5 Keto Camping Recipes For Your Van Adventures

It’s Possible to Cook Keto While Camping

Keto is a popular diet plan as well as a plan for changing your eating habits. The focus is on low-carb, high-fat foods like eggs, meat, and natural fats. The goal is to activate the ketone molecules in your blood to help you turn fat into fuel. It’s possible to cook easy and delicious keto camping recipes while on your van adventures. A keto diet avoids foods like alcohol, beans, carbs, legumes, many fruits, refined grains and sugars, and starchy vegetables.

Note: The information provided in this article should not be mistaken for health advice regarding diet. Please consult with your health provider before making any major diet decisions.

Van Cooking Appliances

Space is at a premium in a van, so many travelers have to decide what to incorporate into their kitchens. Many of the dishes below suggest using an oven which isn’t exactly a top priority appliance for many van conversions. Below are a couple of outdoor camping oven options that run on propane.

×

Thank you for subscribing to the Vanlifers newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

The Fancy Outdoor Kitch Solution

The Camp Chef Deluxe Outdoor Camp Oven has your range and oven covered in a convenient outdoor cooking setup. It’s not the cheapest camp cooking appliance at around $232.00.

Features include:

• It uses a 1lb propane tank which can be adapted to use a 20lb tank
• 7,500 BTUs per burner with a 3,000-Btu oven
• Oven thermometer and two oven racks (Top oven heat: 400 F)
• Inside Oven dimensions W 16″ x H 8.5″ x L 10
• Weight 35 lbs

The Budget Friendly and More Portable Option

The Coleman Camp Oven folds flat for easy storage and carrying. It doesn’t come with its heat source, though. It’s meant to be sat on top of an existing gas-powered cooking stove. At only 7 lbs, it’s an excellent lightweight choice for van lifers who want the convenience of an oven without having to devote a ton of storage space in addition to their basic cooktop.

Features include:

• Fits on Coleman Propane and Liquid Fuel Camp Stoves
• An adjustable rack with 3 height options
• Aluminum Steel Construction

Keto Camping Recipes

Now that you have some oven options, here are some keto recipes worth trying.

Print Pin

One Pot Keto Camping Beef, Vegetable, and Gnocchi Stew

Cauliflower gnocchi added to this stew cuts the carbs

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground beef (or cubed stew meat)
• 3 cups chopped onion
• 2 cups chopped celery
• ½ cup broccoli
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes
• 4 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 8 cups beef broth
• 12 oz cauliflower gnocchi, thawed
• 6 fresh spinach
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan for topping stew

Instructions

• Heat oil in a large pot on high.
• Brown beef, onion, and celery.
• When vegetables are soft, add garlic.
• Stir in tomatoes and oregano.
• Pour in the broth.
• Break some of the tomatoes up into broth. 
• Put in thawed gnocchi and cook for a few minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in spinach, salt, and pepper.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

Print Pin

Keto Camping Twist On Bacon Pie

The bacon flavor seeps in and makes this one of the tastiest keto camping recipes.

Ingredients

• 2 lb bacon
• 1 head cauliflower fresh
• 8 oz sharp cheddar grated
• 8 oz smoked gouda grated
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 tsp. smoked paprika

Instructions

• On a pie plate, arrange the pieces of bacon, so they start in the center of the pie plate and then lay out over the side.
• Fan the bacon around as you go so that the bottom of the pie plate becomes covered but leave the ends of the bacon over the sides.
• Slice cauliflower stalks into ¼ inch thickness as if slicing potatoes.
• Put them in a bowl and microwave them to remove moisture.
• Pat them dry with paper towels.
• Put one layer of microwaved cauliflower in the bottom of the pie dish.
• Cover with cheddar.
• Add a new layer of cauliflower and cover with gouda.
• Alternate until you fill the dish, or use all the cheese and cauliflower.
• Sprinkle with paprika, salt, and pepper as you go.
• Fold all bacon back into the center of the pie covering the cheese and cauliflower layers.
• Bake for 2.5 hours at 350 F.

Video

Notes

This dish is made keto-friendly by replacing the potatoes you see in the above video with cauliflower.

Print Pin

Brussels Sprouts with Bourbon and Bacon

Keto camping recipes should be about comfort, and the bourbon and bacon mixed with creamy garlic sauce do just that for this dish.

Ingredients

• 1 lb bacon cooked and cut into 1-inch pieces save fat
• 2 lbs Brussels sprouts trimmed and quartered
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• ½ cup bourbon
• ½ cup heavy cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Place the bacon on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 F until browned.
• With a fork, lift bacon and transfer to paper towels to cool.
• When cooled, cut into one-inch pieces or your size preference.
• Pour bacon fat into a heated skillet and add sprouts.
• Stir occasionally until tender (about 10 min).
• Add garlic, and stir for 1 minute.
• Add bourbon and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in cream, salt, and pepper.
• Sprinkle with bacon and serve.

Print Pin

Fish Cakes

Use your favorite fish meat in this recipe.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups rice cauliflower thawed
• 1 LG can fish tuna, salmon, your selection, drained
• 1 LG egg
• 1 tbsp. mayo
• 2 tsp. capers finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients except olive oil.
• Shape into cakes about ½ inch thick (make them whatever diameter you want.
• Heat oil in a large skillet and cook cakes until browned – about 5 minutes on each side.
• Transfer to a baking sheet and bake at 450 F for 5-7 minutes.

Print Pin

Tomato Pizzas

This is one of those keto camping recipes that could be cooked over a fire, grill, or in an oven. Instead of crust, it uses tomato as your pizza base

Ingredients

• ¾ c mozzarella shredded
• 2 tbsp. chopped olives
• 4 tbsp. chopped pepperoni
• 4 large tomatoes halved horizontally stems removed
• Chopped fresh basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Scoop some of the soft insides from the halved tomatoes.
• In a separate bowl, combine olives, chopped pepperoni, and mozzarella.
• Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place tomatoes on the sheet.
• Fill the tomatoes with the mozzarella mixture.
• Bake the tomatoes for 5-7 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh basil.

I hope you enjoy these keto recipes. I know my family likes them (even those who don’t do keto). Feel free to share any keto recipes you have tried and customized to your liking and have made a favorite! Enjoy!!