Simple Camp Kitchen Essentials

The five Products a beginner needs for a simple car camping kitchen: a two-burner stove, a cook set, a cooler, a water container and a small camp table, with the reason each one makes the list.

Cooking at a campsite is one of the best parts of car camping, and it is much simpler than it looks. You don’t need a fancy outdoor kitchen. You need a way to make heat, something to cook in and eat from, a way to keep food cold, a supply of clean water, and a flat place to work. Because you are camping out of your car, weight matters less than it would on a backpacking trip. That means you can bring full-size, easy-to-use gear that makes a camp kitchen feel almost like cooking at home.

Here is everything a beginner needs to get started, grouped by the job each item does.

Cooking

Coleman Classic Propane Gas Camping Stove, 2-Burner

A two-burner propane stove is the heart of a camp kitchen. With two independently adjustable burners, you can boil water for coffee on one side while you fry breakfast on the other, and the wind-block panels help keep the flames steady on a breezy site. The propane cylinder is sold separately, and one lasts up to an hour with both burners on high, so pack a spare or two.
  • Two independently adjustable burners with 20,000 BTUs of total cooking power. (source)
  • Runs on a 16.4 oz propane cylinder, sold separately; one cylinder lasts up to 1 hour with both burners on high. (source)
  • Fits a 12 in and a 10 in pan at the same time. (source)
  • Wind-block panels shield the flames from wind. (source)
  • Weighs 10.78 lb. (source)
View Coleman Classic Propane Gas Camping Stove, 2-Burner on Amazon

Stanley Adventure Base Camp Cook Set

Rather than raiding your home kitchen piece by piece, a single cook set covers cooking, serving and eating for up to four people. It includes a pot, a frying pan, a cutting board, utensils, plates, bowls, sporks and even a drying rack, all made of stainless steel. The locking bungee keeps everything together, so nothing goes missing between trips.
  • Made for 4 people. (source)
  • Includes a 3.5 L pot with a vented lid, a 7.25 in 3-ply frying pan, a cutting board, and a spatula and serving spoon with extending handles. (source)
  • Also includes four 6 in plates, four 22 oz bowls, four sporks, a dish drying rack, a heat-resistant trivet and a locking bungee. (source)
  • Made of 18/8 stainless steel and dishwasher safe. (source)
View Stanley Adventure Base Camp Cook Set on Amazon

Keeping Food and Water

Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler

A good cooler is your camp refrigerator, and at 52 quarts this one has room for a weekend of food, drinks and ice. The Cool Riser legs lift it off the ground and the rubber T-latches keep the lid shut. When it’s time to empty the meltwater, the threaded drain plug makes it easy.
  • Holds 52 quarts. (source)
  • Cool Riser legs lift the cooler off the ground. (source)
  • Closes with rubber T-latches. (source)
  • Has a threaded drain plug that takes a garden hose, and tie-down slots. (source)
View Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler on Amazon

Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Water Container

Many campsites don’t have a tap nearby, so bringing your own water makes cooking, drinking and washing up far easier. This container holds 7 gallons and is food safe and BPA-free. The hideaway spigot lets you fill a pot or rinse your hands without lifting the whole container.
  • Holds 7 gallons (26 L). (source)
  • Measures 11.5 x 11.25 x 15.75 in and weighs 2 lb. (source)
  • Has a hideaway spigot for dispensing and a screw-on vent cap. (source)
  • Food safe, FDA approved and BPA-free. (source)
View Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Water Container on Amazon

Setting Up Your Kitchen

GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20

Not every campsite has a picnic table, and even when one is there, an extra surface for prep or for setting down the water container is useful. This aluminum table stands 24 inches tall when open, holds up to 60 lb, and folds down to just 2 inches deep. At 4 lb, it slips into the car without taking up much space.
  • Holds up to 60 lb. (source)
  • Open, it measures 18 x 20 in and stands 24 in tall. (source)
  • Folds to 2 in deep and weighs 4 lb. (source)
  • Aluminum construction with telescoping legs. (source)
View GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table 20 on Amazon

Ready to Cook

With these five pieces, you have a complete camp kitchen: heat, cookware, cold storage, water and a place to work. Before your first trip, set everything up once in your driveway or backyard so you know how the stove lights and where each piece goes. Then plan a few simple meals, pack your cooler with plenty of ice, and enjoy cooking under the open sky.