When I go camping with my family, the last thing I want to worry about is a mountain of dishes!
Who wants to stand around washing dishes in a bucket?
I mean you don’t want to be the chef for camping breakfasts and camping lunches let alone complicated dinners, right?
So when we went on our last trip, I threw together a few camping dinners that were quick to cook and filled everyone up.
One of our faves was the sausage, potato, and veggie hash!
It was quick, healthy, and left zero mess.
But there are tons of other one-pan camping meals you can make too.
And some of them can be made ahead of time, so even less prep.
Here’s my fave plus a few others I know you’ll want to try.
One-Pan Camping Dinner: Sausage, Potato and Veggie Hash
Even though I try to avoid doing dishes while camping, I absolutely love cooking outside!
Roughing it and cooking over a campfire makes me feel like a pro (and way more skilled than I actually am).
I just toss everything in a cast iron skilled and let the fire do it’s thing.
With this recipe, you end up with crispy potatoes, juicy sausage, and smoky veggies all in one pan!
It smells and tastes amazing with virtually no clean up.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
- 4 medium potatoes, diced small
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 2 tablespoons oil (olive or avocado works well)
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
- Optional: shredded cheese, hot sauce
Start by heating your cast iron skilled over medium heat on the fire or grill grate.
Add the oil (I like olive oil) and diced potatoes first. They’ll need a head start to get golden and tender.
Once they begin to brown, toss in the sausage, bell pepper, and onion and stir every few minutes to make sure nothing sticks,
After about 10 minutes, add the zucchini and any seasoning you like. Cook everything until the sausage is crips on the edges and the veggies are cooked through.
Top with cheese or hot sauce if you’re brave!
Serve everything straight from the skillet.
And if you think that sounds delicious, check out these other camping dinner ideas:
Our Favorite Easy Camping Food Ideas
Skillets aren’t the only one-pan camping dinner that tastes amazing with no clean up!
These one-pan (and foil-friendly) recipes are just as easy to prep, clean up, and picky-eater approved.
At least they are in our tent!
Campfire Foil Pack Nachos
These are hands-down one of the easiest things to make, and you can load them up however you like.
I like layer tortilla chips, shredded cheese, canned beans, sliced jalapeños, and pre-cooked taco meat into a foil pack and toss it on the grate over the fire.
In about 10 minutes, you’ve got melted, smoky nachos ready to share.
You can skip the meat or go heavy on the toppings. It’s super flexible!
Here’s what you need:
- Tortilla chips
- 1 cup cooked ground beef or shredded chicken (optional)
- 1 can black beans, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- Sliced jalapeños, tomatoes, onions (whatever your crew likes)
- Aluminum foil
Layer everything into the center of a double layer of foil, fold it up tight, and place over medium heat for 8–10 minutes until melted and heated through.
Carefully open, and top with salsa, sour cream, or hot sauce if you’ve got it.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Skewers
These get bonus points for being fun to eat and easy to prep ahead of time.
Just cut chicken into chunks, marinate them in BBQ sauce, then thread them onto skewers with bell peppers and onions.
They grill up fast over the fire, and the kids love helping build their own.
- 1 lb chicken breast or thighs, cubed
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1–2 bell peppers, cut into chunks
- 1 red onion, cut into chunks
- Skewers (wooden or metal)
Marinate the chicken in BBQ sauce for at least an hour (or overnight in a cooler).
Thread everything onto skewers, grill over medium heat, and rotate until fully cooked and slightly charred.
It’ll take about 10–15 minutes.
Cast Iron Mac and Cheese
We’ve tested a lot of mac and cheese recipes, and this one hits the comfort food spot without being a hassle.
It’s creamy, cheesy, and made in a single skillet!
You can add chopped ham or bacon if you’re feeling fancy, but we usually keep it simple and let the cheese do the talking.
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1½ cups milk
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: cooked bacon, ham, or even peas
Boil your pasta ahead of time or cook it in the skillet with just enough water to cover, then drain.
Stir in butter and milk, bring to a simmer, and slowly add cheese until melted and smooth.
Stir everything together and heat over the fire until bubbly.
Campfire Chili
This one is our go-to for chilly nights (pun not intended, but we’re rolling with it).
Brown the meat in a pot, then toss in canned tomatoes, beans, and seasonings.
Let it simmer while you toast some buns or make cornbread if you’re feeling ambitious.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 can kidney beans, drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper
Cook the meat and onions in a pot over the fire until browned.
Add everything else and stir well.
Let it simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the flavors come together.
Walking Tacos
These are as fun as they sound and totally mess-free!
Open a small bag of chips (we use Doritos or Fritos), then pile in taco meat, shredded lettuce, cheese, and salsa.
Grab a fork and go to town.
- Individual snack-size bags of chips
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- Taco seasoning
- Shredded lettuce, cheese, diced tomato, salsa
Brown your meat with taco seasoning over the fire or a camp stove.
