Tasty Camping Meals That Don't Require Refrigeration

Heading out for a spot of camping but struggling for space? Ditching your cooler can help maximize your cargo space for other camping equipment. It also means you don't have to worry about things like cross-contamination between raw meats and other foods as your ice melts. And the good news is, if you're worried that going sans cooler will leave your camping party subsisting on little more than ramen noodles and granola bars, there are plenty of ways to make creative campsite meals without refrigeration.

Whether they're thru-hikers or glampers, fans of pitching a tent in the great outdoors tend to have some pretty creative ideas for feasting in the open air. All you need is a can opener, the right combination of shelf-stable foods and seasonings, and that essential campsite cooking staple, aluminum foil, to cook up some of the tastiest, stick-to-your-ribs campground meals without lugging a heavy five-day cooler around on your travels. Thanks to the seasoned campers of Reddit sharing some of the best fridge-free camp food ideas, here's a list of must-have meal plan ideas when you're camping for your next cooler-free camping adventure.

When it comes to delicious campground dining, it truly doesn't get much better than the super easy Thanksgiving Spud Bomb. It's one of those perennially popular dishes among camper communities. One Reddit user emphasized, "Insta-mash is a classic. Instant stuffing is just as good if not better," while another Redditor simply stated that it "Hits every time." To create this legendary dish, pick up your choice of dried stuffing, instant gravy mix, and instant mashed potatoes, the kind you just need to add water to. Options like "Four Cheese," "Loaded Baked Potato," or "Homestyle Buttery" are typically available at most larger supermarkets. You'll also need chicken packets from the canned meat aisle and powdered milk from the baking aisle for your potatoes.

While you could feasibly mix up your potatoes without butter, they're blander and runnier that way. If it's going to remain below 70 degrees Fahrenheit where you're traveling, you can safely keep butter in an airtight container (salted butter tends to fare better at warmer temperatures since salt is a natural preservative). If you're camping someplace warmer, substitute a shelf-stable buttery cooking oil. Seasonings like powdered garlic, dried cooking herbs, and dehydrated chives from the seasoning aisle can also add a little oomph to your mashed potato recipe.

Once you've prepared your mashed potatoes, fix up your instant stuffing with butter or oil and water, then layer it over your mashed potatoes (or vice versa). Season, heat, add your chicken, then top the whole mess with prepared gravy. For added flair, you can sprinkle on any combination of dried parmesan cheese (save your pizza packets!), dried cranberries, or panko bread crumbs.

Tortillas are one of the handiest shelf-stable foods for cooler-free camping because they're flat, grain-based products that don't take up a lot of space. After all, cooking with tortillas is one of the simplest and best foil-free campground techniques. And if you grab the big ones, you can use them to make that handiest of finger foods: The bean burrito.

If you go simple, all you need to make bean burritos are either canned or dried refried beans. Simply heat them up, mix in your favorite Mexican seasonings, and wrap them up in a tortilla (bonus points for bringing along restaurant packets of your favorite hot sauce like Cholula). If you want to add cheese, bring along a shelf-stable cheese like Velveeta or your favorite cheese dip in a jar.

You can elevate your game by adding a shelf-stable, microwave-ready pack of Mexican rice to your burritos. Canned corn and a nice spicy salsa (from a shelf-stable jar, of course!) can also make a nice addition to your campsite burritos. Or go with one Reddit user's suggestion and bring along some canned red taco or enchilada sauce. For added flavor, bring along a few limes, since they travel well, don't require refrigeration, and can really enhance your burritos.

If you want a truly hearty campfire meal that doesn't require refrigeration, you can't beat a baked potato, especially during the winter months. "Nothing beats a hot charcoal baked potato in cold freezing temperature," one Redditor observed on r/camping. Grab a handful of potatoes from your local produce section, and as long as you store them out of the sun's rays — preferably in something breathable like a paper bag with holes poked in it or a produce basket — they'll generally keep just as they would in your kitchen. Wash them before packing, but be sure to dry your potatoes to reduce moisture in transit.

Once you're ready to cook, use a fork to poke holes all around them. Drizzle some buttery oil onto a plate and then roll your potatoes around in it, sprinkling salt on the skin to your preference. Next, wrap those pretty little spuds in aluminum foil, either double-wrapping or using a heavy-duty foil product. To bake, lay your potatoes either near or directly in the coals of your campfire. Let them cook for about 10 minutes, flip them over for another 10, and then check to see if they're ready every five minutes or so thereafter. You'll know they're ready to eat when the skins are a lovely golden-brown.

Now that your potatoes are fully cooked, it's time to break out the toppings. Grab your shelf-stable chicken from the canned meat aisle, cook it in barbecue sauce, and then set it aside. Open each potato, add your butter or oil, fill with your chicken, and then top with a nice canned cheese sauce. You can also add chives or dried bacon bits from the salad aisle at your local supermarket.

