Healthy Camping Food Ideas (Dairy Free, Gluten Free Options)
Looking for easy camping food ideas for your next camping trip? Keep scrolling for breakfast, lunch, and dinner food ideas as well as snacks and desserts that are so good you’ll wish you ditched the dehydrated stroganoff and instant oatmeal sooner. All recipes are dairy free and can also be made gluten free.
The good news is that camping food doesn’t only mean subsisting on dehydrated beef stroganoff, granola bars, ramen, and instant oatmeal.
There’s nothing quite like having nature right outside your door.
With all that fresh air, it’s only natural that you also want healthy, home-cooked meals that feel fancier than prepackaged food, but are easy enough to prepare.
With a little meal planning and make ahead prep, you’ll be slinging these gourmet meals like it’s your job and wondering why you didn’t stray from the beef stroganoff sooner.
Camping Breakfast Ideas
French Toast with Fresh Berries, Sausage, & Real Maple Syrup
Dairy free french toast is so easy to make but somehow tastes fancier than pancakes. Top it with fresh berries and real maple syrup.
Optional: serve with bacon or chicken maple breakfast sausage links.
Make ahead: add the eggs, milk, and seasonings to a tightly sealed jar. A mason jar works great for this!
Day of: soak bread in milk mixture and cook until golden brown on each side.
Granola Bowl With Yogurt & Fruit
The morning you plan to eat it, layer your favorite yogurt in a bowl with granola and seasonal fresh fruit. See what’s in season right now.
Make ahead: maple tahini granola (nut-free) or 5-ingredient peanut butter granola. You can make either recipe days or even weeks ahead. If you don’t have time to make your own granola, store-bought is also great.
You’ve now created a fresh and healthy breakfast that feels fancy, but took little time to prepare.
Breakfast Hash
Make ahead: cut up any leftover odds and ins in your fridge and pantry, and add them to a mason jar or airtight container. For ideas, see my healthy breakfast hash.
When you get to the campsite, cook it all up in a skillet with a little olive oil. You’ll have a colorful, home cooked meal in a short amount of time thanks to your pre-chopped ingredients.
Chia Seed Pudding With Strawberry Compote
This healthy breakfast is packed with plant-based protein and fruit that will keep you full and energized until lunch.
Plus, it holds up well in the cooler and can be made before you leave on your trip.
Make ahead: make the chia seed pudding as well as the strawberry compote. Or get fancy and make Matcha chia pudding.
Quick & Easy breakfast Tostada With Eggs
Instead of just eating boring scrambled eggs you can pile them onto a crispy tostada shell smeared with refried beans and top with any fixings of your choice.
If you’re anything like my family, you’re likely already bringing a jar of salsa with chips for snacks, so now you can repurpose it by adding a drizzle on top of your breakfast tostadas.
Make ahead: there’s no need to prep anything. Everything can be done the morning of.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal
Forget those instant oatmeal store-bought packets because homemade oatmeal couldn’t be easier. Plus there are no artificial flavors, just a few really simple ingredients.
Make ahead: place the old fashioned oats, brown sugar and ground cinnamon in an airtight container.
Day of: add the dry ingredients to a small saucepan with the rest of the ingredients and cook according to recipe instructions. It’s ready in under 10 minutes.
Camping Lunch Ideas
Egg Salad With Dill Pickles
Dill pickle lovers will love this flavorful spin on classic egg salad. It’s crunchy, creamy, tangy, savory, and fresh.
Make ahead: egg salad.
Day of: once you get to the campsite, toast your bread, spoon on a thick layer of egg salad and enjoy in either an open faced sandwich or top with lettuce and top with another piece of toasted bread.
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
A quick, flavor packed lunch with shredded chicken, crunchy vegetables, crisp apples, and roasted nuts in a creamy honey mustard dressing.
It’s sweet and savory and is one of my favorite lunches. It’s delicious scooped up with crackers or enjoyed on toasted bread as an open face sandwich.
