Winter camping food tips

11th Aug 2022

There’s nothing like a cosy winter adventure. A crackling campfire, hot chocolate, and warm blankets, it’s truly an experience unlike any other. Having the correct food items to create hearty dishes that will keep you warm and satisfied during your winter trip is essential. You will also need to bring the right equipment to use. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, which includes some handy tips to help you make the most of your winter camping meals.

What equipment should I pack?

Our biggest tip when it comes to selecting cooking equipment is to make sure you’re not overpacking. You don’t want your RV or campervan to be overloaded with equipment you won’t even be using.

Metal utensils can cause food temperatures to drop, so make sure to pack wooden and plastic utensils for cooking and eating. Pack a few bowls for your trip for soups and stews, they’ll keep your meal hot for longer compared to plates.

We recommend bringing a good quality, sturdy pan, or skillet, as well as a medium sized saucepan. Remember to also pack your thermos and mugs to enjoy warm drinks throughout your winter adventure.

Some other essentials we recommend packing:

Cups
Plates
Good quality knives
Microwave safe containers
Ziplock bags
Napkins

What food items should I bring?

During a winter adventure, you’ll want hot, hearty meals to keep you warm. We recommend packing oatmeal, which can be used as a base for warm breakfasts, you’ll just need to add your own selection of fruit, syrup, and toppings for flavour. Dried milk is something you can add to many dishes, whether it’s cereal, macaroni, or hot chocolate, it won’t get spoiled, and you’ll just need to add hot water to prepare it.

Dried fruit and nuts are also great additions to cereals and oatmeal and are great, energy-boosting snacks for your adventures. Make sure to also pack bread, meats, butter or margarine, cheese, sugar, salt, and pepper. The great thing about camping during winter is that your food won’t go bad as quickly, so you’ll be able to enjoy your groceries longer.

A few other food items we recommend packing:

Crackers/biscuits
Eggs
Energy bars
Honey or syrup
Peanut butter
Cocoa powder
Veggies
Fruit
Spaghetti
Rice
Beans and lentils
Potatoes
Instant soups
Chocolate
Marshmallows

Keep in mind that you will need to consume perishable food items quicker than non-perishables.

Should I meal prep?

If you have the time to prepare meals ahead of your trip, then we highly recommend doing so. Preparing as much of your food as you can in advance will make mealtimes easier. The more ingredients you can cut up and mix together for dishes, the quicker cooking will be. Writing a list of recipes will help you purchase the right ingredients and give you an idea of what dishes you’ll need to plan for. After a long day of adventures in the cold, this will make mealtimes a lot smoother.

What dishes should I make?

Something warm and delicious will hit the spot every time. Especially if you’ve just returned from a hike and need an energy boosting meal. The following are some delicious and easy to make dishes you can enjoy on your trip.

Hearty soups

Nothing compares to a warm bowl of soup on an icy winter day. You can either enjoy an instant soup, which wouldn’t take longer than a few minutes to make, or a fresh soup using some ingredients you have on hand. A quick chicken noodle soup or tomato soup with some fresh toasted bread would be perfect for the weather.

Pasta dishes

Whether it’s mac n’ cheese, spaghetti Bolognese or a carbonara, pasta dishes will keep you warm and full. They’re also easy to make, and you can prepare large batches to last you a few days.

One-pan meals

You can easily put together a hearty one-pan dish, like curries, pastas, and fried rice. The benefit of one-pan meals is minimal clean-up and maximum flavour. There are endless recipes you can find on the internet, just make sure to pack the correct ingredients for your chosen recipes ahead of the trip.

Stews and casseroles

We know you won’t have large amounts of time to dedicate to cooking, however there are a number of quick stews and casseroles that won’t take much time to prepare. A hearty beef stew, chicken and veggie casserole or even a sausage and lentil stew will keep you warm and energise you.

Pizzas

Make the most of the oven in your RV with a quick and delicious pizza. You can enjoy ready-made pizzas that just need to be heated up, or you can bring some pizza bases to add your own toppings to.

Another great option is using pita bread and adding your chosen sauce, cheese, and toppings for a quick and easy bite.

S’mores

Is it really a winter camping trip without s’mores? All you’ll need are crackers, melting chocolate and marshmallows. S’mores can be premade and heated up in a microwave or on a grill, unless you have an open campfire, which would give you that ultimate winter camping experience!