Camping is a wonderfully fun and relaxing activity, one that is enjoyed by people of all walks of life around the globe. The pursuit is more than just sleeping in the great outdoors, it’s about a full range of activities, from boating to fishing to swimming to group games and more.
And after wearing yourself out from all these fun pursuits, you are bound to get a little hungry as the day goes on. To dampen that hunger in between and after meals, you will definitely want to bring along some tasty snacks—snacks that pair well with all the sun and fun you’ll be experiencing.
So, what types of snacks are deemed best for camping? Truthfully, that list would be far too long to fit within the confines of this brief article. Nevertheless, here we will provide an abbreviated list containing some of the best snacks to enjoy when camping—snacks that range from the traditional to the truly unique without compromising your foodie tastes.
1. S’mores
Because no camping trip would be complete without the tasty goodness of S’mores, we intend to make this one of the larger sections in the article. S’mores are truly that wonderful, and while most campers have no doubt experienced the gooey bliss of this camp-based treat, for those of you who are unfamiliar with these goodies, we will do our best to describe them.
S’mores consist of three primary ingredients: graham crackers, marshmallows and milk chocolate or dark chocolate (a regular Hershey bar works wonderfully with S’mores). Here is a quick description of how these tasty treats are made:
Using a coat hanger or even a small twig (use twigs for the ultimate camp feel), skewer a marshmallow on one end. Next, carefully hold or place the marshmallow over your roaring campfire, and continue to cook it until it is nice and melty (the outer portion of the marshmallow will begin to turn brown or even a blackish color).
When the marshmallow reaches melted perfection, remove it from the fire and immediate place it on the chocolate bar, which should now be resting on one half of a toasty graham cracker. Once you take the marshmallow off the skewer, quickly cover it with the other half of your graham cracker and enjoy.
When performed correctly, the heated marshmallow will instantly begin to melt the chocolate ever so slightly, melding it together with the marshmallow creaminess.
And once you cover it with the other half of the graham cracker, you will have a type of delicious candy sandwich, with sweet graham crackers serving as the bread, fully encompassing the gooey melted chocolate bar and marshmallow.
If three flavors were ever meant to be melded together, it is definitely that of marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers. Campers from age 8 to age 80 will consistently clamor for this delicious treat, so be sure to bring plenty so everyone in your camping part can participate in the tasty fun.
How To Make S’mores Over Campfire
For those new to making s’mores, check out the quick instructional video below to see how you can make this yummy snack for your camping buddies or family.
2. Slow Cooker Chex Mix
The next treat on our list of Best Camping Snacks is the Slow Cooker Chex Mix. Just like grandma used to make it, Slow Cooker Chex Mix is a great blend of cheerios, peanuts, and pretzels, and lots of Chex—corn, rice, and wheat.
It is absolutely perfect for camping, is easy to make and even easier to store.
We included this snack for its nutty crunchiness, but please remember: as its name implies, Slow-Cooker Chex Mix can take up to 3 hours to prepare, so be sure to start it the night before for best results, and consistently mix the contents.
How To Make Slow Cooker Chex Mix
Never made this tasty snack before? Then check out the quick instructional video below to see how you can make this yummy snack for your camping buddies or family.
3. Crunchy Granola
Nothing says the great outdoors like crunchy granola—a snack that definitely has what it takes to make it to our list of the best camping snacks. Granola is a good example of one of those cereals that can go straight from the pack to the mouth.
No need for extra preparation or bothering about adding milk or extra sugar. Granola tastes perfect just the way it is.
Granola has the power to restore lost calories and put a smile on the faces of your entire camping crew. Granola consists of rolled oats and honey, and can sometimes be served with brown sugar.
Depending on your preference, you may even include baked crisp puffed rice in your recipe. The good news is, ready-made Granola now comes in packs and can be purchased in major supermarkets and Super-shops.
You no longer need to go through the stress of making the snack yourself. Just pick your favorite mix and you’re ready for the open road. As usual, you will want to carry enough to satisfy everyone throughout the day.
4. Dried Fruit
Dried fruit can be even better than fresh fruit when you are out on as camping excursion. Not only does fresh fruit need to be refrigerated constantly, making it more difficult to keep fresh and tasty, it is also more subject to damage when packed in your car or your hiking backpack.
Dried fruit, on the other hand, rarely needs to be refrigerated, largely because the juices and air are already evacuated from the fruit prior to packing. Dried fruit packs and stores easily, and is also quite delicious.
Some of the dried fruit you can enjoy along the trails during your next camping trip, includes dried apricots, raisins (dried grapes), prunes (dried plums), dried berries—blueberries, cherries, blackberries and raspberries—and dried bananas.
Personally, my favorite option is a pack of organic dried apricots.
5. Trail Mix, Nuts, and Bars
Another enjoyable and tasty camping snack to bring along is trail mix, nuts or trail mix bars. Trail mix helps to keep your energy at top peak and is full of healthy fat that is great for your skin, hair and most importantly, your heart.
Something that is really fun to do before the camping trip is to bring the whole gang together and prepare your mix for the camping weekend ahead. This tasty mixture can be enjoyed along the trails, on the lake or when just lounging by the campfire, and will not add a lot of unnecessary calories you do not need.
This snack is additionally very lightweight, portable and easy to make. And best of all, you can customize it to your tastebuds.
How To Make Trail Mix: 3 Ways
If you’re looking for something beyond boring, traditional trail mix, then check out the video below to get some great options on flavoring your trail mix.
6. Chili
Perhaps the most traditionally-loved snack on a camping trip is chili—a snack that simply embodies the great outdoors.
Enjoyed by settlers and pioneers as they made their way to the west, chili is a hodgepodge of meat (beef, turkey, chicken, etc.), beans and spices.
It tastes even better (for some reason) when it is cooked and enjoyed outdoors—and even tastes a little better the next day.
Easy Camping Recipe – Dutch Oven Chili
Never made a pot of chili at the campsite? Check out the video below for a quick way to make this hearty meal that’s also great for a snack.
7. Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is a food packed with protein that can truly satisfy your hunger. On top of that, this easy to pack dry food is ideal for camping because you will never have to worry about it spoiling, there is never any messy prep time or cook time, and cleanup is an absolute breeze.
If you’re a hunter, then you can make your own beef jerky at home with a dehydrator. Otherwise, there are lot of good jerky options you can buy at Amazon or your local grocery store.
8. Coffee and Tea Packets
Instant coffee and tea packets will ensure you can enjoy these eye-opening and robust beverages when camping. Instant coffee packets, tea bags, and even powdered juices are easy to bring and make because you just pour them into your water, wait about 5 minutes, and Voila.
You have the hot drink of your choice when you need it most.
Bringing these easy-to-carry packets will also reduce the overall weight in your car or backpack, and you can reuse your camping cup or mug for your whole camping trip.
And sure, you can make traditional camp coffee, but I’m a big fan of these instant packets because it’s just easier. Plus, it let’s you keep up your Starbucks addiction out in the wilderness!
9. Bagels
As most experienced campers know, bagels make for a great camping snack. Bagels are easy to pack, store and travel with and incredibly versatile.
You can cook them up like a flapjack, make them into a fancy breakfast sandwich, or smother them in cream cheese—it’s really just a matter of personal preference.
They’re also a good source of carbohydrates, which will give you the added energy you require for those long, arduous hikes.
