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More Make-Ahead Meals for Your Next Camping Trip

Camping Recipes: Make-Ahead Meals

On RV trips, time is precious! You’re often only at your vacation destination for a few days and there’s plenty to do while you’re there. After a long day in the sunshine on a hike, paddling a kayak, or touring the city, no one wants to take the time and energy to cook a big family meal. That’s why some RVers have turned to make-ahead meals! These are delicious, healthy dishes that can be put together at home and thrown in the freezer. Then, when you’re ready, you can throw them in the RV oven and have a home-cooked meal with little work.

Chicken Pepperoni Casserole

This casserole is a new take on pizza – minus the dough. It combines chicken, cheese, pepperoni and pizza sauce in a deep casserole dish. You can add whichever toppings (bell peppers, mushrooms, chili flakes, etc.) that your family prefers to personalize this pizza-like make-ahead meal. Simply layer your ingredients in a casserole dish and throw it in the oven. Once cooked, you can let the casserole cool, cover it with a layer of tin foil, and pop it in the RV freezer. When you get back from a long day at the campsite, you’ll be grateful to have this savory casserole ready to reheat in the oven.

Person cuts and preps salmon for their foil pack camping make-ahead meals.

Salmon Foil Pack with Veggies

Foil pack recipes make fantastic camping meals! This salmon and vegetable recipe is light and simple. You can prep your foil packs with salmon, vegetables and seasoning before you leave for your camping trip. Once it’s time for dinner, you can place your foil packs in the oven or over the campfire to cook.

Five Can Chili

Chili is an easy go-to camping recipe – and this five can chili will be an instant favorite! While there are hundreds of ways to make chili, this recipe is a great option for campers with it’s simple, quick cooking process. Simply heat the cans of beans, tomatoes and peppers with a can of beer and some other spices in a large Dutch oven. Although this recipe isn’t exactly made before you head to the campground, it’s definitely simple enough to be cooked on-site over the campfire.

Campfire Cinnamon Rolls

Start the day off right with sweet, fluffy cinnamon rolls cooked in your RV or over the campfire! This make-ahead breakfast was written for camping families. Mix together biscuit dough and milk and roll your cinnamon rolls, then pack them up to be heated later. These cinnamon rolls can be cooked over a campfire, on a grill or in a Dutch oven.

Steak Fajita Foil Pack

Enjoy a spicy steak fajita cooked over the campfire in just thirty minutes! Foil pack recipes are perfect for camping, not to mention fun to cook on the campfire, so we had to add a second to our list. Add steak strips, or chicken if you prefer, with your favorite fajita veggies and seasonings. Put your ingredients together in separate foil packs for each member of your family and pack them away. When you’re ready for dinner, heat them over the fire and you’re ready to chow down!

Skillet Pizza

The only downside to camping? Pizza delivery isn’t exactly easy! To fulfill your pizza craving, try this cast iron skillet make-ahead meal. This recipe covers the pizza basics: dough, sauce and cheese. However, it’s easily customizable with your family’s favorite toppings. Spread the dough, sauce and toppings in your skillet, cover and freeze. When you’re ready to eat a savory pizza dinner, throw your skillet pizza in the oven to heat up. You’re ready for a classic pizza at any campsite!

Ham Pasta Salad

Pasta is a great base for your make-ahead meal. Add ham to your pasta salad, and you’ve got an ideal addition to your go-to camping recipes list. Mix ziti pasta, ham, vegetables and other ingredients with seasonings and your pasta salad “sauce” to complete this simple meal. Once mixed together, toss the ham pasta salad into your RV’s fridge. It’ll be ready to dig into when you are!

Person adds cheese to pizza.

These make-ahead meals are great for camping families! They make campsite cooking easy and quick, which is ideal after a long day at the campsite. If you’re in need of a new RV with an upgraded kitchen or outdoor cooking setup, Juniata Valley RV is here to help! We have new and used RVs for sale at our Pennsylvania RV dealership.

