Campfire Cuisine: Best Trail-Ready Meals & Treats for Your Pets

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You’ve got your camp kitchen, your trail snacks packed, and your coffee ritual locked in. But what about your four-legged adventure buddy? Yup — Fido and Fluffy deserve camping snacks, too. Trail-ready pet meals and treats aren’t just about spoiling them — they’re about keeping your animals fueled, healthy, and happy when you’re miles from the nearest pet store.

Below: My best advice for packing the tastiest, safest, and most sustainable camp cuisine for your pets — from hearty trail meals to drool-worthy treats (plus a few sanity-saving accessories I never leave home without).

The Basics: Fuel for Furry Friends

Pets burn more calories when hiking, swimming, or doing zoomies around the campsite. The key? High-protein, high-fat foods that are easy to digest, store, and portion.

Field Tip: Check calorie counts — dogs often need double their usual intake on big hike days. Cats? They’ll probably still eat like they own the place, but keep portions steady unless they’re actually joining in the cardio.

Options that work well outdoors:

• Homemade Dehydrated Meals: Light, compact, and easy to rehydrate with warm water.

• Dry Kibble in Pre-Portioned (Sustainable) Bags: Saves time, reduces overfeeding, and keeps food fresher.

• Shelf-Stable Wet Food Pouches: Handy for extra calories, especially in cold weather.

Hydration: The Other Half of the Meal Plan

Food is only half the equation — pets need steady access to clean water, especially when camping or hiking. I’ve started using the OneisAll 3.5L Cordless Smart Cat Water Fountain at home, and it’s so good it’s become part of our travel kit, too. The stainless steel design is easy to clean, the cordless setup means no tripping over cables, and the constant flow keeps water fresh — even for picky drinkers who usually turn their nose up at a bowl. And for its small size, it holds a whole lot of water. It’s a win for cats and dogs, whether we’re basecamping for a few days or just hanging around the porch after a long hike.

Portable Protein: Treats That Work Double Duty

Treats aren’t just for bribery (though they work wonders for “don’t chase that squirrel” moments). On the trail, they can be mini fuel boosts — and they’re also a chance to keep pets occupied around camp.

One of my favorites? Bully sticks. They’re high in protein, easy to digest, and unlike rawhide, they don’t swell dangerously in the stomach or pose the same choking hazard. To make them even safer, I use the EverChew bully stick holder — it locks the last few inches of the chew in place so my dog can’t swallow the hard nub at the end. Bonus: it keeps sticky bully stick slobber off your sleeping bag.

Easy, homemade trail snacks for pets:

• Jerky-Style Meat Strips: Dehydrate chicken, beef, or fish with no seasoning for a protein punch.

• Frozen Banana Bites: Mash banana, mix with plain yogurt, freeze in small molds before you leave. They’ll thaw perfectly for an after-hike treat.

• Pumpkin Oat Cookies: Gentle on digestion and easy to make in big batches before your trip (see recipe below).

Bear-Safe & Scent-Smart Storage

Here’s the thing — your pet’s food smells like food to wildlife, too. Bears, raccoons, and curious camp robbers like foxes will all check out an open kibble bag.

Keep it safe by:

• Using odor-proof bags or canisters (same ones you’d use for your own food in bear country).

• Hanging pet food overnight if no bear box is available.

• Sealing treats tight — even a tiny whiff of jerky can turn into a midnight visit from the wrong kind of “trail friend.”

Pack It Sustainably

No single-use baggies if you can avoid them — they just add to microplastic pollution when they wear down.

Better options:

• Reusable silicone pouches for kibble and treats.

• Beeswax wraps for small snacks.

• Lightweight screw-top tins for crunchy items (bonus: crush-proof).

And don’t forget: pack out any leftover pet food scraps, just like you would your own. Wildlife doesn’t need your trail mix — or your dog’s.

Special Dishes That Earn Their Pack Weight

The “just use a camp cup” method sounds great until your dog tips it over, spilling half their dinner into your sleeping bag. Ask me how I know.

My go-to hiking gear when on the trail with pups:

• Collapsible Bowls from LITO: Folds flat, weighs next to nothing, and comes in various sizes.

• Spleash® Clip-On Water Handle: Attaches to your favorite leash, holds 12 oz of fresh water, and even sprays (great for a little cool down for your pup on hot days — no extra water bottle needed. This is a game-changer, and I don't say that lightly.

Sweet Extras: Spoil ‘Em (Responsibly)

Campfire time is prime snack-sharing territory. While your dog may think they want your s’more, chocolate is a hard no. Instead, bring pet-safe treats so they can join the fun:

• Apple or Sweet Potato Chips: Thinly sliced, baked until crisp.

• Frozen Blueberry “Snowballs”: Blueberries rolled in plain yogurt, frozen solid before your trip.

Messy treat sessions? I keep DOG: wipes in my camp kit — they handle peanut butter paws, dusty noses, and general campsite grime. And if your pup gets wound up from all the action (or is the type to eat less when stressed), the DOG: calm cologne is a quiet little miracle. A spritz or two helps take the edge off (both of you) and makes camp life more peaceful for everyone.

Pumpkin Oat Cookies for the Trail

Ingredients:

• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (unsweetened, no spices)

• 2 cups rolled oats (can use quick oats for softer cookies)

• 1 egg (optional — helps bind)

• 1–2 tablespoons water or low-sodium broth (as needed)

Optional mix-ins:

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened peanut butter (no xylitol!)

• 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed

• A few finely chopped blueberries or apple bits

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix pumpkin puree and egg (if using) in a large bowl.

3. Stir in oats, adding water or broth if it’s too dry.

4. Drop spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined sheet, flatten into rounds.

5. Bake 20–25 minutes until firm and lightly golden.

6. Cool completely before packing. Store in airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer trips.

Field Tip: Wrap individual cookies in beeswax wraps or reusable snack pouches for easy, no-crumb treat breaks on the trail.

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