Camping lunches for a crowd
June 23, 2022 7:06 PM Subscribe
What are some lunches to make ahead or assemble on the fly VERY EASILY for a 4 kid/2 adult family engaged in warm weather car camping?
We have good meal plans for breakfast and dinner. Unfortunately lunch is where it all falls apart. Our usual approach is “we’ll make sandwiches!” But actually making sandwiches to order with a bunch of ingredients laid out on a picnic table for everyone’s individual tastes while flies buzz around is unpleasant. Bonus problem, we’re usually driving or hiking elsewhere for lunch, so the food needs to travel well; sandwiches also suffer under this criterion, often being sad and soggy after a few hours in a soft sided cooler. I grew up in the you will eat a warm bologna sandwich and like it generation, but surely there are better options!
We have good meal plans for breakfast and dinner. Unfortunately lunch is where it all falls apart. Our usual approach is “we’ll make sandwiches!” But actually making sandwiches to order with a bunch of ingredients laid out on a picnic table for everyone’s individual tastes while flies buzz around is unpleasant. Bonus problem, we’re usually driving or hiking elsewhere for lunch, so the food needs to travel well; sandwiches also suffer under this criterion, often being sad and soggy after a few hours in a soft sided cooler. I grew up in the you will eat a warm bologna sandwich and like it generation, but surely there are better options!
Best answer: Cold pasta salad with protein, for example cherry chicken pasta salad, is nice if it can be kept somewhat cool in the cooler. Or even just a basic pasta salad with vinaigrette, cubes of cheese and meat, and a variety of veggies.
posted by cabingirl at 7:38 PM on June 23, 2022
posted by cabingirl at 7:38 PM on June 23, 2022
If you know what people want for sandwiches, I've had success packing things separately.
1 container/bag holds all bread
1 container has sandwich fillings, each sandwich's worth separated by a piece of plastic wrap. You can do each persons separately, so layer 1 might have turkey cheese lettuce, layer 2 turkey roast beef tomato lettuce, etc. This won't work for allergies but works for preferences.
Condiments separate
This makes sandwich prep super quick and might be tolerable.
Other ideas
Meats cheese jams crackers veggies and dip, put in center and everyone takes some
Potato/pasta salad
Thick sliced ham or roast beef with condiments
posted by hermanubis at 8:21 PM on June 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
1 container/bag holds all bread
1 container has sandwich fillings, each sandwich's worth separated by a piece of plastic wrap. You can do each persons separately, so layer 1 might have turkey cheese lettuce, layer 2 turkey roast beef tomato lettuce, etc. This won't work for allergies but works for preferences.
Condiments separate
This makes sandwich prep super quick and might be tolerable.
Other ideas
Meats cheese jams crackers veggies and dip, put in center and everyone takes some
Potato/pasta salad
Thick sliced ham or roast beef with condiments
posted by hermanubis at 8:21 PM on June 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Bagels and cream cheese are also a great option to get sandwich-y, but also highly portable and less likely to get soggy. Cut bagels ahead, bring a butter knife, add some lunch meats, and away you go. Bring some single-serve condiments (mustard, etc) if your team has other preferences. Cucumbers are also very portable before being cut up, so one of those sliced on the spot can be a way to get your veggies in.
posted by liquado at 8:33 PM on June 23, 2022
posted by liquado at 8:33 PM on June 23, 2022
P, B & J.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:40 PM on June 23, 2022
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:40 PM on June 23, 2022
I remember our hiking lunches for the whole family that included picky eaters when I was a kid consisting of very few items (easier to carry, simpler to serve). For example, we'd have summer sausage, hard cheese, crackers, trail mix, and fruit, sometimes with chocolate or a jar of peanut butter to take spoonfuls from. Another example: carrots and celery, hummus, pita pockets, cheese, fruit, trail mix or chips. Anyone who was picky just didn't eat the things they weren't into.
If you make sandwiches, stick to only a few ingredient options. Everyone can omit anything they don't like.
To prevent sandwich sogginess: Put lunch meat and cheese next to the bread, with "wetter" ingredients like lettuce and tomato in the very middle, not touching the bread. Go easy on the condiments. Don't put an ice pack directly next to the sandwiches in the cooler (shield them with stuff that can be super cold for a bit, like canned drinks, chocolate, or a towel).
posted by Red Desk at 11:01 PM on June 23, 2022
If you make sandwiches, stick to only a few ingredient options. Everyone can omit anything they don't like.
