The Best Camping Menu for Your Summer Adventures

Do your summer plans include camping in the great outdoors? Spice World Ready-to-Use products can make a delicious difference on the go, whether you’re gathering around the campfire or around the dining table.

Curious about campfire cooking? Follow these tips:

Choose the right cooking method.

Choose the camping cookware set that best fits your needs. Packing light and planning a simple menu of hot dogs and s’mores? You’ll only need to pack skewers and fire-starting supplies. If you’re camping for a few days and planning multiple meals of campfire cuisine, it’s worth packing a cast iron pot.

Do the prep work at home.

Crack eggs, measure liquid ingredients, and chop veggies that will hold their shape (like peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots); store these items in sealed plastic bags or small reusable plastic containers. Save time and cooler space by packing convenient Spice World Ready-to-Use Squeezable Garlic and Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion for use in multiple recipes.

Know food safety.

Pay careful attention to storing food safely and at the proper temperatures. Store food in airtight bags or containers and keep them in coolers. Bring one cooler for drinks and another for perishable food items and pack the coolers full. You can use frozen gel packs, ice cubes, or frozen bottles of water in the cooler. Be sure to keep your hands clean with disposable wipes or eco-friendly soap. Keep raw meat packed in ice until the moment you are ready to grill, because bacteria proliferate when food is between 40 and 140 degrees. Make sure to store leftovers in a cold cooler within two hours. In hot weather, do not leave food out longer than an hour. When you’re ready to cook, make sure all your utensils are clean and within reach, so you don’t leave your food unattended.

Start early.

Get your fire going at least an hour before cooking to allow plenty of time for flames to die down and coals to get hot. Also, keep in mind that cooking on a campfire takes longer than it does in your kitchen at home. You will need to turn food every so often for even cooking and use a thermometer to make sure you cook everything to safe temperatures.

Bring aluminum foil.

Aluminum foil is a must-have for any camping trip. Aluminum foil is compact, inexpensive, and versatile– toss vegetables or fish in foil packets and place them on hot coals for cooking. Best of all, aluminum foil is easy to clean up.

If building a fire and cooking over an open flame isn’t quite your idea of a good time, here are two excellent alternatives to campfire cooking:

Portable propane grill

A portable propane grill is compact, easy to transport, and simple to use. Just push the ignition button — no matches or lighters required. Adjustable burners allow you to control the heat.

Portable propane stove

A portable propane stove might be the go-to choice if you want to break out your Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet. Just like a propane grill, simply press a button to get it started. Some portable propane stoves also fold up for easy transporting.

Camping recipes don’t have to be complicated to be flavorful. Try these campfire favorites on your next camping trip.

Campfire Cuisine: Menu Ideas

Breakfast: Garlic Parmesan Scrambled Eggs

Rise and shine, campers! These creamy Garlic Parmesan Scrambled Eggs will fuel you for a day on the hiking trails. This recipe makes 2 servings, so scale up if you’re feeding a larger group.

Ingredients

4 eggs (cracked and stored in a sealed plastic bag or sealed plastic container)
1/4 cup grated parmesan
3 Tbsp heavy cream
2 tsp Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic or Spice World Squeezable Garlic
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
Fresh cracked black pepper for garnish
Flaky salt for garnish
Herbs (chives, parsley, or thyme) for garnish

Instructions

Add cracked eggs, parmesan, cream, and garlic in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Melt butter in a pan with butter on medium heat.
Add eggs. Using a fork or spatula, agitate the eggs to break up the curds, stirring continuously in circular motions. Cook the eggs until the eggs resemble loose ricotta cheese and jiggle when you move the pan, about 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and transfer to a plate. Garnish with black pepper, flaky salt, grated parmesan, and herbs. Serve immediately.

Dinner: Easy Onion Chicken Kebabs

To make these Easy Onion Chicken Kebabs campsite-friendly, prepare the marinade before your trip. Keep the marinated meat in a sealed plastic bag in a cooler filled with plenty to ice to maintain safe temperatures. Thread ingredients on metal skewers rather than wooden skewers and cook over an open flame or a propane grill. Whip up some Garlic Butter at home and pack it in your cooler for Campfire Garlic Bread to serve with your kebobs, along with raw veggies and hummus.

Dreaming of cooking hot dogs over a campfire? Dress up your dog with your favorite toppings, like Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion.

Happy trails and happy campfire cooking! Find inspiration for your next culinary adventure at Spice World Inc.