Labor Day Weekend Camping Meal Prep Tips
Don't spend your Labor Day weekend stressing over campground meals. Instead, relax with family and friends by using these great tips and tricks for meal preparation and cooler packing.
Labor Less When You Prep Meals Ahead
Take a break from cooking while on vacation by prepping and freezing multiple meals ahead of time. Sun Outdoors provides amenities like grills and fire pits, making it easy to cook or reheat meals at your convenience.
Be sure to include cooking or serving directions and label individual servings to avoid confusion at mealtime.
Primo Pre-made Meals for Labor Day Camping
These easy, pre-made meals can be frozen, packed into a cooler, and quickly finished on a grill. Doesn't get much simpler than that!
Kabobs Rule
As the king of pre-made meals, kabobs can be customized, frozen, and easily transported. For vegetarian options, thread as many vegetables together as you like.
- Add pre-cut pieces of veggies, chicken, steak, or shrimp to a favorite marinade in a sealable bag.
- Label individual kabob bags for allergies or preferences.
- Freeze or refrigerate until it's time to pack the cooler.
Kabob Cooking Tips:
- Use lemon-based marinades on the day you're cooking, as they can make food mushy if soaked too long.
- Keep your protein separate from vegetables when grilling, as meat typically takes longer to cook.
- Flat kabob skewers make it easier to manage cooking times.
Perfect Pizza
This homemade frozen pizza beats anything from the grocery store and can be personalized for picky eaters.
- Roll store-bought pizza dough with your favorite cheese and toppings into a log shape, sealing the ends.
- Brush with melted butter and Italian seasonings.
- Wrap in foil and freeze.
- Grill for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally.
Better Burgers
Freeze a batch of gourmet burger options for quick campfire meals.
Foil First: Many delicious Labor Day meal ideas can be cooked wrapped in foil. Use heavy-duty foil for better heat retention.
Super Spuds
Make campfire potatoes with this basic recipe:
- Chop potatoes and veggies, drizzle with olive oil and seasonings, and fold into a foil packet.
- Cook over indirect heat for 20-25 minutes.
Fajita Fun
Create foil fajita packets for an easy dinner after a day of adventure. Let each family member customize their mix before freezing or refrigerating.
Freeze Ahead French Toast
Elevate your breakfast with pre-assembled French toast:
- Cube thick slices of bread in a greased pie plate.
- Combine eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and syrup, pouring over the bread.
- Cover and freeze, cooking over the grill for 60 minutes.
Camping Cooler Packing Hacks
Yes, there is a right way to pack your cooler. The goal is to keep everything as cold as possible for as long as possible. Here are tips to ensure your Labor Day eats and treats don't spoil:
Take Two Coolers
If possible, use two coolers to separate beverages from food. This helps keep everything organized and cold.
Cool It
Pre-chill your cooler and everything that goes into it. Room-temperature items will cause the ice to melt faster.
Ice, Ice Baby
Use twice as much ice as you need for food and beverages. Frozen meals, ice packs, and dry ice can help maintain a low temperature.
Get Some Groupies
Sort and pack food by meal to make mealtime easier. Use plastic grocery bags to bundle prepped food.
List and Label
Label all packages clearly to minimize the search within the cooler. Consider placing a list of items on top for quick access.
Watch the Water
Use reusable, watertight containers to prevent sogginess and save space in the cooler.
Save Space
Stash take-out condiment packets in resealable bags to save room and reduce waste.
Don't keep these Labor Day meal ideas and cooler packing tips to yourself! Share them along with any additional suggestions you and your family swear by, so everyone can enjoy a relaxing long weekend.
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