Have you ever dreamed of turning your campfire into a gourmet kitchen while surrounded by the wild beauty of nature? Overlanding offers that perfect blend of adventure and practicality, where meals aren’t just fuel—they're part of the experience.
Cooking while overlanding is all about simplicity, ease, and creativity. With minimal equipment and a bit of improvisation, you can whip up delicious, hearty meals for your journey.
Welcome to the world of simple overland cooking. Forget complicated recipes and loads of gear—this guide is all about creating savory, satisfying dishes with a few simple ingredients.
Whether you're new to cooking while overlanding or a seasoned overlander seeking fresh inspiration, these recipes are designed to make your next adventure tastier. Grab your cast-iron skillet, Dutch oven, or wok, gather around the campfire, and let’s dive into these mouth-watering meals perfect for any overland trip.
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Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie is the ultimate comfort food for adventurers embracing simple overland cooking.
When the day’s trek is done, nothing beats gathering around a campfire and filling up on this hearty dish cooked in a Dutch oven.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity—just a handful of ingredients, and you’ve got a meal that satisfies even the biggest appetites. Ground beef or lamb, hearty vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes come together to form layers of flavor and warmth, all cooked over the open flame.
Let it bake until the mashed potatoes on top are golden, and you’ll have a campfire recipe classic that’s sure to keep everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 cup peas
- 1 cup beef stock
- 6-8 potatoes, boiled and mashed
- Salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
1. Brown the ground meat in a Dutch oven over the campfire.
2. Add onions, carrots, and peas, cook until softened.
3. Pour in beef stock and Worcestershire sauce, let it simmer to meld the flavors.
4. Spread the mashed potatoes over the meat mixture, cover the Dutch oven, and cook for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden and crispy.
Campfire Tacos 
Tacos are one of the best options for simple overland cooking, giving you a customizable, crowd-pleasing meal with little effort. When you’re out on the trail, all you need is an iron skillet over the fire to create this flavorful, versatile dish.
Ground beef or chicken, mixed with onions and bell peppers, forms the perfect base for tacos. Top with fresh ingredients like salsa, guacamole, and shredded cheese to bring this dish to life.
The great thing about tacos is their flexibility—you can make them as spicy or as mild as you want. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, campfire recipe tacos are a go-to meal when cooking while overlanding.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or chicken
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup corn
- Tortillas
- Toppings: shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole
Instructions
1. Heat the wok over the campfire, and brown the meat until fully cooked, then set aside.
2. In the same wok, sauté the onion, bell pepper, and corn until tender.
3. Warm tortillas directly over the campfire or on a grill, then fill them with the meat and veggies.
4. Add your favorite toppings, wrap them up, and enjoy.
Campfire Pad Krapow 
Bringing international flavors to your campsite doesn’t get any easier than with pad krapow, a spicy, savory Thai stir-fry dish perfect for simple overland cooking.
With just a wok and a campfire, you can create this flavorful meal with ground chicken or pork, garlic, Thai chilies, and fresh basil.
Pad Krapow delivers bold, aromatic flavors that come together in minutes, making it ideal when you want a quick, delicious meal after a long day on the trail. Served over rice, this dish is packed with protein and heat, warming you up on cool nights in the wilderness.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken or pork
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 Thai bird’s eye chilies (or any hot peppers)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil
- Rice (as much or as little as you like)
Instructions
1. Heat the wok over the fire, and sauté garlic and chilies until fragrant.
2. Add ground meat and cook until browned.
3. Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, and sugar, and toss in fresh basil.
4. Serve over rice and enjoy a taste of Thailand right at your campsite for a simple overland cooking experience!
Campfire Beef Short Ribs
Beef short ribs take a bit more time when cooking while overlanding, but they’re absolutely worth the wait, especially if you are looking to elevate your simple overland cooking.
With a small smoker or BBQ grill, you can recreate that slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone tenderness that’s a signature of great ribs.
This method involves smoking the ribs for a couple of hours, then braising them in a rich, flavorful liquid made of red wine, beef stock, root vegetables, and herbs.
The result? Tender, juicy ribs with a smoky, savory bite—perfect for an overlanding feast after a day’s drive through the wilderness.
Ingredients
- 4-6 beef short ribs
- Red wine
- Beef stock
- Root vegetables (carrots, onions, potatoes)
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme)
Instructions
1. Smoke the ribs over post oak and mesquite wood at 235°F for 2.5 hours.
2. Transfer the ribs to a Dutch oven with the braising liquid (red wine, beef stock, vegetables, and herbs).
3. Cover and cook at 275°F for another 2 hours, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
Campfire Pizza 
Who says you need an oven to make pizza? This simple overland cooking recipe can easily be whipped up over a campfire and rivals anything you’d get back home.
Using naan bread as the base, you can top your pizza with whatever ingredients you have on hand—whether it's classic pizza sauce and mozzarella or BBQ sauce and cheddar for a smoky twist.
Either cook the pizza on a grate over the fire with foil on top to help melt the cheese or fold the naan bread like a calzone, wrap it in foil, and place it directly in the fire. In just 10-12 minutes, this simple overland cooking recipe will produce a crispy, melty, and delicious pizza that is perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
- Naan bread
- Pizza sauce or BBQ sauce
- Cheese of your choice
- Toppings: pepperoni, sausage, vegetables
Instructions
1. Spread sauce over the naan bread and add your choice of cheese and toppings.
2. Cook on a grate over the fire with a foil tent, or wrap the naan like a calzone and place directly in the fire.
3. Let it cook for about 10-12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Campfire Frittata
When you're craving a protein-packed breakfast, nothing beats the simplicity and flavor of a campfire frittata. Using a cast-iron skillet and a few simple ingredients, you can whip up this hearty dish as the sun rises.
In this simple overland cooking recipe, eggs are the main ingredient, mixed with vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and spinach, plus some bacon or sausage for extra flavor.
This is the perfect meal to kickstart your day of adventure, offering a filling, nutritious option that can be customized with whatever you have on hand.
This recipe is another excellent example of simple overland cooking, designed for ease and taste.
Ingredients
- 6-8 eggs
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup spinach
- 4-6 slices of bacon or sausage, cooked
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
1. In a cast-iron skillet, cook the bacon or sausage until crispy, then set aside.
2. Sauté onions and bell peppers in the same skillet until tender.
3. Beat the eggs and pour them over the vegetables, stirring in spinach and bacon/sausage.
4. Cover with a lid and cook over the fire for 10-15 minutes until the eggs are set.
Campfire Skewers 
Skewers are one of the easiest simple overland cooking methods for a fast, flavorful meal. Load up metal or wooden skewers with chunks of marinated meat, vegetables, and even some pineapple for sweetness. Grill the skewers over the fire, turning occasionally until the meat is cooked through and the veggies are slightly charred.
This customizable dish is ideal for communal cooking—everyone can make their own skewer with their favorite ingredients. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor, these skewers are a simple overland cooking must-have.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken, beef, or shrimp
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 onion, quartered
- Pineapple chunks (optional)
- Marinade: olive oil, garlic, soy sauce
Instructions
1. Thread the meat and vegetables onto skewers.
2. Grill the skewers over the fire, turning occasionally until the meat is cooked through and the veggies are lightly charred.
3. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.
Simple Overland Cooking Recipes
These simple overland cooking recipes bring a taste of home to your outdoor adventures, making each meal as unforgettable as the journey itself. Keep things easy, delicious, and savor every bite!
We hope you’ll consider these simple overland cooking recipes as inspiration for your next adventure!
