Up your instant game! These elevated instant camp food ideas will have you impressing your friends and family with some clever twists. Say goodbye to your old campfire meals and get ready to enjoy the fun of cooking outdoors!
Simple Instant Camp Food
The saying “Simple is Best” confidently strides into many life situations, especially when it comes to fueling up in emergencies like bugging out or racing through the backcountry. Keeping things simple is key in these scenarios—less fuss, less mess. When time is tight, it’s wise to reach for foods that require no cooking or just need a splash of hot water to rehydrate.
So, let’s dive into the world of easy meals that only demand a metal container for boiling water, whether you’re whipping up some rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, soups, or sipping on flavored hot drinks. It’s all about keeping it uncomplicated and delicious!
Just Add Water
If you’re looking for budget-friendly meal options, I recommend rice, mashed potatoes, and Knorr Sides—they’re simple and delicious. Add hot water to the packages, and you have a meal without the mess of pots. Each pack feeds 3-4 people and costs under two bucks. The key is to add cooked ham, SPAM, or whatever protein you like.
I use a couple of green sticks as makeshift clamps to seal the hot water during rehydration (which takes about 7-10 minutes). You can even add veggies or meat to spice things up.
Instant Japanese Miso soup is a winner for quick snacks—it’s easy to drink straight from the container.
Elevated Instant Camp Food
Some typical, quick meals globally are instant noodles. However, since we’re working on raising the bar on our instant camp cooking, check these out.
Many types of instant ramen noodles will work here. This instant noodle recipe works well in cooler months. I like to make it after Thanksgiving using leftover turkey. It requires green onions, a slice of turkey, and an egg.
I make the noodles as usual with boiling water. Meanwhile, I fry an egg and dice green onions. When the noodles are ready, I add a healthy slice of turkey and fried egg and garnish it with green onions. It looks like the next best thing to restaurant-style ramen in the woods!
Seafood Camp Instant Pasta
As simple as they come. Rotini pasta or whatever you’ve got will work. There’s no hard and fast recipe. I grabbed a handful of pasta and took it to camp. Then, I used a pack of roasted garlic tuna. I took a few gobs of spaghetti sauce in a container and a few spinach leaves to make the colors pop!
The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente, giving it the right amount of chew. I stirred in the sauce after draining the water from my trusty Boy Scout pot using a lid (a little trick you pick up over the years). Next, I tossed a packet of roasted garlic tuna and mixed it all up before adding fresh spinach.
A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top finished it off nicely. I put the lid back on and let it sit for a moment. Voilà! An elegant meal in the woods, whipped up in no time and without breaking the bank!
Indonesian Spicy Camp Food
This Indonesian instant favorite is a more involved, elevated, instant camp food idea. I was fresh back from Southeast Asia and was passionate about recreating some impressionable dishes in the woods. It all started with an instant Mi Goreng Instant Stir Fry Noodles pack.
However, I added the good stuff. Fresh carrots, onions, Thai chilies, spinach, garlic, wild spring chives, a can of spicy roasted eel, and an egg were perfect for this camp dish!
I made the noodles as instructed on the package and set them aside. Meanwhile, I prepped the support ingredients and fried the egg. Then, I stir-fried the onions, carrots, chilies, and garlic in a small camp wok. I added the drained noodles and tossed them evenly. Finally, I added the fried egg and roasted spicy eel.
The presentation was spot on, and got an A+ for taste and appearance. What more could you want for a dish made in the wilderness?
Try These Camp Dishes
As always, feel free to change the formula, recipe, and ingredients. The idea is to share new, exciting ideas for your camp experience and a bit of flair!
