Labor Day is about cherishing freedom, building memories, and indulging in the delights of summer - and there’s something incredibly liberating about combining all of these aspects into a camping adventure.

We’ve curated a selection of scrumptious, easy-to-prepare camping food ideas that are bursting with flavor and feature a fun patriotic twist. From hearty breakfasts to star-spangled desserts, these dishes are perfect for the whole family. So buckle up and prepare your taste buds as we celebrate the last days of summer in the most delicious way possible.

Camping Breakfast Ideas

French toast with berries and whipped cream

Kickstart your Labor Day celebration with this delicious and patriotic French Toast recipe. Perfect for a meal ahead of a long day of adventure, this recipe is quick, easy, and the ingredients are simple to pack.

Ingredients

8 slices of bread (day old or slightly stale works best)
4 large eggs
1 cup of milk (or a non-dairy alternative)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Butter for the pan
Toppings: Syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries

Instructions

At home, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in a bowl and combine. Pour this mixture into a sealable container and store in your cooler or RV fridge.
When you’re ready to make breakfast, heat a cast iron skillet and add a pat of butter.
Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture before letting the excess drip off. Add the bread to the skillet and cook each side for about 2-3 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Serve your french toast with your favorite toppings, in this case we recommend a dollop of whipped cream and some red and blue berries to get your day started with some holiday spirit. Enjoy!

Liberty Layered Parfaits

This easy camping meal strikes the perfect balance between wholesome ingredients, fresh flavors, and the Labor Day spirit. Start your day off right with this layered parfait.

Ingredients

Vanilla yogurt
Granola
Berries

Instructions

Simply layer your yogurt and berries in a clear plastic cup and top with granola for a healthy, red white, and blue breakfast. (This also makes a great dessert!)

Camping Lunch Ideas

Red white and blue pasta salad

This dish pays homage to the flag with its patriotic colors and the blend of sweet blueberries, tangy feta, and juicy tomatoes is the perfect light, yet satisfying meal for a midday lunch in the great outdoors. Plus, it can easily be prepped ahead of time!

Ingredients

12 ounces tricolor rotini pasta (red white, and blue if available, otherwise regular tricolor pasta works too!)
1 pint halved cherry tomatoes
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil for garnish (Or for an Italian twist, feel free to add a dollop of your favorite pesto!)

Instructions

Boil the pasta according to the package instructions in a pot over your campfire or camping stove. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
In a large bowl, combine the cool pasta, cherry tomatoes, feta, blueberries, and red onion.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss. You can serve this immediately or let it sit in a cool place to let the flavors marinate together.
Just before serving, garnish with fresh basil if using.

Campfire chili dogs

There’s just something profoundly American about a classic, fire roasted chili dog and there’s not better time to savor this comfort food than a Labor Day camping trip.

Ingredients

Hot dogs
Canned chili
Shredded cheddar cheese
Hot dog buns
Diced onions
Skewers

Instructions

This is one is the ultimate easy meal when it comes to campfire cooking. Simply roast your hot dogs over the fire and top with canned chili, diced onions, and shredded cheese. Voila!
Or you can skip the hotdogs altogether and place your chili and toppings on one of those leftover stuffed burgers from the night before to make a classic sloppy joe sandwhich!

Camping Dinner Ideas

Campfire nachos are the perfect dish to share with friends and family, making them an ideal dinner choice for a celebration with all of your loved ones. Plus, they’re completely customizable to suit everyone’s taste!

Mexican campfire nachos

Ingredients

1 bag of your favorite tortilla chips
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (more if you like your nachos extra cheesy!)
1 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
Your choice of precooked shredded chicken or ground beef.
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cup sliced jalapenos
1/2 sliced black olives
1/2 sliced green onions
1/2 cup fresh, chopped cilantro
1 avocado
Sour cream and salsa for serving
Tortillas for those who prefer tacos or burritos instead!

Instructions

Fire up you grill or your campfire and heat your cast iron skillet or disposable aluminum foil pan.
Create a layer of tortilla chips and sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
Add a layer of black beans, tomato, jalapenos, black olives, and green onions.
Add a layer of meat and then another layer of tortilla chips and repeat with the remaining cheese and veggie toppings.
Cover the skillet or pan with aluminum foil and place the pan on the campfire grill or directly over the fire. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Carefully remove from the fire, top with diced avocados and fresh cilantro. Serve with sour cream and salsa on the side.

