30 Best Camping Side Dishes

Elevate your outdoor cooking with these 30 camping side dishes.  

The best part about camping is chilling around the campfire with a rustic meal. And nothing brings campers together like a bunch of tasty sides. 

Easy Camping Side Dish Recipes

There are no-cook options, epic bites, and make-ahead dishes. There are also some foil packet goodies to make clean-up a breeze. 

You’re covered for every meal! 

And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned camper. Anyone can make these sides.

From queso to pull-apart bread, these camping side dishes have one thing in common. They taste even better in the Great Outdoors!

1.​ Campfire Potatoes

These potatoes always find a spot on my camping trips. Whether it’s for breakfast or dinner, they’re always a crowd-pleaser.

They’re super cheesy, full of bacon, and fork-tender. 

The trick is to cut the potatoes thin so they cook faster. Also, make sure your campfire coals are hot and not still roaring with flames.

Otherwise, these scrumptious spuds will burn. 

2. Easy No-Cook Healthy Southwest Camping Salad

No-cook camping dishes are the best! No need to mess with the campfire or find a flat surface for the stove. 

More importantly, you get to eat yummy sides like this salad. 

Zippy, fresh, and healthy, it’s an easy side to pack in the cooler. 

Plus, it’s affordable and goes great with many proteins. Hot dogs, burgers, and sausages are just a few. 

Serve yourself a big helping, and it doubles as a meal, too.

3. Grilled Corn Salad

Grilled corn salad is so easy and tasty- it’s a shame not to make it.

You grill the corn until you get a little char. Let it cool, then slice the kernels off the cob.

Now, mix it with the other fillings. Bell pepper, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime, and spices turn it into a party.

It’s fresh, a little smoky, zippy, and spicy. 

It tastes great with grilled chicken. And even better with that trout you caught in the river. 

4. Amish Potato Salad

Amish potato salad brings the comforts of home to the great outdoors.

Creamy, super rich, and savory, it’s everything potato salad should be.

I recommend preparing it before you head out on your adventure. That way, you don’t have to bother boiling potatoes at camp.

Either way, it’s the perfect side for barbecue.

5. Campfire Red Potato Hash

One of the best things about camping is cooking a big breakfast. And this hash will get any sleepy camper out of their tent in the morning.

It’s a mess of potatoes smothered in cream with eggs, mushrooms, and pancetta.

Add jalapenos to make it spicy, and season with smoked paprika.

You can also nix the meat to make it vegetarian. Either way, it’s got plenty of fuel for a big day.

6. Campfire Glazed Carrots

It’s easy to neglect a healthy diet when camping. So, add glazed carrots to your dinner. 

They’re super simple, inexpensive, and taste great. 

The smoky char with the sweet honey and fragrant rosemary makes them rather enticing. So everyone will eat their veggies.

7. Campfire Popcorn

Do you remember Jiffy Pop? This is how you make it the DIY way.

Add oil and corn kernels to a cast iron pan, then cover it with foil. Place it over a hot fire and shake the pan until all the kernels pop.

The family will love hanging around camp with this fun treat.

8. Camping Mac n’ Cheese

There is one camping dish nobody can resist… and that’s mac n’ cheese.

Kid-tested and parent-approved, this one is unforgettable.

It has three types of gooey cheese, plus Alfredo sauce and cream. This is about as decadent as Mac n’ Cheese can get!

9. Campfire Roasted Veggies

Roasted veggies are the perfect side for camping. 

They go with everything… and you can just toss them on the fire!

Plus, you can mix and match any veggies you like. This one opts for carrots, potatoes, and zucchini.

Chop and season the veggies at home and put them in a zip-top bag. Then when it’s dinner time, wrap them in foil. Then fire ‘em up! 

10. Cast-Iron Skillet Cornbread

Are you making a big pot of campfire chili or a hearty stew? Pair it with a side of cornbread. 

Skillet cornbread is easy to make. 

Mix the batter, prep the skillet, then pour the mixture into it. Be sure to cover it with foil, then let it cook. 

See, it’s super simple. Plus, everyone will love noshing on a warm slice.

11. Campfire Nachos

Campfire nachos are an easy side and dinner alike. 

Using a heavy-duty Dutch oven, layer chips with all your fixings. 

These nachos come with cheese, black beans, hot sauce, avocado, cilantro, and onion. But you can use any toppings you like. 

Just let it cook over the campfire until the cheese gets nice and melty. Then, it’s ready.

12. Campfire Pesto Pasta

This rustic pasta tastes gourmet, and it’s all done in one pot!

Tender penne gets coated in pesto and nutritional yeast. Then it’s tossed with cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers, and salmon. 

You could leave out the salmon for a vegetarian version. And use non-dairy pesto for a vegan one.

13. Campfire Baked Potatoes

These baked potatoes are a genius campfire cooking hack. 

Season the potatoes, wrap them in foil, then nestle them in the hot coals. Using a trusty pair of tongs, of course!

Turn them occasionally for about 40 minutes, then add your toppings.

14. Easy Campfire Beans

Campfire baked beans are a classic. It’s also possibly the most simple side you can make.

Add pinto beans, onions, mustard, and BBQ sauce into a sturdy pot. Then let them cook for 30 minutes. 

In the meantime, you can prepare the rest of your meal. 

I’m thinking cornbread, roasted veggies, and ribs. Do you want a plate?

15. Campfire Chili Cheese Fries

Did you have a long day of hiking or swimming at the lake? Treat yourself to these chili cheese fries.

