Mouthwatering Camping Meals Ideas

Recipes for a Gourmet Outdoor Adventure

Camping offers the perfect opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in nature. But just because you’re in the great outdoors doesn’t mean you have to compromise on delicious food. In fact, with a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy gourmet meals right at your campsite. In this guide, I will share some fantastic camping meal ideas, including recipes for Caribbean baby back ribs with Haitian white rice, smoked tri-tip roast with Mexican rice, smoked pulled pork shoulder with mashed potatoes, pork grilled cheese, and classic campfire hamburgers--all of which I have cooked for myself and my friends and family whom I travel with.

1. Smoked Caribbean Baby Back Ribs with Haitian White Rice

Caribbean Baby Back Ribs are a flavorful and satisfying dish that’s perfect for a camping dinner. These ribs are marinated in a blend of Caribbean spices and slow-cooked over a grill or campfire until tender and juicy.

Ingredients:

• 2 racks of baby back ribs
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Note: you can use a Caribbean Jerk Seasoning mix instead of the listed spices. 

Instructions:

1. Marinate the Ribs: In a large resealable bag or container, combine olive oil, garlic, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, smoked paprika, brown sugar, (or Caribbean Jerk Seasoning), soy sauce, lime juice, and orange juice. Add the ribs and ensure they are fully coated in the marinade. Let them marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Smoke the Ribs: Set up your smoker to 250 degrees farhenhiet. Wrap your ribs tightly with aluminum foil and cook in the smoker for 5 hours. Remove them, add BBQ sauce, and return back to the smoker (unwrapped) for 30 minutes to get the scrisp.
3. Serve: Pair the ribs with Haitian white rice and steamed broccoli for a complete meal.

Haitian White Rice:

• 2 cups jasmine rice
• 3 cups water
• 3 tbsp olive oil 
• 1-2 green onions (cut in half) 
• 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions:

1. In a pot, add oil and sautee green onions until fragrant. Add a little bit of water (because water hitting hot oil will cause a splash), then add the rest of the water and kosher salt. Bring to a boil.
2. As your water is boiling, rinse your jasmine rice. Once water is boiling, add your rice. Stir rice frequently to prevent any grains from clumping. Once there is a little water left (the rice should look similar to porriage or a sauce) cover with aluminum foil and lid. Reduce heat to low and cook for 45 minutes.
3. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve alongside the ribs and broccoli.

2. Smoked Tri-Tip Roast with Mexican Rice

Source credit: Umair Ali Asad // Unsplash

Smoked tri-tip is a camping classic, especially when paired with flavorful Mexican rice. This dish is perfect for those who love the smoky, robust flavors of a good barbecue.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lb tri-tip roast
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Wood chips for smoking (hickory or mesquite recommended)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Tri-Tip: Rub the tri-tip with olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
2. Smoke the Tri-Tip: Set up your portable smoker or grill to 225℉. Wrape tri-tip in alumnium foil and place on the grill to smoke for about 60 to 90 minutes (once internal temp hits 130℉). Next, remove tri-trip and turn your grill up to 450 (or 500 if possible). Once heated, all upwrapped tri-tip and sear on each side for 4 minutes. 
3. Rest and Slice: Let the tri-tip rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain. Serve with Mexican rice.

Mexican Rice:

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 green onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chicken boullion 
• 1 tsp tomato boullion 
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Sauté the Rice: In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown.
2. Add Aromatics: Stir in green onion, garlic, chicken boullion, tomato boullion, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and chili powder. Cook until onion is softened.
3. Simmer: Stir in tomato paste and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender.
4. Fluff and Serve: Fluff rice with a fork and serve alongside the smoked tri-tip.

3. Smoked Pulled Pork Shoulder with Mashed Potatoes

Source credit: You Le // Unsplash

Pulled pork is a barbecue staple that’s just as delicious when enjoyed around a campfire. This recipe for smoked pulled pork shoulder pairs perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 lb pork shoulder (Boston butt) (for boneless, it will take about 1-1 ½ hours per pound and for bone-in, 1 ½ - 2 pounds per hour)
• 1/4 cup honey mustard
• 1/4 cup coconit sugar
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Wood chips for smoking (applewood recommended)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pork: Rub the pork shoulder with mustard, then coat with a mixture of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
2. Smoke the Pork: Set up your smoker or grill to 225℉ . Place the pork shoulder on the grill and smoke for 4-5 hours until the internal temperature reaches 193°F (longer if using a bone-in pork shoulder).
3. Pull the Pork: Let the pork rest for 20 minutes, then shred with two forks. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potatoes:

• 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil the Potatoes: In a pot, cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
2. Mash the Potatoes: Drain potatoes and return to the pot. Add butter and milk, and mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Serve: Serve mashed potatoes alongside the pulled pork.

4. Pork Grilled Cheese

Source credit: Nathan Dumlao // Unsplash

A pork grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect combination of savory and cheesy, making it a great option for a quick and satisfying camping meal.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of bread (sourdough or white)
• 2 cups cooked pulled pork (from the recipe above or pre-prepared)
• 8 slices of cheddar cheese or colbly jack
• Parmesen cheese 
• BBQ sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. Assemble the Sandwiches: Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. On the unbuttered side, layer cheddar cheese, pulled pork, and more cheese. Top with another slice of bread, buttered side out. Add BBQ sauce if desired.
2. Grill the Sandwiches: Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook sandwiches until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted, about 3-4 minutes per side.
3. Serve: Serve hot with your favorite side, such as coleslaw or chips.

5. Classic Campfire Hamburgers

No camping trip is complete without the quintessential campfire hamburger. These burgers are easy to prepare and can be customized with your favorite toppings.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (90/10 blend recommended--but be careful, it is easy to dry out since it's less fat %)
• Salt and pepper to taste or Seasoning Salt
• 4 hamburger buns
• Cheese slices (optional)
• Toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, etc.

Instructions:

1. Form the Patties: Divide the ground beef into four equal portions and shape into patties. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the Burgers: Preheat your grill or campfire to medium-high heat. Grill patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness. Add cheese during the last minute of cooking to melt, if desired.
3. Assemble the Burgers: Toast the buns on the grill if desired. Assemble burgers with your favorite toppings and serve immediately.

Final Thoughts

Camping doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice delicious meals. With these recipes, you can enjoy a gourmet dining experience while surrounded by nature. From smoky barbecue to hearty sandwiches, these camping meals are sure to impress your fellow campers and make your outdoor adventure even more enjoyable. So pack your grill, smoker, and appetite, and get ready to savor these mouthwatering dishes on your next camping trip. For more camping meal ideas, check out this page!