16 Easy and Delicious Camping Food for Kids

Camping with kids? It’s not just about s’mores and campfire stories!

Let’s talk about meals that are simple, fun, and guaranteed to keep your little adventurers happy and energized for all those outdoor escapades.

When you’re juggling setting up tents, keeping track of wandering toddlers, and ensuring everyone stays safe around the campfire, the last thing you want is complicated meal preparation.

We’re talking about recipes that can be prepped ahead of time, cooked with minimal equipment, and enjoyed by the whole family without anyone complaining about “weird camping food.”

Get ready to become the camping parent who makes mealtime the highlight of the adventure!

Essential Camping Food Tips for Kids

Planning meals for family camping trips doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you focus on simplicity, nutrition, and getting the kids involved.

Easy-to-Pack Ingredients

Stock your camping pantry with versatile, non-perishable ingredients that work across multiple meals and appeal to children’s tastes.

• Canned beans, pasta, rice, and jarred tomato sauce create countless meal combinations while taking up minimal cooler space.
• Shelf-stable items, such as crackers, granola bars, dried fruit, and nuts, provide quick energy boosts between activities.
• Focus on kid-friendly staples that serve multiple purposes: tortillas work for breakfast burritos, lunch wraps, and quesadilla dinners.
• Cheese sticks, sliced cheese, and shredded cheese add protein and familiar flavors to any meal.
• Pre-cooked chicken strips, canned tuna, and peanut butter provide easy protein options that don’t require extensive preparation or worry about food safety in outdoor conditions.

Involve the Kids

Turn meal preparation from a chore into a fun family activity by giving children age-appropriate cooking tasks.

Young kids can wash fruits and vegetables, tear lettuce for salads, or arrange toppings for tacos.

Older children can help measure ingredients, stir mixtures, or safely tend to campfire cooking under supervision.

Let kids customize their own meals whenever possible. Set up a “build your own” station for wraps, trail mix, or s’mores, where everyone can choose their favorite ingredients.

This involvement not only keeps children engaged and entertained but also increases the likelihood they’ll eat what they’ve helped create. Keep It Nutritious

Breakfast Ideas for Kids

Starting the day with a satisfying breakfast sets the tone for successful outdoor adventures.

These kid-friendly morning meals provide energy for hiking, swimming, and exploring while being simple enough to prepare at a campsite.

1. Campfire Pancakes

• Mix up pancake batter using a simple recipe that requires just flour, baking powder, sugar, milk, eggs, and a pinch of salt.
• Cook them on a cast-iron skillet or griddle over the campfire, flipping when bubbles form on the surface. The smoky flavor from the fire adds a special camping touch that kids absolutely love.
• Let children choose their own toppings from an array of options: fresh berries, sliced bananas, honey, maple syrup, chocolate chips, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

These pancakes can also be made ahead and reheated, making busy morning departures much smoother for families with early hiking plans.

2. DIY Breakfast Burritos

• Scramble eggs in a large skillet over the campfire and set up a burrito bar with warm tortillas and various fillings.
• Kids can build their own breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, diced ham or bacon bits, and mild salsa. Include options like black beans, diced tomatoes, and avocado for added nutrition and flavor variety.
• Wrap completed burritos in foil to keep them warm and make them easier for small hands to handle.

These portable breakfasts work perfectly for families planning early morning activities since kids can eat while parents finish packing up camp.

3. Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits

• Layer vanilla or berry yogurt with granola and fresh fruits in reusable cups or mason jars for a no-cook breakfast that feels special and restaurant-worthy.
• Choose fruits that travel well and appeal to kids, like strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or diced peaches. Add a drizzle of honey between layers for extra sweetness.
• This breakfast option works especially well for hot mornings when nobody wants to stand near a campfire.

The colorful layers make eating fun while providing protein, fiber, and essential nutrients to fuel morning adventures.

4. Overnight Oats

• Combine rolled oats with milk (dairy or non-dairy), a touch of honey or maple syrup, and mix-ins like raisins, chopped nuts, or cinnamon in mason jars or sealed containers.
• Kids can customize their overnight oats with their favorite add-ins: chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, or fresh berries added in the morning.
• This make-ahead breakfast is perfect for busy camping mornings when you want to hit the trail early or when weather makes campfire cooking challenging.

