Quick meal for camping ideas?

[mthds]

Anyone have any meal ideas that are quick and easy to fix. I am looking for things that when we take a break from the park each afternoon. I don't want to spend my whole time cooking while everyone else gets to rest. Any ideas? Anything that you prepare before you leave home that reheats well? We have two boys so it needs to be kid friendly.


Also, my husband does not want me leaving a crock pot on in the camper each day. Have any of you put a crock pot outside while you were in the parks?

Seems like there use to be a thread about what everyone was cooking. I can not seem to find it. I may just be overlooking it.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[dblr]

We have left our crockpot outside on a table near the camper without any problem, unless you call the neighbor that had to come over when you got back becuse something smelled really good.
We have also cooked taco meat @ home and then a quick reheat and your good to go.

 

[mreyes01430]

I always plan meals way ahead of time - but I am not one to prepare them prior to the trip and freeze them! I love to cook there! One thing we like to do is put our chicken (Per Person) with your veggies/potatoes sliced thin in foil packets, tighten good & season with some italian dressing, cook on the grill. It is done within 45 minutes. That gives you time to make a salad inside the camper and a dessert. Or just plan easy meals! Hot dogs, sausage, hamburgers, pasta with sauce and easy side that comes already made (Shedd's crock potatoes and apples, or Bob Evans makes side dishes, mac n cheese! Easier the better! I purchased some adorable Mickey Mouse Shaped Food: patties - chicken, hamburger & MM pizzas from Target frozen area! As far as veggies, make easy ones or buy the steambag veggies! Corn bread casserole is easy as well. Enjoy! Can't wait for spring to start camping again!

 

[DaveInTN]

We like to have a few dinners prepared before our trip and frozen for reheating. We do use the crockpot to reheat things. We have done chili, spag sauce w/meatballs, chicken and dumplings, or something like a poppyseed chicken casserole. Those are all easy to reheat and taste great after a day of activity. We've also done frozen pizza or sandwiches for an easy meal. Or, for $25 get the Giddy up n Go fried chicken takeout dinner from Trails End. It feeds our family of 6 with leftovers to spare! One of the best deals on WDW property.

 

[KimIce]

I cook with my crockpot a lot. I usually cook pork or beef roasts in barbecue sauce then shred it to make sandwiches. I leave mine outside the camper and have never had any problem.

 

[campingdawgs]

My kids like nachos. I cook chicken at home and cut it up so it is ready to go. We just set out all the fixin's and we can fix the nachos the way we like them. We use the microwave in the camper to heat them up.

 

[kg66]

The last time we went down, I made half of my meals ahead of time and froze them for our park days. The other days we barbecued. I froze a lasagna, a pizza casserole, sloppy joes, and spaghetti sauce. Took the 2 casseroles in the morning when we left, and the sloppies and spaghetti sauces I simmered in the crock pot inside the camper on low...no prob.. I wouldn't have a problem doing it outside either...depends if you're used to leaving your crockpot on at home. I have no problem with it as that is what they're designed for! It made park days so much easier and cheaper.

 

[liv luvs disney]

We use the crockpot too-leaving it out on the table. We let things cook all night OR all day, just depends on how organized we are. Like most others, we do the spaghetti or taco meat thing. Lasagna is easy to do especially with the no cook lasagna. Pulled pork in the crockpot is a cinch and we will eat it with barbecue one meal and put it on flour tortillas with cheese for another. When it's hot, we like sandwiches for lunch or dinner if we've had a big lunch. So a quick turkey, ham, or roastbeef sandwich with all the fixins along with some chips and a pickle makes for a great quick, filling lunch with very little clean up.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

We like the QSDP when we stay at the Fort, and we do a little eating at the site and snacks.
Here is a link with 4 pages of recipes.


http://www.rvusa.org/dev/forum/viewforum.php?f=42

 

[seals]