Stuffed hamburgers

You know how the saying goes... everything’s always bigger in Texas! This Labor Day, celebrate Texas style with a mouthwatering twist on this traditional American fare.

Ingredients:

Ground beef (or a vegetarian alternative)
Blue cheese crumbles
Fresh spinach
Sliced tomatoes
Red onion
Sliced white cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Condiments - ketchup, relish, mustard, etc.
Buns

Instructions:

Divide the ground beef into thin patties. You'll need two for each burger.
On one patty, place a healthy amount of blue cheese crumbles and some spinach.
Place the other patty on top and seal the edges to make a stuffed burger. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the burgers on a grill or over the open fire to your preferred doneness. Just before they're done, place a slice of white cheddar on top to melt.
Serve the burgers with sliced red tomatoes and red onions. You'll have the red, white, and blue theme in every bite!

Side Dishes and Snack Ideas

Freedom fries - sweet potato edition

This easy camping recipe is a great addition to a Labor Day campfire meal. The smoky taste from the fire perfectly compliments the sweetness of the potatoes and their golden color reminds us of the ever famous “amber waves of grain”, adding a patriotic touch to your meal.

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes
2 tbps olive oil
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prep your potatoes by peeling and slicing them into long, thing fries.
Prepare your campfire and let it burn down to hot coals while you toss the fries in olive oil, paprika, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the fries out evening on a piece of aluminum foil and fold the edges up to create a tray.
Place the foil tray on a grill rack over the coals and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the fries are crispy and golden brown. You might turn them occasionally to keep them from burning.
Carefully remove from fire and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Dutch oven colonial cornbread

This side dish is the perfect accompaniment to your Labor Day spread. It’s hearty, comforting, and pairs well with a variety of dishes from chili to BBQ ribs. It was also a common staple in colonial times.

Ingredients

1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar (or brown sugar for a more rich flavor)
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

At home, mix together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a resealable bag or airtight container.
Once at your campsite, prepare your campfire and let it burn down before placing your dutch oven on the hot coals to preheat.
In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, eggs, and oil. Add the cornmeal mixture and stir until just combined.
Carefully remove the dutch oven from the coals and coat the bottom and sides with additional vegetable oil to prevent the bread from sticking.
Pour the batter into the dutch oven and cover with a lid, placing it back onto the hot coals. Allow the cornbread to cook for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the dutch oven from the coals and let the cornbread cool for a few minutes before serving.

Firecracker trail mix

Head to your nearest neighborhood grocery bulk section and load up on your favorite nuts, candies, and dried fruits to create a colorful, healthy snack for your Labor Day adventure. We love to add red white and blue peanut butter m&m’s, dried blueberries, and mini marshmallows for a patriotic flare.

Star spangled smore’s

Smore’s with a twist! Simply replace your normal white marshmallows with patriotic red white and blue marshmallows for a sweet treat! You can also add a spat of strawberry jam for an extra touch of color and tang!

Stars and stripes skewers

These kabobs are the perfect side dish for your next camping trip, offering a refreshing, sweet and salty flavor combo that’s perfect for a hot July day.

Ingredients

1 pint of blueberries
1 watermelon
1 pint strawberries
1 large block of feta cheese
Bamboo skewers

Instructions

Rinse your berries under cold water and let them dry. Cut the strawberry greens off and slice the fruit in half.

Cut the watermelon and feta cheese into large slices, about 1” thick. Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out star shapes from the slices.
To assemble the skewers, start by threading a blueberry onto a bamboo skewer, followed by a watermelon star, a strawberry half, and top it the stack with a feta star. Repeat this process until the skewer is nearly full, ending with a blueberry.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

For more insights into making your camping experiences more memorable, wander over to our RV camping blog library where you’ll find a treasure trove of ideas, from expert tips for better RV gas mileage to the ultimate RV camping checklist. Cheers the magic of camping and culinary delights!

Spice up Your Labor Day With These Exciting RV Camping Recipes

Labor Day is about cherishing freedom, building memories, and indulging in the delights of summer.