10 no-cook dinners for camping

You’re heading out for an improvised night on the hill or at a campsite nearby and don’t want the weight and hassle of packing a camp stove, gas, pots and pans? Check out some simple food ideas you can prepare at home and eat cold when your tent is pitched.

Time saved, flavour guaranteed, no cooking required. Enjoy!

10 easy meals to prepare before you head out on your camping adventure

1. SANDWICHES

No points for imagination here… Grab your favourite rolls or baguette, layer with your choice of fillings, mustard or mayo, add a leaf of lettuce for show and wrap before you pack. Avoid placing right at the bottom of the bag, they don’t look so good flat.

2. PIZZA

Add your favourite toppings and bake at home. Leave to cool, slice and pack. Easy as!

3. QUICHE

Just like pizza, quiche is easy to bake at home, travels well and tastes great cold!

4. RICE SALAD

Cook up a pot of rice, leave to cool. Add chopped bell peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, gherkins, olives, feta cheese or whatever takes your fancy, then pack into Ziploc bags or a reusable container ready to savour as the sun goes down.

For variation, replace the rice with quinoa, couscous, lentils, chickpeas or pasta, and add tuna or chicken for protein.

5. POTATO SALAD

Every family has a slightly different potato salad recipe but no matter if yours is seasoned with olive oil, mayo or sour cream, it’s the perfect side to cold cuts and fresh bread.

6. JACKET POTATOES

Bake some large potatoes, split half open and stuff with your choice of cheese, ham, tuna, sour cream… Wrap in aluminium and enjoy cold. Can get a little messy so make sure you pack tissues or wet wipes.

7. VEGETABLE DIPS & BOILED EGGS

Boil some eggs and chop up some carrots, celery sticks, cucumber and bell peppers to eat with hummus or a sour cream dip. Make sure you pack extra bread and crackers if you’re worried about going hungry.

8. GRANOLA

A camping classic. And if you pack it in a Ziploc pouch, you can just add milk and simply eat it straight from the bag…

9. TORTILLAS

Easy to pack and easy to fill, roll and wrap. Bring your selection of chopped filling (cucumber, bell peppers, lettuce, cold cuts, cheese…) or simply spread with hummus or peanut butter…

10. CAKE

Home baked cakes, brownies or cookies are a perfectly sweet way to end a yummy campsite meal (or dip into if you’re in need of a sugar hit before wrestling with the tent). Bake away!