Classic Camping Recipes You Can Make Without a Campfire

  

 

  

British Columbia is home to towering old-growth forests, stunning mountain ranges and beautiful lakes and rivers, making it a major destination for campers, hikers and explorers of all kinds. The province can also get extremely dry at the height of summer, so campers need to take extra precaution when cooking and playing outdoors. Over just BC Day long weekend, the BC Wildfire Service responded to an estimated 98 abandoned campfires province-wide.

Whether there’s a campfire ban on or not, you can still have the iconic camping experience without having to light a fire. Bear in mind that you can be fined $1,150 if you light a campfire when a ban is in place.

One of the best ways to do so is to enjoy the classic camping dishes we loved when we were children. From fresh trout, to vegetable skewers, to S’mores (yes, even S’mores), here are seven classic campfire recipes that don’t need an open fire to be enjoyed.

 

Breakfast Bars

Image by: Mariam

Trail mix is an easy snack when you’re on the go, but if you’re looking to take your camping cooking experience to another level, consider baking homemade breakfast bars in preparation for your trip. You can customize these treats to your family’s liking by including things like chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, banana chips, you name it! Strapped for time? Skip the baking and sprinkle any of the above ingredients over a bowl of yogurt and enjoy a healthy, bright start to your morning.

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Feel like a kid again with this sweet, sticky summer favourite. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is the perfect camping food because it’s easy to make and provides a boost of energy in the early afternoon. You also don’t have to refrigerate nut butter or jelly, so simply assemble the sandwiches the morning of your trip and pack them away for later.

 

Hot Dogs

Image by: petradr

Toss a package of all-beef franks on the grill, making sure that the heat is evenly distributed along the surface. To ensure an even cook, make a series of cuts into the two opposite sides of the dogs. This allows the heat to reach the centre of the sausage and will result in a juicier, more delicious hot dog. Now that’s a meal you can relish (pun intended).

 

Wraps

This is an easy one. Bring your favourite meats, cheeses and spreads for a simple lunch that you can take on any hikes or outings during your weekend getaway. If you want to add a more rustic feel to your meal, grill the wraps on the top of your stove before assembling them.

 

Chili

Image by: Will Powell

Despite their misleading title, spaghetti westerns almost always featured one iconic dish: piping hot chili, enjoyed around a campfire. While you might not have a fire, you can still experience this classic dish. Cook a pound of ground beef ahead of time, then warm it up on the stove at your campsite with kidney beans, tomato soup, onion, salt, chili powder and water. Still have a couple hot dogs left? Chili is the perfect bonus topping.

 

Fresh Trout

If you’re camping by a lake this summer, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing some fishing. B.C. has hundreds of trout fishing lakes, ranging from Vancouver Island through the Okanagan, and all the way up to the Peace River region. For delicious, flakey fish, arrange your trout in a grill basket and place it on the grill over medium heat. Cook until the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Drizzle with a maple syrup and soy glaze and enjoy!

 

S’mores

Image by: Edward Kimber

A camping trip just isn’t complete until you’ve had a S’more. You can always roast your marshmallows over a gas range if you have one, but there are tastier, more inventive ways to enjoy this classic camping treat. Using skewers, dunk your marshmallows in dipping chocolate before rolling them in crushed graham crackers for no-mess S’mores on a stick. Bonus: you don’t have to wait until next season to enjoy these, since you can easily make them in the comfort of your own kitchen.

There you have it, creative campers! By thinking outside of the box and putting a modern twist on your favourite camping recipes, you can still have a quintessential outdoor experience and eat delicious, inspired food, too. Just make sure that whenever you venture into the great outdoors, you check for bans and restrictions before striking any kind of match.