If you're looking for a nice, hearty, meat-and-potatoes dish that doesn't require refrigeration, all you really need is some shelf-stable, dry-cured, vacuum-packed sausage like a dry-cured salami or saucisson sec and a mess of potatoes (either mashed or diced) to throw it into. To really put together a killer dish, add a few other vegetables that don't require refrigeration, like bell peppers and onions. "This one is a little work but it's my absolute favorite," shared one Reddit user as they broke down their mashed potato-based recipe.

Start by frying up your salami, onions, and bell pepper together in your camping skillet. Set them aside, prepare your potatoes, and then toss the whole thing together with a little sprinkle of sea salt. Alternatively, you could quarter up some baby red potatoes, throw your sausage, bell pepper, and onion into one foil packet, add olive oil and sea salt, and then close everything up nice and tight before tossing it onto a hot grill.

Mashed, quartered, or diced, it makes for one of the best meals you'll eat at a campsite. "Mix together and enjoy while watching a mountain sunset. Clean up sucks less if you basically lick it clean," the Redditor concluded.

If you've got a pot, some water for boiling, and a fire, you can make macaroni and cheese at your campsite. And if you can make mac and cheese at your campsite, you can make a spicy tuna mac. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

While you could start with a bag of noodles and cheese sauce or go with a shells-and-cheese option for your base, one Reddit user on r/HikerTrashMeals recommended just grabbing some microwavable mac and cheese. "I used the instant cups because you're supposed to boil the boxed pasta for longer, and fuel can be a commodity in the woods. The instant cups cook by just adding boiling water and letting them sit," they shared.

For each serving of instant mac, mix in half a sweet-and-spicy tuna packet (available from the canned meats aisle). Or if you really love the kick, go for the spicy Thai chili tuna packets available at most Walmarts. For an extra-hot tuna mac, you can add some sriracha sauce. Alternatively, if you prefer your food a little milder, substitute a barbecue- or lemon-pepper-flavored tuna.

When you're getting ready for a big day of outdoor adventures, you need a hearty breakfast to start your day off right. And it doesn't get much easier — or tastier — than a nice, hot bowl of dressed-up instant oatmeal.

To make the tastiest campsite oatmeal, start with some instant oats or "quick oats," the kind where you just need to add boiling water and a little salt. Dress them up while you're cooking the oats by adding a little drizzle of maple syrup, then add a couple of teaspoons of powdered milk for density, richness, and protein. Alternatively, you could mix in some ghee. One r/CampingandHiking Reddit user wrote, "I put ghee in mine as well for some extra flavor and calories. It's shelf stable, so it works great for backpacking meals."

The sky is the limit when it comes to add-ins here. Ground flaxseed, chia seeds, granola, dried coconut, dried berries, or crushed nuts like walnuts or pecans all make excellent additions to your oatmeal. Try gathering all of your dried toppings together ahead of your trip, since food prep is one of those DIY camping hacks that make life just a little easier at the campsite. You could also cut up an apple and mix it into your oatmeal, since apples tend to travel pretty well if you store them out of direct sunlight. Or try drizzling some maple syrup, honey, or a spoonful of fruit preserves on top (from a shelf-stable jar, of course). 

If you're going to be camping for a few days or longer, you probably won't want to have oatmeal for breakfast every morning, especially if you've got a hankering for something a little more savory. That's the genius of campfire biscuits and gravy made with simple ingredients like powdered milk and gravy mix. "You can make biscuits pretty easily in a dutch oven (with a lid) over a campfire," advised one Reddit user on r/Cooking. "Use your own recipe or bring some of the dry mix, either way. Biscuits have a long history of being made over hot coals."

While lots of campers use popular drop biscuit or dry biscuit recipes for their biscuits and gravy, all you really need is some easy biscuit mix like Bisquick and powdered whole milk or powdered buttermilk. Prepare your powdered milk, then mix it into your Bisquick for easy two-ingredient biscuits. If you're working with a Dutch oven, simply layer your biscuits along the bottom of a disposable pie pan, then place the oven on your grill or above the campfire using a tripod. Alternatively, you can place the pie pan directly on your grill, as long as it's not directly touching the fire (since that can burn your biscuits). Once you're finished, prepare your gravy from the powdered mix by whisking it with water or milk, according to the instructions, and then adding salt and pepper to taste.

If you really want to impress your camping buddies with a mess-free gourmet camping meal, go for some easy campsite fajitas. As one Reddit user wrote on r/backpacking, "I love bringing tortillas, cheese, and a packet of chicken in fajita sauce. Put that together and it's bliss." To pull off this little slice of campfire heaven, start with a rainbow of bell peppers — red, yellow, orange, and green all work beautifully, or go with your favorites. Because bell peppers tend to wither more quickly than some other veggies when it's warm outside, be extra careful about storing them until you're ready to use them, and don't forget to store them in a mesh produce bag or a paper bag with holes. You'll also need some onions for this dish.

