25 Easy Camping Snacks To Make Ahead
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Snacks are serious business when you’re camping, especially when you’ve got a mix of hungry kids and grown-ups to feed.
Over the years, I’ve taken my fair share of trips: weekends with friends, big family campouts, and quiet mother-daughter escapades with just the two of us and a tent. And if there’s one thing I don’t mess around with, it’s our snack stash.
I’ve rounded up our favorite go-to easy make ahead camping snacks that check all the boxes, sweet, savory, salty, plus healthy options that are all quick to prep, hold up well in coolers (or don’t need refrigeration), and actually get eaten.
Whether you need fun camping snacks for kids and adults or just want to avoid another meltdown over granola bars, this list has something tasty for everyone (and maybe even a few you’ll want to keep for yourself).
1. Easy Pumpkin Walnut Muffins
These easy pumpkin muffins are my family’s go-to snack for camping, after school, picnics, any time really, all year round.
They’re the one’s my family asks me to make again and again. But I don’t mind, because they’re super easy to make. I’ll often leave off the icing if we’re travelling with them, and the muffins taste just as good.
Get the recipe: Easy Pumpkin Walnut Muffins
2. No Fuss Italian Pasta Salad
Sometimes you need a hearty, savory camping snack, which is where this delicious zesty cold Italian pasta comes in handy.
Made with only a few ingredients, and an Italian dressing, it’s simple to adjust to your preferences.
We often make this at home before our family camping trips, and then eat is as a light lunch, snack, or even for breakfast on occasion. When I am feeling extra lazy or pressed for time, I just use one of our favorite store bought Italian dressings.
Get the recipe: No Fuss Italian Pasta Salad
3. No-Bake S’Mores Bars
No bake S’mores bars are a tasty treat, that travel well to the campsite.
Not that we need any more reason to eat S’mores in our household. On our last camping trip I swear my daughter subsisted on S’mores for at least 3 days. They’re our favorite campfire snack too.
Golden Grahams, milk chocolate, butter and marshmallows combine into an ooey gooey bar that hits the spot after a long day out exploring and playing.
This fun make ahead camping snack is also super easy to make gluten free with Cascadian Farm Organic Vanilla Crunch cereal.
Get the recipe: No-Bake S’Mores Bars
🏕️ Try our other easy make ahead camping meal ideas and easy campfire snacks too!
4. Watermelon Fries with Yogurt Dip
Dunking these Watermelon Fries into a coconut lime yogurt dip, may just become your new favorite summer time or any time snack.
No cooking required, and the kids love it.
Just be sure to use a firmer watermelon, and thick Greek yogurt or something similar.
Get the recipe: Watermelon Fries with Yogurt Dip
5. Peanut Butter Snowballs
I am always on the lookout for bite sized snacks, that don’t create a lot of mess, or make our kids hands even stickier.
These tasty peanut butter snowballs fit the bill. Especially if you roll them in coconut or sesame seeds instead of powdered sugar.
A no bake camping snack, that’s easy to make a lot of. I’ll even change up the mini cupcake liners to make it more festive and fun, but they aren’t even necessary if you don’t have them.
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Snowballs With Graham Crackers
6. Homemade Spicy Snack Mix
Once you try this homemade spicy snack mix, you’ll never want to go back to those store bought options every again.
Just look at those cute goldfish crackers, how could you resist?
Premade camping snacks are one of my favorite time-saving camping hacks for families.
Get the recipe: Homemade Spicy Snack Mix
7. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls With Maple Cream Cheese Icing
I love easy camping recipes that can do double duty. These delicious pumpkin cinnamon rolls do just that.
Whether you need a sweet breakfast treat, an afternoon pick-me-up, or a late evening around the campfire snack, they taste good anytime.
The maple creamcheese icing is NOT optional in our household.
If you have one of those leftover tins of pumpkin puree in your pantry, like I always seem to have, then this recipe is perfect.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
8. Cast Iron Spinach Artichoke Dip No Mayo
Pro camping tip: Never leave home without your cast iron pan!
Cast Iron Spinach Artichoke Dip is the ultimate premade camping snack, that is also super quick to make at your campsite too if you run out of prep time.