Spoon the mixture into chip bags, then add your toppings.
Shake it up or eat straight out of the bag.
Dutch Oven Lasagna
I didn’t believe this would work until I tried it, and now it’s one of our favorite camping dinners!
You layer the ingredients just like at home, pop the lid on, and let it do its thing over the coals.
It takes a little longer, but it’s totally worth it.
- 9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 1 jar pasta sauce
- 1½ cups cottage or ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage, browned
- Parmesan and basil for topping
Grease your Dutch oven and start layering: sauce, noodles, meat, cheese, then repeat.
Finish with sauce and mozzarella on top.
Cover and cook over coals (and with some on the lid) for about 45–60 minutes, checking now and then to avoid burning.
S’mores Cones
Okay, this one is dessert, but trust me, no one complains.
Instead of graham crackers, we fill waffle cones with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and fruit, then wrap in foil and heat them by the fire.
It’s less mess and still totally gooey and fun.
- Waffle cones
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped strawberries or bananas
- Foil
Stuff each cone full of your favorites, wrap in foil, and place near the fire (not directly on the flame) for about 5 minutes.
Carefully unwrap and enjoy with sticky fingers!
(Pro tip: Have some wet wipes on hand.)
Breakfast Burritos
These are perfect for the morning after a long day outdoors.
Just scramble eggs with cheese, sausage, and veggies, then roll them into tortillas and wrap in foil to warm over the fire.
You can even make and freeze them ahead of time to just heat and eat.
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup cooked sausage or bacon
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup diced peppers and onions
- 6 tortillas
- Foil
Scramble everything in a skillet and divide the mixture into tortillas.
Roll them up, wrap in foil, and place over the fire for 5–10 minutes to warm through.
Add salsa if you’ve got it on hand!
Pre-Made Easy Camping Food
So those are some delicious skillet and foil camping dinners you can make, but what can you prep ahead?
These faves can be chopped, marinated, of put together before you leave.
Then you just cook them up over the fire!
Just pack them in your cooler and you’re ready to go.
Marinated Steak Bites and Veggies
Cube steak and your favorite vegetables (like zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers), then toss everything in a zip-top bag with oil, garlic, and your favorite seasoning blend.
Let it marinate overnight, then skewer the pieces or toss them in a cast iron pan over the fire.
Cook until the steak is browned and the veggies are tender.
Campfire Quesadillas
At home, layer tortillas with shredded cheese, beans, cooked chicken or beef, and chopped veggies.
Fold them in half, wrap in foil, and stick them in the cooler.
Cook them on a grate over the fire, flipping once, until the cheese is melted and the outside is golden.
Foil-Wrapped Breakfast Sandwiches
Assemble English muffins with scrambled eggs, cooked bacon or sausage, and cheese, then wrap each one in foil.
Store them in the cooler and heat them on the fire grate when ready.
Rotate them occasionally to warm them through without burning.
Fire-Grilled Pizza Wraps
Spread pizza sauce on a tortilla and top with shredded mozzarella, pepperoni, and any other toppings you like.
Roll it up like a burrito, wrap in foil, and toss in the cooler.
Heat over the fire, turning occasionally so the cheese melts and the tortilla gets crisp.
Make-Ahead Pasta Packets
Cook pasta at home and toss it with pesto, grilled chicken, and veggies like cherry tomatoes and spinach.
Divide into foil packets and chill until ready to use.
Set them on the fire grate to heat, stirring halfway through for even cooking.
Campfire Stuffed Peppers
Slice bell peppers in half and fill with a mix of cooked rice, ground meat, black beans, salsa, and cheese.
Wrap each pepper half in foil and keep them chilled in the cooler.
Place over the fire and turn occasionally until heated through.
Pre-Made Pancake Batter
Whisk together your favorite pancake batter and store it in a squeeze bottle or mason jar in your cooler.
Pour directly onto a hot skillet or griddle over the fire.
Cook a few minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
Campfire Mac & Cheese Cups
Scoop pre-cooked mac and cheese into foil muffin liners or silicone cups, then top with extra cheese and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs.
Store in a container until ready to heat.
Place over a grate or in a covered Dutch oven to warm.
BBQ Chicken Foil Packs
Combine chopped cooked chicken, BBQ sauce, canned pineapple chunks, and sliced red onion in foil packets.
Fold tightly and store in the cooler.
Heat over the fire until steamy and hot, turning once for even cooking.
Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Bake large potatoes at home, then wrap each one in foil and refrigerate.
Bring a container of chili and spoon it inside the potatoes once they’re warmed by the fire.
Top with shredded cheese and green onions if you’ve packed extras.
Keep Campfire Cooking Easy and Tasty!
With a little planning and a few one-pan or foil-wrapped wonders, camping dinners can be simple, satisfying, and totally stress-free.
Because who wants to stand around doing more dishes than you have to when you could be having fun?
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just keeping the family happy around the fire, these easy camping food ideas bring the flavor without the cleanup.
