Easy Camping Meals for Large Groups: Meal Planning To Satisfy Everyone

Camping with a large group can be a fun and memorable experience, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to feeding everyone. With the right planning and a little creativity, you can easily prepare delicious and satisfying meals for your crowd while enjoying the great outdoors.

One key factor in planning easy camping meals for large groups is to choose recipes that require minimal preparation and can be cooked all in one pot or cooking method. This way, you won’t need to bring a ton of equipment, and you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying your trip. It’s also important to consider meals that can be made ahead or prepped at home so that your time at the campsite is less hectic.

We’ve got some tasty and simple camping meal ideas perfect for large groups, as well as tips for making the process as hassle-free as possible. From hearty breakfast skillets to foil-pack dinners, these recipes are sure to keep your fellow campers full and happy. 

Breakfast Ideas for Camping

When you’re planning meals for a camping trip with a large group, breakfast is often the first meal to consider. The ideas suggested here will not only be easy to prepare but also delicious and filling.

Eggs and Sausages Options

Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast: A great choice for feeding a crowd is the Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast. Cook scrambled eggs, breakfast sausages, and diced potatoes in a dutch oven over a campfire. Add cheese, onions, and peppers for additional flavors. Serve it with coffee to start your day.

Breakfast Skillet: Heat a large skillet over the campfire and cook your favorite breakfast sausages. Add in scrambled eggs, diced onions, and bell peppers. For a shortcut, bring pre-cooked bacon or sausage for the skillet. Top with cheese, if desired, and serve with toast or tortillas.

Breakfast Burritos: Prepare scrambled eggs, breakfast sausages, and bacon. Set up a burrito bar with all the fixings such as cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Let everyone assemble their own breakfast burritos according to their tastes.

Sweet Campfire Breakfasts

Banana Oat Pancakes: Start your morning off right with some easy-to-make banana oat pancakes. Combine banana, oats, and a few other essential ingredients, then cook them in a skillet over the campfire. Top with your choice of maple syrup, yogurt, or fresh fruit.

Campfire French Toast: Make French toast even more exciting by cooking it over a campfire. Bring pre-made French toast or prepare it by dipping bread in a mixture of eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Cook on a griddle over the campfire until golden brown. Serve with syrup, fresh fruit, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Oatmeal and Granola Bars: For a quick and hassle-free breakfast, prepare oatmeal packs ahead of time. Simply add hot water, and you’ll have a warm, satisfying meal. Alternatively, bring along some granola bars for an easy grab-and-go option.

Pair your breakfast options with some fresh fruit and hot coffee, and you’ll be ready to start your day with an energetic and satisfied group of campers.

Hearty Camping Lunch Options

When you’re out camping with a large group, you need a lunch that can keep everyone fueled up for the day’s activities.

Hearty Sandwich Ideas

Hearty sandwiches are a great idea. Start by packing some whole wheat bread or rolls for a solid base with extra nutrition. High-protein fillings, such as grilled chicken, tuna salad, or ham and cheese, make for satisfying options. Don’t forget to bring along condiments, like mustard, mayonnaise, and your favorite hot sauce to allow everyone to customize their sandwich to their liking. You can also pack some lettuce, tomato, and avocado for added freshness. Remember to store everything in coolers or insulated bags during your trip.

Camping Tacos and Noodles

Another crowd-pleasing lunch choice is tacos. Go for walking tacos if you want an easy-to-prepare, no-plate meal. All you need are individual bags of corn chips and a taco filling. Pre-cook a mixture of ground beef, onions, and taco seasoning. Keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to serve. Let your camping crew fill up their bags of corn chips with the meat mixture, top it off with cheese, salsa, and any preferred extras. They can enjoy it straight from the bag with a fork.

As for noodles, consider making a big pot of spaghetti for your group. You can cook noodles easily on a camping stove or over the campfire. Prepare a hearty marinara sauce with ground meat, onions, and garlic beforehand–you just need to reheat it at the campsite. You can also offer sides like garlic bread and a green salad to complete this satisfying lunch. For a more adventurous twist, try making a noodle stir-fry with veggies, soy sauce, and pre-cooked pieces of chicken or tofu.

