Warm up your camping trip or cozy night at home with this delicious Camping Chili recipe that’s easy to prepare ahead and reheat at the campsite.
Loaded with black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and spices, this vegetarian chili is a comforting meal that’s packed with plant-based protein and bursting with flavor!
Why Camping Chili is Perfect for Your Outdoor Adventures
Camping chili is the ideal camping meal because it’s hearty, easy to make in advance, and can be customized to suit any taste. It’s a filling dish that can be served on its own or with cornbread, rice, or tortilla chips.
Camping Chili Recipe
Ingredient List: [Per 2 Servings]
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
Preparation Instructions at Home
- Dice the vegetables: Finely dice 1 onion and 1 bell pepper. Mince 3 garlic cloves.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the beans and tomatoes: Pour in 1 can of black beans, 1 can of kidney beans, and 1 can of diced tomatoes (all drained and rinsed).
- Season the chili: Stir in 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer the chili: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors.
- Cool and store: Once the chili has finished cooking, remove it from heat and let it cool. Transfer the chili into an airtight container and store it in the cooler for the camping trip.
Finishing Instructions at the Campsite
- Reheat the chili: Place a pot over medium heat on a camping stove or campfire grate. Pour the pre-cooked chili into the pot and heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until fully warmed through.
- Serve and enjoy: Once the chili is steaming hot, it’s ready to serve. Serve hot in bowls. Optionally, you can add any desired toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or jalapenos!
Tips for Perfect Camping Chili
- Make the chili well in advance: The longer chili has time to to sit in the fridge, the more the flavors will intensify and blend together. Make a large batch as far out as a week from your camping trip to make packing easier.
- Adjust the spice level: For a milder chili, reduce the chili powder and paprika. For extra heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes or fresh jalapeños.
Don’t have storage containers, cooking equipment, or serving ware to suit your needs? No problem! Check out this checklist from REI with links to tons of tools to make your dish in the wild seamless! Camp Kitchen Checklist
FAQ – Camping Chili
Yes. This chili is designed to be fully cooked at home, cooled, and then reheated at camp, which makes mealtime simple and hands-off.
The chili is reheated in a pot or Dutch oven over a campfire, grill, or camp stove until hot throughout.
Yes. Chili reheats well and the flavors often deepen over time, making it a reliable option for camping and outdoor meals.
Final Thoughts
This Camping chili is a simple, nutritious, and comforting meal that’s perfect for your next camping trip. Painless to prepare ahead of time, it reheats beautifully over the campfire, ensuring you have a delicious meal ready whenever you are.
Enjoy the warmth and flavor of this vegetarian chili around the campfire with friends and family!
Planning great meals can totally change the game for your camping trip. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have!
Your Turn
Ready to try this recipe on your next camping trip? We’d love to see how it turned out! Be sure to tag us on social media and share your camping cooking experience. Whether you nailed it or added your own twist, let us know how it went!
@thedisperseddietitian #thedisperseddietitian
Related Recipes and Inspiration
For another comforting camp dinner, try my one-pot carrot and lentil soup. It’s just as cozy and satisfying as chili but offers a lighter, veggie-packed option for cooler evenings around camp.
Looking for more recipes you can prep before your trip? Browse my 15 make-ahead camping meals for easy breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks that make camp cooking simple.
Check out our whole blog for even more cooking ideas, campfire drinks, and amazing locations to complete your elevated outdoor trip!
Camping Chili
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Make-Ahead:
- Dice the onion and bell pepper. Mince the garlic cloves.
- In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Add the black beans, kidney beans, and diced tomatoes to the pot.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.
- Remove the pot from heat and let the chili cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the chili to an airtight container and store it in the cooler.
At Camp:
- Place a pot over medium heat on a camping stove or directly on the campfire grate. Pour the pre-cooked chili into the pot and stir occasionally for 10-15 minutes, or until it is heated through and steaming.
- Serve hot in bowls. Optionally, you can add any desired toppings, such as shredded cheese, sour cream, or jalapenos!
Notes
Additional Resources
Remember, all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle from the ultra nutritious to the indulgent treat. Check out this information from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to learn more about finding balance in your diet: