30 Items To Create a DIY Simple Camp Kitchen

simple-camp-kitchen-setup

One of the best parts about camping is cooking under the open sky. So, we thought it necessary to speak about how to create a simple camp kitchen.

But what if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on gear? You can create your own DIY camp kitchen with 30 items or less.

This guide will show you how to set everything up so you can cook and eat well outdoors. Let’s get started.

Why We Wrote This Guide

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Cooking on the Coleman.

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Camping offers so much freedom. We always feel recharged during and after a camping trip. Can you relate?

Being in nature is such a big part of our blog, inspiring happiness through outdoor recreation.

Since we write a lot about our camping adventures while camping in the Ozarks at Beaver Lake, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a list of camp kitchen essentials with some photos for our readers.

The camp kitchen list is short, sweet, and easy to make from home.

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How To Make a DIY Camp Kitchen

In reality, we try to keep things as simple as possible and to pack as light as possible. We do enjoy our creature comforts, though.

You can create your own camp kitchen from items you have around the house that you aren’t afraid to use outdoors. For things you are missing or would like to have, watch for off-season sales to get the best price.

Our camp kitchen has been made randomly over the years. It doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect.

Have fun creating your own flare.

30 Simple Camp Kitchen Items

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Camp kitchen set up.

List of Camp Kitchen Essentials

Below is the list of items we recommend for setting up a simple camp kitchen for two people:

  1. Camp table: like the split version in the photos – one side for the stove and the other as a table. We got ours at Walmart.
  2. Coleman Propane Stove: you can get it on Amazon for a great price.
  3. Propane: buy in bulk from SAMs club.
  4. Lighter: we like the bic flex wand lighters so we don’t burn ourselves.
  5. Flint stick: for starting wood fires the rustic way (or just use a lighter).
  6. Hot water kettle
  7. Cooking pans
  8. Coffee mugs: we like Yeti.
  9. Water jugs/bottles to refill: we have this 7-gallon jug.
  10. Coffee press: We got ours at REI.
  11. Kitchen towel(s)
  12. Two Plates
  13. Two Bowls
  14. Two silverware sets: fork, knife, spoon
  15. Cutting board
  16. Cutting knife
  17. Spatula
  18. Tongs
  19. Foil: unless you want to cook on the grill directly.
  20. Two cups: for beverages of your choice.
  21. Disinfecting sanitizing wipes
  22. Hand sanitizer
  23. Trash bag(s)
  24. Reusable silicone bags or snack set: suitable for packing hiking snacks or leftovers.
  25. Cooler(s): we are obsessed with our Yeti Tundra.
  26. Ice
  27. Two camp chairs: we love our Helinox chairs. The chairs we have are comfy and lightweight.
  28. Dishwash bucket: to make cleaning easier.
  29. Sponge
  30. Biodegradable soap: it is important that the dish soap is environmentally friendly. We just use Dawn.

Have a Camp Kitchen Bin or Tote Stored and Ready

We have a kitchen bag stored away and ready to go for all our road trips and camping adventures.

You can do the same for your own setup. Most of these items will fit in a reusable grocery tote to keep packing easy.

Of course, a simple list of items means less to write, right?!

Happy camping!

Ashlee & Pablo

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Ashlee Fechino

Ashlee Fechino is an outdoor recreation and travel writer sharing the best-kept secrets that aren’t in your typical guidebook. Her goal is to inspire people to travel with a sense of adventure by sharing hidden gems across the U.S. and beyond. She is married to an expat Argentine, Pablo. They camp in their Aliner often and love wandering the world. Follow their latest adventures on Instagram @thehappinessfxn.

2 Comments

  1. Cristina Sala on November 1, 2020 at 7:45 pm

    . . Ahora me doy cuenta de las fotos que me enviaba Pablo con todo ese equipo Y me comentaba estamos de campamento. Los felicito. Disfrutan mucho de la naturaleza.



    • Ashlee Fechino on November 2, 2020 at 11:57 am

      ¡Hola Cristina! ¡Gracias!