Gourmet Camping Meals on a Gas-Station Budget
Fire Ring Campsite The Best Coffee!
Florida's camping season is creeping up, and if you're anything like our crew, half the fun is in the planning; especially figuring out how to feed a group who all have a love of good food, without blowing the budget. Earlier this year we enjoyed a 3-night camping trip with 7 people, and I tracked every receipt to prove a point: you can eat really well outdoors for less than $9 a day per person.
The Menu
We kept it simple, hearty, and camp-stove friendly:
Breakfasts: Coffee, skillet breakfast (diced potatoes, eggs, cheese, sausage, onion, bell pepper, leftover sliced baked potatoes, bacon (x2 mornings), Texas toast on the griddle (the best!).
Dinner 1: Burgers and hot dogs (with chili and cheese)
Dinner 2: Large, fire-cooked Baked Potatoes topped with the leftover chili, cheese, and sour cream
Dinner 3: Brats and chips
Lunch: After enjoying a hearty breakfast, lunch seemed less important. It usually involved leftovers from the night before or snacks to hold us over until dinner. On day three, we did enjoy a quick meal from a local vendor while exploring the area. We planned this in advance and because we saved significantly on meals, this indulgence didn't impact our overall travel budget.
Snacks: Chips and salsa, fire-warmed brie and crackers
Dessert: Two cobbler nights. Baked in a dutch oven over the campfire. Watching the campfire burn while the cobbler baked made it extra special.
Cooking outdoors always feels special, and every meal hits the spot after a day of outdoor adventures. There's something magical about gathering around a campfire, the aroma of an outdoor meal , and the satisfaction of enjoying a meal prepared in nature. Whether it's the smoky flavor of grilled food, the warmth of a hearty chili, or the sweetness of a peach cobbler, camp food creates unforgettable memories.
Griddle Breakfast So much food! Griddle Texas Toast Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler Loaded Fire-cooked Potato Keeping burgers and hotdogs warm
The Math
We split the shopping across three stores — Walmart, Key Food, and Publix — to catch sales and grab the best produce and meat:
Walmart | $140.25 |
Key Food | $11.27 |
Publix | $36.72 |
Total | $188.24 |
We split the bill with another family, so each household paid $94.12 but the number that actually matters for budgeting your own trip is the per-person cost:
$188.24 ÷ 7 people ÷ 3 days = $8.96 per person, per day
That's breakfast, dinner, snacks, and dessert; all for less than the price of a fast-food combo or a quick bite from your local gas station's deli.
A Few Tips
Check what you already have before you shop; we skipped buying crackers, mayo, mustard, and salsa a second time since they were already in the pantry.
Splitting the grocery run across stores let us grab best priced produce (we got potatoes and onions dirt cheap at Key Food) instead of paying full price everywhere.
Cooking for a group evens out the per-person cost fast; feeding 7 is proportionally cheaper than feeding 2.
We cooked dishes that could be used in a few ways. For example, the chili topping on hotdogs tasted totally different on the loaded baked potato. The leftover potato was sliced and added to breakfast the following morning. No food was wasted!
Inspiring Budget-Friendly Culinary Adventures
Enjoying great food on a budget is not only achievable but can also be a delightful adventure! With a little planning and creativity, you can enjoy your meals without straining your finances. Imagine gathering with friends or family for a long weekend, where meals costs less than $9 per person per day. Armed with a cooler and a camp stove, you have the tools to create memorable dining experiences.
Plan Ahead
Effective meal planning is essential. Opt for straightforward but tasty recipes to maximize your budget while enjoying outdoor meals. Consider reusing ingredients from the previous night to reduce cooking time.
Embrace the Outdoors
Cooking outdoors not only enhances the experience but also allows for unique culinary creations that you can enjoy together under the open sky. For some reason, food always tastes better when cooked on a camp stove.
Sweet Treats on a Budget
And don’t forget dessert! Athough smores can be a fun tradition, with this meal plan you can enjoy a delightful dump cake cobbler and start a new delicious tradition.
So gather your loved ones, embrace the joy of cooking, and create unforgettable meals, all while staying within an affordable budget!
Here's a list of our favorite camping related items available on Amazon:
We enjoy using a variety of rechargeable lights
Rechargeable twinkle lights were a nice feature and provided the perfect amount of light to help navigate the dark campsite.
A rechargeable bottle lamp is both a cute and practical addition to the picnic table. When paced on top of a gallon of water the light dispersed perfectly over our dinner.
Although not needed on this trip, we do find it very easy to recharge items by using this Jackery power pack.
Tent essentials
Placing moving blankets on the tent's floor provides protective and soft barrier to the hard ground.
We prefer using a good mattress pad that providing both cushion and comfort. For this trip we tried an inflatable mattress and it was terrible. We returned it immediately and are sticking with our reliable mattress pad.
Instead of bringing blankets, we opt for two quality sleeping bags. We use oversized bags rated for the cold but are cozy for any weather.
After camping, we remove residual campfire odors from the tent by giving it a GearAid bath and setting it up to dry before storing it away.
A few other favorites
A percolator makes the best camp coffee. Although ours is an 1970's antique this would be my replacement percolator if needed.
Comments