17 May 5 Easy Camping + Road Trip Meals

Here are 5 super easy camping or road trip meals that we know will become your go-to meals. They require mostly non perishable items so you don’t have to worry about the fridge space or things spoiling because we know that can be an issue when traveling. Camping is usually a time of indulging so these meals are crammed with veggies when you have access to fresh food or can be made with non-perishable items too. You wont have to feel guilty about your after dinner snacks or bevies with these healthy meals. 

Not to mention a lot of people camp because it’s a very affordable holiday. When you are paying for accommodation it can get expensive or if you are having to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner every day that can add up. Cooking meals at your camp or in your van is a great way to save money too.

Here are 5 easy (and cost effective) camping meals to try on your next trip or adventure into the karri forest or one night stopover at Wellington National Park on the side of the road.

Shopping list + 5 easy camping meals.

• Pesto chicken: Jar pesto, packet pasta, chicken, cherry toms, spinach and mushrooms.
• Thai Green / Red curries: jar curry paste, tin coconut milk, rice and green capsicums, peas and zucchini.
• Mexican bowl: tins toms, smoked paprika, mince, onion, corn, red cap, corn chips.
• Asian beef salad: Marinated beef, garlic, ginger, chilli, onion, rice noodles, carrot, cabbage, salad greens)
• Chicken Fajitas: chicken or beef, spices, slaw, wraps.

All you need is a good Gas Campstove and some basic pans. A Gas Campstove is probably the second most important piece of camping equipment (aside from the tent / caravan/ camper trailer).  Buying a quality one is a good idea because this is probably the most used and useful piece of camping equipment you will buy. On a camping trip we will open and close this every day, 2-3 times a day so getting a high quality one will ensure you don’t waste your money and it will last in the elements, being bashed around in the back of the car or camper trailer. It will be an invaluable piece in your kit. 

The best thing about these 5 easy camping and road trip meals is that if you run out of fresh provisions they will still be tasty. Just use what you have available. You can attempt to plan everything perfectly but it doesn’t always work out. We have had things freeze or spoil on our fridge… you just have to work with the ingredients available to you. We always try and add as many fresh vegetables available to us so if you have to omit any of the fresh ingredients because of supplied thats ok. Just use what you have available at the time.

What you will need for these recipes. 

• Gas Campstove
• Gas bottle
• Frypan
• Saucepan
• Knife
• Chopping board.
• Cutlery + plates/ bowls 

---

GET THE GEAR

** Affiliate links – we may get a small commission if you purchase through these helpful links **

---

Pesto Chicken. 

This is a super easy meal to whip up, you can enjoy with or without additional veggies, pending on your fridge space or availability to fresh veggies. 

Equipment: Gas cooker, fry pan, saucepan, chopping board, knives.

Ingredients:

• x1 jar pesto
• packet of pasta (we use GF chickpea pasta)
• chicken thighs or breast
• cherry toms
• spinach
• mushrooms.

Method: Chop mushrooms into thin slices (or buy already sliced) Chop chicken into chunks. Boil water for the pasta and cook pasta according to the packet. Cook chicken in a fry pan until thoroughly cooked, add mushrooms and cook until softened, add cherry toms and cook until softened and smoosh cherry toms to release the juices. Add pesto (one tablespoon per person) to chicken mix and add spinach to wilt. Drain pasta and stir through fry pan chicken pesto mix. Enjoy in a bowl, if your feeling fancy add some chilli flakes for a bit of kick or some parmesan if you have available.

Thai Green Curry

A simple yet very tasty meal that is perfect for a cool night to warm you up. The veggies in here usually last a while so a good option if you only have an eski for your fresh stuff. 

Equipment: Gas cooker, fry pan (or saucepan), chopping board, knives.

Ingredients:

• Jar thai green curry paste
• 1 tin coconut milk
• packet steamed rice (or you can bring rice and cook it yourself)
• chicken (breast or thighs)
• green capsicum
• zucchini
• small packet of frozen peas (if you have a freezer otherwise omit).

Method: Chop chicken (depending on meat preference) cook in a frypan until cooked, add x1 tsp of curry paste (per person) cook until coated meat. Add tin of coconut milk + 1 half a tin of water. Once liquid is boiling, turn down the heat to low and add chopped veggies and frozen peas (if using) and cook for approx 10mins until veggies have cooked through (but not soggy). Enjoy over some rice, or rice noodles.

Mexican Bowl

Super simple, full of flavour and mostly non-perishable. Great to make a big batch and store for an extra night. Mince meat is also cheap so a good cost saving meal. 

Equipment: Gas cooker, fry pan, chopping board, knives.

Ingredients:

• 1 tin of diced tomatoes
• Beef mince, onion
• Red capsicum
• Corn (tinned, frozen or fresh)
• 2 tbs smoked paprika
• 1 tsp of ground cumin
• 1 tsp corriander
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• Corn chips (or rice)
• Vegetarian option: add a tin of mixed beans.

Method: In a fry pan add the diced onion with some oil until cooked. Add mince to the onions and cook through. Then add spices to the mince (or you can buy a mexican spice mix from the supermarket to use). Add the tin of toms, chopped capsicum and 1 cup of corn. Cook until the sauce has thickened. Enjoy in a bowl with corn chips (kind of like nachos) or over rice. 

Asian Beef Salad

Sometimes in summer you just need a salad. The beef keeps this filling and satisfying. The salad ingredients are usually quite easy to find in a packet pre chopped at coles or woolies. Think slaw mix, cabbage, carrots etc. These ingredients usually keep well in the fridge and don’t spoil as easily.

Ingredients:

• Rump steak
• 1 clove garlic
• 2” piece of ginger
• Chilli flakes
• Onion
• 2 tbs soy sauce (or tamari)
• x1 packet of rice noodles
• Premade salad/slaw mix.

Method: Chop a rump steak into thin strips, finely dice onion, mince or finely chop garlic and ginger (if using). Add these ingredients to a bowl along with 2 tbs soy sauce (or tamari) and let marinate while you watch the sunset for 15mins. Cook on a fry pan until cooked, add more soy if you need more flavour. In a saucepan boil some water and cook the rice noodles. In a large bowl mix noodles, beef to soak up some flavour. Combine with the packet slax mix and enjoy a fresh asian style salad in a bowl. Works well with pork or chicken too. 

Fajitas

One handed meal that’s great for a night you can’t be bothered cooking. All you have to do is prepack the spices in a zip lock bag or a small jar or buy a packet mix. Then it’s a super simple meal. Great for a road stop meal because it uses minimal equipment. Use diced chicken or beef or freshly caught fish.

Equipment: Gas cooker, Fry pan

Ingredients:

• Diced meat/fish
• 1 tbs smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• red or green capsicum
• pre made packet of slaw or mixed salad
• Soft wraps.

Method: in a fry pan add the spices, diced chicken, chopped capsicum and cook in some olive oil. Once cooked assemble your wraps, chicken, salad, mayo, avocado and enjoy as a wrap.

Final Thoughts

So you can see, it’s super easy camping and road trip meals to whip up using non-perishable food items. These food items in tins and jars last a long time and you don’t have to worry about them spoiling. It’s hard when the fridge is set too low and freezes some of the fresh food leaving you without for a few days. These ingredients have been carefully curated from years of experience freezing salad ingredients in our camp fridge. It’s good to cram your camping dinners with veggies when you can but we know that might not always be the case.

They are also easy enough for kids to follow so if you want a night off of cooking and need to delegate so you get a night off… we got you covered with these recipes.