5 camping recipes you'll want to make all summer long

Camping food has a reputation for being simple, but simple doesn’t have to mean boring. Some of the best meals of the summer happen outdoors, cooked over a campfire, grill or portable stove with a little creativity and a lot of fresh air. There’s something uniquely satisfying about eating breakfast at a picnic table, pulling a foil packet off the fire or sharing dessert under the stars.

Good camping recipes also solve a practical problem: they’re designed to be easy to prep, easy to cook and easy to clean up. Many can be made ahead of time, packed in a cooler and finished at the campsite, which means less time washing dishes and more time enjoying the outdoors. Foil-packet meals, make-ahead breakfasts and no-bake snacks are especially popular because they travel well and don’t require a full kitchen.

According to Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home rounded up favorite camping recipes that have become go-to meals for generations of campers. The collection includes hearty breakfasts, easy dinners and classic campfire treats that work whether you’re tent camping, RV camping or spending a weekend at a cabin.

If you’re looking for new ideas beyond hot dogs and marshmallows, these five recipes are a great place to start for a summer full of outdoor adventures.

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According to Reader’s Digest, these burritos are ideal for campers who want a quick, filling breakfast without a lot of morning prep. The burritos are made ahead at home, frozen and then reheated over the campfire when it’s time to eat.

That make-ahead approach is what makes them such a smart camping recipe. Instead of chopping vegetables and scrambling eggs at sunrise, you simply warm the burritos while coffee brews and the campsite wakes up. The combination of eggs and spinach creates a hearty meal that keeps everyone fueled for hiking, fishing or a day at the lake.

Because they’re individually wrapped, they’re also easy to hand out to a group, making them a favorite for family camping trips where everyone is hungry at a different time.

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Reader’s Digest highlights foil-packet cooking as one of the easiest ways to prepare fish outdoors, and this salmon recipe is a perfect example.

The salmon is wrapped with lemon and dill in foil and cooked over a grill or campfire, creating a flavorful meal with almost no cleanup. Foil packets are especially useful for camping because they keep ingredients contained, cook evenly and eliminate the need for extra pans.

The recipe also feels a little more special than a typical campsite dinner. Fresh fish, bright citrus and herbs bring restaurant-style flavors to the outdoors without adding much work.

For campers who want something lighter than burgers or sausages, this is an easy way to upgrade dinner around the fire.

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According to Reader’s Digest, these foil packets combine potatoes, bacon and cheese into a classic camp breakfast or side dish.

The ingredients are wrapped in foil and cooked over the fire until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted. The result is a crispy, smoky hash that pairs well with eggs, grilled meats or fresh salsa.

You can prepare the packets ahead of time, customize the fillings and cook multiple servings at once. Everyone gets their own packet, which makes serving easy and keeps cleanup minimal.

It’s the kind of hearty camp food that tastes even better after a night in a sleeping bag.

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Reader’s Digest describes walking tacos as one of the easiest camping meals because everything is served right in an individual chip bag.

Instead of plates, each person opens a small bag of chips and adds taco meat, cheese and toppings directly inside. It’s portable, customizable and requires almost no cleanup.

Kids especially love the novelty of eating tacos out of a chip bag, while adults appreciate how quickly the meal comes together after a long day outdoors. Campers can set up a toppings station with salsa, lettuce, sour cream and jalapeños so everyone builds their own version.

When dinner is finished, there are hardly any dishes to wash, which is a major win at any campsite.

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According to Reader’s Digest, this recipe gives classic s’mores a clever twist by adding chocolate sandwich cookies to the mix.

The result is gooey, crunchy and even more indulgent than the traditional version. For an extra treat, the recipe suggests spreading a little chocolate-hazelnut spread on the graham crackers before assembling the s’more.

Like all great campfire desserts, it’s easy to make and fun to customize. Kids can build their own combinations, while adults get a nostalgic dessert with an upgrade.

No camping trip feels complete without something roasted over the fire, and S’Moreos are an easy way to end the day on a sweet note.