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This Pad Thai recipe will quickly make it’s way to your camping staples (and it’s so good, you’ll probably make it at home too!)
We are always on the lookout for camping recipes that taste like you’re at home, but are really simple to make outdoors. There’s just something about an amazing meal at camp that hits the spot at the end of a long day adventuring! We have been making this Pad Thai recipe for a few years now, and it’s become the meal we make on every single trip. It’s easy, can be made on a 2-burner stove, and tastes like you’re back at home.
Camp Cooking Gear You’ll Need
A good Camp cooking setup will make it super easy and stress-free to make all your meals. We keep all of our camp cooking gear in a box in our garage so it’s ready to go when we are, and we don’t have to stress about leaving anything behind! After many trips, we’ve tailored it down to have everything we may need, and nothing we won’t.
We have a few staples we never go camping without anymore, all of which were used to cook this recipe:
Camping Table
This camping table by Mountain Summit Gear was honestly one of the best purchases we’ve made for camping. It folds up into a small bag and rolls out to be a table big enough to sit 4-6 people. It’s really durable, and we love that it allows for us to cook and eat on it without moving stuff around.
2-Burner Camp Stove & Propane
The Coleman Classic Stove is exactly that, a classic! We have been using this stove for years and it’s still in great condition (and now houses many memories in sticker form on the back). A 2-burner stove is plenty for any camping recipe, and we prefer it to a one-burner, as it allows us to cook more at once and faster. Don’t forget to bring along propane (and an extra).
Camp Cookware
Some of the basic items you’ll need for any recipes are a spatula, spoon, cutting board, dish towel, sponge, and pan scraper. We have been using this GSI Outdoors Gourmet Kitchen Set which comes with all of the above, a whisk, spice and condiment containers, and a sponge all with a carrying container to keep it organized. We also added in this knife that comes with a locking cover.
OXO Outdoor Santoku Knife with Locking Sheath
Water Storage
We always bring a 7 gallon water jug for drinking water, cooking water, and to do dishes. This is the one we love!
Cast Iron Pan
We cook about 90% of our meals in our Lodge Cast Iron, and can’t recommend them enough for camping! They make amazing food, are easy to clean, and get better and better with use.
Plates and Bowls
Getting a good set of plates and bowls for camping is really valuable, and we love our enamelware set from Barebones! We have sets of their smaller and larger plates, bowls, mixing bowls, and pots. They’re really high quality, easy to clean, and durable for camp. quality, easy to clean, and durable for camp.
Drinkware
Whether you’re sipping on some sparking water after a long day in the desert, or are craving a spicy margarita with dinner, we love having these Yeti Ramblers on hand to keep our drinks cool on a hot summer day.
How To Make Camping Chicken Pad Thai
You’re going to need (3 servings)
- 1-1.5 lbs chicken diced (can also buy or bring this pre-cooked)
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- Rice noodles (we use these)
- Pad Thai Sauce (You can make this at home, but we prefer to buy pre-made sauce. This is the best one we’ve found)
- 3 eggs
- Cilantro
- Green onion
- 1 Lime
- Peanuts
- Sriracha
- Salt, pepper, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika
For this recipe, you’re going to need a 2-burner stove, a pan (we prefer a cast iron), and a pot for boiling the noodles.
1. To start, boil some water in a pot for the noodles. As it’s boiling, put some oil in your pan (sesame would be best, but olive will work!), and add in the diced onion. Sauté for a couple of minutes until softened, and then add in the diced chicken.
2. Cook these together in the pan until the chicken is browned on all sides. Then add in diced (or julienned) bell pepper, and cook until soft. Add in seasonings to taste. We always bring a larger salt and pepper, but the GSI Outdoors Gourmet Kitchen Set comes with a spice container that allows you to bring 4 seasonings separately!
3. At this time, your water should be boiling, so you can cook the rice noodles to the box instructions (cook for 4-6 minutes).
4. Back in the pan, move the chicken and veggies to the sides, creating an open circle in the middle of the pan. Add the 3 eggs and scramble them. Once they’re almost completely cooked, mix them with the chicken and veggies.
5. Once the noodles are cooked, transfer them to the pan (without the water). Tongs work best for this! Add the Pad Thai sauce, and mix everything together.
6. Top the Pad Thai with sliced green onions, cilantro, lime juice, sriracha, and peanuts (and leave some on the side to top each bowl with.
This whole meal typically ends up taking us about 20 – 30 minutes maximum, and it doesn’t feel labor intensive! All of our friends we’ve made this recipe for ask us to make it again and again!
If you prefer a video format, we have an Instagram Reel showing exactly how we make it.
We hope you enjoy the recipe on your next camping trip, and happy trails!