The cold, creamy texture is especially appealing on hot summer camping trips.

Easy and Fun Camping Snacks for Kids

Keeping kids fueled between meals prevents hangry meltdowns and helps maintain their energy levels for outdoor activities. These portable, mess-free snacks satisfy hunger while being fun enough that children look forward to snack time.

5. Trail Mix

• Create customizable trail mix stations where kids can build their own perfect combination of nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, pretzels, and cereal pieces.
• Provide small containers or ziplock bags so each child can create their personal mix with their favorite ingredients in preferred proportions.
• Include options like almonds, cashews, raisins, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, goldfish crackers, and small pretzels.

This activity keeps kids engaged while teaching them about making balanced choices – encourage them to include at least one protein source and one fruit in their mix.

6. Mini Sandwiches

• Pre-make bite-sized sandwiches using small rolls or cut regular sandwiches into quarters for easy handling by small hands.
• Stick with kid-approved fillings like peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, or turkey and cream cheese. Avoid ingredients that get soggy or messy in outdoor conditions.
• Consider making different varieties so picky eaters have options, and cut them into fun shapes using cookie cutters to add an element of excitement.

These portable protein sources work perfectly for hiking snacks or quick energy boosts between activities.

7. Veggie Sticks with Dip

• Pre-cut colorful vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes into kid-friendly sticks and pack them with appealing dips like ranch, hummus, or cheese sauce.
• The crunch and bright colors make vegetables more appealing to reluctant veggie eaters, while the dip adds familiar flavors.
• This snack provides essential nutrients and fiber, making it a refreshing option on hot camping days.

Let kids help wash and cut vegetables (with supervision) to increase their investment in actually eating these healthy options.

8. Roasted S’mores Apples

• Core apples and stuff the center with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
• Wrap each apple in heavy-duty foil and place them in campfire coals for 15-20 minutes until the apples are tender and the fillings are melted and gooey.
• Kids love the interactive process of stuffing their own apples and the anticipation of unwrapping their sweet, warm treat.

The natural sweetness of apples, combined with melted marshmallows and chocolate, creates a dessert that feels indulgent while being healthier than pure candy.

Kid-Friendly Dinner Recipes

After a full day of outdoor adventures, kids need satisfying dinners that refuel their energy and bring the family together around the campfire. These recipes balance familiar flavors with the excitement of outdoor cooking.

9. Campfire Quesadillas

• Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill grate over the campfire and create quesadillas using flour tortillas filled with shredded cheese and kid-friendly additions, such as cooked chicken strips, black beans, or mild salsa.
• Cook until tortillas are golden and cheese is melted, then cut into wedges for easy eating.
• Let kids build their own quesadillas with their preferred fillings, ensuring everyone gets something they’ll actually eat. Serve with sides like sour cream, guacamole, or additional salsa for dipping.

These handheld dinners are perfect for eating around the campfire and can be customized to accommodate different taste preferences and dietary restrictions within the family.

10. Hot Dog Skewers

• Thread hot dogs onto skewers alternating with colorful vegetables like bell pepper chunks, cherry tomatoes, and onion pieces.
• Cook over the campfire, turning frequently until hot dogs are heated through and vegetables are slightly charred. This presentation makes ordinary hot dogs feel more special and adventurous.
• Kids enjoy the interactive process of roasting their own skewers while getting vegetables in a fun, approachable way.

Provide various condiments and toppings so children can customize their hot dogs to their liking. The skewer format also makes eating easier around a campfire and adds a fun, interactive element to dinner time.

11. One-Pot Pasta

• Cook pasta in a large pot with tomato sauce, adding kid-friendly ingredients like mini pepperoni, diced vegetables, or extra cheese.
• This simple, one-pot meal minimizes cleanup while providing a filling, familiar dinner that most children will readily eat without complaint.
• Start by browning any meat or sautéing vegetables in the bottom of the pot, then add pasta, sauce, and enough water to cook the pasta.

Let kids help stir and add seasonings to their taste preferences. This versatile recipe works with whatever ingredients you have available and can easily feed a large family or group of campers.

