Camp meals
Quick Camping Meals (Under 20 Minutes)
Quick camping meals that come together in 20 minutes or less, from no-cook tostadas and tuna salads to one-pan gnocchi, seared scallops and easy sweets. Pick a recipe, check the gear list, and eat before the sun drops.
40+ under 20 minutes recipes
Quick breakfasts
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Quick lunches
Quick dinners
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Quick snacks & treats
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Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
Quick drinks
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Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
See every under 20 minutes recipe
About quick camping meals (under 20 minutes)
Fast camp cooking starts at home. Chop, mix and measure before you leave, and pack each meal's dry parts in one bag or bin. Bring a sharp knife, a small cutting board, a lighter, a 10-inch skillet and one pot. A single burner handles almost everything here. Keep a small spice kit with salt, pepper, chili flakes and olive oil in a leakproof bottle, since these meals rely on a few bold flavors.
Food safety matters more when the meal is quick. Keep raw meat and seafood in a cooler at 40°F or below, in a sealed bag at the bottom, away from ready-to-eat food. Cook chicken to 165°F, ground beef to 160°F and pork to 145°F. Fish and scallops should hit 145°F. Canned tuna, beans and shelf-stable tortillas need no cooler until opened. Once opened, eat them within about 2 hours, or 1 hour if it's above 90°F. Wash hands or use sanitizer before you touch food, and don't set cooked food on a surface that held raw meat.
The common mistakes are easy to fix. Don't start cooking before the stove is lit, the water is boiling and the ingredients are within reach. Cook over a stove, not a roaring fire, when you're counting minutes, because flames are hard to control. Test your timing once at home. Skip recipes that need a long soak or chill unless you can prep them the night before. Carry out all trash and food scraps, and strain dishwater before scattering it well away from water sources and camp.
Questions
What are some good camping meals that take under 20 minutes?
No-cook meals like tuna tostadas, chopped salad hoagies and chicken tortas are ready in 10 to 15 minutes. One-skillet dishes like crispy gnocchi, seared scallops and griddled halloumi also finish quickly on a camp stove.
Can I make quick camping meals without a cooler?
Yes. Build meals around shelf-stable items like canned tuna, canned beans, tortillas, hard cheese, dried noodles, instant drink mixes and fresh produce that holds up, such as cucumbers and jicama. Only skip the cooler if nothing needs refrigeration, and eat any opened cans within 2 hours.
How do I cook fast at camp with only one burner?
Pick one-pan recipes and do all the chopping and measuring first. Cook in order from the quickest item to the slowest, or finish the no-cook parts while the pan heats. Keep a lid on the pot to bring water to a boil faster.
How do I keep food safe in a cooler on a short trip?
Pre-chill the cooler and the food, use block ice or plenty of ice packs, and keep the cooler in the shade. Hold it at 40°F or below, and put raw meat and seafood at the bottom in sealed bags.
What should I prep at home to save time at camp?
Wash and chop vegetables, mix dry ingredients and spice blends, make sauces and dressings, and portion everything into labeled bags or jars. Keep raw meat frozen in its own sealed bag so it thaws slowly in the cooler and stays cold.