Setting Up the Perfect Camp Kitchen

Before we venture too far into this topic, let me just say that I am not a gourmet chef or an organizational guru. I’m just someone who’s prepared a few meals on the trail and enjoys eating good food.     

I’m still on my quest to find the perfect setup for my kitchen on wheels, but I have found a few things that work for me and a few that don’t, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned on my journeys and how I set up my camp kitchen.   

Basic Gear and Equipment for Your Camp Kitchen

There’s no need to get fancy and spend a ton of money on setting up your camp kitchen, especially if you’re just getting started. Begin with the basics, figure out what essentials you need, and build up from there.    

The most important thing to keep in mind when setting up your kitchen is to do what works best for you—not me or anyone else—because your cooking skills, food preferences, and culinary ambitions are unique to you. Your kitchen can be as simple or as lavish as you want it to be.    

Absolutely get ideas from other folks, particularly if you’re new to camp cooking, but at the end of the day, it’s your kitchen and it has to work for you.    

To give you some ideas, here are the essentials in my camp kitchen:

• Heat source. Transforming ingredients into a meal requires heat so a propane stove is a must, especially when camping in areas with a fire ban. I have two different stoves because of my husband’s coffee addiction, but if you’re setting up your kitchen for the first time, I’d recommend just one of them.  
• 2-burner propane stove 
• 1-burner propane stove (so Brad can make his coffee while I’m cooking)

• Cookware. I like having choices when I cook so I bring a few different pots and pans as well as spoons, spatulas, knives, and several other crucial cooking tools. 
• Stock pot 
• Medium pot 
• Medium frying pan 
• Large cast iron pan 
• Large wooden spoon 
• Large wooden spatula 
• Wooden tongs 
• Plastic spatula 
• Small plastic spatula 
• Large plastic spoon 
• Three-piece set of GSI Outdoors santoku knives (they are really sharp) 
• Percolator 
• Can opener
• Lighter

• Dinnerware/Serveware. Eating out of the pot with my fingers was fun…when I was five. Now, I prefer a slightly more civilized approach, so I keep a few basic pieces of dinnerware in my camp kitchen. 
• 4 plates
• 4 bowls 
• 4 (each) spoons, forks, knives 
• 2 coffee cups 
• Paper plates and utensils (when I need to conserve water)

• Cleaning supplies. No camp kitchen would be complete without a way to clean up the post-meal mess.  
• Collapsible basin (makes soaking and washing dirty dishes a breeze) 
• Sponge/scrubber 
• Biodegradable soap 
• 3-4 dish towels 
• Disinfectant wipes 
• Paper towels 
• Plastic grocery bags (1-2 for each day we’re on the trail)

• Storage. Whether you’re overlanding for a few days or a few weeks, it’s important to keep food fresh and intact so storage that is rugged and reliable is vital.  
• Dometic refrigerator 
• Plastic baggies (I bring several gallon- and quart-sized baggies for leftovers) 
• Bear bags (if you’re in bear country) 
• Note: we store all our cookware, dinnerware/serveware, and cleaning supplies in either our Jeep’s built-in storage modules or the storage spaces in our Patriot Campers off-road trailer but you could use a rigid or soft box instead.

Beyond the Basics for Camp Cooking

These days, there are plenty of gizmos and gadgets you can use in your camp kitchen to make cooking and cleanup easier and more convenient. And really, if there’s a way to simplify your life and reduce stress, why wouldn’t you?   

I also believe that camping doesn’t have to mean eating only rehydrated food or hot dogs. Those can be great options for when you’re in a hurry (and I love a good old fashioned hot dog with mustard, onions, and relish), but part of the fun of overlanding is enjoying a delightful meal while sitting around the campfire. 

And delicious food doesn’t mean you spend hours slaving over an intricate recipe, but it does mean making sure you have the right tools and equipment to prepare the recipes that tickle your taste buds.   

So, I’m going to share with you the extra gear and equipment I use in my camp kitchen that makes fixing meals on the trail enjoyable and (mostly) hassle-free. 

• Heat source extras. If you’re cooking for a crowd, you’ll want to have the ability to prepare several portions at once, which means additional heat sources. 
• Skottle (perfect for one-dish meals, stir-fry, or cooking several things that require different cooking times, like potatoes and sausages) 
• Grill (we’re lucky that our Patriot Campers off-road trailer comes with one)

• Cookware extras. In addition to the basics I’ve already listed, I like to bring a few other items that enhance my overall camp cooking experience, ensure the food is tasty, and, most importantly, prevent food poisoning.  
• *Large cutting board 
• *Small cutting board 
• Multi-size measuring spoon (1/4 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon) 
• Multi-size measuring cup (1/4 to 1 cup) 
• Zester 
• Whisk 
• Corkscrew/bottle opener

• Dinnerware/Serveware extras. For those times when I want to get a little fancy, I bring along a few items that make camp life just a little more refined. 
• 4 stackable drinking cups 
• 2 trail-friendly wine “glasses”
• 1 non-breakable wine carafe

• Cleaning extras. Because keeping things clean is important for health, hygiene, and my sanity, I like to bring a few items that help me keep things spic and span.
• Over-the-cabinet paper towel holder 
• Over-the-cabinet plastic bag holder (this is meant to hold and store plastic bags, but it works well as a small trash bag)
• Biodegradable food wipes

• Storage extras. Aside from keeping our food fresh and intact, I enjoy the convenience of having all my favorite seasonings, spices, and other pantry items with me on the trail.   
• 2 small soft boxes (for spices, seasonings, and baking goods) 
• Small bottles/containers for spices and other cooking ingredients (oils, sugars, flour, baking soda, and similar items) o   Large soft box for dry goods like pastas, rice, bread, and oats 
• Large soft box for canned goods 
• Medium soft box for snacks