Cooking an entire meal at the campsite can be time consuming. With mason jars, you have delicious home-cooked food that's quick and easy to throw together after a long day of hiking or swimming. Each jar holds 1 to 3 servings. Here are five mason jar meal ideas to get started.
More: How to Turn Your Camping Meal Into a Glamping Meal
A Pesto Pasta Dinner
Pasta is a great camping meal because it's classic comfort food. Not to mention, it feeds a large group and is filling too.
Jar layers, bottom to top:
- 2 cups parboiled pasta
- 2 squares of butter
- 1 cup pesto, bring extra with you
- 1 cup diced raw cherry tomatoes
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1 pinch both salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
At the campsite, pour the entire contents of the jar into a hot pan. While that's heating, toast bread over the fire and cover it with butter or olive oil and minced garlic. Serve with a green salad to round out the meal.
More: 5 Ways to Enjoy Italian Cuisine at the Campsite
Rice and Bean Tacos
Rice and beans provide necessary energy and nutrients after a long day of exploring. When they're rolled up in a taco shell, you have a delicious and filling meal.
Jar layers, bottom to top:
- 3 cups 2/3-cooked Spanish rice
- 2 cups ground turkey
- 2 cups black beans
- 1 cup pinto beans
- 1/2 cup thin-sliced raw peppers
- 1/2 cup thin-sliced raw onions
- 3 tbsp. taco seasoning
When dinnertime rolls around, pour your mason jar meal into a hot pan with canola oil and warm it up. Grill corn tortillas over the fire, put the taco filling inside each one, and top them with fresh cut tomatoes, salsa and avocado. Serve with a side of chips and salsa.
