Post by: Rob on April 17, 2025, 10:29:24 AM
My go-to dinners are pretty simple:
-Steak on the BBQ
-Grilled Chicken on the BBQ
-Grilled bratwurst with the usual fixings
-burgers
Basically heat up a piece of meat on the BBQ...
Lunches are usually just some kind of sandwich in the field
Breakfasts I am a bit more creative with. It can be as simple as a bowl of cereal when I am in a rush, to more elaborate omelets, scrambles, or pancakes paired with country fries etc.
So I am looking for ideas to expand my menu with. What are your favorite meals when you are camping/hunting? Specifically:
1. What are your favorite meals when you have the luxury of time to prepare/cook
2. What are your favorite meals when you are in a rush, or just want to put food on the table before you collapse into your tent/camper for the night.
Post by: WSU on April 17, 2025, 10:33:03 AM
Post by: Rugergunsite308 on April 17, 2025, 11:51:18 AM
My wife makes a couple dozen pasties at a time out of a mixture of dear and elk burger and bear sausage and then we throw them in the freezer individually wrapped in tinfoil. They make epic elk camp food.
I also throughout the year when we have leftover soups throw them in ziploc bags or mason jars and freeze them. Then in elk camp you throw the whole bag or jar in a pot of water and warm it up. No dishes.
I like pre-prepping and cooking wildgame while hunting because there is something in me that feels sacrilegious about eating beef or chicken while hunting.
Post by: wadu1 on April 17, 2025, 11:51:28 AM
Post by: addicted1 on April 17, 2025, 12:06:22 PM
DIY personal pizza
Chicken fajitas (save the mixings for next meal)
Quesadilla(mixed with left over fajita filling)
Breakfast:
Cereal, hasbrowns, bacon and eggs, pancakes things like that
Lunch:
We usually make after breakfast and pack up for the day, sandwiches, salads, snacks
Post by: str8meat on April 17, 2025, 12:28:57 PM
Post by: Smokeploe on April 17, 2025, 12:51:33 PM
We have been doing this, you can either grill it or cook it in the flat top(black stone). The wife uses pork most of the time, cut up a pork shoulder thin slices 1/4”.
Serve over rice or in those ciabatta rolls from Costco! We make it ahead like the couple of day before we leave.
Smokeploe
Post by: Alchase on April 17, 2025, 12:56:31 PM
I am kind of in a rut with food when camping and looking for ideas.
My go-to dinners are pretty simple:
-Steak on the BBQ
-Grilled Chicken on the BBQ
-Grilled bratwurst with the usual fixings
-burgers
Basically heat up a piece of meat on the BBQ...
Lunches are usually just some kind of sandwich in the field
Breakfasts I am a bit more creative with. It can be as simple as a bowl of cereal when I am in a rush, to more elaborate omelets, scrambles, or pancakes paired with country fries etc.
So I am looking for ideas to expand my menu with. What are your favorite meals when you are camping/hunting? Specifically:
1. What are your favorite meals when you have the luxury of time to prepare/cook
2. What are your favorite meals when you are in a rush, or just want to put food on the table before you collapse into your tent/camper for the night.
Can't argue with any of those choices :tup:
My favorites are Bacon wrapped Elk Backstrap cooked over a fire.
Bacon wrapped Grouse cooked over a fire.
BBQed Rib-eye with sauteed mushrooms and grilled corn on the cob (covered in garlic olive oil and Johnney's Garlic Seasoning)
Hotdogs (good quality hotdogs) preferred over a fire on a stick, but a BBQ Grill will suffice, LOL
For quick heatem up meals, Costco frozen Chicken Patties make great chicken burgers. Just heat them for a couple minutes, add condiments and eat.
Ramon Bowls, Costo has some really good Ramon bowls that you just add hot water to.
For sandwiches that I take in my pack - I only use Sandwich Thins instead of regular bread slices, and pack them with meat and cheese and condiments of your choice.
