Are you someone who loves camping and wants to eat well while enjoying Australia's beautiful outdoors? You're in luck! Camping in Australia isn't just about seeing amazing places - it's also a chance to cook and eat great food in nature. To help you out, we've put together some tasty and easy camping recipes that will make your outdoor meals even better.
Easy One-Pot Camping Meals In Australia
One-pot camping meals are simple to make and easy to clean up. Here are some ideas:
A hearty and flavourful one-pot dish often enjoyed by campers in Australia. It's a versatile recipe that typically combines meat, vegetables, and sometimes even beans, all simmered together to create a delicious and hearty meal.
Bush pasta with tomato and basil is a quick and flavourful Australian camping meal that captures the essence of Italian cuisine even when you’re camping. A simple and delicious camping-friendly pasta dish that incorporates the flavours of tomato and basil.
This is a delicious and healthy Australian camping recipe that combines marinated grilled chicken with a sauté of fresh vegetables, all infused with a healthy squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of aromatic herbs.
A flavourful and nutritious Australian camping meal recipe that combines lean kangaroo meat with a variety of fresh vegetables. This stir-fry is a wonderful way to experience kangaroo meat and enjoy its unique taste along with the freshness of vegetables.
A flavourful and hearty one-pot camping dish that originates from Louisiana, USA. It's traditionally made with a mix of meats, vegetables and rice, all simmered together with a blend of spices. This dish has roots in both Spanish and French cuisines, creating a unique and delicious combination of flavours.
This is a hearty and flavourful Australian recipe made by cooking beef and a variety of vegetables together in a single skillet or pan. It's a simple and versatile meal that can be customised based on your preferences and the ingredients you have on hand.
Campfire paella is a rustic and flavourful easy camping meal inspired by the traditional Spanish rice dish, paella, that's cooked over an open fire or campfire. It's a popular choice for outdoor cooking and camping due to its ability to bring together a variety of ingredients in a single pot.
A nutritious and flavourful recipe typically inspired by the Australian outback's rustic flavours. Quinoa is a protein-rich grain that serves as the base for this salad, which is often loaded with various vegetables, herbs, and sometimes even fruits.
Pumpkin and Lentil Curry is a comforting and nutritious Australian camping meal that's perfect for cooler weather or any time you're craving a delicious vegetarian curry. The combination of pumpkin, lentils, and aromatic spices creates a satisfying and flavourful dish that's sure to be enjoyed by everyone at the table.
10 Must-Try Australian Camping Recipes
Here are 10 must-try Australian camping recipes that you can enjoy during your outdoor adventures. These easy camping recipes are designed to be simple, delicious, and easy to prepare in a campsite.
Damper
- A classic Australian camping bread.
- Mix self-rising flour, salt, and water to form a dough, then cook it over the campfire on a stick or in a camp oven until golden brown.
Billy Tea
- Place the billy can/pot on the campfire or camping stove.
- Allow the water to come to a rolling boil.
- Once the water is boiling, carefully add the loose tea leaves directly into the billy can or pot.
- Let the tea steep for a few minutes, usually around 2 to 5 minutes, depending on your preference for tea strength.
Kangaroo Skewers
- Marinate kangaroo meat in a mix of olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, and herbs.
- Thread the marinated meat onto skewers, bell peppers, onions, and other veggies you might prefer, and grill over the campfire.
Aussie meat pie
You can prepare these pies ahead of time or bring pre-made ones. They are a hearty pie filled with minced meat and gravy, encased in flaky pastry.
Lamingtons
- Whisk butter, sugar, and vanilla until they are light and fluffy.
- Add eggs into the wet mix, whisking until the batter is smooth and not curdled.
- Gently fold in flour before adding the milk.
- Bake for 25 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- When the cake cools down, cut it into squares or rectangles then dip it into chocolate icing and roll the chocolate-coated cake in coconut shavings, pressing gently to adhere the coconut to the icing.
