Share your camping grocery list.

Hello all,
I am new to the site though I have posted a couple of pictures of my Taco and trailer on the towing thread group. I was wondering if anyone would want to share their camping grocery list. Even though I usually camp with a trailer I eat pretty bland when camping, oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, cliff bar for lunch and usually hot dogs or steaks on grill for dinner, if I feel particularly creative I’ll add some eggs and tortillas for breakfast burritos but that’s as creative as I get. I’ve seen some pretty good looking meal prep going on in some of the campings photos on this site, and I want to up my camping meals to higher level. Any backcountry chefs care to share what they usually pack food prep wise for backcountry gourmet dinners? My boring meals could use some spicing up. Thanks.

 

@erice always has good food
How many days are you out for? This determines much of what is fresh and what is packaged. Freezing a couple of meat items like chicken and steak should be thawed and ready to cook on day 2 or 3.
Do you have a refrigerator (arb or the like,)? Or are you doing coolers only. Dry ice is the best option for this route.
Could do premade meals in tin foil, freeze them and can be warmed by the fire orbonbthe camp stove to eat.

 

I let these people deal with it.

https://www.undercanvas.com/camps/moab/

 

1. Jack Daniels
2. Coke

You’re welcome

 

That's fine for days 1 and 2, but what about days 3 and 4. Continuing that diet for that long is gonna have some consequences.

 

I usually go out for 3-4 days and half the time with a trailer that has a galley(stove top, gas burner, fridge). We just arn’t very creative when it’s time to plan our meals.

 

What do you normally cook at home? All those things can be applied, just a matter of how much stuff you want to take and desire to clean up. Look up some camping cook books.

 

I like the idea of pre-preped meals in tin foil. I like bacon for breakfast when camping just hate dealing with bacon grease cleanup.

 

Microwave bacon!

 

We usually are boondocking and don’t have hook ups (or carry a generator) so never use the microwave. Good idea though.

 

Precooked food unfrozen will last 72 hours properly refrigerated. This is best to use a cooler with dry ice for maximum storage length and no water logged food. Other wise you are looking at 36 hours or less (depending o what's in there) on the pre preped meals.

 

Solar oven for the bacon?

 

I like to use the fire to cook everything, so for food prep I bring

Cast iron skillet
tin foil
Tongs
Silverware
Water Jug

I get like dollar store silverware to keep with my camping set. I prep food like scrambled eggs pre-seasoned in a container, etc. I do food like

Burgers
Hot dogs
Scrambled eggs and potatoes, maybe bacon and sausage
soups
kebabs
baked potatoes

-Basically, anything you can prep, then just throw onto a pan or grill


Prepped sandwiches (pb&j, lunch meat, egg salad)
Prepped bagels

wrapped goods like protein bars etc.

Keep bottled water and some electrolyte drinks on hand as well. You can bring a kettle and use that to make hot water for instant oatmeal, coffee, hot chocolate, etc.

Also benadryl and meds like ibuprofen, tylenol and the like. baby wipes are nice for keeping your hands clean as well between cooking, being in the dirt, whatever

Prepping is the name of the game. If you prep, you can make pretty much anything.

 

Chicken Fajitas and Breakfast burritos are a couple staples for me. Quick and easy.

Also added shrimp cocktail to the list thanks to @Holloman

 

I will prepare meals ahead of time and put them in ziplock bags. Cut the meat, vegetables, etc, add all the seasoning and then all that’s left to do in camp is dump the bag in a pan and cook. If it’s an extended trip I might freeze a few to extend their life and reduce power draw for my fridge. Add some boil-in-bag rice or pasta and it’s usually a pretty simple meal. Even easier to just season a steak, throw it in a bag and then skewer it over a fire though.

 

Ive made mac and cheese before. Simple and easy to do with a pot. Get a small thing of milk and drink it in the morning for breakfast. I have also made spaghetti. Like others have said anything you can make at home. The dried pastas dont take much space at all and you can get a couple meals or sides out of them.

Typical steak at least one night, burgers and hot dogs another.

 

Eggs/omelettes in a bag. Crack eggs into ziplock bags. Add cheese, ham, spices, whatever else you want. Seal the bags and place them in a pot of boiling water. Eggs will cook inside, and you’ll have zero mess to clean up afterwards.

 

For me and the family it usually consists of the following with variations of dishes using the same ingredients.

Breakfast:
Eggs, maple sausage, hashbrowns, coffee and fresh vegetables.

Lunch:
Locally made flour tortillas, veggie quesadillas.

Dinner:
Fried rice, chicken teriyaki

Can't go wrong with anything out of Trader Joe's frozen/pre cooked items.

 

A good way to bring eggs in your cooler is to scramble them in a bowl at home and pour them into an empty water bottle. You can fit 11-12 eggs in a 16.9oz water bottle depending on size of the eggs and you don’t have to worry about them breaking in the cooler on a bumpy road as well as taking up less room.

 

Frozen hashbrowns are great.

Keep it simple and do most of your prep at home.

Zip locks for leftovers and your prep. Saves space in the fridge or cooler.
Frozen foods can double as ice.
Pre crack eggs in water bottles. Can portion out each for the days/meals.
Marinade your meats in bags prior.
Portion out oils and seasonings. Bring only what you need. No need for huge bottles.

Cast iron is a must. For us now.
An infrared temp gun is super handy as are welding gloves.

A Dutch oven is also super fun to use. Set it and forget it. The crock pot of the back country.

Keep it simple and gradually progress.
Most have nailed it on the head. Some shots of meals setup for insp.




And sometimes leftovers find their way into the next meal.

Most importantly keep extra freeze dried foods on hand just in case. We always have some mountain house scrambles, oatmeal, and chili mac for an emergency.