After a full day outside, your standards for dinner drop fast—but these 31 outdoor meals make sure you don’t have to settle for mush in a pouch. They’re hearty, bold, and surprisingly doable with minimal supplies and maximum hunger. Perfect for anyone who wants to eat like a human, not a survivalist. Bonus: they might even make your camp neighbor a little jealous.
Easy Skillet Lasagna
Easy Skillet Lasagna is for those nights when hunger turns everyone a little unhelpful. It’s fast, filling, and convincing enough to make you forget it didn’t come from a real oven. No one’s asking questions once it hits the plate. This one brings peace to any picnic table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Skillet Lasagna
Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter
A long day on foot calls for something dependable and worth the wait. Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter aren’t just filling, they bring a little drama to dinner in the best way. That kind of finish is more than anyone expects out here, but it’ll be requested again. Might even earn you a round of applause if the fire’s still going.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter
The Backyard Table
Get it NOW and level up your outdoor dining! The Backyard Table - Recipes for Summer Cookouts features 34 of Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining.
You'll get ad-free recipes like:
- Grilled Corn Guacamole
- Grilled French Onion Burgers
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Grunt
- and so many more!
Every recipe is created, tested and loved by Chef Jenn and her family - there's no AI here!
Get it now, at a special introductory price of $7.99. That's over 50 pages of foodie love at your fingertips!
Buy Now!Homestyle Hamburger Stew
When the sun drops and everyone suddenly realizes they’re starving, Homestyle Hamburger Stew handles the situation. It’s comforting without being heavy, and reliable without being boring. The kind of meal that brings out stories and second helpings. Perfect for nights when the sleeping bags are calling, but dinner still matters.
Get the Recipe: Homestyle Hamburger Stew
Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers
After a day spent scrambling up rocks or wading through rivers, food should be easy to enjoy and harder to share. Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers hit the spot without demanding extra effort or a full spice cabinet. They’re big, bold, and just messy enough to feel like the reward you were waiting for. If this doesn’t fix your mood, you might just need a nap.
Get the Recipe: Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers
Queso Blanco Rotel Dip
This is the kind of campfire move that earns you permanent cooking duty. Queso Blanco Rotel Dip comes together like you’ve done it a hundred times, even if it’s your first. It disappears fast, especially if anyone’s been hiking uphill in silence. Don’t expect leftovers, and definitely don’t wander off while it’s out.
Get the Recipe: Queso Blanco Rotel Dip
Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
Some things taste even better outside, and Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers make a strong case. It’s the kind of camp dessert that wins over skeptics and buys you forgiveness for forgetting the bug spray. Easy to pass around and even easier to eat, they’re all reward and no hassle. Best served after shoes are off and chairs are claimed.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
Grandma’s Three Bean Salad
No one expects a cold dish to hit so hard after a long day in the sun, but Grandma’s Three Bean Salad pulls it off. It’s balanced, hearty, and surprisingly satisfying when your appetite outpaces your energy. This one works whether you’re sweating at a picnic table or crouched next to a cooler. Bonus points if you remembered to chill it first.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Three Bean Salad
Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
When dinner needs to feel like an actual event after a long haul, Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa show up for the job. They hit that middle ground between no-fuss and still-worth-it. You don’t need a celebration to justify these, just a working grill and a good excuse to stay outside. It’s the kind of meal that makes paper plates feel fancy.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
Texas Corn Succotash
After a long day, no one’s expecting vegetables to save the night, but Texas Corn Succotash just might. It’s warm, filling, and somehow feels like a real meal even when you didn’t plan ahead. Plays well with anything else you’ve got on deck. The pan will be scraped clean before you sit down.
Get the Recipe: Texas Corn Succotash
Bacon-Wrapped Burgers
You’re not cooking for approval, but Bacon-Wrapped Burgers get it anyway. They’re bold, messy, and impossible to eat quietly, which makes them perfect for the outdoors. Everything else takes a backseat when these hit the plate. Best enjoyed with both hands and zero regrets.
