When I started looking at dutch ovens this year, I had no idea there were so many different kinds. Flat bottoms, bottoms with legs, bail handles, and lids that double as frying pans – there was certainly more to these aluminum or cast iron pots than I expected.

Dutch ovens are the original crockpots. Like a crockpot, you can throw just about anything in a dutch oven and it will come out tasting great. For camping, a dutch oven can be used for all three meals. In fact, we’re looking forward to breaking ours in with one of our kid’s favorite breakfast treats: German Pancakes. I’m expecting them to taste even better in the backcountry than they do at home!

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Make sure to start foods with longer cooking times, like these potatoes, first

Whether you and the family are spending a weekend at the beach or a week in the mountains, the meals that you prepare can make or break your trip. Camping is all about rest, relaxation, and spending time with your family. It’s not about slaving over a campfire and spending a lot of time preparing meals. Here are 10 tips to keep your meal prep and cleanup to a minimum, while still ensuring that your tasty delights will be the hit of the trip.

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There is no better way to top off an evening of s’mores around the campfire than with a big batch of buttery, salty, popcorn. It’s hard to beat a bowl of warm popcorn after the sun goes down and, let’s face it, popcorn is usually a better bedtime snack for the little ones than marshmallows and chocolate!

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Are you tired of being seen at the campsite cooking on a standard camping stove, just like everybody else? I feel your pain, so I scoured the globe in search of something a bit out of the ordinary that is sure to make your camping kitchen the center of attention on your next family camping vacation.

Cadac Safari Chef

These ten camping stoves cover all the bases when it comes to fuel sources, from conventional propane and charcoal, to the more esoteric hardwood cubes and even your own campfire. Most of these camping stoves are small enough to sit on top of the picnic table, but the two largest models might require an extra campsite just for your kitchen! You can be assured, though, that with the possible exception of the Cobb Portable Grill, which does enjoy a bit of a cult following, you won’t have to worry about some other camper stealing our thunder when it comes to camp kitchen style.

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All packed-up and ready to go

You don’t have to go overboard when it comes to preparing meals on camping trips. Many of the foods that you already prepare at home make great camping meals, too. Camping is about relaxing in the great outdoors, though, so focus on meals that are easy to prepare and don’t require a great amount of cleanup, afterwards.

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