The biggest benefit to SUV camping is the ability to bring more stuff (food) with you on your adventure. Here are some of our favorite foods to cook and eat while camping in your SUV or truck, focusing on simplicity, flavor, and ease of preparation.
1. Breakfast
- Breakfast Burritos: Pre-make your burritos with eggs, cheese, sausage or veggies, and wrap them in foil. They can be heated over a campfire or portable stove for a quick and hearty breakfast while car camping.
- Overnight Oats: The easiest thing to prepare in advance, simply mix oats with your choice of milk, yogurt, fruits, and nuts. Store in mason jars for a quick, nutritious breakfast.
- Campfire Pancakes: Bring along pancake mix and cook them on a portable griddle or over a fire. Easiest peezy breakfast for car camping.
2. Lunch
- Sandwiches or Wraps: Super easy to customize, the perfect on-the-go meal. Try turkey, cheese, and spinach wraps or classic PB&J. We always keep these loaded on our SUV or car camping adventures!
- Charcuterie Boards: Go fancy in your SUV camping! Pack a mix of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruits. This no-cook option is great for leisurely lunches with friends or a romantic setting.
- Quinoa Salad: Nothing beats a hearty quinoa salad with beans, corn, diced veggies, and a zesty dressing. Bonus points because it can be enjoyed cold!
3. Dinner
- Foil Pack Meals: Combine protein (like chicken/fish/etc.), veggies (such as bell peppers, zucchini, or potatoes), and seasonings in foil packets. Cook them over the campfire or on a grill for an easy, one-dish dinner.
- Tacos: Bring taco shells or tortillas, pre-cooked meat, and toppings. Set up a taco bar on your tailgate or Hele Box to make your car camping experience feel restaurant like!
- Stir-Fry: Quick to cook over a portable stove, pack pre-cut veggies and protein. Use a simple sauce for flavor and serve over instant rice or noodles.
4. Desserts
- S'mores: No car camping trip is complete without this classic treat! Bring graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows to toast over the fire.
- Campfire Banana Boats: You aren’t ready for this one… Just slice a banana lengthwise, fill it with chocolate chips and marshmallows, wrap it in foil, and heat it over the fire for a deliciously gooey treat.
The best part about everything on this list, is that you can do the majority of the prep/work at home before hitting the road on your car camping trip!
Making your time outdoors more enjoyable as you’ll have more of it to relax.
Bon appetit!
Looking for more helpful car camping information? Check out our car camping guide!
Need a sleeping platform for your SUV or Truck? Check out the Hele Box!