25 Easy and Delicious Camping Meals for a Crowd
I’m guessing you don’t want to spend your entire camping trip feeding your crew, am I right? With some preparation and planning, plus these yummy camping meals for a crowd in your arsenal, your family and friends will be happy and fed. And then you can spend part of your trip relaxing!
One thing that can be very intimidating and overwhelming when it comes to camping is the question of how and what do I feed everyone? You’re away from the comfort of your kitchen. Maybe you’re cooking over a campfire or in your RV kitchen for the first time. Or maybe you’ve been given the task of coming up with meal ideas for a large group camping trip.
Whatever the case may be, it’s all about meal planning. This will save your sanity, as well as help you enjoy your camping trip.
Camping Meal Ideas to Please Friends and Family
Check out the following easy camping meals for a family or group. We have divided them up by Breakfast, Dinner, and Dessert as well as noted how they’re cooked. (Campfire, stove, grill, etc.)
Breakfast Camping Meals
Banana Oat Pancakes
Pancakes are always a crowd favorite and with some banana and oats added, these will keep tummies full longer. These are super easy to prepare and can be served with additional banana slices and/or syrup. While the pancakes are cooking, add some sausage links to the griddle.
If you have access to electricity, use an electric griddle to simplify the cooking chores.
We like to use the recipe from Taste of Home.
Non-stick electric griddle with removable handles. 22-inch, 6.5 pounds.
When there is time in the morning, it’s a great experience to start up the campfire. When your friends arrive, you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee and sit around the fire ring until that mile high stack of pancakes are done.
I recommend the Lodge cast iron griddle if you prefer cooking breakfast over the campfire.
Use to sear, saute, bake, broil, or grill. Size: 9.5" x 16.75". Weighs 9.4 pounds.
Campfire French Toast
Who says making french toast while camping has to be hard and messy? Just dump these ingredients together to begin cooking. Read the recipe carefully for a tip on how to make ahead. Serve with some hearty bacon for one very tasty camping breakfast.
I recommend a couple of products for campfire dutch oven cooking. One, of course, is a durable, well-made dutch oven like the deep 5-quart by Lodge.
Check out the french toast recipe by Camping for Foodies.
Pre-Seasoned, 5-Quart. Lid can be inverted and used as a griddle.
I also recommend you consider purchasing a lid lifter. The lifter is an inexpensive item that allows you to pick up the heavy oven lid and peek at your meal without getting too close to the hot coals.
Veggie Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole is loaded with veggies, which will keep tummies nice and full. You can customize it to your taste, adding veggies everyone in your group loves.
You can also easily make this ahead of time at home in a foil pan. Bake it at home (it bakes for 45 minutes), bring it with you on your camping trip and heat it up over the campfire or grill.
Try the veggie casserole recipe suggestion from Little Spice Jar.
Tator Tot Breakfast Casserole
We tried the tator tot recipe from Plain Chicken and everyone was happy!
This is another great make-ahead breakfast meal for camping. This is a hearty meal with bacon, tater tots, eggs, cheese and milk. Serve it with some fruit on the side.
Dinner Camping Meals
Easy Foil Packet Camping Stew
The camping stew recipe by The Good Hearted Woman has always pleased our crowd. Adjust the quantity as needed for the number of people in your crew.
Stew in foil over the campfire? Yep! This is one of those meals everyone can pitch in and help. Each person gets their own foil packet of stew. That also means this recipe is fairly easy to customize. You can include or exclude ingredients based on individual preferences or allergies.
Plus, you can eat it right from the packet which means minimal clean-up. Always a plus while camping!
You should use heavy-duty foil for this recipe. Regular aluminum foil will not withstand the heat of the campfire.
Cobb Salad Sub Sandwich
There is nothing wrong with serving sandwiches while camping! Especially if they are as hearty and amazing as a Cobb Salad Sub.
This is one of those great recipes that are somewhat generic and more of an idea than a recipe. Simple prep, chop, and slice the ingredients and combine into a sandwich. You can add red onion, goat cheese, or bacon. Try sliced olives or sun-dried tomatoes.
A cobb salad generally has lettuce, deli meats, and cheeses. Do you notice how the salad was based on a sandwich and now we’re basing our sandwich on that same salad?
