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The absolute best way to end off a day of camping is with a delicious dinner.Ā Iām wholeheartedly convinced that everything tastes better when cooked outside, so Iām a huge fan of making your family camping dinner really amazing.

At the same time, Iām a minimalist at heart, so the less work I have to do, the happier I am. Iām all about making camping dinners for kids that donāt take a lot of kitchen supplies, or extra work on my end. Iām also a HUGE FAN of camping meals that have a simple cleanup, so I can just chill and relax by the fire after dinner.
While it may be tempting to just bring a package of hot dogs and buns and call it good, weāre going to show you some kid-friendly camping dinners that actually taste AMAZING, so that youāll enjoy dinner while youāre camping too.

Simplifying Family Camping Meals
Like I already mentioned, we like to keep things as simple as possible when weāre camping with kids. The best way to do that is to do as much of the prep work at home as you can. Here are some easy things that you can do to simplify your family camping dinners:

- Cut up veggies at home.Ā I always chop up any veggies that I need in advance and just store them in a Ziploc in the cooler.Ā As an added bonus, they take up much less cooler space after being chopped!
- Pre Cook Meats!Ā Whenever possible, I precook our meats before we leave home.Ā Not only does that help us get dinner ready faster, but it also means that I donāt have to worry about keeping our meat cold enough in the cooler to stay fresh.Ā The big exception to that is if weāre planning on grilling.Ā Ā
- Freeze meals at home.Ā To help your food stay as fresh as possible, you can always cook your meal at home and then freeze everything to bring with you.Ā This is a great way to keep food cool for several days and cut down on your prep work.Ā Think of it like prepping freezer meals, and then plan on cooking it in a dutch oven over coals, or in a skillet over your camp stove.Ā Ā
Plan Camping Meals Based on Expiration Date
When youāre out camping, make a plan for when youāre going to eat your meals and go from there. Plan on eating foods that will expire faster at the beginning of your camping trip. If Iām planning on grilling steaks over the fire, weāll eat those the first night, since they wonāt last as long. At the end of the trip, weāll be eating pasta or quesadillas, since the ingredients can last so much longer without spoiling.

Plan Camping Meals Around Your Activities
Once you have your camping meals sorted by expiration date, itās time to factor in what other activities you plan to do while youāre camping with kids. If you want to do a dutch oven chicken, know that it will take longer, so you should cook that on a day where youāll be back at camp by mid-afternoon to start prepping your coals. If youāre heading out for an early morning hike, itās a day thatās much more suited to bagels on the go, than pancakes and bacon.
Bring Along A Few Emergency Camping Meals
When camping with kids, we always advise parents to plan for the unexpected. This applies to meals just as it does the weather. We always take a few āemergency mealsā on our camping trips with us, so that weāre prepared for the unknown. Maybe we had a cooler malfunction (ahem, a kid leaving it open), a sudden desire to stay an extra night, or even a toddler tantrum at the meal that I prepared (yes, thatās an absolute emergency to save mom and dads sanity).
There are a few things that we always keep in our camp kitchen box for times like this, such as dehydrated soup mixes, and instant oatmeal. When weāre packing our food, we always bring some extra bread and peanut butter for sandwiches, as well as a few extra boxes of granola bars for quick snacks too.
What Camping Dinners Are The Easiest To Make?
The easiest camping dinner is obviously hot dogs on a skewer, but there are plenty of other quick and simple camping dinners that actually taste great.Ā Here are some of our favorites:
Skewer DinnersĀ Cooked Over A Campfire
Anything that you can roast on a stick falls into this category.Ā You can roast bread dough, for something simple, or if you want something with more flavor, opt for kabobs.Ā To keep things really simple, you can also opt for precooked chicken strips and let everyone warm theirs up over the campfire (this meal is sure to be a huge hit for the kids with the right dipping sauce). We’re also sharing some of our favorite camping recipes that can be cooked over a campfire below!