Make ahead: make the chicken salad.
Day of: enjoy on bread, in a lettuce wrap, or with crackers.
Mexican Chicken Salad Tostadas
Chicken salad tostadas are packed with protein, fresh vegetables, and a crunchy tostada shell. And if you’re already making breakfast tostadas, it’s one less item you have to bring.
Make ahead: make the salad (minus the avocado) and toss with the dressing.
Day of: assemble onto the tostadas and add the cubed avocado just before enjoying.
Spicy Tuna Salad On Toast With Greens
Made with canned tuna and a few other pantry staples, this easy lunch comes together quickly and requires minimal prep. Plus, you can easily adjust the spicy level according to your preference.
Make ahead: tuna salad.
Day of: toast the bread and add greens of choice before assembling.
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad
Cranberry pecan chicken salad is a sweet and savory recipe with shredded chicken, sweet-tart dried cranberries, crisp apples, and crunchy celery tossed in a creamy lemon dill dressing.
Make ahead: the chicken salad the day before leaving. The flavors continue to improve the longer they sit.
Day of: enjoy on bread, in a lettuce wrap, or with crackers.
Veggie Packed Turkey Club Sandwich
A turkey club sandwich layered with colorful vegetables (both quick-pickled and fresh) toasted bread, and a smoky chipotle lime sauce.
Make ahead: make the chipotle lime mayo at home. And use it for things beyond this sandwich, like the breakfast tostadas, eggs, burgers, or any kind of bowls.
Camping Dinner Ideas
Dragon Bowls With Creamy Tahini Sauce
Dragon bowls are super easy to make. I like to use a mix of roasted and fresh vegetables, plus they’re a great way to use up any leftover veg, rice, beans, or protein.
Not only are they packed with flavor, but they’re really customizable.
This is a great camping meal because you can bring frozen shrimp that doubles as an ice pack until thawed.
Make ahead: dragon sauce.
Creamy Peanut Sauce Noodles With Vegetables
Peanut sauce noodles are what you make when you have vegetables in the fridge, noodles, and a jar of peanut butter in the pantry. Add cooked protein for more of a complete meal.
Make ahead: Thai peanut sauce.
Day of: cook your pasta (you could also use rice), lightly saute vegetables of choice, and a protein of choice (optional) and mix with the sauce.
Beef Teriyaki Bowls
Beef teriyaki bowls have fresh veggies, ground beef, rice, and an easy homemade teriyaki sauce.
Next time you’re craving takeout, make this flavorful homemade dish instead. It’s easy enough for busy weeknights and is very customizable.
Make ahead: Make the teriyaki sauce and store in an airtight container like a mason jar. Chop your vegetables into small pieces and place in a ziplock or silicone bag.
Day of: Cook rice, saute veggies, and cook ground beef in the sauce.
Marry Me Salmon
Salmon fillets are cooked on the stove in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with fresh herbs. The whole family will love this delicious salmon recipe. Dairy free and gluten free.
Serve with veggies, on top of rice or potatoes, cauliflower mash, etc.
Sauteed Baja Shrimp Tacos With Slaw
Baja shrimp tacos are light, tangy, and full of bold flavor. They have fresh shrimp, crunchy slaw, a homemade creamy sauce, and are ready in under 30 minutes. Dairy free and gluten free.
Pro tip: Take frozen shrimp and use them as an extra ice pack. Once they thaw, make these tacos.
Make ahead: Make the slaw, baja sauce, and add the shrimp seasonings to a small container.
Spicy Chicken Burgers
These chicken burgers are quick, easy, and flavor packed. Add any of your favorite toppings or adjust the heat level to suit the whole family. This recipe is dairy free and can easily be made gluten free.
They’re delicious served with greens and my dairy free dill pickle ranch dressing.
Make ahead: make the seasoned ground meat and store in an airtight container. Cook them up once you get to the campsite.