(https://www.target.com/p/brownberry-100-whole-wheat-sandwich-thins-12oz/-/A-54212706?TCID=PDS-19859758222&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-brK-urfjAMVzCRECB3vVywKEAQYASABEgKknfD_BwE)
Post by: Rugergunsite308 on April 17, 2025, 12:56:59 PM
My dad would always do a fry night in elk camp with either fish or hotwings as the main course, but before that we'd fry anything we wanted to from food we packed or things we'd scavenged. Deepfried chantrelles, boletes, or COW's, jalepenos stuffed with cheese, onions, orrio's, gummy bears, etc. You name it, we fried it.
Just remember your TP the next morning.
Post by: ghosthunter on April 17, 2025, 01:08:51 PM
Spaghetti
Hamburger Helper
Post by: Buckjunkie on April 17, 2025, 01:20:26 PM
Hamburgers and hot dogs
Steak
French dip
Lasagna
Ham and Swiss sandwiches on ciabatta buns with honey mustard
Ham & Cheese omelette with fried potatoes and onions
Post by: Dan-o on April 17, 2025, 01:23:53 PM
Brisket on hard rolls
Chicken spread on croissants
Post by: Stein on April 17, 2025, 02:07:03 PM
Leftover prime rib sliced thin for sandwiches with provolone, onions and peppers.
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 17, 2025, 02:57:19 PM
Post by: Mtnwalker on April 17, 2025, 03:09:32 PM
Razor clam chowder
Leftover prime rib sliced thin for sandwiches with provolone, onions and peppers.
:yeah: If we're base camping it the wife usually sends a giant container of home made clam chowder. Man that hits the spot after a cold day in the mountains! Pre-making a big lasagna is another good one, then do up a couple sides to go along with it in camp. Also grilled salmon or halibut. Throw in some steaks, potatoes and onions and I'm a happy camper
Post by: WoolyRunner on April 17, 2025, 03:59:36 PM
Post by: 3nails on April 17, 2025, 04:09:07 PM
Post by: CarbonHunter on April 17, 2025, 05:35:43 PM
I have gone to the prepped and frozen meals as well and we typically put them in the oven or pot and they are ready in an hour but when there is time steaks, taters and chili is hard to beat. And the day after chili is chili dog night.
Post by: Buckhunter24 on April 17, 2025, 06:47:06 PM
Post by: ganghis on April 17, 2025, 08:31:17 PM
Sorry to screw up your car camping thread, but just a PSA you can still eat good over a camp stove in the backcountry without paying $12 a meal!
Post by: HereDuckyDucky on April 17, 2025, 10:04:15 PM
RW
Post by: Rob on April 18, 2025, 05:52:00 AM
I will be upping my game for sure with some of these ideas. I think my key takeaway is, I don't do the pre-trip prep. I tend to start everything right before I start cooking. That will speed things up and increase quality and variety of food.
And backcountry ideas are NOT off the table so that does not screw the thread up.
One time on a Mt. Baker climb one of our team members had put a whole large pizza in her pack. Every time we stopped she pulled out a piece to eat. By the time we figured it out she was half way thru the pizza! She had to start being discrete from that point on as we were all quite jealous and not above stealing.
Post by: NOCK NOCK on April 18, 2025, 06:15:17 AM
HOBO/foil wrap stew is always a winner.
Easy stroganoff....1# burger, 16z sour cream, 1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup, spice to taste. Brown burg. then add rest. serve over pasta.
How about quicky Swedish meatballs, similar to SOS (no balls made) just flavor it the same, serve over mashed taters, (little bags easiest)
Post by: boneaddict on April 18, 2025, 06:35:20 AM
Post by: Okanagan on April 18, 2025, 07:54:52 AM
I was treated to a simple delight one night from a fellow member that I believe has passed. It was simple DintyMoore with fresh grouse breast cubed and added to it. I was shocked how good it was. Maybe it was the warming of the shot of Crown and the comradery, or the fact we just finished packing a moose out. I'll never forget that meal.
