After a full day of hiking, driving, or exploring, the last thing I usually want to do at camp is spend a lot of time cooking.
That’s where this Easy Camping Pasta comes in. It’s a simple, filling meal that can be cooked in one pot or skillet, which means less cooking and, more importantly, less cleanup. Italian sausage, pasta, tomatoes, garlic, and spinach come together for a meal that’s hearty enough for dinner but simple enough to make at a campsite.
It’s the kind of camping meal I like: basic ingredients, minimal preparation, and one pot to clean when you’re finished.
Ingredients
Serves 2–3
- 8 oz pasta
- 8 oz Italian sausage
- 1 can (14–15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1–2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional:
- Red pepper flakes
- Sliced mushrooms
- Diced bell pepper
- Shredded mozzarella
- Fresh basil
Instructions
Brown the sausage
- Heat a large skillet or pot over your camp stove or campfire.
- Add the Italian sausage and break it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Cook until the sausage is browned and cooked through. If the sausage is particularly lean, add a small amount of olive oil to keep it from sticking.
Add the garlic
- Add the minced garlic to the sausage and cook for about 30 seconds to a minute, just until fragrant.
- Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
Add the tomatoes and liquid
- Pour in the diced tomatoes, including their juices.
- Add the water or chicken broth and Italian seasoning. Season with a little salt and black pepper.
- Stir everything together.
Add the pasta
- Add the dry pasta directly to the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick together or to the bottom of the pot.
- Cook according to the pasta’s instructions, or until the pasta is tender.
- You may need to add a little more water or broth if the liquid is absorbed before the pasta is completely cooked.
Add the spinach
- Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the fresh spinach.
- It will wilt quickly from the heat of the pasta.
- Give everything another minute or two on the heat, then remove the pot from the stove.
Finish with Parmesan
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and give the pasta a final taste.
- Add more salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes if needed.
- Serve hot, preferably while sitting around camp enjoying the rest of the evening.
Camping Tips
Use one pot
The whole point of this recipe is keeping things simple. A large cast-iron skillet, Dutch oven, or camping pot will work. You don’t need a separate pot for boiling the pasta.
Prep at home
You can make camp cooking even easier by doing some of the preparation before leaving home.
Pre-measure your Italian seasoning, portion the Parmesan into a small container, and mince the garlic ahead of time.
When you get to camp, you’re mostly just opening packages and cooking.
Bring the right amount of liquid
Different types and shapes of pasta absorb different amounts of liquid. Start with the amount in the recipe and keep a little extra water or broth available.
It’s much easier to add more liquid than to deal with a pot of watery pasta.
Don’t walk away from the pasta
Because the pasta cooks directly in the sauce and liquid, give it a stir every few minutes. This is particularly important with a camp stove where the heat can be concentrated in the center of the pot.
Make it ahead
If you’re going on a short camping trip, you can brown the sausage and prepare some of the ingredients at home.
For longer trips, keep the meat properly refrigerated in your cooler and use it within a safe time-frame.
Easy Substitutions
This recipe is flexible, which is one of the reasons it works so well for camping.
Sausage: Use Italian sausage, chicken sausage, smoked sausage, or another sausage you have available.
Pasta: Penne, rotini, shells, rigatoni, and other short pasta shapes work particularly well.
Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes can be replaced with tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes.
Spinach: Kale or another quick-cooking green can be substituted.
Cheese: Parmesan can be replaced with Romano, mozzarella, or another cheese you enjoy.
Vegetables: Add mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, onions, or whatever vegetables you already have in the cooler.
Spice: Add red pepper flakes or your favorite hot sauce if you like a little heat.
Make It Your Own
One of the best things about a camping recipe like this is that it doesn’t need to be exact. If you have extra vegetables in the cooler, throw them in. If you have leftover cooked meat from another meal, use that instead of sausage. If you prefer a creamier pasta, add a little cream or cream cheese near the end.
Camping meals don’t have to involve complicated recipes or a long list of ingredients. Sometimes all you need is a pot, a few basic ingredients, and enough food to keep you going for another day of exploring.
Recipe at a Glance
Prep time: 5–10 minutes
Cook time: 20–25 minutes
Total time: About 30 minutes
Servings: 2–3
Cooking method: Camp stove or campfire
Equipment: One large skillet, pot, or Dutch oven
Need More Ideas for Cooking at Camp?
Are you looking for more ways to make meals on the road? Check out my camping cooking guides for practical tips, ideas, and food prep inspiration.
