My favorite vegan hiking & camping recipes to make and take on long day-hikes and weekend camping adventures. Options for access to ice and without!
It’s camping season!
Recently, a reader reached out on Instagram suggesting a vegan hiking/backpacking recipe round up.
I immediately loved this idea, because I’ve definitely had time and experience to develop a food system that works for me when adventure calls.
It’s true, being vegan on the go and out in nature can be a bit tricky, especially if you want to go plant-based and not eat a ton of processed foods.
I’m not eating the fanciest plant-based meals on these trips, but I do have a few star recipes that are portable, delicious, and keep me nourished and thriving outdoors.
These Vegan Hiking & Camping Recipes are a collection of my favorite plant-based recipes to make and take on long day-hikes and weekend camping adventures.
I offer some options for access to a cooler/ice and for times you need food that will stay good without cooling for the day.
Bookmark this recipe roundup for your next adventure and let me know which ones you try!
Vegan Hiking & Camping Snacks
This section is dedicated to eats that don’t require refrigeration, OR don’t require immediate refrigeration.
Stuff that can be left out for a day or two without turning green and fuzzy, ya know?
Because that’s the last thing we want to encounter when we’re already surrounded by the green of nature.
You can make these items and stash them in a hiking bag for the day without worrying about them turning on you!
My Go-To Trail Mix: 5-minute mix it yourself trail-mix with cashews, cranberries, dark chocolate, shredded coconut, and a shake of cinnamon. Perfect for on-the-go snacking!
I love prepping multiples of this trail mix in ziplock bags or Stasher bags for an easy pre-portioned snack on the go.
The bags easily slip into a hiking bag or purse.
Note: the chocolate can melt on very hot days, so try to keep the chocolate in a cool dark space, or omit it altogether.
Nut Butter & Jam Breakfast Quesadilla: Sweet and satisfying breakfast quesadilla made on the stovetop with nut butter, homemade strawberry chia seed jam, granola, and coconut flakes.
Let me tell about the evolution of this breakfast quesadilla, which I rarely *actually* eat for breakfast these days.
I started packing these for my outdoor climbing and hiking adventures and they’ve become a staple of my Vegan Hiking & Camping Recipes.
I’ve stripped the recipe down over time so I just do nut butter + jam/jelly on tortillas toasted on both sides.
It’s basically a gluten-free and vegan PB&J that tastes *delicious* at the summit.
I like to wrap mine in aluminum foil so it packs nicely slipped in a hiking bag.
I’ve found this quesadilla is good for ~24 hours without refrigeration.
Apricot Almond Energy Bars: Grain-Free Apricot Almond Energy Bars made with just 5 ingredients and naturally sweetened with dried apricots. Perfect for a meal prep snack!
I love these bars for hiking & camping because they’re dense and packed with plant-based protein.
Because they hold their mass, they won’t get squashed in the bottom of a hiking bag.
They don’t require immediate refrigeration, so they’re perfect for a camping weekend or day hike.
SunButter & Jelly Bliss Balls: SunButter & Jelly Bliss Balls that literally taste like a PB&J in energy ball form, without any nuts! They’re perfect to meal prep for on-the-go snacking.
I’m still learning the art of packing a lightweight hiking bag.
Mostly the weight in mine comes from carrying enough snacks to feed a small army.
But bliss balls are always a good idea and they’re better when shared, right?
These balls don’t require refrigeration, so you can stash a bag of them at the campsite or in a hiking pack.
Note: Refrigeration will make these balls firmer and more compact, so they may soften in warmer temperatures, but will still be delicious!
PB&J Baked Breakfast Bars: Six ingredient peanut butter & jelly breakfast bars that are naturally oil-free, gluten-free, and sweetened with dates and maple syrup.
Try baking a batch of these breakfast bars in advance for your next weekend trip.
I recommend slicing them into squares so you can grab one for a quick breakfast or snack.
They’re fine at room temperature for a few days but try to keep them away from excessive heat.
Protein is sometimes hard to get on the go, so you’ll love the addition of plant-based protein powder in these!
Trail Mix Cookies: 5-seed trail mix cookies that are nut-free, oil free, gluten free, and refined sugar free. Perfect for a healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert.
It’s trail mix…in a cookie!
So, the ultimate camping cookie.
I packed these trail mix cookies for my last road trip and shared them with everyone we met along the way.
They’re chewy, compact, and packed with all of your favorite seeds for a nourishing snack, breakfast, or dessert.
Throw a few in a to-go bag for an easy way to get some instant sugar, carbs, and protein!
Vegan Hiking & Camping With a Cooler
This section is dedicated to items that I’ve found are worth putting ice on.
These are mostly the meals that I find work well for me when on a campgrounds with access to ice.