To prevent sandwich sogginess: Put lunch meat and cheese next to the bread, with "wetter" ingredients like lettuce and tomato in the very middle, not touching the bread. Go easy on the condiments. Don't put an ice pack directly next to the sandwiches in the cooler (shield them with stuff that can be super cold for a bit, like canned drinks, chocolate, or a towel).
posted by Red Desk at 11:01 PM on June 23, 2022
I'd have everybody semi prep their sandwiches at the end of breakfast - basically, everything except ingredients that will make the sandwich go soggy gets assembled and then packed as sandwich - bread, any mayo/butter, any meats and cheese. Then I'd take a small container or ziplock with any wet ingredients like salad, cucumber, tomato. You could either bring a pairing knife and slice these when you're ready to eat or skip the tomato and slice the cucumber before you pack it. If anybody is desperate for tomato cocktail tomatoes are very portable in a tupperware container. When you stop for lunch all that needs to happen is that every person adds salad stuffs to their sandwich.
Otherwise snacks are your friend - apples, trail mix, jerky, hard cheese or bars.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:42 AM on June 24, 2022
Otherwise snacks are your friend - apples, trail mix, jerky, hard cheese or bars.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:42 AM on June 24, 2022
Would cold pizza work? Order or make a few pizzas, let them cool, stack the pieces in a Tupperware.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 4:23 AM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 4:23 AM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I’m not sure if you’re packing from home/base or shopping en route?
I love the idea of bagels and different cream cheese etc., I’m stealing that one. Sun buns might help with sogginess.
I usually start with some Chinese baked buns (hot dog/ham and cheese/BBQ pork back when we were eating meat more) or piggies in blankets/sausage rolls or Cornish pasties, but my family is pretty chill about eating thing like that. I’ve frozen the buns for the road and had them be fine in day 2. Near me there’s a Lebanese grocery that makes little shawarma buns as well as cheese and olive buns that I haven’t personally attempted to make but look good. Basically you take a white bun dough, fill with a cooked filling.
Mini pizzas can work too, or calzones. Again this requires being okay with the sort of leftovers vibe.
For stuff right out of a traditional grocery store - Hummus/veg or black bean/sweet potato or coleslaw/grated cheese wraps are some of our go-tools now (roasted sweet potato salad or coleslaw from the deli counter.) Wraps go around a lot of yummy things. We have people who use lettuce as the wrap too.
There’s also the pre-mixed tuna now (that you don’t have to drain) and crackers/wraps.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:27 AM on June 24, 2022
I love the idea of bagels and different cream cheese etc., I’m stealing that one. Sun buns might help with sogginess.
I usually start with some Chinese baked buns (hot dog/ham and cheese/BBQ pork back when we were eating meat more) or piggies in blankets/sausage rolls or Cornish pasties, but my family is pretty chill about eating thing like that. I’ve frozen the buns for the road and had them be fine in day 2. Near me there’s a Lebanese grocery that makes little shawarma buns as well as cheese and olive buns that I haven’t personally attempted to make but look good. Basically you take a white bun dough, fill with a cooked filling.
Mini pizzas can work too, or calzones. Again this requires being okay with the sort of leftovers vibe.
For stuff right out of a traditional grocery store - Hummus/veg or black bean/sweet potato or coleslaw/grated cheese wraps are some of our go-tools now (roasted sweet potato salad or coleslaw from the deli counter.) Wraps go around a lot of yummy things. We have people who use lettuce as the wrap too.
There’s also the pre-mixed tuna now (that you don’t have to drain) and crackers/wraps.
posted by warriorqueen at 4:27 AM on June 24, 2022
I hate the name, but the Edwardian classic shooter's sandwich is delicious and holds up well under duress. The original is meat-heavy, but there are vegetarian versions as well (Gardener's Sandwich). You probably don't want to cut into slices until ready to eat.
posted by basalganglia at 5:16 AM on June 24, 2022
posted by basalganglia at 5:16 AM on June 24, 2022
2 granola bars and an apple is my go-to camping lunch these days, either on a trail or at the campground.
posted by COD at 1:17 PM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 1:17 PM on June 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Meat: my go-to is in a foil/plastic pouch. Currently available with tuna, salmon, chicken, etc. I am a fan of prepped salads like tuna salad or chicken salad, since this can be a meal by itself or easily doctored into something better. Bring a knife or scissors to open pouch, a fork/spoon for spreading, and then toss the foil pouch.
Meats are also available in cans, particularly tuna, chicken, salmon, sometimes other meats. Bring a good can opener, then toss the can and lid.