Grilled barramundi
- Pat the barramundi fillets dry with paper towels. This helps the fish to get a nice sear on the grill.
- Season both sides of the fillets with salt and pepper.
- Place the barramundi fillets on the preheated grill, skin side down.
- Close the grill lid and cook for about 4-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
- Once cooked, carefully remove the barramundi fillets from the grill.
- Sprinkle with fresh herbs and an extra squeeze of lemon juice if desired.
Bush tomato chutney
- Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic until fragrant, then stir in brown sugar, ground cumin, ground coriander, and chilli flakes.
- Add rehydrated bush tomatoes to the saucepan.
- Stir well to combine the onion and spice mixture.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and let it simmer.
- Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the chutney thickens, and the tomatoes break down. This should take around 20-30 minutes.
- Once the chutney has thickened to your desired consistency, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the chutney cool down.
Bush scones
- Place flour in a large mixing bowl; add salt and baking powder.
- Add butter to the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Gradually add milk, little at a time, until you have a soft dough.
- Knead for a few minutes.
- Press gently so the dough is about 3 cm high.
- Cut out scones and place them on the griddle or flat metal surface over the campfire.
- Cook for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the scones are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Anzac biscuits
- Sift flour into a bowl. Add sugar, rolled oats, and coconut.
- Melt butter in a saucepan, then add golden syrup and water.
- Stir the bicarbonate soda into the liquid mixture.
- Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
- Place walnut-sized balls of mixture on a greased tray and bake at 175 C for 15-20 minutes.
Campfire dampers with jam and cream
- Place flour in a large mixing bowl; add salt and baking powder.
- Add butter to the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Gradually add milk, little at a time, until you have a soft dough.
- Cook the dough on a stick over the campfire.
- Once the dampers are cooked, carefully slide them off the stick.
- Split them open and spread your favourite jam on one side.
- On the other side, a generous dollop of whipped cream.
- Close the damper to create a sandwich, with the jam and cream in the centre.
Campfire Cooking Techniques
Here are some campfire cooking techniques that you can use to create delicious camping meals during your outdoor adventures:
1. Grilling
Grilling involves cooking food directly over an open flame or hot coals. You can use a grill grate placed over the fire or create a makeshift grill using rocks. This technique works well for meats, fish, vegetables, and even fruits.
2. Skewering
Skewering involves cooking food on a stick or skewer over the campfire. This technique is perfect for hot dogs, marshmallows, sausages, and even kebabs. Make sure to rotate the skewer to ensure even cooking.
3. Campfire Dutch oven cooking
A Dutch oven is a heavy, cast-iron pot with a lid that can be placed directly in or over the campfire. While it may be heavy, it's great for slow-cooking stews, soups, casseroles, and even baking bread or desserts.
4. Foil packet cooking
Wrap ingredients in aluminium foil with seasonings, butter, or oil to create a packet. Place these packets on the hot coals or grill grates to cook vegetables, potatoes, fish, and more. This technique helps retain moisture and flavours.
5. Cast iron cooking
Using a cast-iron skillet over the campfire allows you to cook a wide range of dishes, from bacon and eggs for breakfast to stir-fries and one-pan dinners.
6. Campfire griddle
A campfire griddle is a versatile cooking tool that allows you to cook a variety of foods over an open flame or hot coals. It's a flat, usually rectangular, metal surface that provides a large cooking area for preparing camping meals.
7. Campfire roasting
Campfire roasting is a cooking technique where food, often skewered on sticks or held with specialised roasting forks, is cooked over an open flame or hot coals of a campfire. It's a simple and traditional method of outdoor or camping cooking that imparts a smoky flavour to the food while allowing for even cooking and a rustic, outdoor dining experience. This technique is commonly used for items like marshmallows, sausages, hot dogs, and vegetables.
8. Camp oven baking
Camp oven baking is a traditional outdoor cooking method that involves using a cast-iron pot with a lid, commonly known as a "camp oven" or "Dutch oven," to bake a variety of dishes over an open flame or hot coals. This method of baking allows you to create delicious and hearty meals while camping, hiking, or enjoying other outdoor activities.
