It’s that time of year again when folks are pulling out their tents and campers to experience nature, make memories and have fun. Many people stress over what foods to pack on their overnight adventures into the wild. If you’re not going to have access to refrigeration, what are the best food to take with you? Some people make the mistake of taking tons of beef jerky, potato chips and protein bars. However, you can enjoy a much better meal than that!
So, toss out the junk food and let us introduce to you the 10 best camping foods that are popular this year! There’s no refrigeration needed as we are going to show you a list of dried foods that will satisfy your appetite and then some. When you know what types of tent food to buy and then know how easy it is to prepare it, you’ll relax in knowing that you CAN have great meals in the wild.
Listed below are the 10 best camping foods that we have compiled for you. Take a look at them and start planning your meals for your summer adventures! And no worries- we will give you some great tips on campsite cooking and food preparation. You’ll never look back again!
Best Camping Food – Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Features | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Peak Refuel | Lightweight Only add water Very high in protein 100% real meat | 4.4 out of 5 |
 | 2. Nutristore Freeze Dried Beef Dices | One can has 80 servings Has a shelf life of 25 years Only add water USDA inspected beef | 4.7 out of 5 |
 | 3. Next Mile Meals | Keto friendly Gluten free 100% real food Lightweight | 3.9 out of 5 |
 | 4. Nutristore Freeze Dried Sausage Crumbles | 25 year shelf life Only add water 80 servings in one can USDA inspected | 4.6 out of 5 |
 | 5. Wise Foods Company Favorites 72 Hour Cook-in-Pouch Meal Kit | Only add water 7 year shelf life Gluten free chicken It has a lot of protein | 4.5 out of 5 |
 | 6. Augason Farms 1-Week 1-Person Emergency Food Supply Kit | Only add water 25 years shelf life 8 different types of meals | 4 out of 5 |
 | 7. Mountain House 4-Day Emergency Kit | Supplies 4 days worth of meals Lightweight Simply add water | 4.5 out of 5 |
 | 8. Nutristore Freeze Dried Ground Beef | Shelf life of 25 years High in protein 120 servings Simply add water | 4.6 out of 5 |
 | 9. Harmony House Foods: The Backpacking Kit | Great for vegetarians and vegans Comes in resealable packages Lightweight Simply add water | 5 out of 5 |
 | 10. Mountain House Pasta Primavera | Has a 30 year shelf life Simply add water Great for vegetarians and vegans | 4.7 out of 5 |
10 Best Camping Food Reviews
1. Peak Refuel
Peak Refuel offers freeze dried meals that taste amazing. They come in several different varieties such as: chicken alfredo pasta, breakfast skillet, sweet pork and rice, strawberry granola breakfast, beef pasta marinara and chicken teriyaki with rice. These freeze dried meals are made with real ingredients and full of necessary nutrients. Just add water and your meal is ready to eat! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Only add water
- Very high in protein
- 100% real meat
Cons:
- One package may not be enough to fill you up
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
2. Nutristore Freeze Dried Beef Dices
If you’re looking for the ultimate protein source while you’re out hiking and camping, then the Nutristore Freeze Dried Beef Dices is an awesome choice for you. One can of this stuff will be enough to last you awhile. This is not only perfect for campers but also for survivalists. It has a shelf life of 25 years! Once water is added, the beef is ready to eat and supplies a delicious boost of energy. Let’s check out some pros and cons:
Pros:
- One can has 80 servings
- Has a shelf life of 25 years
- Only add water
- USDA inspected beef
Cons:
- It contains salt
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
3. Next Mile Meals
There are many campers that are searching for freeze dried foods that are friendly to their diets. Well, look no further as the Next Miles Meals company has given dieting campers a tasty option without complicating their diets. Next Mile Meals offers freeze dried meals that are keto friendly AND gluten free. In addition to this, they are full of protein, easy to make and tasty! They come in a variety of dishes including: Beef Taco, Deli Roast Beef, Italian Meatball, Buffalo Ranch Chicken, Coconut Chicken Curry and Chicken and Broccoli. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Keto friendly
- Gluten free
- 100% real food
- Lightweight
- Only add water
Cons:
- Shelf life is about a year
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
4. Nutristore Freeze Dried Sausage Crumbles
Are you a fan of sausage? If so, you should add the Nutristore Freeze Dried Sausage Crumbles to your backpack or tent this summer. By simply adding hot water, you can have a delicious meal that tastes fresh and homemade. Even better? The shelf life for the Nutristore Freeze Dried Sausage Crumbles is a whopping 25 years! One can has 80 servings in it and are filled with USDA inspected sausage crumbles. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- 25 year shelf life
- Only add water
- 80 servings in one can
- USDA inspected
Cons:
- It contains salt
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
5. Wise Foods Company Favorites 72 Hour Cook-in-Pouch Meal Kit
If you’re looking for a product that has already rationed out your meals for a certain time period, then you’ll want to check this out. Wise Foods Company has a 72 hour cook-in-pouch meal kit. This kit includes an incredible 18 servings of breakfast and dinners for 1 person in a 3 day period. The kit comes with a blend of meals such as chili mac with beef, teriyaki chicken, and chicken alfredo with pasta. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Only add water
- 7 year shelf life
- Gluten free chicken
- It has a lot of protein
Cons:
- It contains salt.