Use the general cobb salad idea as a foundation for these sandwiches and make it your own. A delicious meal always comes down to tailoring the recipe for individual preferences and available ingredients. You can even set out all the prepped ingredients buffet-style on the picnic table. That way your friends and family can fill their sandwiches however they please while you enjoy a glass of wine on a nice outdoor lounge chair.
Good side dish ideas include sliced watermelon and chips.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Beef Stew
This is comfort camping food at its best. A heart campfire stew perfect for a crowd. There are a couple of make ahead steps the recipe recommends for the meat, so be sure to read those.
When we’re camping, I love using this recipe from Cook Eat Go.
Serve this stew with cornbread you either made at home or whipped up over the campfire while the stew cooked.
Pineapple Chicken Kebobs
Not only are kebobs one of the easiest meals to cook up over the campfire, but they’re also perfect for a crowd. Each person can make their kebob according to their tastes, plus they require little clean up because it’s a meal on a stick!
The flavor made from this chicken kebob recipe is off the chart. Enjoy delicious layers of red onion, pineapple, and a honey/cilantro-lime glaze. Who’s hungry?!
Shrimp Boil Foil Packets
It really doesn’t get much easier than these make-ahead foil packets loaded with shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. It’s a full meal, a crowd pleaser and requires no clean-up. Win-Win-Win.
We enjoy using this recipe from damn Delicious.
White Chicken Chili
Whip this delicious meal up at home first and either freeze or refrigerate before taking on your camping trip. This meal does require some work, but the outcome is worth it. Plus, the recipe creator knows it can be whipped up for a large crowd because she fed 400 people with this recipe. Yep, 400.
Campfire Nachos
Nachos are one of the most versatile dishes you could make. Do one layer to feed two or multiple layers to feed 12. Everyone can add the toppings they like, which makes it perfect for a crowd.
Plus, they’re quick to whip up, so while some are eating the first batch you can be working on another.
Try the recipe from Pip and Debby.
Campfire Reubens
How to prepare: In foil over the grill
What’s one way to guarantee everyone gets something the like for dinner? They assemble it themselves and that’s exactly the best way to make these Campfire Ruebens.
Have each person assemble their own sandwich, wrap it up in foil, put the person’s name on it with a permanent marker and grill it up.
Foil Pack French Dip Sandwiches
Here’s another yummy sandwich idea that can definitely satisfy a crowd of hungry campers.
You don’t really need to follow a recipe. Purchase baguettes, thin-sliced roast beef, and your choice of cheese.
Slice the baguette lengthwise and cut into portions based on how hungry your crew is after hiking all day. I like to spread a little butter on the bread, but that’s optional.
Stack the roast beef and cheese inside the baguette, then wrap it all in heavy-duty foil. Throw it on the grill for about 5-8 minutes. Ideally, cook the sandwiches until all ingredients are warm to hot without the meat drying out or the bread getting soggy.
You can use beef broth as a dipping sauce. You can add additional ingredients to elevate your sandwiches. Try sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, or roasted peppers. Boy, if that doesn’t satisfy your guests, I don’t know what will!
Campfire Dutch Oven Cornbread Chili
How to prepare: A Dutch oven over coals
This is the perfect hearty meal to serve a crowd, especially if you’re camping in colder weather. Since chili and cornbread should be inseparable (in our home anyway) it doesn’t get much easier when you’re camping to just cook them in the same pan.
After the chili has been simmering for at least 30 minutes (or longer for a more intense flavor) whip up a box of cornbread mix, spread it on top and cook some more. Review Family Spice’s recipe for complete instructions on how to make this cornbread chili.
Voila! A complete dinner.
Hawaiian BBQ Pork Walking Tacos
Walking tacos were beyond exciting to eat as a kid and equally so as an adult, am I right? This recipe from The Gunny Sack is perfect for a large crowd. It uses pre-cooked BBQ pork, all you have to do is warm it up.
Set out the bags of chips and toppings on the picnic table and let everyone dig in and make their own meal.
A bonus to this recipe is there is very little clean-up involved!