Hadn't been paying attention to this thread but this Dinty Moore and grouse caught my eye. One of our best ever campfire meals was when my then high school son and I loaded our Dutch oven with Dinty Moore, a few more carrots, onions and potatoes, and added diced up breasts from three grouse. We set the Dutch oven on a bed of coals in the edge of the fire and went hunting in mid-afternoon. We came back after dark in snow blowing sideways, all of the fire covered with snow except for the Dutch oven. It was steaming hot when the lid came off, a fabulous mix of store bought and homemade stew with the delicious grouse chunks that had soaked up the other flavors. Great memory!.
Post by: Longfield1 on April 18, 2025, 08:25:10 AM
Hot dogs
Burgers
Steaks
If the family is with me then its mostly different because my wife is cooking.
Bacon eggs pancakes hashbrowns for breakfast
sandwiches for lunch
stir fry, orange chicken, pasta, burgers
Post by: Alchase on April 18, 2025, 09:59:06 AM
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkt dry chili seasoning
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
1/2 tsp minced Garlic
1 small sweet onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp liquid smoke
1 cup ketchup
1 15 oz can chili beans, undrained
1 15 oz can black beans, undrained
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
Hand full of chili peppers
1. Brown ground beef in a Dutch oven or large pot.
2. Sprinkle packet of chili seasoning in with meat and stir well.
3. Add fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, liquid smoke and ketchup.
4. Fold in chili beans and black beans.
5. Add chili peppers to desired heat.
6. Stir well and cover. Simmer for at least one hour over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Add a little water if chili becomes too thick.
7. Top bowls of chili with grated cheddar, sour cream and chopped cilantro as a garnish.
There is just something satisfying about sitting around a campfire after a long day of hunting, eating a hot bowl of chili.
:drool:
Post by: Wingin it on April 18, 2025, 03:40:57 PM
Burgers
Brats/dogs
Chili
Soups
Philly steak sandwiches
Pastas (spaghetti, fettuccine Alfredo)
Breakfast is always a fend for yourself situation. Usually cereal or quick oatmeal packets.
Lunch varies from sandwiches, egg salad is a favorite, to whatever snacks are in my pack.
Post by: Twispriver on April 18, 2025, 05:50:54 PM
Post by: CarbonHunter on April 18, 2025, 05:55:13 PM
I forgot home made Campfire Chili -
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkt dry chili seasoning
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
1/2 tsp minced Garlic
1 small sweet onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 Tbsp liquid smoke
1 cup ketchup
1 15 oz can chili beans, undrained
1 15 oz can black beans, undrained
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
Hand full of chili peppers
1. Brown ground beef in a Dutch oven or large pot.
2. Sprinkle packet of chili seasoning in with meat and stir well.
3. Add fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion, cilantro, liquid smoke and ketchup.
4. Fold in chili beans and black beans.
5. Add chili peppers to desired heat.
6. Stir well and cover. Simmer for at least one hour over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Add a little water if chili becomes too thick.
7. Top bowls of chili with grated cheddar, sour cream and chopped cilantro as a garnish.
There is just something satisfying about sitting around a campfire after a long day of hunting, eating a hot bowl of chili.
:drool:
Hard to beat anything cooked over the fire in a Dutch oven on a cold evening after a long day of hunting. Not much that you can’t cook this way.
Post by: Caseyd on April 18, 2025, 06:56:41 PM
Great ideas, appreciate the input! However I don't appreciate the 10 pounds I have put on just by reading the replies...
I will be upping my game for sure with some of these ideas. I think my key takeaway is, I don't do the pre-trip prep. I tend to start everything right before I start cooking. That will speed things up and increase quality and variety of food.
And backcountry ideas are NOT off the table so that does not screw the thread up.
One time on a Mt. Baker climb one of our team members had put a whole large pizza in her pack. Every time we stopped she pulled out a piece to eat. By the time we figured it out she was half way thru the pizza! She had to start being discrete from that point on as we were all quite jealous and not above stealing.
Prep is key for cutting out time and dishes. Think of a menu and try to do anything you can at home.
