14 Pressure Cooker Recipes for a Better Take on “Fast Food” (2024)

In need of some easy camping recipes? If you're headed out on an outdoor adventure and want some good grub, you're not alone. Tons of Americans are going on road trips and hikes right now that require some nutritious fuel!

But while grilled cheese recipes and plain salad recipes can be delish in the comfort of your home, sometimes when you're camping, you want something a little heartier. That's where our list of easy camping recipes come in, and the fact that they're a breeze to make will give you more time to hang out with the fam. Plus, we've included some yummy and easy camping recipes for two if you're just traveling with your boo!

What are some easy foods to take camping?

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Dry and canned goods are the easiest foods to take on a camping trip. They're easy to transport, plus they stand up to any expiration date concerns you may have on your trip. Cased fruits and veggies, such as oranges, bananas, avocados, potatoes, and apples are all easy produce foods to take camping.

What is the most popular food for camping?

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Easily transportable food is the most popular food for camping. Dry goods like cereal, pasta, and oats are always a good bet. Store bought snacks like crackers, dips, granola bars and trail mix are popular for snacking while camping. Canned vegetables and fruit are another popular option, due to how easy it is to carry, as well as its ability to last for longer periods of time.

What should I make for dinner while camping?

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You can make campfire potato skins, sandwiches and wraps, hot dogs, aluminum foil packs, meat skewers, chili, and grilled fish for a tasty camping dinner. Read on for more easy and filling camping recipes!

What food should I bring for 3 days camping?

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If you're camping for 3 days, you'll want to bring a range of items to make snacks and meals with. Pack a dry grain like pasta or rice, some protein (can be canned tuna, or already-cooked chicken), canned or dry beans or lentils, some easy-to-carry fruits like bananas, apples, and oranges, plus some store bought snacks like granola bars, potato chips, or trail mix.

Easy Camping Recipe for 3-Ingredient Protein Pancakes
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Pancakes are quite possibly the perfect Saturday morning camping recipe, and these babies only need bananas, protein powder, and eggs! Top with your favorite fruit or maple syrup for a delicious, no-fail, and filling camp food recipe. (via Brit + Co)

VeganBacon-Loaded Potato Skins
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If you love loaded potatoes, then this vegan dish (which is one of the best camping recipes, in our opinion) is going to make your day! Spicy cashew cream sauce provides the creaminess and flavor of cheese, and don't even get us started on how much we love the shiitake mushroom "bacon." Prep the food the night before to make assembling a breeze. (via Brit + Co)

Asparagus + Goat Cheese Frittata
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Having a cast iron pan at the campsite will do you good with this easy camping recipe. Otherwise, all you have to do is mix the eggs, veggies, and cheese before cooking in a light layer of olive oil and seasonings. This is one of the greatest camping recipes for two since you can make it in a smaller skillet for optimal serving sizes! (via Brit + Co)

Superfood Egg Sandwich
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This hearty sandwich is a great way to start off a day full of hiking, swimming, or just hanging out at the campsite! Chia seeds, avocado, spinach, and Greek yogurt give a regular egg salad sandwich a serious upgrade, and we're pretty sure we're never going back. Simply prep the sammie filling before your trip and seal it in an airtight container to take to camp. (via Brit + Co)

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wraps
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Image via Half Baked Harvest

These chicken wraps are very versatile because you can grill them like Tieghan does, or leave them cold if you prefer to eat them like regular lunch wraps. Grab some rotisserie chicken to make this a super easy camping recipe, but the real star of the show is the buffalo sauce. It adds a nice kick that complements the creaminess of the ranch and cheese. Yes, please! (via Brit + Co)

Gooey Banana Boat S'mores
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This sweet treat is like a regular s'more, except prepped inside a banana, a la banana split. What a dessert mashup! Wrap your gooey creation in some aluminum foil and set it over the open fire for a chocolatey bite you'll want every camping night. (via Brit + Co)

Keto Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
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Brussels sprouts are great for getting vitamin K, antioxidants, and fiber, and this cheesy bacon topping just takes them to the next level. To get ready for your trip, just make this easy camping recipe ahead of time, cover, and store in the fridge until it's time to leave. Then, reheat it over the campfire and dig in! (via Brit + Co)

Easy Peach Crumble
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Canned peaches, pre-made biscuits, and store-bought whipped cream will make this easy camping recipe go by so much faster so you can dig in! Just pile everything into an aluminum tin before grilling it over the fire for about 10 minutes – simple and easy. (via Brit + Co)

