Sometimes you don't have the equipment/time/energy to make a full, fancy meal out in the wilderness. Not to fear! These no-cook camping meals will keep you fed and fueled—no flame needed.
Camping Meal Ideas
In addition to these meal ideas, you'll find recipes with ingredients and instructions. Pretty useful, eh?
- Pita Pizzas
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Tacos
- Easy Charcuterie
- Trail Salad
- BLT
- Chicken Salad Wraps
- Bagel Sandwiches
- Pinwheels
- Hummus Veggie Wrap
- Pita & Tuna Wrap
- California Turkey Club Wrap
If you end up liking these recipes, you can check out these hiking snacks and my backpacking gear list.
What is the best food to bring for camping?
I'm of the opinion that the best camping food is food you love. Specifically, I'm thinking of meals that are easy, healthy, and tasty.
A lot of people associate camp food with fires and dutch ovens or little gas stoves. While I'm a big fan of this gear and those methods, it's not always the right fit. Sometimes, it's not even an option!
Don't let a burn ban or lack of stove stop you from eating well at the campground. These no-cook camping meals have you covered on that front, and they don't compromise when it comes to flavor, either!
What can I make if I don't have a stove?
Just like at home, your stove-less options are pretty broad. I find myself going for sandwiches, salads, and wraps, as these are easy to throw together either before or during a trip. No-cook camping meals can also involve some pre-camp prepping of ingredients that require time in the oven or in skillet.
What are traditional camping foods?
S'mores are obviously a campfire staple. For traditional camping foods (at least for so-called "car camping"), I tend to think of dutch oven meals: egg scrambles, cobbler, or a hearty stew.
Do you have a go-to meal for camping? Maybe from childhood or a later discovery? Let me know!
What should I make for dinner when camping?
What should you make? I'm not sure. I'm happy to tell you that the possibilities for what you can make are limitless. And you don't need to have a fire going to make something delicious happen!
Check out these no-cook camping meals below for some of my favorite options, as well as everything you need to put them together.
No-Cook Camping Meals
Pita Pizzas
If takeout won't quite make it to the campsite, why not make some pizzas yourself? It's never the wrong time for a pita pizza (or, as I've heard them called, "adult lunchables").
Ingredients:
- Pitas
- Pizza Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Pepperonis
- Optional: Olives, Bacon, or other favorite pizza toppings
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Place pitas on a flat surface.
- Use a spoon to scoop and spread pizza sauce into a thin layer covering the entire pita.
- Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Place pepperonis on top. Add optional toppings if you’d like.
- Enjoy!
BBQ Ranch Chicken Tacos
It's easy to think of BBQ as something that's, well, BBQ'd. These tacos get you all of the smoky goodness thanks to your favorite BBQ sauce–without the smoker!
Ingredients:
- Tortillas
- Chicken (cooked & shredded)
- Corn
- Black beans
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch Dressing
- Optional: French Onions
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- In a bowl, add cooked chicken, black beans, corn, BBQ sauce, and ranch dressing. Mix together well until everything is coated in sauce.
- Scoop the mix into tortillas.
- Sprinkle french onions on top (trust me).
- Enjoy!
Notes:
- For easy serving, you can prepare the mix ahead of time & store in a tupperware. Layer on tortillas when you’re ready to serve.
- To enjoy this on the go, use canned or packets of chicken, cans of black beans & corn, and packets of ranch & BBQ sauce.
Easy Charcuterie
Who said you can't be fancy at camp? Make yourself a snack board filled with some energizing favorites.
Ingredients:
- Summer Sausage
- Salami
- Cheddar cheese
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Fresh fruit
- Nuts / Trail Mix
- Crackers
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Using a sharp knife & cutting board, slice meat and cheese into small pieces.
- Chop fresh fruit as needed.
- To serve, spread out meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, and nuts to serve on a cutting board.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
- You can use any kind of deli meat & any block of cheese.
- To prepare ahead of time, chop meat, cheese, & fruit into pieces and store in reusable bags or tupperware.