Example: this year I did a crab boil for elk camp :chuckle: Made a condensed broth at home and froze it in gallon ziplocks. Cut the red potatos in half and broke the corn. Crab was froze in clusters. Shrimp was frozen raw/cleaned ready to roll. Added water at camp and got the broth up to temp and added everything. Only addition thing I could have down ahead of time was cut the kielbasa but was easy to fit that 1 minute in. In total used one large pot and slotted spoon
Post by: Crunchy on April 18, 2025, 06:59:59 PM
Post by: greenhead_killer on April 19, 2025, 08:15:13 AM
Post by: Wingin it on April 19, 2025, 08:46:52 PM
Post by: highside74 on April 19, 2025, 09:18:33 PM
One of our favorites was clam digging then coming back to camp and my brother who was a chef for many years would make a giant pot of Clam Chowder. It was an annual event for many years. My boys still talk about it.
Post by: Okanagan on April 20, 2025, 08:22:16 AM
We cook nothing in camp that requires cleaning cooking or serving gear, with possible exception of a large cooking spoon and fork. I have a deep cake pan that fits inside my Dutch oven. I cook biscuits etc. in that so the Dutch oven stays clean. Biscuit pans just wipe out.
We keep a pot of water hot, and cook or drink anything that requires only hot water: instant coffee, cocoa, Ramen, etc. Foil wrapped items in coals is our main way to cook full meals: corn on the cob, salmon, potatoes, grouse breasts, a mix of veggies and meat. Of course, many kinds of meats can be grilled on a stick over a fire.
Paper plates etc. and everything used to cook and serve goes in a garbage bag. A pot for hot water is the only non-disposable.
I’d sure prize to eat some of the meals described in this thread, but we have made a conscious choice to focus on the hunt and save the great cooking for home. We want energy for a few days, not a balanced diet. FWIW we are back pack hunters who are adapting to camping by a vehicle. Minimal is almost a fetish.
Post by: follow maggie on April 20, 2025, 11:08:58 AM
Post by: bb76 on May 15, 2025, 08:18:42 PM
Sausage patties
Breakfast burritos
Stew
Steak
Hobo dinners
Fried eggs
Sandwiches
Oatmeal
Breakfast Sandwiches
It all depends on how and where I'm hunting. I precook or do prep work at home.
Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk
Post by: Angry Perch on May 16, 2025, 07:48:16 AM
Beer pancakes
Sausage patties
Breakfast burritos
Stew
Steak
Hobo dinners
Fried eggs
Sandwiches
Oatmeal
Breakfast Sandwiches
It all depends on how and where I'm hunting. I precook or do prep work at home.
Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk
You had me at "Beer pancakes"!!
Post by: OutHouse on May 16, 2025, 09:02:42 AM
Another favorite is carne asada on a hanging grill. Have refried beans heating on the stove. Cook the carne, throw a corn tortilla on the grill for a moment, add some beans and the meat, some cotija cheese and eat small quesadillas all night. When we do that, dinner lasts about four hours cooking and handing them out to people.
Post by: hunter399 on May 16, 2025, 01:18:03 PM
Fried egg sandwich sounds good right now. 😂🤤Beer pancakes
Sausage patties
Breakfast burritos
Stew
Steak
Hobo dinners
Fried eggs
Sandwiches
Oatmeal
Breakfast Sandwiches
It all depends on how and where I'm hunting. I precook or do prep work at home.
Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk
You had me at "Beer pancakes"!!
Post by: bb76 on May 16, 2025, 01:19:44 PM
We've had those in camp a few times.Fried egg sandwich sounds good right now.Beer pancakes
Sausage patties
Breakfast burritos
Stew
Steak
Hobo dinners
Fried eggs
Sandwiches
Oatmeal
Breakfast Sandwiches
It all depends on how and where I'm hunting. I precook or do prep work at home.
Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk
You had me at "Beer pancakes"!!
Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk
Post by: Alchase on May 18, 2025, 07:12:47 PM
I never ate that well on in deer camp since.
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 19, 2025, 12:57:00 PM
Post by: EnglishSetter on May 19, 2025, 01:23:21 PM
Post by: kodiak06 on May 21, 2025, 12:57:28 PM