You don’t have to carry bulky cooking equipment or bring your whole pantry for delicious camping meals. Make simple, satisfying dishes that fuel you up. Read on to learn five of the easiest foods to cook on a camping trip.

1. Build-Your-Own Tacos

Tacos are great for camping trips because everyone can customize their own. Start with protein, such as fish, shrimp, chicken, pork, ground beef, or steak, or plant-based protein like black beans, chickpeas, and mushrooms.

Prep vegetables like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, corn, and onions. People can top their tacos with cheese, hot sauce, and sour cream or Mexican crema. Whether you use flour or corn tortillas, everyone will love taco night!

2. Campfire Banana Boats

S’mores take the cake when it comes to camping trip desserts, but campfire banana boats are another easy food to cook. These charming desserts are a cross between s’mores and banana splits.

Leaving the banana in its peel, slit it in half lengthwise along its concave side. Don’t let your knife slice through the peel on the side furthest from you because you want the peel to help hold the ingredients.

Place your favorite toppings on the banana, such as melty, sweet, and crunchy ingredients. Wrap the banana in parchment paper and foil, then place it over the fire. When the banana gets a little squishy, it’s ready to eat.

3. Early Prep Pancakes

You’ll appreciate how easy it is to put together these make-ahead pancakes. Pack all the dry ingredients for your favorite pancakes in a sealed bag; recipes typically include all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Bring your wet ingredients separately, such as eggs, milk, and water.

For fluffy pancakes, mix the wet ingredients before adding them to the dry ingredients. And avoid over-mixing when you combine the wet and dry ingredients.

4. Foil-Pack Fries

Savory foil-pack fries might become one of your favorite camping treats. For the easiest prep, start with a bag of frozen French fries. Place the fries in a tin foil packet, drizzle with oil, then top with salt and pepper.

Add your other favorite seasonings and toppings. Consider adding cheese, beans, or even mac and cheese to your foil pack.

5. Hearty Omelets

Omelets are delicious any time of day. Many camp omelet recipes call for boiling the eggs in a sealed plastic bag. If you do this, ensure you have a food-safe bag rated for high-heat use.

Eggs out of the shell will usually stay good for two to four days in a refrigerator, so if you prep the egg mixture beforehand, be sure to eat the omelets on one of the first days of your trip. Add cheese, protein, and vegetables for a filling meal.

Meals are just part of your next great camping adventure. Explore nature in a 4X4 rental in Delta, Colorado—book with Diff. for superior customer service and reliable vehicles.