12. Foil Packet Dinners

• Create individual foil packets containing protein (like chicken pieces or fish fillets), diced potatoes, vegetables, and seasonings.
• Seal packets tightly and cook them in campfire coals for 20-30 minutes until everything is tender and fully cooked. Each person gets their own customized meal.
• Kids love unwrapping their personal dinner packets to discover their perfectly cooked meal inside. Let children help assemble their own packets, choosing their preferred vegetables and seasonings.

This cooking method keeps everything moist and flavorful while being virtually mess-free, simply discard the foil after finishing.

Sweet Treats for Camping

No camping trip is complete without special treats that create magical memories around the campfire.

These desserts strike a balance between indulgence and the practical realities of outdoor cooking, while giving kids something special to look forward to each evening.

13. Campfire S’mores

• Elevate the classic s’mores experience by offering variety in chocolate choices – try dark chocolate, peanut butter cups, cookies and cream bars, or even flavored chocolate bars.
• Provide different marshmallow options like flavored or colored marshmallows to make the experience more exciting and personalized.
• Teach kids the art of perfect marshmallow roasting – finding the right distance from flames, rotating slowly for even browning, and achieving their preferred level of golden color or charred exterior.

Set up a s’mores station with all ingredients easily accessible, and consider providing wet wipes for sticky fingers.

14. Banana Boats

• Carefully slice bananas lengthwise (leaving the peel on) and stuff the opening with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, crushed graham crackers, or other favorite s’mores ingredients.
• Wrap each banana in heavy-duty foil and place in campfire coals for 10-15 minutes until contents are melted and gooey.
• This healthier alternative to traditional campfire sweets provides natural fruit sweetness while satisfying the desire for melted chocolate and marshmallows.

Kids enjoy the surprise element of unwrapping their personalized banana boat and discovering how the ingredients have melted together. The individual serving size also makes portion control easier for parents.

15. Grilled Fruit Skewers

• Thread chunks of pineapple, apple slices, strawberries, and marshmallows onto skewers and grill them over the campfire until the fruit is slightly caramelized and the marshmallows are golden.
• The natural fruit sugars intensify with heat, creating a sweet treat that feels indulgent while providing vitamins and fiber.
• Let kids create their own skewer combinations based on their fruit preferences, and provide options like honey or cinnamon sugar for drizzling over the finished skewers.

The colorful presentation makes healthy eating feel special and fun.

16. Campfire Brownies

• Bake brownies in a cast-iron Dutch oven or large skillet over campfire coals, using boxed brownie mix for simplicity.
• Cover the pan with foil and place coals on top as well as underneath to create even heat distribution similar to an oven. Cook for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
• Serve warm brownies directly from the pan with optional toppings like vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

This impressive treat makes kids feel like they’re getting restaurant-quality dessert even in the wilderness, creating special camping memories around shared indulgence.

Safety and Cleanup Tips

Keeping your family safe and your campsite clean ensures everyone can focus on making wonderful memories rather than dealing with preventable problems.

1. Stay Safe with Fire: Always maintain constant adult supervision when children are near the campfire, especially during cooking activities. Teach children proper campfire etiquette.

2. Keep it Tidy: Pack reusable plates, cups, utensils, and serving containers to minimize waste and reduce your environmental impact. Lightweight, durable camping dinnerware designed for kids prevents broken dishes.

3. Involve children in cleanup responsibilities: Assign age-appropriate tasks, such as clearing their dishes, wiping down tables, or sorting recyclables. Teach them the camping principle of “Leave No Trace”.

4. Food Storage Tips: Store all food, toiletries, and scented items in bear-proof containers, your vehicle, or designated bear boxes when available.

Conclusion

Camping with kids doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition or meal-related meltdowns in the outdoors. These simple, fun, and nutritious meal ideas are proof that feeding your family well while camping is achievable.

These recipes are designed to keep your little adventurers energized for hiking, swimming, and exploring, while creating those magical family moments that happen naturally around a campfire when everyone is well-fed.

We encourage you to try these kid-friendly recipes on your next family camping adventure and see how much smoother mealtime becomes when you’re prepared with options that appeal to children’s tastes.

Share your favorite camping recipes, creative meal solutions, or camping kitchen tips in the comments below!

We’d love to hear what works for your family and learn new ideas from fellow camping parents.