22 Easy One Pot Camping Meals for Outdoor Adventures

One Pot Campfire Meals to Enjoy Your Outdoor Adventures

1. One Skillet Ham and Penne Pasta

Some of my all-time favorite meals are the ones that are thrown together using ingredients that were leftover in the fridge. This One Pot Ham and Penne Skillet uses leftover ham and combines it with penne, peas, and a creamy cheese sauce.

For an extra shortcut, you could even skip making the sauce and toss in a jar of store-bought alfredo sauce instead. (Um, yes.)

Get the full One Pot Ham and Penne Pasta recipe from Julie’s Eats and Treats. 

2. Mexican Zucchini and Beef

Camping season kicks into high gear just about the same time that fresh summer produce starts filling backyard gardens and farmers’ markets. Zucchini is plentiful in the summer and easy to prepare (just don’t confuse it with that cucumber you have in the same produce drawer of the fridge).

Mexican Zucchini and Beef spices it up with cumin, chili powder, and a dash of red peppers flakes. Try topping it with a little shredded cheese or sour cream to tone down the spiciness for the youngsters if you need to. 

Try the One Pot Mexican Zucchini and Beef skillet recipe from Low Carb Yum. 

3. Skillet Chicken Con Queso

Skillet Chicken Con Queso is a cook-it-yourself take on my kids’ favorite Mexican restaurant dish. This dish is the taste they love but at less than half the price. Any time you can cut both the cost and the hassle of a meal, I am 100% on board.

Check out the one skillet Chicken Con Queso recipe from the Cookie Rookie.

4. Cast Iron Fritatta

Breakfast for dinner is one of our favorite options, at home or at the campground. Cast Iron Fritatta can be cooked over a campfire or a stove eye. The formula is pretty simple: eggs, veggies, and cheese.

This simple to make recipe calls for cherry tomatoes and basil, but you could substitute whatever veggies and cheese you have on hand. Cook the fritatta over a bed of embers on the campfire.

Fresh Off The Grid offers a great recipe for Cast Iron Fritatta.

5. Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops

Fall is one of our favorite seasons for camping. The air is crisp and orchards everywhere spill their bounty of farm-fresh apples. Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops is the perfect dish for fall camping and apple picking season!

In addition to pork chops, apples, and cinnamon (obviously), this recipe calls for onion, apple cider, heavy cream, and seasoning. Try this one in a cast iron skillet over hot coals.

So when we start to see the foliage and the cool crisp air, we pull out this Apple Cinnamon Pork Chop recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

6. Campfire Nachos

Campfire Nachos are a natural camping dish. Nachos can be prepared over an open fire in a cast-iron skillet or you can prepare them in the RV oven. You can use canned items (like black beans or green chilies) and fresh ingredients (like tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro) and you can eat them with your hands. 

Get the full Campfire Nacho recipe from Fresh Off The Grid.

7. One-Pot Jambalaya 

Jambalaya is one of our favorite dishes for night two or three of a camping trip since it’s a great dish to use whatever grilled leftovers you have in the fridge. Leftover grilled chicken along with some sausages or kielbasa makes for a delicious and quick one pot camping dinner. 

Get the full One Pot Jambalaya recipe from Kat and Melinda at Home Made Interest.

8. Lemon Chicken Skillet

Cooking at the campground doesn’t have to be all hotdogs and comfort food, it can be healthy too. Lemon Chicken Skillet combines the fresh summer taste of lemon and broccoli with glorious golden brown chicken breasts. 

Try this easy One Skillet Lemon Chicken recipe from Primally Inspired.

9. One-Pot Ratatouille Rice

One of our favorite parts of traveling is finding local farmer’s markets and enjoying the best of what the season had to offer. Ratatouille is a great dish for letting the fresh summer produce be the star. You can use eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, squash, onions, or whatever else looks good at the farmer’s market. 

The one pot Ratatouille Rice recipe is vegan and full of flavor from fresh vegetables.

10. Beef and Pepper Skillet

We love any meal with Mexican flavor, so this Beef and Pepper Skillet is a big hit at the campfire. This simple recipe combines many things you probably already have on hand, like a can of tomatoes with green chilies, ground beef, and bell pepper.

Eat this dish by itself the first night and put leftovers into a tortilla on day two for a quick taco lunch or snack on the trail. 

Try the Beef and Pepper Skillet recipe from Taste of Home.

11. One-Pot Sloppy Joe Noodle Skillet

Sloppy Joes have always been one of our go-to campground dishes, but this recipe is a new heartier take on an old favorite. One Pot Sloppy Joe Noodle Skillet adds pasta to the sloppy joe mix so that it’s a meal by itself without the bun. Let’s be honest…sloppy joe ingredients never stay in the bun anyway.