Tent camping. 10 hour drive (so one whole day of driving). Five days there. What type of cooler is best and how long will things stay frozen? I really don't want to grocery shop while I'm there. I do like the idea of leaving a crockpot on the table, if no one will bother it. And it sounds like people don't if it doesn't smell extremely delicious. I can just see my DSs wanting to sample someone else's crockpot, but then I wouldn't let them so hopefully others are the same

 

[KimIce]

Tent camping. 10 hour drive (so one whole day of driving). Five days there. What type of cooler is best and how long will things stay frozen? I really don't want to grocery shop while I'm there. I do like the idea of leaving a crockpot on the table, if no one will bother it. And it sounds like people don't if it doesn't smell extremely delicious. I can just see my DSs wanting to sample someone else's crockpot, but then I wouldn't let them so hopefully others are the same

As far as coolers go, the only ones we have ever had luck with holding ICE for several days (at the very least 5 days) are the Igloo Marine type coolers. They are a little more expensive, but they are the best. You can find them at a Boating & Marine store or sometimes Sam's club has them. As far as items staying frozen, I can't answer that, we only use it for drinks. They have ICE machines at all the restroom areas and at the store in FW if you need more.

 

[mthds]

Thanks for all the ideas. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. And, everything will always taste better at the Fort.

 

[kazlac4]

As far as coolers go, the only ones we have ever had luck with holding ICE for several days (at the very least 5 days) are the Igloo Marine type coolers. They are a little more expensive, but they are the best. You can find them at a Boating & Marine store or sometimes Sam's club has them. As far as items staying frozen, I can't answer that, we only use it for drinks. They have ICE machines at all the restroom areas and at the store in FW if you need more.

I agree with KimIce. One of our best investments when we used to tent camp was the purchase of a top notch cooler. Believe me, the extra money you spend on the cooler will certainly be saved over time on money spent for ice! We would use an Igloo marine cooler for all the meats and dairy, and then used a cheaper one for sodas, vegetables, condiments, etc. It seemed to work for us.

 

[ghester]

I would recomend a small fridg or electric cooler.I have an old electric drink cooler that i use.

 

[itch1]

Oh that is it if I see green mickeys and your not home I won't have to cook all week !

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

For those who leave their crockpots outside -- is it because you don't want the camper to smell, or because you're worried about possible fire?

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Yes to both questions.

well, that, and so Jim can have something to eat when he's making his rounds at the Fort,

 

[Disneylitch]

Hi,
You can also marinate boneless chicken breast, cook it, then freeze. I use italian dressing,salsa with fresh pineapple and green peppers, and sometimes just barbecue sauce. Also, you can cook a roast, slice it, then freeze. We always freeze some lean cuisines for when you want something quick and easy. Hamburgers on the grill are always good and don't take long to cook. I take rice to put the chicken breast on. Usually I take too much food, but better too much than not enough. Have Fun.

 

[mamaloya]

I bought a Coleman Extreme cooler it worked in heat and, when I remembered to get it out of my van, a few days later, the water was still ice cold, along with the beer. LOL That was August in New Orleans.

I still need to buy one more cooler for this trip for the meats and milk. (I usually bring 3, one for sodas and stuff and will be opened a lot, one for stuff that needs to stay cold but we will be using within 2 days or so, and one for frozen stuff that will not be used until near the end.)

Has anyone had experience with both the Igloo marine cooler and the Coleman extreme? My dad was a Coleman die hard, so I usually just go with that. If the Igloo one is that much better, I will go ahead and get one. I am assuming the on ya'll are talking about is the white one with the fish ruler on top of it???

I know I am taking this a little off topic, but hey, ya'll brought it up. LOL

Back on topic, in the freezer section, you can find skillet meals that are actually pretty good that cook in like 5 minutes. I also buy lunchables for when we travel, that way I don't even have to make them a sandwich. Lazy, I know, but I am on vacation too.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Let me know when any of you are going to be at FW with your crockpots, I can stop by while you are gone and check and make sure you dont need any more seasoning