They’re uber cheesy, very meaty, and downright mouthwatering. 

What’s even better is you only need three ingredients. And cleanup is a breeze!

Sure, it’s junky. But after all that outdoor recreation, you deserve it. 

16. Campfire Carne Asada Fries

If you want to elevate your loaded fries game, go big with carne asada.

The combo of juicy carne asada, tender fries, and fresh pico de gallo is extraordinary.

These might not be your typical taco shop carne asada fries. Or your typical camp meal… for that matter. 

But they are legendary.

17. Mexican Bean Salad

Go with my favorite Mexican bean salad for a fresh side dish.

It’s a vibrant mix of fresh veggies, black beans, and spices. Lime juice makes it pop, and chili powder adds some spice. 

Nutritious, economical, and versatile, pair this salad with anything you like. 

It’s an obvious choice for Mexican food. Yet it’s fantastic for Southwestern dishes too.

18. Rustic Campfire Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Now here’s a side that’s sure to please everybody. 

Fluffy, garlicky, and buttery, these rustic spuds are pure comfort food. 

Pair them with a protein like grilled chicken, steak, or fish. Perhaps even add a salad.

Or turn them into a meal on their own. Hey, you’re camping! 

19. Grilled Brussels Sprouts

These grilled sprouts are like candy for Brussels sprouts lovers. 

Between the smoky char, tangy sweet sauce, and tender leaves… they’re perfect. 

Load them onto a skewer and toss them on the grill. 

Be sure to keep a close eye on them. It’d be a shame if they burned. 

20. Easy Panzanella Salad for Camping

Fresh bread on a hot camping trip can go stale fast. 

So what should you do? Turn it into panzanella. 

The bread soaks up the vinaigrette. Making it taste even better with all the fresh veggies.

And there’s no cooking required. 

21. Campfire Taco in a Bag

The kids will love these tacos in a bag!

Each nacho cheese chip bag gets stuffed with hamburger, cheddar, lettuce, and tomatoes. 

Add salsa and sour cream, then your tacos are complete. 

The mini chip bags are ideal for individual servings. You can also use a big bag for a family-style meal.

Are you a hot sauce lover? Then add a few dashes of Tabasco or Cholula. 

22. Grilled Asparagus in Foil

Grilled asparagus is a super simple vegetable side you can make at camp.

Bundle the spears in foil with a dab of butter and a sprinkle of seasoning. Then toss them on the campfire grate. 

Sometimes, I’ll add a few slices of lemon. It enhances the flavor, while grilling gives the lemons more depth.

For a vegan version, use non-dairy butter or olive oil. 

23. Pull-Apart Garlic Bread

Your fellow campers will devour this bread!

It’s cheesy, carb-laden, and garlicky to the max. Seriously, this stuff is addicting.

Fresh parsley is fabulous on top. But delicate herbs don’t always keep well in the cooler. 

So I sometimes use dried parsley instead.

Whichever type you use, this pull-apart bread serves a crowd. That makes it a wonderful option for a larger group. 

24. Easy Grilled Broccoli Foil Packets with Lemon 

Here’s another really easy veggie side for your meal. 

It’s as simple as wrapping broccoli in foil with ghee and lemon. 

Ghee makes it super rich and yummy. Although, butter or olive works fine too.

It also helps to use heavy-duty foil. The thinner stuff rips on the camping grates.

25. World’s Best Campfire Queso Dip

Do you know what I’m making on my camping trip? This bombalicious queso!

This molten hot ooey-gooey cheese dip is pure bliss. 

It’s got two types of cheese, ground beef, jalapenos, and salsa. 

And can I tell you a secret? It’s ridiculously easy to make. 

Sure, it’s a guilty pleasure. But diets get put on vacation mode when you’re camping.

26. Campfire Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a camping must. 

The prep is easy, cooking is simple, and it goes with everything you grill. 

Plus, you can customize yours however you want.

This method is especially useful when camping. It lets you grill the corn to perfection with the husks intact.

27. Grilled Blooming Onion

You’ll want to get in on this before there isn’t a bite left in sight… or the campsite!

Crispy on the outside, sweet and tender on the inside- blooming onions are irresistible.

They’re also something you can make at camp. 

The key to this side is cutting the onion right. 

You want to slice it with the root still intact. That’s how you get the blooming effect. 

If you have mayo and BBQ sauce, mix them together. They’re a quick fix for a dipping sauce.

28. Campfire Baked Sweet Potatoes and Chili

Looking for something comforting, hearty, and healthy? These baked sweet potatoes check all those boxes. 

They’re cooked in the embers until fork-tender. In the meantime, start the kidney bean beer chili in a large pot. 

After about 30 minutes, the whole thing is ready for assembly.

As a side or as a main course, these baked potatoes work for both.

29. KFC Coleslaw

There might not be a KFC for miles. But that doesn’t matter when you’ve got this copycat recipe!

You can have that coleslaw you’re craving in just 10 minutes. 

Or, be preemptive and make it at home. When it’s time to eat, it’s waiting in the cooler.

Plus, this creamy tangy slaw tastes even better after chilling overnight. 

30. Campfire Zucchini Foil Packets

Before you pack, here’s one last side you MUST make. 

These zucchini foil packets are easy to add to any meal. You season zucchini and onions with Cajun powder. Then wrap them in foil with butter. 

They go with everything. And you can customize them with other veggies.

And let’s face it, we can all use more veggies when camping.