Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (2024)

Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (1)

Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when spending time in the great outdoors. Your favorite people will 100% appreciate these hearty breakfast casseroles, pancakes, and eggs to fuel them for their activities ahead!

  • Crack Breakfast Potato Casserole

    Assemble this hearty breakfast casserole the night before, cover, and pop it in the oven in the morning for a satisfying meal to start the day.

  • Farmer’s Breakfast Casserole

    Everyone’s favorite hot breakfast items come together in this breakfast casserole that hits the spot.

  • Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes Recipe

    Combine the dry ingredients well in advance, seal it up in a plastic zip bag, and you’ll have ready-made pancake mix to bring along.

  • How to Boil and Peel Eggs Easily

    Don’t struggle with peeling eggs ever. You can easily boil and quickly peel a dozen eggs prior to the trip; seal and keep them cold for several days. You’ll have ready-to-eat eggs anytime at the cabin.

Main Dish

When enjoying a weekend at a cabin, no doubt our favorite time is when everyone gathers back and enjoys dinner together, after a long day out hiking, fishing, or floating on the lake. These main dishes are designed to be made ahead of time, so that you can pack them up to enjoy whenever your crew is ready to eat.

  • Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

    Make this delicious pulled pork at home, pack it up, and bring it to the cabin. This dish keeps well for days and is super easy to heat up and toss onto buns, for a heartwarming meal.

  • BBQ Pulled Chicken

    If pork isn’t your thing, try this mouthwatering pulled chicken instead. It’s also freezer-friendly, so you can make it up to several weeks ahead and portion into freezer containers.

  • 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Meatballs

    With only 3 ingredients, you can easily whip these delightful meatballs up at the cabin. Or, make them in advance and bring them along, fully cooked. These finished meatballs keep well covered and chilled.

  • Grilled Chicken Thighs (with the Best Marinade)

    This is one of our favorite things to put on the grill, hands down. Combine uncooked chicken with marinade up to 2 days in advance. Bring it to your cabin in a plastic zip bag, and throw it on the grill for a meal your neighbors will be jealous of.

  • Sloppy Joes Recipe

    This is our favorite sloppy joes recipe, as it’s big on flavor and super easy to make in advance. Just bring cooked sloppy joe filling in a sealed container, along with fresh buns and your preferred toppings, for a cabin meal the entire family will devour.

Side Dishes

Delicious side dishes are just as important as the main dish, especially when your friends and family are hungry after a long day out. These side dishes can all be made in advance so you can easily transport them to the cabin and serve them up without any extra work while you’re on vacation.

  • Easiest Summer Italian Pasta Salad

    This super easy, flavorful Italian pasta can be prepared in advance or on the spot, with little effort.

  • Southwestern Barley Salad

    Our cabin friends have this barley salad on regular rotation for their trips; it’s fresh, healthy, and keeps well in a cooler on the road.

  • Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)

    Here’s a hearty, meal-prep friendly corn salad with big flavors. It goes well with almost every meal.

  • Easy Ranch Potato Salad

    This is an oldie but goodie around here; it’s picnic-ready, cabin-friendly, and is perfect for making ahead of time.

Treats & Snacks

No trip to the cabin is complete without plenty of treats and snacks. Kids, teens, and adults all appreciate tasty, on-the-go snacks to satisfy that afternoon craving. We’ve got cereal bars, dessert bars, energy balls, and of course chocolate chip cookies!

  • Crispy Cereal Bars with Peanut Butter (No-Bake)

    Who wouldn’t love crispy peanut butter treats, especially while lounging at the lake? These treats are perfect for bringing along everywhere you go.

  • These aren’t just for potlucks; they’re great anytime you want a batch of s’mores in a jiffy. Just bring the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. No skewers needed.

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies (without a Stand Mixer)

    You won’t need a stand mixer at the cabin to whip up these delicious chocolate chip cookies on the spot. These are perfect for a rainy day at the lake, or simply a lazy afternoon baking with the kids.

  • Easy Apple Cake (One Bowl)

    This one is a favorite for bringing to the cabin, as it’s loaded with fresh apples and stays moist for days.

  • How to Make No-Bake Energy Balls

    These energy bites are the ultimate pick-me-up whenever we travel; they’re especially fantastic on road trips. They stay fresh for days in an airtight container.

Video: Watch Us Make Marinated Grilled Chicken Thighs

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Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (20)

Food for the Cabin | No-Bake Energy Balls

5 from 16 ratings

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These No-Bake Energy Bites are chock full of healthy, natural ingredients that form a powerhouse of nutrition with every bite – they're the perfect snack for taking on trips.

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 30 servings

Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well until fully incorporated. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to an hour.

    Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (21)

  • Roll into balls of your preferred size. If the mixture is too sticky, it helps to keep a bowl of water nearby to keep dipping your hands into. Wet palms will make the rolling a lot easier.

    Store in an airtight container. Will keep well at moderate room temp or in the fridge.

    Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (22)

Notes

  • To toast shredded coconut: in a nonstick pan over medium high heat, stir coconut flakes until lightly toasted and fragrant. Watch carefully so that it does not burn.
  • You can sub agave nectar for honey.
  • Poppyseed can be used in lieu of chia, if you can’t find chia seeds.
  • Sunbuttercan be used in place of peanut butter, for a nut-free recipe.
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️

Click here to add your own private notes.

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1g | Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Course: Appetizer, snacks

Cuisine: Amerian

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Method: Assemble, Combining

Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead (2024)

FAQs

What dishes can be made ahead of time? ›

33 Make Ahead Meals for Family Dinners and Parties
  • 01 of 33. Oven-Baked Fish Sticks. ...
  • 02 of 33. Decadent Mac and Cheese. ...
  • 03 of 33. Chicken Noodle Soup. ...
  • 04 of 33. Sweet Potato and Bean Burritos With Corn Salsa. ...
  • 05 of 33. Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs. ...
  • 06 of 33. Sweet Potato and Gruyère Turnovers. ...
  • 07 of 33. Cottage Pie. ...
  • 08 of 33.
Jun 26, 2023

What food should I pack for a cabin trip? ›

The Essentials Foods You Should Bring While Vacationing At A...
  • Burgers – simple yet delicious. ...
  • Eggs, Bacon 'n Bread – What's a breakfast without eggs and bacon along with toast?
  • Veggies and Leafy greens - this can include peppers, tomatoes, corn, lettuce and anything else you like.
Jul 18, 2012

How do you feed a crowd at the cottage? ›

Full house: tips for feeding a big crowd at your cottage
  1. Get everyone involved. ...
  2. Go back to the classics. ...
  3. Make soups and stews (and salads) ...
  4. Please a crowd with homemade pizza. ...
  5. Make fun drinks (in giant pitchers) ...
  6. Try a curry (or three) ...
  7. Offer finger food. ...
  8. Clean up together.
Jul 22, 2016

How to make food ahead of time for a party? ›

Make and Freeze Items

Freezing helps preserve the items, so they taste great on party day. This doesn't have to be done weeks in advance, either. Instead, make sauces, breads, pie crusts and other items that freeze well a few days before the party. Store them in the freezer until the night before.

What is a good meal to serve 20 people? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

How do you store food in a cabin? ›

You must keep all food inside your room; if you are not in the room, the windows and doors must be closed. Bears can easily break into cabins through an open door or open window.

What are easy to chew meals? ›

Good examples include shepherd's pie, pasta dishes with a meat sauce, meat loaf, chicken supreme, corned beef hash, tender casserole, tender meat or chicken curry, tender roast meat and soft skinless sausage. Tinned meat or poultry are also suitable, for example chicken in white sauce.

What to cook for dinner in an airbnb? ›

Easy Family Travel Dinners
  • Frozen Pasta Dinners.
  • Frozen Lasagna, salad, bread – make ahead if you want homemade.
  • Frozen Pot Pie or Chicken and Rice Casserole, chopped salad, bread – make ahead if you want homemade.
  • Frozen Chicken Fried Rice, Asian Meat dish, Potstickers or Egg Rolls.
  • Grilled Burgers and fries or chips.
Jul 21, 2021

What to cook for a large group easy? ›

  • Hearty Baked Penne Pasta. This recipe feeds an army. ...
  • Tasty Taco Bar. Everything you need to make your own Taco Bar at home. ...
  • Baked Potato Bar. ...
  • Crockpot Ham. ...
  • Killer Carnitas. ...
  • Chicken Spaghetti. ...
  • Ham and Cheese Sliders. ...
  • Shredded Beef Tacos.
Apr 2, 2024

How to feed 20 people easy? ›

Keep it Simple

A hearty main dish + fresh fruit or vegetables that don't require much prep + a quick side dish + a make-ahead dessert. That's a pretty simple and pretty much perfect plan. I've found that slow cooker meats/meals make a perfect starting point for large group menu planning.

How to feed 30 people easily? ›

Taco/nacho bar works, you can also premake some casserole type dishes and just warm in oven day of… say Mac & cheese, baked beans, potatoes au gratin… you can also do some pulled pork ahead that you can serve separate or with taco bar… Casseroles are good (chicken and broccoli, cottage pie, etc.)

What Thanksgiving dishes can be prepared ahead of time? ›

Dishes you should definitely make in advance
  • Thanksgiving stuffing. "We always make my mom's sweet potato stuffing ahead of time. ...
  • Casserole. "Pretty much anything with 'casserole' in the name is built for being made in advance." — ...
  • Mise en place. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Turkey and chicken stock. ...
  • Most desserts. ...
  • Brussels sprouts. ...
  • Dinner rolls.
Nov 14, 2023

How do you make food ahead and not get soggy? ›

Let meals cool before you store them

You should let hot food cool for 30 minutes with the storage lid off before covering it and putting it in your fridge. Doing so can minimize condensation forming within the container and making your food soggy.

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