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
6. Augason Farms 1-Week 1-Person Emergency Food Supply Kit
If you’re planning on a week long camping trip underneath the stars, then you should check out the Augason Farms 1-Week, 1-Person Emergency Food Supply Kit. Originally designed for survivalists in the event of a post-apocalyptic event, this food supply kit has several meal variations such as maple brown sugar oatmeal, Morning Moo’s low-fat milk alternative, chicken rice, potato soup, banana chips, cheese, broccoli rice, and spanish rice. With a total of 78 servings, it’s super easy to prepare by just adding water! Even better? It has an amazing 25 year shelf life! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Only add water
- 25 years shelf life
- 8 different types of meals
Cons:
- Some people compared it to rice meals
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
7. Mountain House 4-Day Emergency Kit
The Mountain House 4-Day Emergency Kit is great for those weekend camping trips. It supplies 4 days worth of freeze dried meals with a total of 28 servings. In the kit, you’ll find tasty meals in sets of 2. Meals such as: granola with milk and blueberries, breakfast skillet with hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, pork and sausage, peppers, and onions, chicken and noodles, beef stew, Italian style pepper steak with rice and tomatoes and lasagna with meat sauce. Even better? The Mountain House 4-Day Emergency Kit is super lightweight and easy to tote on the hiking trails. Let’s take a look at some pros and cons:
Pros:
- Supplies 4 days worth of meals
- Lightweight
- Simply add water
Cons:
- One person claimed the taste guarantee is actually 12 years; not 30 years.
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
8. Nutristore Freeze Dried Ground Beef
Beef has an incredible amount of protein and is popular among hikers and campers. The Nutristore Freeze Dried Ground Beef has been inspected and approved by the USDA. This high quality meat tastes delicious once you add water. In addition to being super easy to prepare, it’s shelf life is an incredible 25 years! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Shelf life of 25 years
- High in protein
- 120 servings
- Simply add water
Cons:
- It’s only beef; no veggies
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
9. Harmony House Foods: The Backpacking Kit
Harmony House Foods has really given campers and hikers a great product with this incredible backpacking kit. They have placed dehydrated foods in airtight, sealed packages that are easy to transport on camping and hiking trips. The backpacking kit has a mix of dried vegetables, beans and lentils in 18 resealable packages. It’s enough for 70 servings! In addition to the quality, the kit is great for vegetarians and vegans. It provides plenty of protein in every meal! Simply add water and you’re ready to eat. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Great for vegetarians and vegans
- Comes in resealable packages
- Lightweight
- Simply add water
Cons:
- There’s no meat for those wanting meaty foods.
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
10. Mountain House Pasta Primavera
The Mountain House brand has been trusted by the military for over 5 decades. With that being said, you can rest assured that you’ll have a great tasting meal made in minutes. Simply add water and the dehydrated meal turns into a delicious dinner. The Mountain House Pasta Primavera comes with zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, green beans and spiral macaroni in a creamy parmesan sauce. The company guarantees a 30 year great taste guarantee which means, that’s a whopping 30 year shelf life! This is a great option for cooking underneath the stars! Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
- Has a 30 year shelf life
- Simply add water
- Great for vegetarians and vegans
CHECK DEALS ON AMAZON or Add To Cart For Later
Buying Guide for Camping Foods
What Makes Food Good for Camping?
Camping is awesome in that it’s non perishable, lightweight and easy to store. You don’t have to worry over refrigeration and spoilage. This allows for you to spend all day having fun in nature and knowing that in minutes, you can cook a nice meal by merely adding hot water. Another great aspect on camping food are the high amounts of protein and other important nutrients. You’re body needs the energy without the hassle of preventing food spoilage. Camping food tastes great and fills your tummy with satisfaction.
What Types of Camping Food Are There?
There are several options to consider when it comes to camping food. Many campers are choosing dehydrated and freeze dried foods more and more. These provide no refrigeration and easy preparation by simply adding hot water.
Another popular camp food are the self-heating meals. These also don’t require any refrigeration and are dehydrated and freeze dried. They work simply by pouring water in the pouch to activate the heating plate and the meal cooks itself in as little as 10 minutes!
Other campers like to carry pre-packaged foods such as beef jerky, granola bars, protein bars and canned meats.
Why Buy Camping Food?
Camping food is a really convenient and nutritious commodity to have when you’re out in nature. They’re packaged in ways that make it easy to carry with you on hikes and there’s no concern over food spoilage. The shelf life with most camping food is insanely long. From 1 year to 30 years, these foods are designed to be safe to eat for a long time. Plus, camping food is inexpensive and offers a wide variety of homemade meals without the cooking effort. Another great advantage to camping food is for emergency situations. Many people feel better having this type of food stored in case of a natural disaster.
Best Practices for Camp Cooking
As always, you’ll want to practice safety measures when camp cooking. If you have a campfire in which you’ll boil the water over, always ensure that you never leave the fire unattended. Also be cautious on windy days as many fires happen on those days. (Some parks may have a burn ban during particular weather situations. Always be aware of this.)
And always clean your cookware thoroughly. You don’t want to put yourself and your family at risk for any illnesses by simply not washing the cookware. Always follow the directions on the camp food packages as they’re there for a reason. Otherwise, enjoy your camping trip!
The Best Camping Gear Series:
The Best Camping Chair
The Best Cool Camping Gear
The Best Camping Stove
The Best Camping Food
The Best Portable Camping Showers
The Best 2 Person Tents
