the can of pineapple chunks and drain the juice into a small bowl. Add brown sugar to the pineapple juice and mix well. Pour the juice mixture over the ham steaks.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove the ham steaks from the oven and dump the pineapple chunks on top. Put the ham back in the oven, uncovered for 10 more minutes. Temp with a meat thermometer.

Once your ham is done, let it cool and place it in the refrigerator. Transports well in environmentally friendly zip top bags and reheats well in foil packs!

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Beef and broccoli make convenient camping meals for dinner

This is one of my favorite convenient camping meals for dinner! I use this Easy Beef and Broccoli process, but I omit the ginger!

To transport! You can transport your beef and broccoli in environmentally friendly zip top bags or small cooler friendly containers.

At camp! Warm your beef and broccoli in a foil pack or a pot over your campfire. Enjoy!

Fried pork chops make convenient camping meals for dinner

Fried pork chops are super easy to make, transport well, and reheat nicely. They pair well with a variety of sides, and they’re just downright good! Below is a list of what you’ll need.

• Frying pan
• Splatter screen
• Spatula
• A bowl (for soaking your pork chops in brine)
• 1 zip top bag
• 2 cups of water
• 2-3 tablespoons of salt
• 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 cup of flour
• Seasonings

Process

Prepare your brine. Put about 2 cups of water, 2-3 tablespoons of salt, and 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar in a medium size bowl. Mix well.

Then, add your pork chops to the brine and place them in the fridge. You’ll want to let your pork chops soak a couple hours. Once they’re done soaking in the brine, dry them off well.

Now, add your flour and seasonings to a zip top bag. Place one pork chop at a time in the zip top bag and shake it until it’s covered in the flour and seasonings.

Place your skillet on a medium-high heat setting and add a couple tablespoons of oil. Let it get hot and start adding your pork chops. Cook them until they are completely done. Use a meat thermometer to temp them during the cooking process. Remove when completely done, let them cool, and place them in the refrigerator.

PRO TIPS! Patience is key. Do not over flip your pork chops! If you flip them too much, they’ll come out dry.

At camp! Warm them up in a foil pack over your campfire. No direct flames, you want to warm them slowly.

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Cheeseburger pie makes convenient camping meals for dinner

Got kids? This is a huge hit with my boys and has been for years. It is a great way to stretch the food budget and satisfy those cheeseburger cravings. Below is a list of what you’ll need!

• Pie pan
• Skillet
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cup
• Small mixing bowl
• Small bowl
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 3/4 cup of Vidalia onion (optional)
• 1/4 cup of bell pepper (optional)
• 1 cup of 2% milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt (optional)
• 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon of black pepper (optional)
• 1 – 1 1/2 cups of shredded mild cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup of Always Save biscuit mix
• 2 eggs

Process

Place your hamburger in the skillet. Add the onions, green peppers, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you may want. Cook until done and drain well.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spray your pie pan generously with cooking spray. Then, put your hamburger in the pie pan and top it with cheese. Set it aside.

Put your biscuit mix into the small mixing bowl. Add the milk and eggs. Beat until well blended and gently pour the mixture over the hamburger and cheese. Carefully slide the cheeseburger pie into the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

When you pull it from the oven check to make sure it’s completely done. Let your cheeseburger pie cool completely and refrigerate.

To transport! Cut your cheeseburger pie into “pie” slices. Gently place the slices in an environmentally friendly zip top bag. Be very careful you don’t put your cheeseburger pie in the cooler in such a way that it gets crushed.

At camp! Gently place your cheeseburger pie slices in foil packs and warm over your campfire. This also warms well in a microwave if you’re RV camping.

PRO TIP! Add cooked, crumbled bacon before putting your cheeseburger pie in the oven. Bacon Cheeseburger Pie? Yes please!

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I hope you’ll use some of these ideas to craft your own premade camping meal plan. These convenient camping meals for dinner are budget friendly and sure to satisfy your hunger.

To help make your planning process easier, I created a “Camping Trip Menu & Grocery Planner” for you! It’s totally free, and you can download it as many times as you would like!

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments section of this post or reach out to me by email. Wishing you many blessings and as always, Safe Travels!