Dinner Recipes for Large Groups

When it comes to dinner meals for large camping groups, you have a variety of options – from pot-related recipes, skewers, and grills, to large batch meals and vegetarian dinner options. 

Camping Pot-Related Recipes

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole: Start your day right with a filling breakfast casserole. Using a Dutch oven, combine your favorite breakfast ingredients like eggs, sausages, cheese, and vegetables. Cook it over medium heat on the campfire. You can customize the recipe to suit your group’s preferences.

Over the Fire Scalloped Potatoes: Using a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, create a hearty dish of scalloped potatoes. Layer sliced potatoes with cheese, onions, and a mix of cream and broth. Cook it over the fire until the potatoes are tender and enjoy your meal outdoors.

Skewer and Grill Ideas

Kabobs: Skewers are a fantastic way to create customizable and tasty camping dinners. Simply thread your choice of meats and vegetables on skewers and grill them on an outdoor grill. Serve with a side of rice or noodles for a complete meal.

Burgers: Hamburgers are a timeless favorite for group camping meals. Prepare the patties beforehand and bring them in a cooler. Cook up the burgers on a portable grill and serve with your favorite fixings: cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Large Batch Camping Dinners

Big Ray’s Kielbasa Cabbage Skillet for a Crowd: In a large skillet, cook Polish kielbasa sausages, onions, tomatoes, and cabbage, along with potatoes. This dish is perfect for feeding a large group and can be easily customized to suit everyone’s taste.

Papa Funk’s Campfire Chili: Nothing beats a warm bowl of chili when camping with friends or family. Cook your ground meat of choice in a large pot, add beans, tomatoes, and chili seasonings. Simmer over the fire for a flavorful and hearty dish everyone will enjoy.

Vegetarian Dinner Options

Campfire Foil Packs: Create individual foil packets filled with your favorite veggies, like mushrooms, potatoes, and bell peppers. Season them with your preferred spices, seal the packets and cook directly on the campfire grill or hot coals.

Camping Pasta with Clam Sauce: Bring a taste of the coast to your campsite with this easy pasta dish. Boil pasta, and in a separate skillet, cook your clam sauce using canned clams, garlic, olive oil, and spices. Once ready, combine the pasta with the sauce and serve to your happy campers!

Delicious Camping Desserts

Who doesn’t love the classic campfire dessert, s’mores? Easily prepared, all you need are graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. Roast your marshmallows over an open flame until they’re golden brown and gooey, then sandwich them between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate.

Another tasty option is campfire cones. Simply fill a waffle cone with your favorite goodies like mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, or berries, wrap it in foil, and place it near your campfire’s edge for a few minutes to warm it up. The result is a warm, melty treat that’s easy to customize to your preferences.

Fruit-Based Desserts

Feeling a bit healthier? Fruit-based desserts are a nutritious and tasty choice. Campfire banana boats are an excellent option. Slit a banana lengthwise, and stuff it with your favorite toppings such as chocolate chips, nuts, or even peanut butter. Wrap the banana up in foil and warm it by the fire until everything is melted and gooey.

Another idea is to prepare a simple fruit salad ahead of time. A mix of berries, pineapple, melon, and grapes makes for a refreshing treat that camping groups of any size will love.

Cold Camping Desserts

Looking for a cold treat after a day in the sun? Try making chocolate-covered peanut butter bars in advance. Simply create a mixture of peanut butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs for the base, and top it with a layer of melted chocolate. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, then cut into squares. Keep them chilled in a cooler while camping for an easy, satisfying dessert.

Dough-Based Desserts

Dough-based desserts, like biscuits and gravy, can satisfy your cravings for something warm and hearty. With a portable camping stove or skillet, you can quickly cook up some biscuits from scratch or a store-bought mix. Pair them with a savory, home-made gravy, and you’ve got a tasty dessert that’s perfect for a large group.

Alternatively, sugared campfire donuts are a fun and easy option. Cook refrigerated biscuit dough over the fire and then roll them in cinnamon sugar to create a sweet and satisfying treat everyone will love.

With these dessert ideas, your next camping trip is sure to be a hit with a variety of tasty options that cater to everyone’s preferences.