Egg Muffins Camping Recipe
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Okay, so we'll admit that this might not be the easiest camping recipe once you're actually at your campsite, but prepare them beforehand, and you'll have a filling and cost-effective breakfast at your disposal. The veggies add a healthy edge and savory flavor – we give it two thumbs up! (via Brit + Co)

Chicken + Broccoli Foil Dinner
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Foil pack dinners are a staple when it comes to easy camping recipes, because you can just throw them on the fire and let them cook while you're playing cards, telling stories, or catching up on your latest read! This camping recipe is totally customizable, so pick soy sauce for an Asian flavor, or go with hot sauce for a kick. You can also swap the chicken and broccoli for different meats and veggies until you find your favorite combo! (via Brit + Co)

Grilled Fluffernutter Sandwich
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Peanut butter, chocolate chips, and marshmallow spread come together for one of the best camping sandwiches ever. It's easy to find vegan versions of these ingredients, or you can just opt for your regular go-to's. Either way, this is an easy camping recipe that will satisfy kids and adults alike! (via Brit + Co)

Triscuit + Prosciutto + Drunken Goat Cheese + Tomato Bites
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These tiny finger foods look and sound super fancy, but are as easy as assembling any other crackers! Layer ahead of time for a snack in the car, or wait until you're curled up inside your sleeping bag with your book. Either way, these will taste amazing! Plus, this is a great pre-dinner option when it comes to camping recipes for two, since you don't have to do any cooking or prep. (via Brit + Co)

Triscuit + Almond Butter + Banana + Honey Bites
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When snack time rolls around at camp, you want something healthy that also tastes good and will satisfy you until dinner. Enter this tasty and easy camping recipe. The almond butter offers protein, while the banana adds some fiber, and the honey keeps things sweet. Done and done. (via Brit + Co)

Instant Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup
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Hot soup is one of the best camping dinners because it's filling and it'll keep you warm after the sun goes down! This one is chock full of carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, and kale. It also calls for sausage, but you could easily leave that out to turn it into a meat-free camping dish. Make it beforehand with your Instant Pot or use a big pot over the campfire. (via Brit + Co)

Lemon Chicken Skewers

Image via Half Baked Harvest

Before you head off on your camping adventure, cut up some chicken and veggies, and store them in different airtight containers. Then when you're in front of your campfire grill, you can just arrange everything on your skillet, and cook on skewers! Moroccan flavors and the creamy feta sauce from this easy camping recipe are a match made in heaven. (via Brit + Co)

Pork Bánh Mì
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The carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli on this sammie offer some nutrients, and the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar give this simple camping meal some serious flavor. Plus, look at all that color! If you're not a fan of sandwiches, you can make the pickle mix (with the cucumbers, carrots, and shallot) for an easy camping side dish. (via Brit + Co)

Colorful Peep S'mores
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You can't have a camping trip without s'mores... right?! It's basically a rule. If you want to change up your usual s'mores, consider swapping regular marshmallows for Peeps for some extra color! And while the chocolate dipped graham crackers are optional, we 1000% recommend. (via Brit + Co)

Easy Camping Recipe for Strawberry Arugula Walnut Salad
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If you're preparing a huge camping dinner for the fam, sometimes you prefer a lighter lunch, especially if it's a hot afternoon. This salad has plenty of strawberries and walnuts, plus a nice dose of balsamic dressing (with Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and garlic — YUM!) that satisfies without weighing you down. This dish is also great for camping recipes for two since it's on the lighter side. Make sure to store it with some ice packs to maximize freshness. (via Brit + Co)

DIY Pizza Lunchables — One Of The Best Camping Recipes!

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Make a healthier (and not to mention cheaper) version of our favorite childhood meal with some pita bread pieces, cheese, and tomato sauce. This is a great camping meal for the car or the campsite, and since you can customize the veggies, it's a surefire way to keep everyone 'round the fire happy! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Biscuits and Gravy

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Flavorful, filling, and warm, biscuits and gravy make for one of the best easy camping recipes. There's nothing like smelling the gravy cooking in a cast iron, and feeling the chill of the morning air. We love it *so* much. Prep the gravy ahead of time so that you don't have to do as much work at your campsite, or spend time making it with the whole fam! Store-bought biscuits are totally acceptable here.(via Culinary Hill)

Spicy Beer BBQ Chicken Skewers with Avocado Corn + Feta Salsa

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Everything about this easy camping recipe is a good idea. Simmer some beer, ketchup, and honey in a cast iron skillet with chipotle chili for a sauce that will go great with burgers, fries, and all your summer sandwiches. Spread some of the sauce on your chicken before grilling to get some extra flavor, and add extra once the skewers are plated! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Chili Dogs

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Hot dogs are one of the best camping recipes, and the only way you can make them better is by adding some canned chili and shredded cheddar cheese. Good thing this easy camping recipe has both! This is a super easy camping recipe to assemble and customize. Picky eaters are entirely welcome. (via Culinary Hill)

Campfire Banana Boats

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How cute are these kid-friendly banana boats? You can this camping recipe a full nine different ways, including Stawberry Hazelnut, S'Mores, Banana Split, and Honey Ginger style. We'd like to try every single one, please and thank you. (via Fresh Off the Grid)

BBQ Chicken Foil Packs

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Prep this easy camping meal ahead of time, and then throw these bad boys in the fire on your camping trip. Two notes of caution: keep these in a cooler until you're ready to cook them so the chicken doesn't spoil, and also make sure to wear heat-proof gloves when taking these out of the open fire! Camping recipes for two have never looked yummier. (via Life in the Lofthouse)

Raspberry Dark Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats

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Pretty much nothing could be simpler than prepping overnight oats ahead of time and eating them for breakfast while you're camping. And by the way, feel free to use whatever fruit you'd like for this recipe, from strawberries to blueberries and beyond. (via Annie's Noms)

Cajun-Style Grill Foil Packets

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You might notice that there are a couple of foil packet recipes on this list, mainly because they're *so* perfect for camping. This easy camping recipe offers a Cajun take on things with veggies and shrimp. (via Favorite Family Recipes)

Bailey’s Dipped Toasted Marshmallows

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Going camping with your S.O.? We're pretty sure that this insanely delicious (and adults-only) dipped marshmallow snack is about to be the hit of the weekend, and perhaps one of the best camping recipes for two you've ever experienced. (via BS' in the Kitchen)

Energy-Boosting Trail Mix

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So – we've already covered some ideas for easy camping recipes to eat around the fire, but what about when you're on the trail? Cue this high-energy snack loaded with coconut flakes, raw almonds, dried cherries, dark chocolate, cashews, and more. (via Kristine's Kitchen)

Hot Ham + Swiss Croissants

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Sure, these are technically sandwiches (and not croissants), which is why they're so easy to make for a camping trip. But the twist is that you wrap them in foil and throw them on the heat, allowing the cheese to get all melty and gooey. Better than your average breakfast sandwich, no? (via Life With the Crust Off)

Italian Sausage + Veggies Foil Pack

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Looking for an easy camping recipe, but want to keep it healthy and low-carb? Spring for this insanely good (and filling!) Italian sausage-bell pepper combo. Mix in as many different colored peppers as you possibly can for added joy. (via Chelsea's Messy Apron)

Sausage, Potato + Green Bean Foil Packets

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Camping with dad? He's sure to love this classic meat-and-potatoes combo, and so will everyone else. Make sure to season these foil packs up before you hit the road! (via Damn Delicious)

24-Hour Fruit Salad

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Anything that can be made overnight (while we're literally sleeping) is going to get a stamp of approval from us, especially on a camping trip! This sweet, fruity mix is the perfect easy camping recipe to add to your trip if the rest of your meals tend to be heavy and salty. (via Culinary Hill)

Mac + Cheese

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We've saved the best for last! The key to making this easy camping recipe is to pre-cook the noodles before you leave home. But once you've done that, it's all downhill. Bonus: this is a one-pot recipe that uses barely any dishes, so cleanup time goes a lot faster. (via Hapa Nom Nom)

Share you favorite camping recipes on Instagram or follow us on Pinterest for more inspiration and check out our online baking and cooking classes for more ideas!

Lead image via Life in the Lofthouse.

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

14 Pressure Cooker Recipes for a Better Take on “Fast Food” (2024)

FAQs

What Cannot be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Here are six things you should always avoid cooking in a pressure cooker.
  1. Dairy products. Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. ...
  2. Fried foods. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers. ...
  3. Quick cooking vegetables. ...
  4. Cakes and bakes. ...
  5. Eggs in the shell.
Jul 23, 2023

What cooks better in a pressure cooker? ›

While they are invaluable when it comes to braising, stewing and transforming tough cuts of meat, and cooking ingredients like dried pulses from scratch, pressure cookers are less successful with delicate foods like fish or green veg, as they use such a high heat.

How do you use an old fashioned pressure cooker? ›

For an old-fashion-type pressure cooker, place the cooker on medium-high heat and brown the foods. Then add liquids and remaining ingredients, cover, bring pressure up, and complete the pressure cooking. For newer cookers, most have a brown function—see manufacturer's instructions.

Do you put hot or cold water in a pressure cooker? ›

Since the food starts to cook when Instant Pot is heating up & going up to pressure, and this part of the cooking time is shortened, the food may come out undercooked. Solution: Use cold liquid to cook or adjust the cooking time stated in the recipe accordingly.

Why is a pressure cooker unhealthy? ›

Pressure cooking can reduce heat-sensitive nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, folate) and bioactive phytonutrients, such as betacarotene, glucosinolates (helpful compounds found in cruciferous vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids, that are beneficial for human health.

Why potatoes should not be cooked in pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

Can I put frozen meat in pressure cooker? ›

It is safe to cook frozen food in a pressure cooker because it uses pressure to move food through the "Danger Zone" quickly. As a result, you don't run into the issues that you would find by cooking frozen food in a slow cooker, where it can stay too long in the Danger Zone and could become unsafe.

Does food taste better in a pressure cooker or slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers utilize long cooking times to develop these richer flavors, while pressure cookers use high heat and pressure to impart as much flavor as possible in a shorter time.

Do top chefs use pressure cookers? ›

Chefs tend to prefer stovetop pressure cookers and, of course, being present during cooking. For home cooks drawn to hands-off convenience, electric pressure cookers take the guesswork out of cooking and offer pre-programmed settings, from baking to air frying, with no need for prior experience.

Should a pressure cooker hiss? ›

So long as the rest of your pressure cooker's parts are working as they should, your pressure cooker should only hiss when it's venting pressure. There are times when the pressure inside your cooker may get too high during the cooking process. In turn, the unit will vent that pressure, resulting in a low hissing sound.

Can I open pressure cooker while cooking? ›

When it comes to opening a pressure cooker, it's important to know how soon is too soon? To play it safe, we recommend waiting for 15 minutes after you've turned your cooker off to open it. This will allow enough time for its internal temperature and pressure to drop to safe levels.

How long should you cook meat in a pressure cooker? ›

Season your meat as you normally would. Heat a little oil using the Sauté function and sear the meat. Add 1 1/2 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc.). Cook for 20 minutes (per pound of meat) at high pressure for large chunks and 15 minutes (per pound of meat) for small chunks.

Does liquid need to cover meat in pressure cooker? ›

I cover meat in my Instant Pot when making soup, stew, or stock. Otherwise I use a minimum amount of liquid, from 1 to 2 cups. A pressure cooker produces steam until a preset pressure is reached and then replaces heat lost from the pot, by boiling more water, producing more steam.

Why does Instapot say burn food? ›

The Instant Pot's burn message simply means that your Instant Pot has detected that its inner pot has gotten too hot. There may be a slight amount of burned food at the bottom of your pot, but not enough to ruin whatever you're cooking.

Does food taste better in a pressure cooker? ›

As the ingredients cook under pressure, their flavors are concentrated, resulting in a richer taste. Tenderization: Pressure cooking breaks down tough fibers in meats and other ingredients, making them more tender and juicy.

Can you cook everything in a pressure cooker? ›

You can use a pressure cooker to brown, boil, steam, poach, steam roast, braise, stew, or roast food. Nowadays, you can even bake in your pressure cooker! Many people who are using electric pressure cookers like Instant Pot Pressure Cooker are even making cheesecakes and homemade yogurt.

Can you put raw meat in a pressure cooker? ›

To cook meat without water in a pressure cooker, simply add the meat to the pot, along with any seasonings, herbs, or other ingredients that you like. Close the lid, seal the pressure release valve, and set the pressure cooker to high pressure.

Can you cook anything in a pressure cooker? ›

It also allows you to buy less-expensive cuts of meat (the tough stuff) and tenderize it quickly. Just about anything! I use mine a lot for meats, potatoes, and stews. You can also cook desserts and sweets, like sweetened condensed milk, flan, and cheesecake.

What dishes are safe in a pressure cooker? ›

Suitable heat-proof containers

As the name suggests, heat-proof containers should be heat or ovenproof- this includes high-temperature silicone, heat-proof glass (like pyrex), ceramic, stainless steel, aluminum and even copper! The forms should not be plastic or any glass that is not tempered.

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