Get the Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Burgers
Grilled Vegetables
Every cookout needs a little balance, and Grilled Vegetables do the job without complaining. They’re smoky, fast, and surprisingly satisfying when you’re running low on everything else. No fancy steps, no complicated prep—just solid backup for whatever meat made it to the grill. People will come back for seconds, even if they don’t admit it.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables
Chicken Fried Rice
When everyone’s too tired to wait and too hungry to argue, Chicken Fried Rice saves the evening. It’s quick, reliable, and makes you look like a genius even if you’re just winging it. Great for feeding groups who skipped lunch on purpose. It disappears fast, so portion like you mean it.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Some meals just make sense after a long day of doing too much and eating too little. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken checks the boxes without asking you to overthink anything. It’s light enough to feel good but solid enough to stop the hunger spiral before it starts. Works best when eaten off a paper plate with your feet up.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork
When dinner needs to hit fast and hard, Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork shows up ready. It’s the kind of one-pan wonder that satisfies without taking over the whole night. You can throw it together on autopilot, and it’ll still feel like a complete meal. No complaints, no leftovers, just the right call.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Hash with Pulled Pork
Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg
Not every meal outside needs to involve smoke, skewers, or a cooler full of meat. Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg pulls off a smart breakfast-for-dinner move without any drama. It’s casual, balanced, and manages to feel like something you meant to make. A calm option when the rest of the day was anything but.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Toast with Bacon & Poached Egg
Grilled Greek Chicken
Grilled Greek Chicken delivers the kind of bold flavor that doesn’t care if your camp setup is barely holding together. It cooks fast, eats fast, and gets quiet nods of approval around the fire. The kind of thing that works with anything else on the table. This one’s a keeper for repeat weekends.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Greek Chicken
Montreal Smoked Meat Hash
Montreal Smoked Meat Hash is one of those meals that tastes like it took more work than it actually did. Hearty, no-nonsense, and made to be passed around fast, it gets quiet approval from even the grumpiest camper. Goes down easy after a long hike or a failed fishing trip. That pan’s not making it to leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Montreal Smoked Meat Hash
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers
Big days call for bold food, and Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers understand the assignment. They’re smoky, fast-moving, and just spicy enough to make everyone pay attention. You don’t need a fancy setup—just a flame and a hungry group. Nothing gets left on the plate with these.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Grilled Harissa-Honey Chicken Skewers
Honey Almond Granola
Honey Almond Granola is the no-frills breakfast that pulls its weight more than you’d expect. It packs fast, lasts long, and keeps everyone moving without complaints. Even better when eaten standing up with one shoe on. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done right.
Get the Recipe: Honey Almond Granola
Grilled Tomahawk Steak
You don’t bring a Grilled Tomahawk Steak unless you’re ready to make dinner feel like an event. It’s bold, primal, and the kind of thing that people will talk about on the drive home. Sure, it takes up half the grill—but it earns every square inch. Not bad for one piece of meat.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomahawk Steak
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
Some nights deserve a little drama, and Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri bring it without slowing things down. Big flavor, no fuss, and perfect for when the cooler’s been good to you. People may start treating you like the designated fire cook after this. Not a bad tradeoff for a quiet meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas
Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas work like a charm when dinner needs to be hot, quick, and capable of shutting everyone up. They’re easy to flip, easier to eat, and they hold their own with or without extras. If someone walks off with the last one, you won’t be surprised. Next time, make more.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Al Pastor Quesadillas
Grilled T-Bone Steaks
If there was ever a time to go all in, it’s with Grilled T-Bone Steaks after a long day outdoors. They don’t need a lot of explanation—just heat, timing, and a group that’s earned it. Every bite feels like a win, even if the tent setup didn’t go as planned. This is the reason the grill came along.
Get the Recipe: Grilled T-Bone Steaks
Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl gets the job done when energy’s low and appetites are high. It’s fast, flexible, and just enough to stop the snacking before it starts. You can eat it sitting, standing, or leaning against a tree. Nobody’s leaving hungry.
Get the Recipe: Street Corn Chicken Rice Bowl
Grilled Sausage & Peppers
A classic for a reason, Grilled Sausage & Peppers never let you down when the fire’s hot and patience is low. They cook fast, carry flavor, and leave just enough char to remind you it’s the real thing. No one’s asking for anything else when these show up. They always land.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Sausage & Peppers
Corned Beef Fritters
Hot, crisp, and way more satisfying than they look, Corned Beef Fritters check all the right boxes. They’re salty, filling, and perfect for passing around when people forgot how to share. This is snack food disguised as a full meal. Nothing fancy—just smart eating.
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Fritters
Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce make a strong case for doubling your recipe next time. They’re messy, spicy, and pretty much impossible to eat without making noise. Everyone wants a few, no one wants to share. It’s the kind of chaos that makes dinner memorable.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
Bacon Fried Corn
Bacon Fried Corn doesn’t try to impress—it just wins people over in the first bite. Smoky, rich, and completely at home next to whatever else is on your plate. Works for breakfast, lunch, or a snack when dinner’s running late. Don’t be surprised if it goes faster than the meat.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn
Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo
When fire meets flavor, Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo make the most of it. They’re fast, punchy, and perfect when you don’t want to deal with forks. Everyone gets their own, so there’s no fighting—just quiet chewing and nods of approval. You’ll want to make these again before packing up.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Skewers with Mojo Rojo
Brisket Fried Rice
There’s something about Brisket Fried Rice that makes it feel like it was always part of the plan, even if it wasn’t. It’s filling, smoky, and comes together faster than anyone expects. Great for stretching leftovers into something that tastes better the second time around. Most people will ask if there’s more.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice
Grilled Radishes With Jalapeño Dipping Sauce
Grilled Radishes With Jalapeño Dipping Sauce are the surprise win you didn’t see coming. They’re smoky, crisp, and oddly addictive—especially once that dip hits. Perfect for sharing, assuming you don’t keep them to yourself. Definitely not your average side dish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Radishes With Jalapeño Dipping Sauce