Top Tent Stove Recipes for Delicious Outdoor Meals

Tips for Cooking on a Tent Stove

Cooking on a tent stove can be a tricky process, especially if you are new to using them. First, you must choose the right tent stove to fit your camping setup and preferences. We’ll go over the different types of stoves shortly– but first, here are a few tips for successfully using your stove for cooking inside your canvas tent.

• Use dry, seasoned wood. Using damp or green wood will lead to excessive smoke and inconsistent temperature. Dry, seasoned wood splinters easily, so don’t forget to bring your log carrier along for injury-free transport.
• Monitor and regulate temperature using the stove’s air vents.
• Learn your stove’s hot spots– every stove has different areas that heat at different rates. This will be helpful when you are cooking, to know where to place pots and pans.
• Use cast iron cookware! It’s durable and heats evenly.
• Routinely clean your stove, ridding it of ash and debris. This helps ensure proper airflow and combustion and also reduces the risk of creosote buildup which leads to chimney fires.
• Time your cooking properly, starting the process of preparing meals with food items that require higher temperatures. From there, move on to side items that require lower heat as the stove will cool down as time goes on.

Types of Tent Stoves

Steel Stoves

Steel tent stoves are heavy, durable stoves made of–you guessed it–rolled steel. Though they are the most reliable of all tent stoves, it’s worth noting that they can weigh anywhere from 20 pounds to 75-80 pounds–not exactly the most transport-friendly. However, they are effective for heating even the largest of tents through cold nights and feature a flat surface “stove-top” that makes cooking easy.

Lightweight Stoves

Lightweight tent stoves are made from two layers of galvanized metal and are ideal for packing and transporting, though a bit less sturdy than steel stoves.

Collapsible Stoves

Collapsible tent stoves are made from the same lightweight galvanized metal, are easy to transport, and make storage seamless as they fold up into a compact shape.

Backpacker Stoves

Weighing in at under 10 pounds and made of light titanium, backpacker tent stoves are a great option for heating a small space for a short amount of time and are sufficient for simple, small-batch cooking needs.

Best Tent Stove Breakfast Recipes

Breakfast Burritos

You will need:

• Tortillas
• Eggs
• Shredded Mexican blend cheese
• Taco seasoning
• Butter
• Bell peppers
• Onion

Optional:

• Salsa
• Cilantro
• Avocado
• Sour cream

Making filling, delicious breakfast burritos has never been easier than over a tent stove. This meal can also be prepared using just one skillet. First, scramble enough eggs to fuel your crew. Sprinkle seasonings or simply salt and pepper, and some shredded cheese. Then, sauteed bell peppers, onions, and any other vegetables you may want to add in cast iron. Next, add in your sausage, and once your meat has browned, pour in your scrambled egg mixture. Let your scramble cook together on your tent stove while you warm your tortillas. Assemble all the ingredients inside and top with your ideal combination of cheese, salsa, avocado, cilantro, and sour cream.

Breakfast Sandwiches

You will need:

• Sausage patties
• Eggs
• Cheddar or pepper jack cheese
• English muffins
• Jam
• Brown mustard
• Ketchup

Sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches are a quick and easy tent stove breakfast that will keep you fueled for the outdoor adventures of the day. First, we recommend cooking sausage patties at home prior to your trip to make the process a million times quicker at camp. Over your tent stove, melt butter in a cast iron skillet and fry your egg. While your egg fries, warm an English muffin and melt cheese over one half in another skillet or simply over the open stove. When your egg is cooked to your liking, layer the sausage and egg onto the cheese and add your favorite condiments such as mustard or jam.

French Toast

You will need:

• Sourdough, challah or brioche bread
• Eggs
• Butter
• Milk
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon (optional)
• Maple syrup or honey
• Sliced fruit or berries (optional)

French toast is a family favorite, whether you are camping or at home. Start by beating 3-4 eggs, and stir milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in with the scrambled eggs mixture. Then, melt enough butter in your skillet to coat it. Dunk thick strips of your choice of bread into the egg mix, making sure they are entirely saturated. Place the bread strips into your buttered skillet and cook on each side until golden brown and crispy on the outside. Serve your French toast with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey for extra sweetness–add sliced fruit or berries if you are feeling extra decadent.