I haven’t gotten into camp cooking much yet, so these meals are things I prep in advance and throw in a cooler for the ride.
It takes a little extra time to prepare, but I find that I enjoy myself a lot more on the adventure if I’m not stressing about my next meal!
Also…less dishes.
Overnight Oats: 10 of my favorite plant-based overnight oats recipes to meal prep for an easy, fun, nutritious breakfast. Perfect for any season of weather and life!
My go-to camping breakfast of champions.
Every time we go camping, I make a variation of overnight oats along for the ride.
Lately, I’m partial to the PB & No-Jelly Overnight Oats or Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats, but as long as you’ve got a way to keep them cool, any recipe goes!
I like to pre-portion them out in mason jars or pyrex containers.
The morning of enjoying, I add separate toppings like granola or nut butter for a filling breakfast to fuel my day!
SunButter Apple Nachos: Quick and convenient apple nachos made with cinnamon, dried fruit, dark chocolate, granola, and a squeezable SunButter packet. Perfect for a speedy snack!
It’s true, these nachos don’t *look* as pretty when I’m outdoors.
I strip this recipe down so it’s mostly apple slices + nut butter and any toppings (dried fruit, nuts) I have lying around and accessible.
Typically, I slice my apples in advance and store them in a ziplock bag or Stasher bag in the cooler so I can whip them out for easy snacking.
Add a squeeze of lemon if you’d like to prevent them from turning brown.
Pro tip: Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to the apple slices makes them taste decadent, even on the go!
Pesto Pasta Salad: Pesto pasta salad made with Chickapea Penne Pasta in a delicious vegan pesto with juicy heirloom tomatoes. Perfect for a summer main or side!
This is my favorite chilled pasta salad that is flavorful, refreshing, and GREEN!
Usually I don’t like to pack greens with me when I’m on the go, because they’re hard to store and tend to wilt.
So I love taking this pasta salad with me camping because it feels fresh and satisfying while getting a serving of greens, too!
Usually I take the dish in its entirety, but you can also portion out servings in a container for an easy dinner serving.
Note: the salad can get thicker over time, so add a splash of water if the sauce is too thick!
Rosemary Three Bean Salad: Easy three bean salad with cannellini beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas in a tangy oil-free apple cider vinegar dressing. Perfect for potlucks and picnics!
This bean salad is just perfect for everything, making it perfect for a Vegan Hiking & Camping Recipe.
The same reason it’s great for potlucks and picnics makes it ideal for camping.
Pros: It’s chilled, pre-dressed, doesn’t require a microwave to be tasty, and is perfect for sharing.
I love that it’s packed with legume-based protein for situations where you don’t have a protein source.
Sweet Potato & Chickpea Sheet Pan Meal: Easy oven roasted one pan meal with sweet potato, chickpeas, and brussels sprouts seasoned with Tandoori Masala and fresh dill. Perfect for meal prep!
Your camping gear probably doesn’t include an oven, but that’s OK, neither does mine.
Several times I’ve made an easy sheet pan meal to take on a weekend camping trip.
It’s easy to throw on a sheet pan and bake in advance.
You can either eat the leftovers chilled, or use a camping cooktop to gently heat them.
I love mine served with camp side with a dollop of hummus and some hot sauce.
Sometimes it feels too pretty to eat with camping silverware, but you get over it quickly when you realize how good it tastes!
Vegan Chocolate Chili: Vegan chili packed with vegetables, legumes, and a delicious dark chocolate twist. This chili is cozy, thick, and perfect for a winter weeknight meal.
The first time M and I went tent camping together, we brought a pre-made chili to share with friends.
It was a bit heavy to lug in the cooler, but we were both pleasantly surprised at how easily it reheated in a pot on the camping stovetop.
We dressed ours up with avocado and hot sauce and *definitely* went back for seconds.
Highly recommend this for an easy camping dinner to feed a big group!
Cookie S’mores: Easy s’mores made with vegan marshmallows, dark chocolate, and your favorite homemade or store-bought cookies. Perfect for a fun summer dessert.
What kind of camping menu would this be if s’mores wasn’t included on the menu?!
To be honest, I’m not the biggest s’mores eater, but I *love* the idea of them.
I could roast marshmallows for hours and just pass them off to people; it’s basically free therapy.
But this s’mores 2.0, because it’s made with vegan marshmallows, dark chocolate, and smashed between cookies!!!
Add this to your camping menu, just ’cause.
If You Make Anything From These Vegan Hiking & Camping Recipes, Please Let Me Know!
Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.
For more Recipe Round Ups, check out my Vegan & Gluten-Free Appetizer Round Up and Vegan Meal Prep Recipe Round Up!
Check out my Pinterest page to pin more recipes like this one to make later!
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XO Lauren
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