Look, we've got nothing against bacon and eggs. They're a classic for a reason. But if you're rolling out the same pan every single morning of a four-day trip, you're leaving a lot of flavour – and a lot of fun – on the table. Or, you know, the camp table.
The truth is, breakfast is the meal most people put the least thought into when they're packing for a trip. Dinner gets all the glory. Lunch is just fuel. But breakfast? Breakfast sets the tone for the whole day. Get it right and you're hiking, paddling, or driving into the sunrise feeling like an absolute unit. Get it wrong and you're gripy and underfuelled by 10am.
Here's how to lift your camp breakfast game – seriously and sustainably.
1. Overnight Oats: The Zero-Effort Hero
Before you even unzip the tent, breakfast is ready. That's the magic of overnight oats.
Pack rolled oats, chia seeds, a small container of milk powder, and your mix-ins of choice – think dried mango, coconut flakes, a handful of nuts, a drizzle of honey. The night before, combine everything in a jar or container with water (or UHT milk if you've got the space), give it a stir, and leave it in your cooler or camp bag overnight. Wake up, grab a spoon, done.
They travel well, require zero cooking, and feel genuinely satisfying. Bring a small jar of peanut butter to stir through and you'll never look back. Oh, and the KickAss 75L Dual Zone Fridge Freezer is perfect for keeping your overnight oats cool and your milk fresh.
2. Breakfast Burritos (Wrapped the Night Before)
This one takes a bit of prep but pays off massively on a big adventure morning.
At home before you leave, scramble eggs with diced capsicum, onion, cumin, and cheese. Wrap tightly in tortillas and foil. At camp, throw the foil parcels straight onto the camp grill or your KickAss Electric BBQ for 5–8 minutes a side. Hot, hearty, and gone in about three bites.
They also work brilliantly with black beans or leftover pulled beef if you want to get creative. This is camp cooking that doesn't feel like camp cooking.
3. Shakshuka: Yes, Really
Before you skip this one – hear us out. Shakshuka sounds fancy, but it's genuinely one of the easiest things you can make on a camp stove. One pan, minimal prep, and it looks impressive enough that other campers will definitely wander over to ask what you're cooking.
Pack a can of crushed tomatoes, a jar of harissa or a sachet of smoked paprika and cumin, a small onion, garlic, and a few eggs. Heat oil in your pan on the KickAss Induction Cooktop, sauté the onion and garlic, add the tomatoes and spices, let it bubble for a few minutes, then crack the eggs straight in and put a lid on it. Done in 10 minutes. Scoop it up with flatbread or even crackers if that's what you've got.
It's also a brilliant way to use up any veggie odds and ends from the night before.
4. French Toast Done Dirty
Take slightly stale bread (which, let's be honest, is usually what you've got by day two), dip it in a mix of egg, a splash of long-life milk, a pinch of cinnamon and sugar, and cook it in butter. Serve with tinned peaches, a squeeze of condensed milk, or just straight maple syrup. You can cook this one in a pan on the KickAss Induction Cooktop, or straight on the plate on an electric BBQ.
It's indulgent, it takes less than 10 minutes, and it uses up bread before it goes to waste. Win, win, win.
5. Camp Granola with a Twist
This is a make-at-home-bring-it-along situation that keeps giving all trip. Toast rolled oats with olive oil, honey, cinnamon, and a mix of seeds and nuts in a wide pan – or better yet, make a big batch at home and bag it up. At camp, serve with long-life yoghurt and whatever fresh or tinned fruit you've got.
It stores easily, it's energy dense, and it takes about 90 seconds to serve. On the mornings when you just want to eat and get moving, granola is your mate.
6. Savoury Rice Porridge (Congee-Style)
Rice porridge is a breakfast staple across much of Asia for good reason – it's warm, deeply satisfying, easy on the stomach, and incredibly easy to make. Best of all, the KickAss Induction Cooktop has a special setting just for creating congee!
Pack instant jasmine rice or leftover cooked rice, a tin of chicken or vegetable broth, a little soy sauce, and whatever toppings you like – soft-boiled egg, fried shallots, chilli flakes, a sprinkle of sesame. Simmer the rice in the broth until soft and thick, then top and serve. It's the kind of breakfast that makes cold mornings feel genuinely manageable.
A Few General Rules for Camp Breakfast Success
- Prep smarter, not harder. Do as much at home as you can – pre-mix dry ingredients, pre-chop veggies, pre-cook proteins. The less friction in the morning, the better.
- Think beyond the frypan. A good camp kitchen setup – including a reliable portable BBQ, a solid two-burner stove, or even a camp oven – opens up a whole world of possibilities. The gear you bring determines the meals you can cook.
- Pack for the days, not the occasion. Day one you've got fresh produce and energy. By day four you want things that are simple, shelf-stable, and still taste like you actually tried. Plan your menu in that order.
The Right Gear Makes the Difference
None of this works without a reliable setup. Whether you're cooking for two or feeding a crew, KickAss has the portable power and cooking equipment to make it happen – from fridges and camp kitchen gear to full off-grid setups built for wherever you're headed.
Because the best camp breakfast isn't just about the food. It's about starting the day right, out there, doing the thing. Make it count.