After a long day on the road to your camping destination, or after an epic day of adventure, it’s nice to have easy dinner prep waiting for you. In this situation, make ahead camping meals are your secret weapon. And a classic BLT has become my go-to for those times. Not only is a BLT perhaps mankind’s best invention, but with just a little home prep, these sandwiches can come together in a snap at your campsite. They are a one of the easiest make ahead camping meals.
Of course you know the key ingredients for a BLT: bacon, lettuce and tomato. The timeless trio is stacked between two slices of toasted bread with an ample slathering of mayonnaise. Yum.
One of the Easiest Make Ahead Camping Meals
As much as I love them, I would never consider making BLT sandwiches from scratch at camp. The mess and time it would take to fry the bacon and clean up afterwards goes against my camp cooking philosophy. And then there is the issue of toast. The bread absolutely, positively must be toasted. That point is non-negotiable. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know there are camping toaster contraptions, but I don’t have one. And, I don’t need one. Instead, I opt for a little pre-trip prep.
Toast the bread, cook the bacon and prep the lettuce at home. Put these prepped sandwich elements in separate containers. Store the bacon and lettuce in your cooler, of course. When it’s time for dinner, simply slice your tomato (don’t forget to salt it!) and smear a little mayo on your pre-toasted bread. Heck, if you want even easier prep, buy precooked bacon. You should be able to find it at the meat counter of your favorite grocery store. I prefer to cook my own bacon, in the oven. It’s so easy, and much less of a mess than frying it on the stovetop.
Cooked bacon will last about 3-4 days in your cooler or RV refrigerator.
So why not add a make ahead BLT to your camping menu? It’s a super simple prep, and a very satisfying sandwich. Pick up some potato salad or baked beans from your local deli for a no-fuss side dish, and well done, you! You can add this one to your list of easy make ahead camping meals.