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RV Emergency Kit Essential Items

How to Pack an RV Emergency Kit

In an RV, there’s always the risk of a roadside breakdown or boondocking mishap. This is why it’s so essential to keep a well-stocked RV emergency kit in your travel trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome. In your kit, there should be three different types of emergency response materials. You should have a first aid kit, of course. Additionally, we recommend a roadside emergency kit with items that will get you back on the highway – especially if you’re out of cell phone range! Lastly, for boondockers and off-roaders specifically, it’s smart to have a small survival kit packed in your rig.

Roadside RV Emergency

A roadside emergency can occur when your car or trailer breaks down on the road, leaving you stranded on your travels. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to pull over on a busy road or somewhere with cell signal. However, when you’re traveling to remote campgrounds and across long stretches of country highway, there’s a good chance you’ll drive for miles without cell signal. This is why roadside emergency materials are important to keep in your RV emergency kit.

Car with a travel trailer pulled over on a dirt road in need of an RV emergency kit.

Your roadside emergency kit should include a high-visibility vest for each member of your family. This will help other drivers see you at night. Additionally, an LED road flare can help someone find you. You’ll want to pack a flashlight and extra batteries in here, as well as some basic tools. These can be important if it’s a simple task like a tire change will get you back on the road.

Although less for roadside assistance, it’s good to keep tow straps on hand. These are great to have if your RV gets stuck in the mud, or if you happen to come by someone who needs help. Additionally, traction pads can help your tires drive out of the mud.

The last item to include in the roadside section of your RV emergency kit is extra phone chargers and a portable power bank. Even if you can’t plug your phone into a traditional power source, a portable charger will allow you to recharge your phone anywhere so you can call for help.

First Aid Supplies

Whether a natural disaster strikes, your campground is far from the closest hospital, or you simply have a scabbed knee, a first aid kit is essential in every car and RV. You can even have a travel-sized first aid kits to take on hikes and other outings. They’re easy to find online and in some RV parts stores. You’ll often find pre-packed first aid kits ready to go. If you’d rather pack your own, there are a few important items to include.

The first section of your kit should contain bandages and antibiotic ointment so that you can clean and dress wounds. Additionally, we recommend aspirin, a cold compress, nonlatex gloves, a thermometer and tweezers to start your RV emergency kit. Finally, if a member of your family needs medicine like an EpiPen, you’ll definitely want to store an extra in your first aid kit. The American Red Cross has a great list of items that should be kept in your first aid kit.

Survival Kit

The last part of your RV emergency kit is survival supplies! These are especially important for boondockers and off-road travelers. The first item in this kit should be a multi-tool. While you likely have some tools for a tire change, a multi-tool usually has a few different knives and some other helpful options.

Man wrapping his partner's leg on a hike with bandages from his RV emergency kit.

Your next survival items should be food rations and emergency drinking water. We’ve also been impressed by the LifeStraw. These handy gadgets remove bacteria and parasites, which helps to make stream or river water safe to drink. They’re small and last long periods of time, so they’re a great addition to your survival kit.

Next, we recommend a pack of thermal blankets. They’re light, compact and can help you retain your body heat on cold nights. A safety whistle is another great addition. Some safety whistles can be heard from a mile away! Lastly, you should keep a NOAA weather radio in your kit. These are especially important in natural disasters. Even if you had cell signal before a dangerous storm, you’ll likely lose it once the bad weather really hits. One of these radios will let you know when the weather will clear up.

Once you have your RV emergency kit packed for any situation, you’re ready to hit the road! Stay safe this camping season with first aid, roadside emergency and survival supplies. If you’re interested in upgrading your RV for the most modern features, safety and otherwise, visit Juniata Valley RV! We have used and new RVs for sale at our Pennsylvania RV dealership. Shop your favorite manufacturers by browsing our inventory online today!

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