17 Delicious Vegetarian Camping Food Ideas

Picture yourself outside, crisp air, cozy camping clothes, and a well-earned appetite after a day of adventuring! Here are some of our favorite vegetarian-friendly camping meal ideas to help sate that adventurous appetite.

Breakfast

Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day, so make sure you pack in the calories needed for a day of hiking, angling, or practicing your survival skills.

Granola with Milk & Blueberries

Granola provides long lasting fiber to fuel a day of activity, and our freeze-dried Granola with Milk & Blueberries is absolutely delicious. Just add cold water to reconstitute, or add hot water for a warmer belly to get your rolling on chilly mornings.

photo credit Leslie R. via The Dyrt

Egg and Cheese Sandwich

This egg and cheese sandwich is both easy and quick to make. Warm up the seasoned cast-iron skillet over the flame, throw on as many eggs as you like. Once those are finished, butter some english muffins, bagels, or a couple slices of bread, and place them face down to toast. Then put it all together with your favorite breakfast sandwich toppings like avocado, cheese, tomato. Pro-tip: pre-crack your eggs into a reusable container (like a Nalgene bottle). Easy to transport. Easy to pour into your skillet!

Veggie Chorizo Scramble

A hearty and delicious vegetarian chorizo scramble makes for a great camping meal – it's easy to make and packed with protein! You only need a few basic ingredients, such as scrambled eggs, diced potatoes, chopped veggies (bell peppers and onions), and vegan chorizo. You can also add seasonings like garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If you want something even easier, check out Mountain House's freeze-dried veggie chorizo scramble. It's seasoned with spices and loaded with veggies, so all you need to do is add water!

Extra Special Pancakes

Pancakes are a camping food essential because they’re easy to pack, easy to pack, and easy to customize. You can pre-make the dry batter ahead of time (or buy a mix, of course) so that all you have to add is water in the morning. Bring your favorite add-ons! Try mixing in some granola for added crunch and calories. Or sauté some cinnamon apples in the cast iron and blend them into your batter (or serve hot on top!). Or if you're feeding a crew, set out a spread of topping options like jam, nut butters, and fresh fruit.

Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are so dang simple you'll wonder why you've never done them before. There are plenty of specialized recipes online, but all you really need to know is this basic formula: 1 cup oats to 2 cups water. The rest is up to you! You can make chai overnight oats, peanut butter and jelly overnight oats, pumpkin pie overnight oats ... really, the options stop where the imagination does.

Lunch & Snacks

Keep your body fueled throughout the day with these vegetarian snacks and lunch recipes.

Mountain House Mac & Cheese

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy a hearty lunch of mac and cheese. Just add hot water and kids of all ages can enjoy our fan-favorite freeze-dried mac and cheese for a hot lunch on the trail, or chillin' at the campsite.

Dutch Oven Nachos

Staying around the campsite for the day? Fire up the pit and make a batch of these tasty dutch oven nachos. You can easily tailor this recipe for both meat eaters and vegetarian campers alike. Just add meat to one half, or add it on afterwards. Or leave it completely meat-free and add your favorite fixings.

S'mores Granola Bars

Oh, yum. These Vegan S’mores Granola Bars aren't just another energy bar. Bring along one for a hiking snack, or several if you simply can't stop eating them because they are that good.

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Is there anything chickpeas can't do? We don't think so. These simple chickpea salad sandwiches can be made ahead of time, or just make the filling at home, and assemble the sandwiches once at camp. Tip: If you'd like to bring these backpacking, swap out the sandwich bread for tortillas for a more durable, portable chickpea salad wrap!

Dinner

Whether you enjoy the process of chopping and cooking outdoors, or you prefer the quick comforts of ready-to-eat meals, you'll find something worth savoring from these dinner ideas!

Vegetable Kebabs

Use that campfire! Skewer up your favorite veggies (and fruits!) for vegetable kebabs that are sure to please. You can grill them directly over an open flame, or wrap them in aluminum and set them on coals. Turn em so they don't burn. Then serve a la carte, or on some ready-to-eat rice.

Mountain House Pasta Primavera

Looking for a quick and easy vegetarian camping food idea? Try our freeze-dried pasta primavera. Buy it in a #10 can and you’ll easily be able to feed the whole family! Add in your own special ingredients, like fresh garlic and foraged chanterelles for a Mountain House hack.

Vegetarian Chili

Requiring only a few fresh ingredients like celery and carrots, this vegetarian chili recipe can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes and will make you feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside. Bring along your favorite toppings, like sour cream, shredded cheese, and fresh cilantro.

Chili Lime Corn on the Cob

Just a few ingredients spice up a favorite for camping trips! This recipe takes corn on the cob to the next level. Similar to elotes, this grilled corn on the cob is a meal in and of itself with lime, cilantro, chili powder, and cotija cheese. Nom nom. But bring the floss!

Dutch Oven Lasagna

Dutch oven meals are the original one-pot meals. This lasagna requires little prep time for a whole lot of payoff. If garlic bread is a must (and really, isn't it always?) you can pre-make it with all the butter and garlic your heart desires, wrap it in foil, and place it over the coals to be served with your dutch oven lasagna. Hero status.

Dessert

Yes, dessert is considered a meal. And no, you don't have to share.

Mountain House Raspberry Crumble

Raspberries. Chocolate. Drooling yet? This fruity freeze dried raspberry crumble will make your mouth water even while you’re eating it.

Apple Crisp

There have been heated debates among fans about whether our Apple Crisp should be considered a breakfast or a dessert, and we say ... both! Any while we're at it, we think it makes a fine lunch, too. The only rules we insist on here at Mountain House are 1) Just Add Water, and 2) Savor the Adventure. The rest is up to you!

photo credit @uglytent

We Carry Many Freeze-Dried Vegetarian Meals

And don't forget, if you don't feel like cooking or if you want to pack light and eat fast, Mountain House carries several vegetarian freeze dried meals. We have vegetarian options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks!