The Camping Pantry Staples We Never Leave Home Without
When we first started tent camping, meals were always simple. Burgers, hot dogs or sausages, and maybe kebabs if we were feeling really fancy.
Now that we have a teardrop trailer, we spend pretty much every weekend between May and mid-November camping.
We realized pretty quickly that it was time to step up our menu!
What we didn’t want was to have to plan our meals down to the seasoning that we would need, EVERY. SINGLE. WEEKEND.
So, just like at home, we came up with a list of pantry staples that we could keep in the trailer that would not spoil.
Having a stocked pantry makes it much easier to pull meals together without having to worry about the basics.
While the list is ever-evolving, I can tell you that it has been a game-changer for us!
Want a peek into our pantry? Let’s jump right in!
Our Go-To Pantry Staples
Pantry staples are the items we usually keep stocked in our trailer or make sure to pack before every trip.
Think oil, spices, pasta, canned goods, coffee, and other basics we use again and again.
Dry Goods
These are the items we rely on the most and use as the base for many of our meals.
Pasta or Mac & Cheese
One of our easiest lunches. Mac & Cheese is a fave with the kids and comes together quickly. Bonus is they can make it themselves!
John and I prefer regular pasta. We usually pair it with homemade sauce and whatever protein we have on hand.
It is also a great backup meal if plans change.
Rice
We use this as a side or as a base for meals like fajitas. Instant rice is especially helpful when we want something quick after a long day.
The pouches are convenient (just pop into the microwave), don’t take up a lot of space, and we don’t have to worry about the rice going rancid.
Mashed Potatoes
I know I will get push-back on this one! Yes… We normally make our mashed potatoes from scratch, and the instant ones are a backup only.
There have been times (like when we arrive at our campsite after dark) when we just need a quick side dish to go with something that we are grilling.
These fit the bill.
Oatmeal
Great for a fast breakfast, especially on cooler mornings. It is easy to make and does not require much cleanup.
My teens will also eat oatmeal as a snack after hiking on a chilly day.
Pancake or Waffle Mix
Pancake mix was one of the staples we had in our tent-camping kit. It is easy to mix, so we can make a hot breakfast without needing a lot of extra ingredients.
It’s also a great way to feed a crowd when we have the whole family with us.
We add different extracts, fruit, or even chocolate chips to elevate the pancakes.
Canned and Jarred Items
Canned items are great to have on hand for quick meals or as a backup.
Soup
I can’t tell you how many times we have reached for a can of soup to go with a sandwich when camping in the fall.
Easy to heat up and perfect for days when we want something warm with very little effort.
Canned Tuna
Great when we want to add protein to a simple lunch.
We always have toast bread and mayo with us, so whipping up a quick sandwich to go with a salad is a no-brainer.
Beans
We add these to meals like fajitas or salads. They are also a good option to stretch a meal if needed.
Pasta Sauce
Makes it easy to throw together a quick dinner without much prep. We usually keep at least one jar of homemade sauce on hand.
Canned Veggies
Not something we use every day, but they are helpful when we want a quick side without extra work.
Peanut Butter
A small jar of peanut butter is always in our pantry. Great for breakfast, as a snack, or even lunch for the kids.
Peanut butter sandwiches are perfect any time of the day!
🍓 Expert Tip – Keep a few of the small, restaurant-style packs of peanut butter, jam and jelly on hand! You can even find honey in those small packs.
Snacks
When you have hungry teens or hangry family members, snacks are just as important as meals, especially on busy days.
Granola Bars
Easy to grab when heading out for the day or when someone needs something quick.
We avoid chocolate chips as they melt when kept in the warm trailer.
Chips
Simple and always get eaten. We usually have them with lunch or as a snack for long car rides home.
Trail Mix
Great for longer days or when we want something quick between meals. We will take some trail mix with us for hikes.
Cookies or Treats
We usually bring a few extras. It is nice to have something at the end of the day or around the fire.
Again, we tend to avoid anything with chocolate. Arrowroot, digestive, or shortbread are faves in our house.
Microwave Popcorn
If your trailer has a microwave, then this snack is a no-brainer!
Not only do the kids enjoy snacking on popcorn, but the packs are convenient and take up very little space in our tiny pantry.
Besides, John and I have enjoyed many a movie night on a rainy afternoon at the campsite!
Spices & Flavourings
If we want to elevate our meals, we need spices!
Cooking Oil
We use this for almost every meal, so it is always packed.
We carry both a small bottle of vegetable oil and a bottle of olive oil. We use the oil for frying, as salad dressing, and for baking.
Vinegar
We carry flavoured vinegar (usually Fig Balsamic) to use as a salad dressing.
Salt & Pepper
The basics that go into everything we cook.
Spices
Here is where we can get fancy!
We have everything from cinnamon to Old Bay seasoning, Italian seasonings like oregano and basil, curry, cumin, parsley and different types of pepper (chilli, paprika, etc.).
Variety is the spice of life, after all. 🙄🤣
Sugar
Useful for coffee, tea, and baking. We usually just carry granulated white. But you could get fancy here, too.
Honey
I always put honey in my tea instead of sugar. A small bottle is all I need, and I have used it to sweeten some baked goods as well.
As I mentioned above, you can also throw in a few of the single-use honey packets that you get in restaurants and from coffee shops.
Extracts
We usually keep a small bottle of lemon extract and a mid-sized bottle of vanilla extract in our pantry.
These are used to elevate the flavour of our waffles and pancakes.
I have also been known to bake scratch cakes and muffins using our Omnia Oven!
Drinks
John doesn’t do mornings without coffee! So the pantry is definitely stocked with some of our favourite hot drinks.
Coffee
We carry a large container of ground coffee that we use for our small coffee maker.
Nothing better than waking up to the smell of coffee brewing! MUCH better than an alarm clock!
Tea
I love tea, and so does my mom. So I make sure to have our favourite varieties on hand at all times.
Hot Chocolate Mix
Not just for the kids! What is a chilly fall evening by the campfire without a steaming cup of hot cocoa?
Get the variety with the marshmallows, and you are all set!
Nestle Quik
We don’t carry this staple too often anymore.
But when the kids were younger and travelled with us more often, they loved having a glass of chocolate milk in the morning.
We prefer the powder to the syrup, as it holds up better in our pantry.
Miscellaneous Staples
While these staples are not things that we can leave in the trailer, they come with us on EVERY trip.
We have actually created a list of these items, which is taped to the fridge in our garage (where all our camping groceries are stored).
Condiments
Ketchup, mustard, relish, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, maple syrup, and salad dressing come with us each and every trip.
We keep these staples separate from the ones we use at home. This way, they are together and ready to go when we are.
Butter or Margarine
We use butter and vegan butter in a variety of recipes. We never leave home without!
Toast Bread
Toast bread is something we carry with us on every trip.
From breakfast to a variety of sandwiches, and even as an accompaniment to soup, bread is a necessity in our household.
Eggs
Aside from the obvious breakfast dishes, we use eggs in baking and as an ingredient in a variety of other recipes.
Milk & Cream
Milk and cream are both absolute essentials when we travel.
Unfortunately, because our trailer is not plugged in while not in use, we can’t store these items in our fridge between trips.
We bring milk for recipes and for the kids’ cereal, cream for coffee, and then non-dairy milk and cream for myself.
Water
While there is potable water at most campsites, we always bring a couple of jugs of water with us for drinking.
We also bring carbonated water, which is what John and I like to drink (instead of pop).
Drinks
And speaking of pop, we usually bring a variety of carbonated beverages with us to enjoy with meals.
What We Stopped Bringing
Over time, we have also learned what not to bring.
We used to pack too many snacks, thinking we needed a lot more than we actually did.
While many of my family members are of the opinion that you can never have too many snacks, they do take up a lot of space in my tiny galley kitchen and pantry.
Another thing we cut back on is one-use items. If a pantry staple only works for a single recipe, we usually just bring it along when needed.
Lastly, we are very careful with the types of foods that we leave in the trailer.
After our marshmallows turned into a melted mess, we do not leave anything with chocolate or anything that will go bad in the heat.
Keeping things simple has made a big difference in how we pack our pantry.
Tips for Packing Pantry Items
Pantry items are easy to overlook, but as I have mentioned, they are usually the things you end up reaching for the most.
We keep most of ours stocked right in the trailer, so we are not packing them from scratch every trip.
Things like oil, spices, sugar, and coffee are put into airtight containers and stay in the trailer unless they need to be refilled.
Being practical is also something we consider when choosing our staples.
If something is not used often or only works for one meal, it does not stay in our pantry setup. We just bring it when we need it.
After each trip, we do a quick check and top up anything that is running low. That way, it is ready to go the next time without much effort.
Final Thoughts
These are the pantry items we rely on for our camping trips.
They help support our meals and make it easier to cook without needing a lot of extra ingredients.
You can adjust this list based on what you like to eat, but having a small group of go-to items makes planning and packing much easier.
Pin This Post for Later!
Related Posts:
- Common RV Terminology and Slang for Newbie Teardrop Owners
- 150+ Fun and Unique Camper Names for Your Teardrop Trailer or RV
- 10 Top Reasons Why Teardrop Trailer Camping is Better Than a Tent
- What is a Teardrop Trailer and Are They Right for You?
- Does a Teardrop Trailer with a Bathroom Really Exist?
- What is Boondocking? A Complete Guide for Beginners
- What License is Needed to Drive an RV in Ontario
- Teardrop Trailer Campground Etiquette That You Need to Know
- Top 10 Things You Really Should Know BEFORE Buying A Teardrop Trailer
- Camping During a Fire Ban: What You Need to Know
- Complete Guide to Halloween Events at Ontario Parks
- The nuCamp Haven 220 – Is This Our Next Trailer?
- Is Winter Camping in a Teardrop Trailer Possible?
- The Best 5 Dog Beaches in Ontario Provincial Parks
- 10 Practical Ways to Use Your Teardrop Trailer
- What We Actually Eat on Camping Trips (No Complicated Recipes)
- The Camping Pantry Staples We Never Leave Home Without
- What the New Ontario Parks Alcohol Rules Mean for Campers
