Let's face it: cooking at camp can be time consuming. And after a full day of outdoor activities, who wants to heat up the fire and cook a complicated meal for the family?
The good news is that not all meals have to be prepared with heat. Save time and energy by eliminating the cooking part. Here are 15 no-cook recipes that will help make campground meals much simpler.
Tools
Though you don't need pots and pans for no-cook recipes, you do need some tools. Make sure you have these items in your camping kitchen bin:
- Can opener
- Tin foil
- Sealable bags
- Cooler
- Ice
- Utensils
- Cutting board
Breakfast
Camping is all about getting out and enjoying a full day. A quick no-cook breakfast gives you more time to get your gear together so you're ready to go bright and early. Try any combination of the following no-cook breakfast recipes.
- Cereal with milk and fruit: Your cereal of choice, milk and any number of fruits: think, bananas, strawberries, blueberries.
- Peanut butter and banana sandwich: With a little protein, a little potassium and good dose of carbohydrates, this easy meal will help power you through your morning activities.
- Yogurt and granola: Make your own granola at home and sprinkle it on top of your favorite protein-packed yogurt.
- Fruit salad with nuts: Toss a mix of seasonal fruits together with your favorite nut mix for a sweet and crunchy breakfast.
- Breakfast salad: Get your daily dose of veggies at breakfast. Try a Mexican breakfast salad with greens, shredded carrots, avocado, black beans, corn and salsa. If you want to boil eggs before your trip, they would be a great addition to this morning meal.
Lunch
If you're an active camper, lunch will most likely be eaten on the trail. Whether you want a hearty snack or something more substantial, these no-cook recipes are mobile-friendly.
- Cold cut roll-ups: Take your standard sandwich up a notch and roll it up with hummus and cheese for the perfect lunch on the go.
- Sandwiches: Need something heftier than cold cuts? Add bread and some veggies for a more substantial lunch. Go for a sub roll, which helps hold everything together.
- Caprese sandwich: For vegetarians, try a mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich. Drizzle a little olive oil on top to complete the meal.
- Bean salad: With loads of protein, this is a nutritious meal that's delicious and easy to put together. Add tomatoes, green onions and your favorite spices.
- Tuna salad: Easy to make, you can eat this with salad, bread, crackers or by itself. Prepare it beforehand for easy eating.
Dinner
You won't find your standard fire roasted camping meals here. With these no-cook recipes, you can enjoy the fire instead of getting impatient that it's not heating up fast enough.
- Chicken or tuna salad pasta: This one's easy if you make the pasta salad at home. Toss in some celery and onions for a delicious no-cook dinner.
- Thanksgiving in a pita: Cold roasted turkey brings loads of flavor to this dinner. Add cranberry aioli, red onions and lettuce for a full thanksgiving-flavored dinner. Need a little more for your hungry family? Add sides of coleslaw and mixed greens for a truly filling meal.
- Roast beef wrap: Wrap roast beef with hummus, lettuce, onion, tomato, sprouts and cheddar cheese. Go heavy on the veggies to make it a plentiful dinner.
- Cheese board: A spread of artisan cheeses, grapes and crackers is always a group favorite. Turn this appetizer into a dinner with hummus, tabouli and a few choices of sliced meats. Top it all off with a side of stuffed olives and pita bread. With so many options, it's anything but a boring dinner.
- Mexican Dinner Spread: Make your own guacamole at the campsite. Then set out chips, bean dip, salsa, shredded lettuce and sliced veggies.
Reserve a campsite.
Jessica Sanders is the Associate Online Editor for ReserveAmerica.com. After many years of camping and hiking in the Northeast, she's exploring what the West has to offer and sharing all of her knowledge with you. She's a s'mores master, campsite connoisseur, writer, runner and lover of all things outdoors. Follow her on Google+.
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