A Spicy Perspective has a simple one pot Sloppy Joe Noodle recipe made with wide egg noodles.

12. One-Pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff

Skip the box and make your own one pot Stroganoff. This recipe uses fresh mushrooms, sour cream, and fresh parsley, so it’s definitely a few steps up (or ten) from the stroganoff in the box. Just don’t tell the kids it isn’t from the box, because like boxed mac and cheese, they think stuff from a box tastes better for some reason. 

Try the one-pot Beef and Mushroom Stroganoff recipe from Budget Bytes.

13. Sheet Pan Fajitas

Any recipe that can be prepped ahead of time can be a major time saver and stress reducer at the campground. That is especially true when coupled with a one pot campfire meal.

We chop vegetables and chicken and throw those ingredients in separate zip-top bags with fajita seasoning. When we get to the campsite, I just put it in the oven on a sheet pan and dinner is served in less than 20 minutes. You may need a couple test runs to get the timing right. I like to put the chicken in the oven first, then add the vegetables a few minutes later to ensure fully-cooked chicken and veggies that still have a bit of a crisp bite.

Serve with flour tortillas warmed in the oven or over the grill for a delicious camping dinner.

Get the full Sheet Pan Fajita recipe from Tastes Better from Scratch.

14. Garlic Ginger Pork Stir-Fry

Rush hour at the campground looks much different than it does at home. For us, it’s usually the hour after we pull in and get set up. That’s usually the time when everyone declares they are starving!

Surprise them with a hearty, savory pork stir-fry that’s full of flavor and easy to make. Prep the vegetables and prepare the sauce at home. Then put the sauce and pork strips in a tight food container. Pack the ingredients in the same spot in the cooler or refrigerator so you can easily find your ingredients when you arrive at the campsite. You’ll be ready to cook up an amazing meal in no time.

Make it even easier with pre-packaged frozen stir-fry vegetables, chopped broccoli slaw, and pre-made dressing.

The Chunky Chef offers up an easy recipe Garlic Ginger Pork Stir Fry.

15. Chicken Tzatziki Skewers

Skewers are one of the easiest and most versatile meals you can make while camping and these chicken skewers with tzatziki sauce are a delicious version to add to your recipe book.

The recipe calls for red onion, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini, but it’s also versatile enough that you can use any vegetables you would like.

Try the Chicken Tzatziki Skewer recipe from Fresh Off the Grid.

16. Easy Chickpea Curry

This is a great dish choice for your vegetarian friends, but everyone will love it regardless of their diet. Chickpeas are a wonderful source of plant-based protein and coconut milk gives it a fantastic flavor along with cilantro, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and tomatoes.

We like to use this Chickpea Curry recipe.

17. Simple Shakshuka

This is a classic Israeli dish that can easily be made in one pot on the go. It includes eggs, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and an option to pass a baguette or potatoes.

Two Wandering Soles offers up this simple one-pot Shakshuka recipe.

18. Camper’s Breakfast Hash

Everyone needs at least one breakfast hash recipe in their camping meal repertoire. This recipe includes breakfast favorites (hash browns, scrambled eggs, sausage), as well as cheese, onion, green pepper, and butter.

Try the Camper’s Breakfast hash recipe. from Taste of Home.

19. Cilantro Lime Shrimp and Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a personal favorite in my family, and this one pot recipe with shrimp is a perfect one for a camping dinner. It’s flavored with pepper, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Bonus: it’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

Check out this one pot Cilantro Lime Shrimp recipe to make on your next camping trip.

20. Bacon and Wild Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom risotto is one of those hearty, delicious meals I’m always in the mood for, and I love that it can be easily be made in one pot for a camping meal. This recipe includes onion, bacon, wild mushrooms, rice, and white wine.

You can find a great Bacon and Mushroom Risotto recipe from Tasty.

21. Ginger Garlic Chicken Ramen

Homemade ramen is absolutely incredible and makes a perfect upscale camping meal, being that it’s already made in one pot! This recipe replaces the packaged ramen seasoning with chicken sauce. Add in fresh ginger, garlic, chicken breast, mushrooms, bok choy, snow peas, and scallions.

Try this easy and tasty Ginger Garlic Chicken Ramen recipe for your next camping meal.

22. Asian Broccoli Slaw with Pineapple

Finally, we have this Asian-inspired coleslaw with pineapple that is absolutely amazing. This is a great addition to your campfire meals. Whip up a batch to top off a fish taco dish or BBQ pork.

Take a look at the Asian Broccoli Slaw with Pineapple recipe from The Adventure Bite and you may have yourself a new favorite side dish.

Which of These One-Pot Campfire Meals Will You Try First?