The richness of sour cream, cream cheese, and parmesan, creates a flavorful base that pairs oh so well with the spinach and artichokes. Just at pita chips, tortilla chips, crackers or even carrot sticks for the perfect snack.
Get the recipe: Cast Iron Spinach Artichoke Dip
9. Cowgirl Caviar
Look at those colors! Cowgirl caviar just screams summer trips, warm weather, and beach days.
The fresh flavours and textures, with the added spice will make any cowgirl proud.
Get the recipe: Cowgirl Caviar
🏕️ More kid-friendly camping meal ideas and easy travel snacks you can take camping too!
10. Cool Ranch Jerky Trail Mix
This Cool Ranch Jerky Trail Mix brings serious flavor – salty, cheesy, crunchy, and just the right amount of creative boldness.
With beef jerky, pretzels, cereal, and nuts tossed in a savory ranch butter blend, it’s one of those easy camping snacks you can make ahead and will actually crave.
Stash a bag in your backpack or glovebox, but fair warning—it disappears fast.
Get the recipe: Cool Ranch Jerky Trail Mix
11. Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
These vegan chocolate peanut butter energy balls are like little bites of supercharged joy, sweet, satisfying, and loaded with feel-good fuel.
Whip them up in minutes with pantry staples, toss them in your cooler, and you’ve got yummy camping snacks that everyone will fight over.
Bonus: they’re gluten-free, no-bake, and totally customizable for whatever you’ve got on hand.
Get the recipe: Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
12. Spicy Peppered Beef Jerky
I thought I might have to take out a second mortage to pay for my daughter’s beef jerky habit :). Just kidding (maybe).
It’s pretty darn expensive in the store, which is why this spicy, peppery beef jerky recipe is on my new camping food favorites list.
If you like your snacks with a kick, this spicy peppered beef jerky brings it. Cracked peppercorns, brown sugar, garlic, and a smoky marinade create a chewy, flavor-loaded bite that’s anything but boring.
Get the recipe: Spicy Peppered Beef Jerky
13. Strawberry Chex Mix
Strawberry Chex Mix is the perfect summertime snack.
It’s a sweet treat, made with only few ingredients that are crunchy, and totally snackable. Coated in white chocolate, blended freeze-dried strawberries, and powdered sugar, then tossed with marshmallows and M&M’s, it’s a candy-lover’s dream.
Can’t find red and pink M&Ms? Use whatever candies or colors you like.
Toss some in a zip-top bag for an easy make-ahead camping snack that doubles as dessert.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Chex Mix
14. Healthy Roasted Chili Lime Chickpeas
These roasted chili lime chickpeas bring the zing—crispy, tangy, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting.
They’re high in plant-based protein and fiber, making them one of those simple and healthy camping snacks that actually satisfies.
Snack on them solo or sprinkle over salads for an easy upgrade at your campsite.
Get the recipe: Healthy Roasted Chili Lime Chickpeas
15. Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
My kids love anything pizza related. So a handheld pizza muffin is a great premade camping snack to bring on all our outdoor adventures.
Now that the older two are adults and off on their own adventures, and Derek not really being a fan of camping, it’s usually just our youngest daughter and myself camping. So we like to prep & make recipes together for our mother daughter trips.
It’s an easy enough recipe that even younger kids can help with.
Get the recipe: Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
16. S’mores Rice Krispies Treats
These S’mores Rice Krispies Treats bring the campfire vibes without the flames. Gooey marshmallows, melted chocolate, and buttery crunch in every bite.
No oven needed, so they’re a win on hot days or when you just want a quick treat the kids can help make.
Toss a few in your snack bin for yummy camping snacks for kids and adults and they’ll disappear faster than you can say s’more please.
Get the recipe: S’mores Rice Krispies Treats
🏕️ You may also like these Simple camping breakfast ideas and dutch oven camp recipes to start your morning relaxed, and fueled.
17. 5 Minute Cheese Snack Mix
I don’t know about you, but I love a good cheesy snack mix. Pretzels are always my favorite, so I usually put in double the recipe calls for. This also stops us fighting over who gets the pretzels.
