7 Camping Side Dishes That'll Complete Just About Any Meal

Are you looking for ideas for campground cooking side dishes? There's certainly more to outdoor cooking than hamburgers, hot dogs, and roasted marshmallows. There are many tasty side dishes that you can prepare quickly and easily over an open fire or at the campsite grill.

Corn on the cob is a terrific side dish to enjoy when you are camping. Simply pick up a few fresh ears of corn from a local farmer's market or grocery store and toss them on the grill when you are cooking your main course. You can wrap the ears in foil or cook them in their own husks.

Grilled vegetables are a healthy and delicious side dish choice for outdoor meals. Simply slice your favorite fresh vegetables, lightly brush with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with your favorite spices or seasoning mix. Cook on the grill and serve with whatever main dish you have chosen to prepare.

If you had leftover corn, remove it from the cob and toss it with leftover chopped grilled vegetables. Stir in some Italian salad dressing, allow to marinate for a few hours, and you have a tasty side dish to enjoy during your next camping trip.

Baked beans are a great choice for campfire cooking. Simply place your favorite baked bean recipe in a cast iron Dutch oven and place on a grate or tripod over your campfire. Alternately, you may use a cast iron skillet or disposable aluminum baking pan and cook the beans on your grill.

Baked potatoes are one of the most popular campground cooking side dishes. Simply pack a selection of baked potatoes to toss on the grill when you are cooking steaks, burgers, or some other tasty main course. Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork, then wrap each one in aluminum foil and place on the grill. Keep in mind that it may take up to an hour for a medium baked potato to cook on a grill.

If the grill is full or if you just don't want to cook anything else, consider serving fresh sliced tomatoes as a side dish the next time you go camping. You don't need to do anything but find a few fresh, vine ripened tomatoes from a local produce stand or supermarket, slice them, and serve.

Chips and salsa are another great side dish choice for evenings that you just don't feel cooking. Serve them with deli or peanut butter sandwiches, or pair them with leftovers from the meal you grilled the day before.

Looking for more campground cooking and meal ideas? See the following articles for more tips and suggestions:

• Camp Food Ideas
• Camping Food List
• Food To Bring Camping
• Open Grill Outdoor Cooking Recipes
• Outdoor Grill Cooking Recipes