So, you’ve been spending a lot of time cooped up indoors recently and the idea of a camping trip sounds idyllic. You imagine yourself recovering after a second consecutive day on the water and you’re sunning yourself by the river in tranquility while listening to the sounds of the birds chirping – you feel at peace with life and the world – then, hunger strikes! You reach into your bag and all you find is canned hot dogs and bread that is starting to turn harder as the minutes tick by. It’s at this point that you start to wonder if booking a multi-day rafting adventure is worth it after all if you can’t have a good, hearty meal at the end of a session on the water. 

Well, we’re here to help with some of our favorite recipes for adventurers to cook on site. Getting a campfire going is one of the joys of the camping experience. It keeps you warm once the sun goes down and provides you with a centerpiece, light, and cooking device. Remember those camping essentials such as a well functioning cooler, cooking utensils and these meal ideas listed below and you’re well on your way to the perfect riverside camping trip!

Salmon & Veggies

One essential item to bring with you if you do plan to cook on an open fire is aluminum foil, and it is especially important if you wish to cook salmon to perfection along with your veggies of choice. Remember to choose vegetables that are likely to cook as quickly as the salmon will. It is recommended to finely cut zucchini, tomatoes, and onion and place them below your salmon fillet in the foil. Don’t forget to add some seasoning too and cook over the coals. 

Dutch Oven Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Mac ‘n’ Cheese is an all-time American favorite and part of the reason is that it is easy to make anywhere. At camp, we recommended creating a Dutch oven, which is a large cooking pot serving as a simple oven, heated by being placed under or next to hot coals. Once you are ready, place the elbow macaroni, water, butter, and salt into the pot and wait a few minutes for it to boil before stirring in grated cheese, mustard, garlic powder, and other seasonings of your choice. 

Campfire Nachos

If you want to put your camping Dutch oven to use for something other than Mac ‘n’ Cheese then we recommend cooking up some campfire nachos. It is a perfect sharing meal around a campfire especially with a cold drink in hand. You’ll require tortilla chips, a spicy tomato sauce, avocado (cubed), a can of black beans, shredded cheese, a few green onions as well as fresh lime and cilantro. Mix all that up in the pot and you’re good to go and as long as you layer it up correctly then you’ll be in nacho heaven in no time! 

Ratatouille with Poached Eggs

We recommend preparing the majority of the Ratatouille at home beforehand and bringing it in a sealed container stored in your cooler. Once on-site, you can heat it up in a large wok-type cooking vessel. Make sure to make space before cracking some fresh eggs in the pan with help from the balsamic vinegar and some black pepper for seasoning.

Homemade Vegan Burgers & Salad

A modern-day camping classic. The beauty of this idea is that you can make the burger patties in advance to suit all kinds of dietary requirements and then easily cook them on camp. Vegan burger patties can take some preparation time but they keep for a long time and will be safe to eat once even lightly cooked. A vegan burger with a base of beets, carrots, onions and instant brown rice provides sturdy and moist patties. Don’t forget to rustle up a salad to go with it. 

Whatever you decide to cook, remember to maintain high standards of food safety and follow the safety guidelines and regulations regarding campfires on your chosen campsite.