And if you need for a quick last minute snack mix, this one only takes 5 minutes. Perfect for when you’re running around trying to get everything ready for your camping trip.
Get the recipe: 5 Minute Cheese Snack Mix
18. Oven Baked Tostones (Crispy Baked Green Plantains)
Tostones, are one of those deliciously crunchy snacks, that you’ll wish you knew about sooner.
With only 3 ingredients (plantains, oil and salt), they’re quick to make, healthier and easier than the fried version.
I highly recommend making a garlicky guacamole to dip them into. Sooooo good! They never last long in our household.
Get the recipe: Oven Baked Tostones
19. Strawberry Fruit Leather
Strawberry Fruit Leather reminds me of my childhood snacks my mom used to bring on all our outdoor adventures, and pack in our school lunches.
You only need three ingredients – strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar, and they can be made in the oven or dehydrator.
Such flavour, that’s bright, fruity and delicious.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Fruit Leather
20. Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel Sandwiches are a saving grace when you have picky eaters at your campsite. They’re super easy to mix and match, sp you can make a sandwich everyone will love.
This recipe has 3 different sandwich options to choose from. But the sky’s the limit. We’ve been known to even throw in some PB&J ones for the kids if we know they might protest the “fancy” ones.
Get the recipe: Pinwheel Sandwiches
21. Banana Date Muffins
Muffins are a staple for our camping food checklist.
There is something so satisfying about these tasty Banana Date muffins as a snack, or easy breakfast while camping. Plus they’re portable for days at the beach, or those hiking trails on your itinerary.
With no refined sugars, and a lovely balance of sweetness from the ripe bananas and dates, and someextra fiber from flaxseeds, they’re healthier as well as being delicious.
Get the recipe: Banana Date Muffins
22. Easy Potato Foil Packets
Would it be a successful camping trip without some easy foil packet meals? I think not!
We’ll often just make random camping snacks throughout the day like these black pepper, garlic & onion powder, and fresh herbs potato foil packs, instead of having set meals if we’re lounging at the campsite for the day.
Making this recipe ahead, so you just have to reheat it over the fire, or grill makes things much quicker.
Our youngest loves tending the fire, and roasting or cooking anything over it. She can be quite creative with her foil packets, and the potato ones are always a favorite.
Get the recipe: Easy Potato Foil Packets
23. Cheddar Biscuits
Who can resist a rich, buttery cheddar biscuit?
Warm it up over the campfire, then slather it with butter and jam for a comfort food camping snack. Or dip it in chili, or soup.
Get the recipe: Cheddar Biscuits
24. Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
Triple Chocolate Chip cookies are my kryptonite. They’re actually my favorite treat of all time, and one’s I’ll often bring on our camping trips, road trips, and vacations.
Thick and chunky with a crispy outer layer, and soft chocolate inside, they’re the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee (or a glass of milk if that’s your thing).
Get the recipe: Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
25. Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe
Swirls of cheesecake and Nutella come together in these rich, gooey bars that taste way fancier than they are.
With a buttery base and pantry staples like cream cheese and Nutella, they’re one of the easiest premade camping snacks to whip up ahead of time. Sweet, swirly, and super shareable, these bars never last long.
Get the recipe: Cheesecake Swirled Nutella Bars Recipe
26. Buffalo Tuna Salad
Need an easy dip to bring to your camping gatherings?
This spicy Buffalo tuna salad brings the heat and the crunch with every bite—thanks to tangy ranch, flaky tuna, and crisp veggies.
It’s fast, fiery, and fridge-friendly, making it one of the easiest premade camping snacks to throw together in 15 minutes.
Scoop it onto crackers, wrap it in lettuce, or pile it high on a sandwich, just don’t expect leftovers.
Get the recipe: Buffalo Tuna Salad
Final Thoughts: Fun Make Ahead Camping Snacks
No more scrambling for snacks when you hit the road or set up camp—these 25 easy camping snacks to make ahead have you covered. From sweet to savory, and everything in between, you’ll find healthy snacks and premade camping snack ideas the whole crew will actually want to eat. Stock your cooler or snack bin before you go, and thank yourself later when the hangries hit and you’ve got tasty options ready to grab!