Garlic Sausage & Asparagus Foil Packets
Here’s another easy foil packet meal, made from a recipe by Taste of the Frontier. This meal is packed full of flavor. And, it is so easy it’s almost laughable. The most difficult task is probably trimming the ends off the asparagus. I recommend simply using a potato peeler. Easy peasy!
Load up the individual foil packets with veggies, sausage, garlic, and spices and throw on the grill for about 20 minutes.
Dutch Oven Vegetarian Lasagna
One thing that makes this Dutch oven lasagna recipe so easy is the no-boil lasagna noodles. Plus, it only takes about 30 minutes to cook which is pretty amazing for something like this in a Dutch oven.
Your hungry campers will devour this meal! Serve it up with bread and a salad if you so desire.
Campfire Stew
This is a very versatile campfire stew by Recipes from a Pantry. One point to note is that if you choose to make this in a Dutch oven over the campfire, it takes about 2 hours. So plan ahead. If you have the time, it will be well worth the wait!
I recommend using a Dutch Oven designed with legs. If you want to create a really authentic cowboy campfire environment, use a heavy-duty cooking tripod.
Camping Desserts
Dutch Oven Texas Peach Cobbler
I can only imagine how great this smells as it’s cooking over the campfire.
Check out the recipe from My Turn for Us then serve it up to your hungry camping crew. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’ll definitely have some happy campers!
Pound Cake and Berry Dessert
What do you get when you mix pound cake, berries, and Rolo candy bars? This incredibly easy and yummy campfire dessert by Taste and Tell.
You can use a prepared pound cake to make this recipe super simple. The fruit gets only slightly warm and the candy just starts to melt. A definite crowd-pleaser.
Dutch Oven Caramel Apple Pie
If you love cinnamon and apples together, then this dessert recipe from Rhodes Bake ‘N Serv is for you. Using Rhodes Rolls makes this campfire dessert really simple and easy to prepare. Just note that if you’re using their AnyTime!® cinnamon rolls, it does not have to rise for 1 to 2 hours.
The recipe says to bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes. If you’re new to Dutch oven cooking with coals, use this temperature chart for help.
Campfire S’Mores Granola
Here’s a twist on the classic s’mores campfire treat. This recipe is allergy friendly, so if anyone in your group is allergic to gluten or is vegan, this is the perfect dessert for them.
Be sure to read the recipe notes from The Big Man’s World because this dessert can burn easily. You should add the chocolate chips and marshmallows after you remove it from the fire!
Campfire Banana Boats
This is a great dessert that allows each person to customize their dish based on their own tastes. It’s also an easy and fun way for everyone to continue to gather around the campfire while also enjoying dessert.
Plus, this recipe by Fresh Off The Grid provides nine different combinations to consider. Check out how to make combos like the classic s’mores, pecan praline and strawberry hazelnut.
Giant OREO Skillet Cookie
While this recipe is not really a recipe, it is perfect for camping bums. Not everyone wants to spend their time at the campfire cooking. So, when your guests arrive craving something sweet, this may be the perfect dessert.
The ingredients are simple. Because, again it’s not a recipe there are no individual ingredients. Use prepared cookie dough and OREO cookie sandwiches. Smoosh the dough into the skillet and top with OREOs.
It takes less than 5 minutes to prepare (including time used to tell the kids to stop eating the cookie dough). After cooking for approximately 20 minutes, you will be enjoying ooey gooey delectable cookie slices.
Yep, that’s it! You’re welcome.
Check out Kitchen Magpie’s cookie recipe for all the simple details.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
This is another great recipe from The Good Hearted Woman.
A fool-proof and crowd-pleasing delicious pineapple upside down cake is perfect to whip up on your camping trip.
Follow the directions and you’ll have a cake, made in the great outdoors while camping, in less than an hour!
Are you ready to whip up some camping meals for a crowd now? We truly hope these recipes help you plan your camping meals, cook up some deliciousness all while also having time to enjoy your trip.
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Julie specializes in helping you whip up delicious meals in your tiny RV kitchen, as well as RV organization tips and helping fellow RVers make their RV feel like home. Her favorite RVing spot is in Banff National Park in Canada where yes, the water really is that blue and the people really are that nice.
