Motorcycle Camping Meals: Easy Ways to Cook & Eat on the Ride

Motorcycle Camping Meals: Easy Ways to Cook & Eat on the Ride

Cooking while motorcycle camping can seem like a challenge, but there are multiple ways to enjoy delicious meals without carrying an entire kitchen. Whether you want the easiest option or prefer to go all out with gourmet camp meals, here are seven ways to cook and eat while motorcycle camping.

TLDR: Jump to the bottom for the video version.

1. Eating at Restaurants

The simplest option for eating while motorcycle camping is to stop at a restaurant. Whether it’s on your way to camp or a ride back into town after setting up, this is the easiest way to get a good meal without carrying any cooking gear. It’s also a great way to experience local cuisine.

✔️ Pros: No cooking gear required, quick and convenient, chance to enjoy local food.
Cons: Expensive, not always available in remote areas, doesn’t provide the full camping experience.

 

2. No-Prep Meals (Cold Food)

For a quick and easy option, you can pack no-prep, ready-to-eat meals like beef jerky, nuts, energy bars, or sandwiches. This approach requires zero cooking gear and is great as a backup when other food options fall through.

✔️ Pros: Lightweight, requires no prep or cleanup, good emergency option.
Cons: Not the most satisfying meal, limited variety, lacks fresh food options.

 

3. Dehydrated Meals (Boil Water & Eat)

Dehydrated backpacking meals, like those from Mountain House, offer a lightweight and space-saving way to have hot food at camp. You only need a small stove or Jetboil to boil water, then pour it into the meal pouch and wait a few minutes.

✔️ Pros: Easy to pack, quick to prepare, hot and filling.
Cons: Some meals don’t rehydrate well, high sodium content, can be expensive.

 

4. Cooking Over a Campfire (Stick Cooking)

Cooking over an open fire is a classic camping experience. The easiest way to do this is to cook food on a stick—hot dogs, sausages, or marshmallows require minimal preparation and no extra cookware.

✔️ Pros: Fun, engaging, and provides the true campfire experience.
Cons: Requires a fire, limited food options, must know how to manage coals.

 

5. Simple Campfire Meals (One-Pot & Foil Pack Cooking)

If you have access to a fire and a small grill or aluminum foil, you can cook simple meals like steak, foil-wrapped veggies, or baked potatoes. This option requires slightly more effort but delivers a more satisfying meal.

✔️ Pros: Great balance between effort and reward, simple and tasty meals.
Cons: Requires fire-building skills, cooking takes longer, requires some cleanup.

 

6. Advanced Campfire Cooking (Multi-Ingredient Meals)

For those who enjoy cooking, you can prepare complex meals using a campfire or portable stove. You can sauté vegetables, grill meats, or even prepare full campfire breakfasts. If you like to cook, this option offers the best tasting results.

✔️ Pros: Delicious and customizable, feels like a real meal, rewarding cooking experience.
Cons: Requires planning, extra cooking gear, more cleanup needed.

 

7. Gourmet Camp Cooking (Full Meal Preparation)

For those who want to take their motorcycle camp cooking to the next level, a small gas stove and a few essential ingredients allow you to prepare gourmet meals at camp. You can make stir-fries, pasta dishes, or even full breakfasts with the right setup.

✔️ Pros: High-quality meals, endless recipe possibilities, can be healthy.
Cons: Requires more cooking gear and preparation, longer cooking and cleanup time.

 

Which Method is Best for You?

Each of these methods has its benefits, and the best option depends on your trip style and cooking preferences. If you want simplicity, stick with restaurant stops or no-prep meals. If you enjoy cooking, try campfire or gourmet meal preparation. The key is finding a balance that works for your motorcycle camping adventures.

One of the biggest deciding factors tends to be on your type of riding and camping, what we refer to as "Camp to Ride" or "Ride to Camp" styles.

Camp to ride means you are probably using camping as a way to facilitate riding more. These types of trips have most campers eating quick bag meals, or picking up food at restraunts along the way to keep their pack light and nimble for the long ride.

Ride to camp means you are most likely using your motorcycle to get to camp and enjoy the outdoors, have a zen moment, and slow down. These types of trips you'll be more likely to pack a good mobile kitchen setup and grab some fresh meat and produce for meals along your travels. 

Of course these two styles are not the only ways, and aren't hard set, but it's a good way help you think about your types of riding and camping trips and how to best pack for them.