9. Campfire boiling
It is a cooking technique that involves heating a liquid, usually water, over an open campfire until it reaches a rolling boil. Boiling is a fundamental cooking method used to prepare a variety of camping foods and beverages, such as soups, stews, pasta, coffee, tea, and more.
10. Ash cooking
Ash cooking is a traditional method of preparing food by burying it directly in the hot ashes of a campfire or fire pit. This technique has been used by various cultures around the world for centuries and is known for its ability to create slow, even cooking and impart a unique flavour to the food.
Camping Recipe Hacks
Here are some camping recipe hacks to make your outdoor cooking experience more convenient and enjoyable:
- Cut up ingredients before you leave home
- Marinate meat before your trip
- Make one-pot meals to save on cleaning
- Measure out spices at home and bring them in small bags
- Cook some ingredients before your trip
- Use aluminium foil for cooking and easy clean-up
- Store spices in egg cartons
- Make individual meals in muffin tins
- Use reusable containers to store food
- Make a griddle out of aluminium foil
- Make your own coffee bags for easy brewing
- Organise your cooler well
- Use duct tape to make pot holders
- Make popcorn in foil packets over the fire
Easy Camping Meals for Large Groups
When you're camping with lots of people, try these ideas:
- BBQ Meals for Camping: Prepare various meats (sausages, burger patties, chicken pieces) and vegetables for grilling. Set up a grill over the campfire and cook the meats and vegetables in batches. Serve with bread rolls and condiments.
- Big Batch Chili: Brown ground beef in a large pot, then add onions, garlic, and spices. Add canned tomatoes, beans, and stock, then let it simmer for at least an hour. Serve with toppings like cheese and sour cream.
- Taco Bar: Prepare taco fillings like cooked ground beef, shredded cheese, chopped lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Set out all the ingredients along with taco shells or tortillas. Let everyone assemble their own tacos.
- Campfire Pizza: Bring pre-made pizza dough and toppings. Flatten pieces of dough and cook on a grill over the fire for a few minutes. Flip, add toppings, and continue cooking until the cheese melts.
- Breakfast Burritos: Prepare scrambled eggs, cooked bacon, and hash browns. Wrap these in tortillas along with cheese and salsa, then wrap in foil. Heat the burritos over the campfire, turning occasionally, until warmed through.
Best Camping Meals in Australia
Some of the best meals for camping in Australia include:
- Aussie BBQ: Grilled meats and veggies are always a hit. Grill a variety of meats like lamb chops, sausages, and steak on a barbecue or over the campfire. Serve with grilled vegetables and a simple salad. Don't forget the tomato sauce!
- Campfire Roast Lamb: Slow-cooked lamb with veggies is a real treat. Season a leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary. Place in a camp oven with vegetables and cook over hot coals for several hours. Check and baste occasionally until the meat is tender.
- Barramundi in Paperbark: Cook this fish wrapped in paperbark for a unique flavour. Wrap barramundi fillets with lemon slices and native herbs in dampened paperbark. Cook the parcels over hot coals or on a grill, turning once, until the fish is cooked through.
- Damper with Golden Syrup: A sweet twist on the classic camping bread. Make damper as described earlier. Once cooked, split open the damper and drizzle with golden syrup. It's a sweet and simple dessert that's perfect for camping.
- Bush Tucker Platter: Try a mix of native foods for a true Aussie experience. Prepare a variety of native foods like kangaroo jerky, bush tomato chutney, and macadamia nuts. Serve with damper and let everyone sample the different flavours of the Australian bush.
Conclusion
By trying out these camping recipes and cooking tips, you'll be sure to eat well on your next camping trip. From easy one-pot meals to classic Aussie favourites, there's something for everyone.
So pack your ingredients, grab your cooking gear, and get ready for some great outdoor eating.
