Helping campers since 2011

Easy Camping Food Ideas

Balsamic Black Beans

One of my favorite easy camping food ideas is Balsamic Black Beans. It's quick and easy to make, it tastes great, and it's made from simple, easy-to-pack ingredients.

Balsamic Black Beans makes a great camping lunch. It's hearty enough for a main course for supper, too. Add some raw vegetables on the side and you have a complete meal!

This meal takes very little time to prepare. You can probably make it in less time than it will take your kids to stop playing, put away their toys and wash their hands!

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Easy Camping Food Ideas

What to pack

Food

In the food box

olive oil

garlic

2 cans of black beans, each 19 oz/540 mL

oregano

balsamic vinegar

a bag of tortilla chips

In the cooler

an onion and a bell pepper (any color)

salsa

sour cream

ingredients for Balsamic Black Beans on picnic table

Pots and utensils

garlic press

can opener

wooden spoon

measuring spoons - teaspoon/5 mL and tablespoon/15 mL (optional)

cutting board

sharp knife

What to do

Chop the onion and peppers.

Heat the skillet over medium heat.

Add about 1 tablespoon/15 mL olive oil. Let it warm for a minute or two.

Add the chopped onion.

Cook, stirring occasionally.

While it cooks, peel a clove of garlic.

When the onion is soft, press the garlic into the skillet. Cook for another minute. What you are doing here is actually adding the garlic flavor to the oil.

Add the chopped bell pepper and cook until it is soft.

Open the cans of beans. Drain the liquid from one can but not the other.

Add the drained beans and the undrained beans (and their liquid) to the skillet.

Add about 2 teaspoons/10 mL oregano and about 1 tablespoon/15 mL balsamic vinegar to the skillet.

Stir to mix well.

Cook until the mixture begins to thicken (about 5 minutes).

Use a fork to mash some of the beans.

Place a handful of tortilla chips into each person's bowl.

Spoon the beans over the chips.

Top with salsa and sour cream.

Balsamic Black Beans in a bowl with salsa and sour cream

Tips

To simplify meal preparation, do some of the prep work at home!

Chop an onion and package it in a container or ziploc bag.

Chop a bell pepper (red or green) and package it in a container or ziploc bag.

My favorite easy camping food ideas don't require exact measuring - so don't stress about the exact quantity of oregano or vinegar. Leave your measuring spoons at home if you like, and just use your good judgment!

You can bring along a strainer if you like - or just drain the beans by holding the lid closed with one finger while you hold the can upside down.

For even more camping food ideas, remember to visit my page about good food to take camping.

Before you head off on your next camping trip, be sure to visit the The Camping Family home page! You'll find the information you need to make your trip a success.