For any busy adult, planning meals, grocery shopping for all the right ingredients, and taking the time to cook can be challenging enough at home. Take it outside on a fall camping trip, where supplies and storage are limited, and it can be intimidating to arrange meals for multiple days out in nature. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy campfire recipes that are just as delicious and nutritious as anything you’d make in your own home kitchen. As autumn quickly approaches, we’ll focus on delicious comfort meals perfect for enjoying on a chilly fall night. From stews and hot sandwiches to one-pot recipes and desserts, here are the best fall camping meals to try on your next trip! Plus, discover the best ways to cook on cold evenings outdoors.
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How to Cook at Camp on a Chilly Fall Night
While a simple backpacking stove will do for whipping up a quick meal at camp, there are admittedly better ways to cook in the outdoors, especially as the days get cooler and shorter. For those with a canvas camping tent, a tent wood stove is one of the best ways to cook at a campsite. Not only will this appliance serve as the perfect cooktop for any fall recipe, but it’ll also double as an efficient heater to keep your tent warm on those chilly autumn nights. Another huge benefit of tent stoves is the ability to cook indoors – something you typically can’t do with gas camping stoves. This advantage comes in handy if temperatures drop outside, or if you don’t get to cooking until after the sun sets.
If you don’t have the gear necessary for a tent stove setup, or just want to keep it simple, consider setting up your portable gas stove under the protection of a tent awning or front porch extension. These popular pieces of gear can help protect you from the elements by shielding rain and wind, and create a more enclosed space that’s safer to cook in than directly inside your tent.
Delicious Recipes Perfect for Autumn Camping
At the end of the day, the best recipes for camping, no matter the season, will be those that are convenient to make, tasty to you and your fellow campers, and nutritious enough to keep you fueled throughout your trip. That being said, there’s nothing better than a cozy meal made from fresh seasonal ingredients! Consider cooking up these dishes on your next autumn camping trip:
Stews and Soups
When you think of chilly autumn nights, stews and soups are probably some of the first comfort meals that come to mind! Between their simplicity to cook and their warmth, there’s nothing better for fall camping. While any stew or soup will do the trick for comfort, recipes that focus on seasonal ingredients will help to elevate your autumn experience.
- Pumpkin chili
- Butternut squash soup
- Potato and leek soup
- Black bean and sweet potato stew
- Chicken tortellini soup
- Autumn vegetable beef stew
Sandwiches
Whether you’re packing them in your bag for lunch on the trail or dipping them into your warm soups at dinner, sandwiches are a staple item at camp for a reason. Not only are they quick and easy meals, they’re also filling and nutritious. While most sandwiches will satisfy you after a long day, opt for warm sandwiches over cold ones for comfort on a chilly fall night.
- Classic grilled cheese
- Grilled cheese with white cheddar, apples, and bacon
- Hot ham and cheese baguette
- Turkey, cranberry, and brie on sourdough
- Philly cheesesteak
- Sloppy joes
Foil Packets
Foil packet recipes are a camping classic thanks to their ease in the outdoors. Simply throw your favorite ingredients into a foil pack with olive oil and spices, and set it directly on the hot coals of your campfire, or on top of a grill grate if you have one.
- Loaded baked sweet potatoes
- Bratwursts, onions, and golden potatoes
- Caramel apple porkchops
- Sausage-stuffed bell peppers
- Grilled root vegetable medley
One-Pot Recipes
Since space and supplies are limited on most camping trips, cooking one-pot recipes can be a smart approach to mealtime. Simply throw all of your ingredients into one large pot and wait as all the delicious flavors come together.
- Butternut squash macaroni and cheese
- Beef stroganoff
- Mushroom risotto
- Classic red beans and rice
- Sweet potato hash
- Skillet nachos
- Chicken pot pie
Desserts
What’s a satisfying dinner without a warm dessert to accompany it? While you can’t go wrong with some classic campfire s’mores, there are so many other delectable desserts you can try on your next trip! Most of these can be made by the foil packet method discussed above, while others work well as one-pot recipes.
- Blueberry cobbler
- Pumpkin cinnamon rolls
- Pecan pie bars
- Dutch oven s’mores
- Apple crisp
- Monkey bread
Drinks
Hopefully, you’ve been drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated during your days outdoors. When dinnertime rolls around, consider treating yourself to a warm drink to get cozy on a crisp fall night! The following recipes are great to drink alongside your dessert, or if you’re already stuffed from supper, these can just as easily be your dessert. For campers looking for an adult beverage to mellow out for the evening, all of these could be spiked with your spirit of choice for a little extra warmth in your system.
- Hot apple cider
- Cranberry cider
- Cardamom hot cocoa
- Mulled wine
- Warm eggnog
- Herbal tea (keep it non-caffeinated before bedtime!)
- Hot chai tea
Wrapping It Up
Nothing beats coming back to camp for a comfort meal after a long day of adventuring in beautiful fall weather. As the sun sets and the temperature drops, you’ll likely want to cook up something warm to satiate your body and get cozy before heading to bed. Whether you’re lighting up a camp stove under the protection of an awning or firing up your tent wood stove, these recipes are sure to bring you comfort on a chilly fall night. So grab your favorite seasonal ingredients, get the stove started, and try out some of these classic fall meals on your next autumn camping trip!
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