Trail Salad
Bagged salad kits are great to stock up on and bring with you to the campsite. Combine with a favorite protein and source of crunch and you've got yourself satisfying meal.
Ingredients:
- Bagged Salad Kit
- Chicken, Tuna, or Salmon Packet
- Naan, Tortilla Chips, or Bagel Chips
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Choose a bagged salad kit and prepare according to instructions.
- Top the salad with a protein packet of choice (chicken, tuna, or salmon).
- Serve with naan, tortilla chips, bagel chips, etc.
- Enjoy!
BLT
With a little bit of prep, having a BLT doesn't mean getting splattered by hot grease—at least, not around the fire.
Ingredients:
- Bread
- Bacon (cooked)
- Tomatoes (sliced)
- Avocado (sliced)
- Lettuce/Sprouts
- Optional: Mayo
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Layer the cooked bacon, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and avocado onto a piece of bread.
- Spread mayo evenly on toast if desired.
- Smash bread together & enjoy!
Notes:
- To avoid soggy bread, wait to add tomato until assembly.
Chicken Salad (recipe here)
Everyone's got their preferred recipe for chicken salad. Here's mine!
Ingredients:
For the Salad:
- 10 oz canned chicken
- ½ cup grapes (halved)
- ¼ cup red onion (diced)
- ⅛ cup spicy pickles (diced)
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds
For the Dressing:
- ⅓ cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- dash sea salt
Instructions:
- Add the canned chicken, grapes, red onion, spicy pickles, and almonds to a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, add the greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well.
- Pour the dressing over the salad into the large mixing bowl.
- Stir until the dressing has coated all the ingredients.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
- This is a great meal to prepare at home, place in a tupperware container, & pack in the cooler!
Bagel Sandwiches
There are plenty of different ways to use bagels, and I think all of them are delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1: Bagel + Peanut Butter + Jelly
- 2: Bagel + Cream Cheese + Salami + Pickles
- 3: Bagel + Turkey + Cheese
- 4: Bagel + Peanut Butter + Banana
Instructions:
- Cut the bagel in half. Add desired topping combinations. Store in a reusable bag until ready to enjoy.
Notes:
- You can easily prepare this ahead of time & stick in a cooler or backpack until needed!
Pinwheels
Again: you can be fancy without a fire.
Ingredients:
- Tortillas
- Cream Cheese
- Salami
- Pickles
- Spinach
- Optional: Extra Veggies
Instructions:
- Gather ingredients.
- Spread cream cheese on tortilla.
- Layer with pieces of salami.
- Top with pickles, spinach, and your favorite veggies.
- Roll the tortilla into a thin log. Slice horizontally into small pieces.
- Enjoy!
Hummus Veggie Wrap
Hummus is a real winner for trail meals. It's the glue that holds everything together in these wraps (if glue tasted really good).
Ingredients:
- Wrap / Tortilla
- Hummus
- Spinach
- Bell Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Banana Peppers
- Whatever veggies you like
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Chop vegetables as necessary.
- Spread a layer of hummus onto a tortilla. Layer with chopped vegetables.
- Roll into a wrap and enjoy!
Notes:
Pita & Tuna Wrap
The flavored tuna packets are another staple of no-cook camping meals. Here's one way to use it!
Ingredients:
- Pita
- Flavored Tuna Packet
- Pickles
- Extra Veggies
- Condiments
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Open a pita. Pour a flavored tuna packet (or two) into the pita.
- Add favorite veggies and condiments.
- Close the pita and enjoy!
Notes:
- You can use any sort of protein packet – salmon, tuna, chicken, etc.
California Turkey Club Wrap (recipe here)
You're a member of the club now.
Ingredients:
- Wrap
- Turkey
- Bacon
- Cheese wedge or any slice cheese
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Optional: mayo or other condiments
Instructions:
- Gather all ingredients.
- Start by spreading cheese wedge on a wrap.
- Next layer the turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Top with any condiments you like!
- Fold so that all the ingredients are inside the wrap.
- Enjoy!
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