Best Tent Stove Lunch Recipes

Cast Iron Bratwurst

Bratwurst are a classic camping staple, and easy to prepare over the tent stove or a campfire. If you’re cooking on a tent stove, you can even add toppings like sauteed onions or peppers! Grab your cast iron, chop your veggies, throw your brats in with veggie toppings of your choice, and sit back and relax. All you’ll need to do is rotate the brats every now and then to ensure an even cook. Serve in brioche or pretzel buns, and top with ketchup and brown mustard for a little extra yum.

Pesto Pasta

You will need:

• Zucchini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Bacon
• Medium-sized pasta shells of your choice
• Basil pesto
• Parmesan cheese

Pasta dishes over the tent stove are ridiculously easy. Grab a jar of pesto (or your choice of sauce if pesto isn’t your jam)  from the store or make your own at home prior to leaving on your camping trip to save time. This dish is a one-pot deal, which makes for quick, easy preparation and cleanup. First, fry up some chopped bacon. This adds flavor to the entire dish and coats your cast iron skillet or pot for less of a sticky mess. Remove the bacon when it’s done, and set aside. Next, saute zucchini and cherry tomatoes together. Then, add in your dry pasta and a few cups of water–enough to cover the pasta in your pot. Once your pasta is cooked, add your pesto to create the sauce. Stir. Add parmesan to thicken the sauce. Voila!

Delicious Tent Stove Dinners

Foil Packet BBQ Chicken and Veggies

You will need:

• Aluminum foil
• Barbecue spice rub
• Chicken breasts
• Barbecue sauce of your choice (personal favorite: Sweet Baby Ray’s)
• Carrots
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Zucchini

Everybody loves a good BBQ. This meal is super simple to make and easy to clean up. First, coat your chicken in a barbecue rub of your choice, or make your own with a combination of brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Then, lather on the barbecue sauce. Wrap your seasoned, sauced chicken breasts in foil along with the chopped vegetable mixture. Place on the stove until the chicken is cooked through, and tender and the vegetables are softened. Unwrap and enjoy!

Campfire Pizza

You will need:

• Premade pizza dough
• Flour
• Marinara sauce
• Shredded mozzarella (or fresh mozz pearls)
• Pepperoni
• Mushrooms
• Olives

On a flat, clean surface, spread a coating of flour and roll out small portions of pizza dough–enough to make a personal-sized pizza that fits in your cast iron skillet. Cover the dough in marinara sauce, then sprinkle your cheese and place your favorite toppings. Cook the pizza on your tent stove until the crust is golden-brown and the cheese begins to bubble. Slice and enjoy!

Campfire Nachos

You will need:

• Tortilla chips
• Shredded cheese
• Diced tomatoes
• Jalapenos
• Black beans
• Green onions

Optional:

• Ground beef or turkey
• Sour cream
• Guacamole
• Salsa

Campfire nachos are a fun and versatile meal that can be eaten for lunch, dinner, or a midday snack. This is a layered meal, with the base being your tortilla chips. After you place those in a greased skillet, cover with cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, black beans, and green onions. Cook the nachos on your tent stove until the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges. Top with sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, and salsa of your choice.

Grilled Vegetable Skewers

You will need:

• Skewers
• Bell peppers
• Zucchini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Olive oil
• Italian herbs
• Salt & pepper

Grilled vegetable skewers make a nourishing, fiber-packed, and filling vegetarian meal. Before leaving on your trip, chop your vegetables to save yourself plenty of preparation time. Thread your chopped vegetables onto skewers, and grill them over your tent stove until mildly charred and tender.

Final Thoughts

Cooking outdoors does not have to be a hassle, and you do not have to sacrifice tasty, hearty meals just because you are not at home in your own kitchen. Using a tent stove can be as easy as you allow it to be, delivering tasty camping meals no matter where you are.