We all spend nights outside for different reasons. For some, camping is a means to strictly pushing your body to its outer limits in the mountains – simply a refuge for the in between time of intense cardio and nightfall. For others, camping is a means to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It serves as a reminder that slowing down, turning off our phones, and sleeping outside can bring not only a great sense of gratitude, but also a much needed refresh.
Regardless of one’s reasonings for breaking open the sleeping bag and tent, there’s one mutual joy that just about everyone can relate to: cooking over an open fire (or in most cases, a camping stove). Without getting too terribly specific on certain camping recipes, here are a few of our favorite foods for eating under an open sky.
Bag Tacos
Taking the win for easiest cleanup of our camping recipes, tacos in a bag are a quick and easy calorie boost. Ingredients include individual bags of Doritos, and any and all your favorite taco supplies – protein? Sure! Veggies only? Why not! Easy to cook in one pan or bowl, sauté your choice of protein, vegetables, or both. Using your hands, crush the bag of Doritos into tiny pieces. Pop it open and add in extraneous ingredients – salsa, cheese, sour cream, guac, whatever your heart desires. And when you’re done? Trash it all. No clean up required
Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup, and Caesar Salad
While requiring a little more planning ahead, you can likely get away with this multi-ingredient meal for pretty cheap. The key? Salad kits. Don’t scoff – salad kits are camping recipes ultimate friend. And similar to the recipe above – you can eat them right out of the bag. Connoisseurs of convenience stores know that it’s pretty easy to find white bread and American cheese slices at just about any road side market. If you’re lucky, you’ll stumble upon some Campbell’s tomato soup too. With a side of hearty Caesar salad and warm grilled cheese and soup, you’ll go to bed feeling just as satisfied as you would at Mom’s house.
There are a few other metaphorical camping recipes for camping that should be considered too.
A good attitude
Camping can go from idyllic and fun to “when will this night be over” pretty quickly if not for a good attitude. Sometimes it can be buggy, rainy, windy, and/or cold. Or maybe it’s something else, but either way – it’s important to recognize the present regardless of various un-comforts.
A good book
I think this goes without saying. While our creature comforts of indoor living remain our phones, laptops, televisions and tablets, a good book goes a long way while camping; providing entertainment, distraction, and always good content for drifting dreams.
A good sleeping set up
Whether car camping in the back of a truck, a tent, or just cowboy camping under the stars, a solid sleeping pad and warm sleeping bag are crucial to a night’s rest. Perhaps even more crucial to the next day’s adventures! Stuff clothing into your sleeping bag stuff sack to use as a pillow. If the temperature dips down, don’t be afraid to put on a warm pair of socks on your feet, or in some cases, your hands too.
About the author
Like just about everyone else, Jenna moved to the Tetons with an intent to stay for 3 months, but after 6 years of romping around Jackson, WY she now calls the valley home. When she’s not pushing pixels as a graphic designer and writer, you can find her exploring the depths of the Snake River with a snorkel, scaring herself on local single track, or gracefully embarrassing herself in Jackson’s local story slams.