Foil Meals for Camping
Double wrap your dinner in foil and place it on the coals of the campfire.Ā The sky is the limit here, but we often opt for individual foil dinners filled with meat, veggies, and seasonings.Ā Weāre sharing some of our favorite family-friendly foil dinners for camping below.Ā
Camping Dinners To Cook Over The Campfire
All of our favorite camping dinners that you can cook over the campfire in one place. While all of these dinners are amazing when cooked over the campfire, most of them can also be cooked on the stove or grill as well!
Favorite Campfire Nachos
Kids will absolutely love these campfire nachos. They're a family favorite camping meal that's so easy to make, that kids can do most of the prep work!
Campfire Pizza with Veggies
This easy Campfire Pizza with Veggies is cooked in a cast iron pan over a fire, and is an easy and delicious vegetarian pizza thatās perfect for camping, cookouts, and bonfires.
Easy, Prep-Ahead, Amazing Corn on the Cob over a Campfire
This recipe for corn on the cob over the campfire will make you instantly fall in love with camping food. Perfectly cooked over the campfire, this corn on the cob is the perfect addition to your family camping meal.
The Ultimate Sheet Pan Dinner {Your choice of Protein + Veggies}
Sheet pan dinners are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to make over the campfire ā just one bowl and one pan. Simply put your pan on the grill over the fire and you've got an easy camping meal without lots of mess. This recipe for The Ultimate Sheet Pan Dinner because it allows me to cook up whatever veggies, poultry or seafood I happened to bring with us
Easy Campfire Spaghetti Bake Recipe
This Easy Campfire Spaghetti Bake is one of the kids most requested camping recipes. With just a bit of preparation you can make this amazing camping meal for your next trip!
Campfire Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs
These Campfire Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs are easy to make over a campfire. They're the perfect camping food because they taste great and no mess to clean up!
Campfire Bread on a Stick Recipe
Fresh bread made over the campfire? Yes please! This bread on a stick is fun for all the family.
Campfire Pizza Sandwiches Recipe
Get the taste of pizza with this Campfire Pizza Sandwich. Kids will love helping make these tasty handheld pizzas for camping.
Veggie Kabobs (marinated & grilled)
Easy and delicious vegan veggie kabobs that are marinated and grilled to perfection. This vegetable shish kabob recipe is simple and quick to make!
Campfire Nachos (Vegetarian)
These easy vegetarian campfire nachos are made with tortilla chips, cheese, beans, and a quick garlic sauce, and then cooked in a pan over a fire. Perfect for camping and cookouts!
Campfire Ham & Cheese Bread-Easy Camping Meals
This Campfire Bread is perfect cooked on the grill or over the fire, and makes a quick camping lunch for the whole family! Easy to customize with your favorite meats and cheeses!
Veggie Kabobs With Halloumi
These grilled veggie kabobs with halloumi are so delicious, flavorful, and very easy to make! A great grilling side (or main) that everyone will love.
Campfire Grilled Nachos Recipe
We're always looking for more great ideas for camping nachos (a family favorite meal over here!) Everyone will love creating their own pan of Grilled Nachos, which are made over a campfire.
Foil Packet Camping Dinner Ideas
Foil packet dinners are one of the easiest foods that you can make on your family camping trip. Here are some of our favorite foil packet recipes for camping.
Foil Packet Fajitas
These foil packet fajitas make a delicious camping meal kids will love, and they're so easy. Cut down on your campsite prep work by cutting all the meats and veggies in advance.
Andouille Sausage and Veggie Foil Packets
This easy Andouille sausage and vegetable foil packet recipe is a real crowd-pleaser. It is an easy prep meal while camping so you can spend more time enjoying your trip.
Grilled Shrimp Foil Pouch Recipe
This shrimp foil pouch is proof that you can go camping and eat great food too! This easy to make Garlic Lemon Chive foil-wrapped campfire meal is sure to delight your taste buds and have you wanting more!
Bacon Ranch Foil Wrapped Potatoes
Foil wrapped potatoes are tender and loaded with cheese, bacon and peppers. Perfect for a full meal or as the perfect camping side dish.
Southwest Foil Dinner Packets
These Southwestern Chicken Packets are an easy and delicious tin-foil dinner recipe you can cook with a fire (while camping), on a grill, or in an oven.
Campfire Apple Crisp Foil Packets {Vegan, Gluten Free}
If you're already getting all the foil packet supplies out, you may as well make dessert too! Easy campfire dessert recipe lovers, this one is for you. We have Campfire Apple Crisp Foil Packs full of sweet juicy apples, cinnamon and granola. Bonus is that they require minimal prep and no cleanup.
Sausage and Shrimp Foil Packets
These sausage and shrimp foil packets are the perfect way to end your camping day. The flavors are amazing and will absolutely melt in your mouth!
Campfire Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich Camping Recipe
This Campfire Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich is one of our most requested recipes for camping. It is SO EASY to make and is the perfect, hearty meal for the entire family!
Easy Chicken Fajita Foil Packets
Another fajita foil packet, but this one is another winner! These 5 ingredient Chicken Fajita Foil Packets are a pantry staple, minimal prep lunch, or weeknight dinner that can be made on the grill or oven or camping. The whole family will love these this easy recipe.
Campfire Spinach Dip Tinfoil Packet RecipeĀ
This simple campfire spinach dip recipe is perfect for camping! Simply wrap the ingredients in a foil packet to create an easy camping meal.
Hot Ham and Pineapple Foil Packet Sandwiches!
These Hot Ham and Pineapple Campfire Sandwiches are a delicious and easy tin foil recipe. Plus cleanup is a breeze! (You can even bake these in the oven too!)
Campfire Zucchini Foil Packets
Whether you prepare these Campfire Zucchini Foil Packets at home and bring with you on your camping trip or prepare them while camping, they make a healthy, delicious, and easy side to enjoy with all of your camping meals.
Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes
These 4 ingredient Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes are a pantry staple, minimal prep side dish that can be made on the grill or oven. The whole family will love these.
More Camping Dinner Recipe Ideas
The options are practically endless for delicious family friendly camping meals. Here are a few more of our favorite camping dinners kids will love.
Simple steak and mushrooms cooked on a griddle are perfect for a filling campsite meal.
These grilled chicken tenders are delicious and easy to make. They are marinated and grilled on an outdoor grill or a grill pan. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner while camping.
This Bacon Wrapped Asparagus on the grill is a fantastically fresh and delicious side dish to make while you're camping!
These griddle chicken fajitas can be prepped at home and cooked at the campsite and they are so good that the whole family will love them!
This Mexican Pizza on the grill is a fun meal to make while camping! With only a few ingredients, this flavorful pizza will give you a different kind of meal than you usually might make!
If you're camping in a camper with a stove, these Enchiladas Verdes couldn't be easier. The sauce is made from a jar of salsa verde and the filling requires just a couple of ingredients and one bowl.
This pork green chile is great to make ahead and bring on your family camping trip! Try this pork green chile smothered over breakfast burritos or just eat it as a stew with warm tortillas. Feel free to cut the recipe in half.