Camping Snack Ideas
Green Chile Cashew Queso
Green chile cashew queso is 10x better than any dairy free store bought option. It has a few key ingredients that mimic regular queso flavors. This popular dip has a deliciously cheesy flavor and creamy texture you can’t get enough of.
Because the base is made in the blender, you’ll need to prep it ahead and serve it with tortilla chips once you get there.
Seasoned Popcorn
Make ahead: vegan popcorn seasoning and stovetop popcorn (instructions included in the seasoning recipe card).
Note: while you can cook the popcorn while camping, it’s super easy to make at home and it’s one less thing you’ll have to do at the campsite.
Trail Mix
Make ahead: homemade trail mix.
Whip up a batch of homemade trail mix with all your favorite ingredients to snack on when you’re on a hike. It’s super easy to make and is the best satiating snack.
Dairy Free French Onion Dip
Homemade dips like my french onion dip are a great camping snack and are always a big hit. Make it before you leave on your car camping trip.
It’s has caramelized onions, cashew cream, and seasonings to make it taste like a classic French onion dip. Serve with pretzels, potato chips, crackers, or vegetables.
Blackberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins
The main source of sweetness in these banana blackberry muffins comes from mashed banana and tangy fresh blackberries. They’re made with wholesome ingredients and contain no refined sugar.
Kids and adults alike will love this healthy snack. Bake before you leave and enjoy with a cup of tea when you get to the campsite.
Cheddar Cheese & Chive Scones (Dairy Free)
Cheese and chive scones are flaky, buttery, and loaded with savory flavor.
Bake ahead and enjoy them for breakfast or brunch, as an afternoon snack with tea, or as a side for soups. This recipe is dairy free and can easily be made gluten free.
Camping Dessert Ideas
Homemade Butterfinger Bars
They’re crunchy, naturally sweetened, and made with a handful of simple ingredients.
Make this easy homemade version of your favorite childhood candy bar and store on ice in the cooler until ready to enjoy.
They’re dairy free, gluten free, and can easily be made nut free if needed.
Chewy Lemon Blondies
They’re chewy on the edges and soft in the center with a crackly top similar to brownies.
The fresh lemon flavor adds a lot of brightness and a sweet-tart flavor that screams spring. If you’re a fellow citrus lover, this lemon dessert is a must-make! It’s dairy free and can easily be made gluten free.
Bake before you go, but make sure to save one for yourself. They go quick!
Grilled Fruit with Honey & Ricotta
Make ahead: dairy-free ricotta (optional) or get store-bought.
Stone-fruits work really well: plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines. Cut the fruit in half, remove the pit, and grill for 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve with a dollop of ricotta, a drizzle of honey, and a few chopped nuts (could take some from the trail mix).
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars
A great no bake snack made with just three simple ingredients.
Make them at home, cut into squares and enjoy them once you get to your campsite or as post hike treat.
5 Minute Oat Milk Hot Chocolate
Make ahead: combine all the ingredients at home in a tightly sealed jar and shake to combined. Store chilled until ready to make.
Day of: add the contents of the jar to a pan over medium heat. Once warmed through, add to a mug and top with marshmallows.
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats With Chocolate
The perfect balance of crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty.
This no-bake treat takes classic rice krispies to a whole new level with a thick layer of chocolate on top that pairs nicely with the peanut butter marshmallow mixture. Dairy free and can easily be made gluten free.
Helpful Tips
Repurpose Your Ingredients
Bringing vegetables, spices, and other ingredients that can be used for several different dishes makes it much easier and also helps keep it cost-effective.
Cooking Tools
If you plan to do a lot of car camping, getting a Coleman cooktop is a great investment. Other helpful tools are a cast iron skillet (10-inch is ideal), metal spatula, knife, cutting board, and tongs.
Be Eco-Minded
Reusable plates, cups, and silverware work well. Avoid single-use plastics to cut down on unnecessary environmental waste.