Occasionally deli meats are purchased at Wal-Mart or other stores/gas stations just prior to use. A roasted chicken is nice, although that's a lot for a few people to consume before throwing away the rest, usually while still sitting in the store parking lot.
Beef jerky and other shelf-stable meats can work, if you like them.
Dairy: boiled eggs still in the shell are good. Hard cheeses can be cut as needed. Babybel cheese and other individually sliced and wrapped cheeses can last a while. Some string cheeses are individually wrapped.
I usually do not bring milk, butter, or other dairy that must be refrigerated on a car camping trip.
Condiments: I save the small plastic pouches of fast-food restaurant ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce and tartar sauce. These can also be ordered online. Be careful with containers of mayonnaise, salad dressing, and other dairy-based spreads since many of these require refrigeration.
Salt, pepper, sugar and other spices can be brought from the kitchen. Ziploc bags are helpful to keep the savory and the sweet from mingling. I have used tiny reclosable bags from the craft section of stores to bring smaller amounts of sugar, cinnamon, and other spices.
Fruits, veggies, breads and snacks are the easy part of packing. I avoid things that are fussy (too juicy, too sticky, takes too much time to prep outside of the kitchen, or requires constant cold storage).
I have brought Ziploc bags of pickles, whole onions and peppers, and the occasional Tupperware container of cherry tomatoes or Roma tomatoes. Lettuce is a first-day-only treat, or bought as desired.
The easiest tailgating meals are finger foods. This includes fruits (apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, dried fruits), veggies (cherry tomatoes, celery), breads (rolls, donuts, bagels, muffins), and the Cs (cupcakes, cookies, candy, chips, cereal as a snack). Nuts and trail mixes are also convenient. Peanut butter or Nutella on apples is nice.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a good idea (another reason to save fast-food jelly and honey pouches). I usually never open the jar, unless someone wants ants-on-a-log (celery and peanut butter with raisins).
posted by TrishaU at 2:39 PM on June 25, 2022
Meats are also available in cans, particularly tuna, chicken, salmon, sometimes other meats. Bring a good can opener, then toss the can and lid.
Occasionally deli meats are purchased at Wal-Mart or other stores/gas stations just prior to use. A roasted chicken is nice, although that's a lot for a few people to consume before throwing away the rest, usually while still sitting in the store parking lot.
Beef jerky and other shelf-stable meats can work, if you like them.
Dairy: boiled eggs still in the shell are good. Hard cheeses can be cut as needed. Babybel cheese and other individually sliced and wrapped cheeses can last a while. Some string cheeses are individually wrapped.
I usually do not bring milk, butter, or other dairy that must be refrigerated on a car camping trip.
Condiments: I save the small plastic pouches of fast-food restaurant ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce and tartar sauce. These can also be ordered online. Be careful with containers of mayonnaise, salad dressing, and other dairy-based spreads since many of these require refrigeration.
Salt, pepper, sugar and other spices can be brought from the kitchen. Ziploc bags are helpful to keep the savory and the sweet from mingling. I have used tiny reclosable bags from the craft section of stores to bring smaller amounts of sugar, cinnamon, and other spices.
Fruits, veggies, breads and snacks are the easy part of packing. I avoid things that are fussy (too juicy, too sticky, takes too much time to prep outside of the kitchen, or requires constant cold storage).
I have brought Ziploc bags of pickles, whole onions and peppers, and the occasional Tupperware container of cherry tomatoes or Roma tomatoes. Lettuce is a first-day-only treat, or bought as desired.
The easiest tailgating meals are finger foods. This includes fruits (apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, dried fruits), veggies (cherry tomatoes, celery), breads (rolls, donuts, bagels, muffins), and the Cs (cupcakes, cookies, candy, chips, cereal as a snack). Nuts and trail mixes are also convenient. Peanut butter or Nutella on apples is nice.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a good idea (another reason to save fast-food jelly and honey pouches). I usually never open the jar, unless someone wants ants-on-a-log (celery and peanut butter with raisins).
posted by TrishaU at 2:39 PM on June 25, 2022
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- granola or savory trail mixes
- apples/precut fruit
- chips and dip (if sitting down to eat or on a beach/at a campsite)
- Polly-o string cheese (throw in a cooler or can actually be fine warm for a while- or sun other cheeses)
- baby carrots and dip (ranch, hummus, guacamole)
- summer sausage/salami
- nuts
The other advantage of a lot of these things is that you can either make your own plate or just close us bags as you eat each thing
posted by raccoon409 at 7:24 PM on June 23, 2022 [4 favorites]