No cooking meal ideas - camping?

Question

We are going camping for only 2 days and to eliminate extra items to take we thought we'd skip the stove ( and propane tank) and thus no need for pots and pans. Day 1, we will pick up a bucket of KFC, but does anyone have any no cook ideas for lunches or dinners. I thought about wraps, but what in it. We will have the cooler along.

thanks for any ideas. I'd like ideas that doesnt need the fire place either. I only have a fire late at night when it cools down.

Answer 1

make a big bowl of chicken or turkey salad ahead of time, along with some macaroni and potato salad. Fast sandwiches, and break out some chips and dip. Also lunchmeat and cheese. That's what we do for some days of no cooking, and ham and cheese also works for breakfast.

Answer 2

I wonder what you'll be doing otherwise because, for us, cooking is part of the fun of camping. I hope it's not hiking because KFC is poison! The one time we made the mistake of having KFC before a long day hike we all became exhausted, headachy, and sick like never before.

Answer 3

you can get a round grill grate at wal mart 10$.knock the fire down to just coals.and cook just as you wood on a BBQ grill.pre marinate steaks in zip lock bags.or ribs. bring frozen pre made hamburger or steak burgers.throw corn on the cob inhusk right on the grill.husk after done. bring a good glove that can handle the heat.I use a welders glove....

Answer 4

As it happens, I have been thinking about this for some time, too, because I have been doing deer camp alone the last few years, and I've spent more time building fires, cooking, and cleaning up than hunting.  This year, I've resolved to do a lot less cooking during the week, and for a 2-day trip, you should have no problem.

My first thought, as many suggested, is sandwiches.  They're portable, not too messy, and easy to give variety.  Possible filllings include sliced turkey, precooked bacon, peanut butter, bologna, and many other possibilities.  You can vary the type of bread, too: white, wheat, rye, pumpernickel, not to mention flour tortillas, pita pockets, or crackers.  

If you plan ahead, you can easily manage to get all five food groups.  For a short trip (even a week long), I don't think it's too important that you get the proportions of the food groups perfect, but at least have some of everything at each meal, or at least lunch and dinner.  For example, egg salad (counts as meat) on whole wheat bread (starch) with lettuce (vegetable), tomato (fruit), and a slice of cheese (dairy).  If you don't even want to wash so much as a knife, then put your condiments in plastic squeeze bottles.  Even peanut butter will squirt pretty well, especially if you mix a little extra peanut oil in it before putting it in the bottle.

I'd suggest planning at least one meal in the middle of your trip that isn't sandwiches, just for variety.  One good choice would be corn tortilla chips, or hard taco shells, with cold taco salad.  A good taco salad can be made with seasoned browned beef (which can be prepared in advance and kept in the cooler), sour cream or plain yogurt seasoned with a packet of taco seasoning, shredded lettuce or cabbage, shredded cheese, and taco sauce, layered in any order you wish.  Another non-sandwich option would be cold baked chicken (or some leftover KFC) crumbled into the shredded cole slaw mixture you can get in a bag, or your own shredded cabbage and carrots, topped with a mixture of yogurt/sour cream and green goddess salad dressing.  I've had this simple but tasty chicken salad, and it's a great change from ordinary camp fare.  Add a buttered dinner roll for your starch and apple clices sprinkled with cinnamon sugar to double as fruit and dessert, and you've got a complete meal.

Breakfast doesn't have to be quite as complete, but try to get in at least a couple of food groups.  For example, you can bring hard boiled eggs in your cooler, and make toast on your nightime fire the night before.  Or have a banana and some cereal stirred into either milk or vanilla yogurt.  The cooler gives you a lot of options you wouldn't have if you were hiking deep in the wilderness.

I think once you start thinking about all the options, you'll realize, as I have, that you can go a whole lot more than two days without cooking and without feeling deprived..  Eat well, and have a good time!

Answer 5

Since you're already bringing the fried chicken....let's see.

I'd bring sandwiches which you could make there, or before you leave...some fruit(like watermelon)...or maybe a lunchmeat tray, with sliced lunchmeats n cheeses....maybe make a cold shrimp salad, or shrimp cocktail.

Bring some beef jerky n trail mixes, maybe even some MRE's(if they're available near you)

Answer 6

sandwiches, or stop and get some sub sandwiches at cousins.  we just bring a grill grate from the weber grill and put it on some rocks with some hot coals under it and cook some burgers or brats that way. it doesnt take up much space either in the car or truck.