8 Healthy Camping Meals Ready in a Flash

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Preparing meals for a camping trip for you and your group is a hard enough task but if you’re feeling the added pressure of having to prepare healthy camping meals… well, it’s enough to make any cook a bit nervous. Finding healthy recipes that can be made quick and easy in the great outdoors isn’t easy but, with our advice and expertise, we aim to make things a little easier for you.

Here are eight of the healthiest and tastiest camping meals that you can prep to be ready in a flash!

1. Camping Chicken Quesadillas

These chicken quesadillas are absolutely perfect for campfire dinners. They can be prepped ahead of time through at-home assemblage then, as soon as you get to the campsite, just toss them on a grill or camp stove and you’re good to go. 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast
• 1 cup low-sodium black beans, rinsed
• 2 teaspoons child powder
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 4 8-inch whole-wheat flour tortillas
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

  2. Prawns with Lemon Garlic Butter

Image by Mogens Petersen from Pixabay

This healthy and quick camping recipe is equal parts delicious and healthy. It travels very well in a cooler — just be sure to freeze the prawns before you go and use them when they thaw. They only take about a minute to cook and about five to prep on the night you’re eating them for dinner. 

What You’ll Need:

• Prawns
• Butter
• Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• Garlic, finely minced
• Cilantro, parsley or tarragon
• Salt
• Crushed chili peppers (not necessary but recommended)

3. Black Bean Burritos

These healthy but scrumptious burritos are perfect to cook on an open griddle or camp stove. They, too, can be prepped ahead of time and popped over the campfire to warm them up. This is one of the best things you can do to make camp cooking easier - prep your ingredients before you go. It eliminates a lot of stress and makes for an easy camping experience. 

What You’ll Need:

• Flour tortillas
• Vegetable oil
• Onion
• Red bell pepper
• Minced garlic
• Black beans, rinsed and drained
• Minced jalapeno peppers
• Cream cheese
• Salt
• Chopped cilantro

4. Campfire Foil Packs

Image by M W from Pixabay

These little foil packs couldn’t be better or more convenient for your next camping adventure. Although this recipe suggests certain vegetables and meat, the possibilities are endless — there are plenty of combinations to experiment with that will work just as well! 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast meat (cubed)
• 2 diced onions
• 1 (8 oz) package sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
• 4 cloves of garlic, sliced
• 4 small potatoes, cubed
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 juiced lemon

5. Pan-Roasted Campfire Veggies

This pan-roasted recipe is the ideal way to make sure you’re getting all your vegetables in during your long weekend out in the wilderness. This recipe is great because it combines all the right flavors to give you a healthy but incredibly flavourful experience. 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce, or more if desired
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 (8-ounce) package whole fresh button mushrooms
• 8 miniature sweet peppers
• 1/2 cup grape tomatoes

6. Adobo Pork & Potato Packets

Photo by Alex Munsell on Unsplash

These pork and potato packets are a very simple but filling recipe. They’re quick and easy to make and perfect to prepare atop a campfire. These packets are a perfect alternative to burgers and/or hot dogs and they’re just as satisfying. 

What You’ll Need:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, or red-wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
• ½ teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 small sweet potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
• 1 medium yellow-fleshed potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
• 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 4 bone-in pork loin chops, (1½-1¾ pounds), trimmed of fat

7. Skillet Gnocchi with Chard & White Beans

If you’re looking for something a little fancier, why not give this highly rated and reviewed Skillet Gnocchi recipe a try? It’s a very hearty meal — filling, healthy, and sure to leave you feeling satisfied. The recipe is tasty and flexible in terms of ingredients so you can always add your own elements for optimal customization! The European flavors are sure to be a big hit. 

What You’ll Need:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 (16-ounce) package shelf-stable gnocchi (see Tip)
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 cups chopped chard leaves or spinach
• 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings
• 1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

8. Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken

Last but not least, we have this artichoke and sun-dried tomato chicken! This recipe is equal parts simple, elegant, and super healthy. It takes about half an hour to make and is a perfect choice to prep for a camping trip — especially if you’re looking to depart from more traditional campfire food. 

What You’ll Need:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomato pesto
• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts in water, drained and quartered