Slice up your veggies into thin slices, then place them in a quart-sized locking baggie, adding just enough oil to coat them and a teaspoon of fajita seasoning powder before shaking to coat. Next, move them to a foil packet, grill them until tender, then set them aside. Grab some canned chicken from the canned meat aisle, drain it, and transfer it to a plastic baggie. Just as with your veggies, add a little oil and some fajita seasoning. Transfer to a foil packet and heat to your preference. Once that's ready, it's time to break out the tortillas, salsa, and lime and throw everything together. Don't forget the Cholula and a jar of white queso!

Another fabulous Tex-Mex dish is the rice-and-bean bowl, and, as a bonus, it's fairly quick and easy to make. "I like a good bean and rice bowl," shared one Reddit user on r/backpacking. "Instant refried beans and rice, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, and Fritos. I usually add a couple of taco bell sauce packets and some dehydrated chicken as well."

You can start with instant powdered refried beans, instant dehydrated pinto beans, or you could go with a can of refried beans. If you want to make them a little creamier and richer, try the restaurant hack for improving refried beans by adding a little milk made from your powdered milk mix. Once those are ready, set them aside and prepare your instant Mexican-style rice, setting it aside when it's ready. Finally, grab a packet or can of chicken from the canned meat aisle, mix in a little of your own favorite taco sauce or seasoning, then heat. Layer everything over a bed of corn chips like Fritos. To finish, grate or chop a shelf-stable cheddar block, the kind you find in the snack aisle near beef jerky, or add some dried parmesan cheese. Finally, top with a favorite hot sauce and enjoy. 

While there's plenty to love about a plain old noodle cup, it's hardly the most gourmet dish to enjoy at your campsite. But no worries, if you're looking to zhuzh up your noodles a bit with a fancier version of ramen noodles, Reddit's camper community has you covered with loads of ideas to seriously elevate your favorite slurping dish. Just start with your favorite instant ramen noodle pack or cup of noodles, and then throw in everything but the kitchen sink.

Citing Walmart's tiny $1 hot sauce sample bottles, one Reddit user recommended adding a tiny bottle of Thai sweet chili sauce to the broth. "I just make ramen normally, then add a half to full sample bottle," the user advised. Another user shared their recommendation for a DIY "low budget pad thai" made with Ramen noodles and a little peanut butter powder, chili powder, and a little lime.

Other recommendations to spice up your campsite Ramen include dehydrated veggie mixes, chili oil, dehydrated mushroom powder, sesame oil, powdered egg, sriracha, miso packets, nori, or dried onion. One Redditor recommended beef jerky and lime, noting, "The beef jerky can slightly rehydrate in the hot broth and a squeeze of lime brightens everything up."

When it comes to fast, simple, high-protein campsite meals, a tuna salad wrap is about as quick and easy as it gets. And as an added bonus, you don't even have to start a fire to make this perfect lunchtime meal. To make this meal, you'll need large tortillas or your favorite wrap tortillas, and canned tuna or a tuna packet of your choice. Spicy tuna is good, but sweet-and-spicy or barbecue can also be pretty fabulous.

Dump your tuna into a bowl, and then mix in some mayonnaise. Since mayonnaise doesn't require refrigeration after opening due to its highly acidic nature inhibiting bacterial growth, you won't have to worry about tossing out your leftover mayo without a cooler to stash it in — simply pop the lid back on and save it for another meal. Add salt, pepper, and pickle relish to taste (either sweet or dill works really well, so go with what you usually like the most). Mix it all up, drizzle with sriracha, and then roll it up into a pretty little wrap to serve.

If you want to repeat the meal but switch it up a bit each time, there's also a lot of room for experimentation when it comes to tuna wraps. Reddit users on r/trailmeals recommended a long list of add-ins, including nori, crushed wasabi peas, crushed potato chips, lettuce, crushed tortilla chips, pitted olive snack packs, savory trail mix, avocado, crushed peanuts, shelf-stable cheese, dried cranberries, walnuts, apples, and even sweetcorn.

As a couple who loves camping but doesn't love to "rough it," my chef husband and I have been elevating our camping dining experience for almost 30 years. Whether we found ourselves camping in the Ozarks, honeymooning in Colorado's majestic storybook escape, or losing ourselves in the crowd at one of the United States' most incredible music festivals, one thing we never compromised on was making sure we ate well at our campsite.

Drawing on my own experiences with campsite cooking, I headed to Reddit to see what other campers recommended, keeping a keen eye open for recipes familiar to the kind of cooking I'd experienced at my own campsites so I knew what really worked and what didn't. The result is this list of fabulous, easy-to-prep meals that don't require a bulky cooler.