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Best Campfire Cook Sets

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One of the best parts of camping is coming back to the fire at the end of a busy day and enjoying a hot meal. Although it sounds dreamy and relaxing, we all know that the reality of camping with kids means that everyone will be STARVING and you need to get the cooking done as quickly and efficiently as possible.  

camp dinner with kids

Trust me when I say that having a good set of camp cookware that’s designed for feeding a crowd will make your life SO MUCH EASIER.  Instead of trying to make do with small pots and pans, a family camp cookware set is designed to help you cook faster (which makes everyone’s family camping trip just a little bit happier!)

We’re here to help you find the best family camp cookware so that you can feed your crew and get on with enjoying your camping trip with kids.  

large camping pots

Tips For Selecting Camping Cookware

When selecting the best camping cookware for camping with kids, there are several things to consider before you buy including cooking capacity, storage, and materials.  

camping skillet dinner

Cooking Capacity

If you have a large family, this is especially important, because if you get a pot that’s too small, you could spend all night cooking food in batches to feed everyone. Although your family’s exact needs may differ, in general look for camp cookware with a volume of at least 1.5 liters in your large pot.  For our large family of 7, I’ve found that having a 2L pot makes it easier to cook meals while camping.

Camp Cookware Storage

Do not overlook the storage of your camp cookware.  You want something that can easily be folded down, or that has several pieces of cookware that can nest inside of each other.  

Having camp cookware that’s easy to store will really simplify all of your camping gear, both at the campsite and for storing it at home.  

Camping Pots and Pans Material

Camping cookware is usually made out of one of two materials, either stainless steel or nonstick. Generally, stainless steel pans are better to cook in and more durable, however, they are messier and tend to require more oil. If you want a little cleaner of a cooking experience or one where you don’t need to use as much oil, then go with nonstick pots and pans. 

Camping Cookware For Large Groups Reviews

Now that you know the ins and outs of selecting camping cookware, below are a few reviews of some of the best camping pots and pans for family camping experiences.  These are large camping pots and pans that are designed to simplify your cooking while camping.  

camping pan canva

Best Camping Kitchen Sets For Family Camping

There are a few different ways you can purchase your camping cookware, either as a set that usually includes dishes for your family to eat off of or as individual pots and pans. Camping kitchen cookware sets tend to be convenient as they are often fairly inexpensive for all the pieces you get and are usually built to nest within one another. 

Best Value Camp Kitchen Set for Families
Stanley Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set Review

If you are looking for a full set of camping cookware, the Adventure Full Kitchen Base Camp Cook Set is for you. This set comes with 21 pieces of cookware for you to use on your next adventure. This set comes with a 3.7 quart (3.5 liters) stainless steel pot, a .94-liter fry pan, and 4 plates/bowls/sporks for your family to enjoy their meals with. There is also a cutting board, carry bungee cord, pot lid, serving utensils, and a drying rack to dry all the dishes on. 

All of the pieces of this amazing camp cookware set fit within one another to create the perfect nesting camp cookware set. This set is also extremely affordable and can fit into any vacation budget. 

Best Nesting Kitchen Set For Family Camping
GSI Outdoors, Pinnacle Camper Cooking Set for Camping And Backpacking

This all-in-one camping cookware set is sure to make your next cookout a breeze. It comes with 23 pieces and is the best camping cookware for four people. The set includes both a 3-liter pot and a 2-liter pot, and both come with strainer lids. There is a frying pan that is 9 inches in diameter, as well as 4 sets of eating utensils (plates, bowls, cups, and sporks). The included mugs also come with lids, making this set truly a one-stop shop if you are planning on camping with your kids. All the cookware pieces of this set are made on non-stick materials and easily nest within one another to make transportation to the campsite quick and efficient. The bag which they are transported in can also double as a sink for cleaning. 

This family camp kitchen set isn’t as inexpensive as the Adventure Full Kitchen Base Cooking Set, but if you are looking for something a bit more kid-friendly, this set is for you. The plates are not only durable but also come in fun colors to keep the little ones happy. This camping cookware set is also designed with the backpacker in mind is extremely lightweight and easy to carry. 

GSI Outdoors, Bugaboo Camper Cooking Set For Camping

If you liked the Pinnacle Camper Cooking Set above, but you aren’t looking for a backpacking-specific camping cookware kit, look instead at the Bugaboo Camping Cooking Set which is made of a little bit thicker materials and is slightly less expensive. 

The Bugaboo Camper Cooking Set for families comes with 23 different pieces designed to make campfire cooking a breeze. It comes with a 3-liter pot, a 2-liter pot, lids for both, and a 9” frying pan. All the pots and pans are made of non-stick material which makes clean up a breeze. The set also has 4 durable plates, bowls, sporks, and mugs with lids to make eating easy even for the younger members of your camping group. The pieces of this set don’t nest as well within one another as the Pinnacle set, but they do nest to become a bit smaller, and can be transported in the bag they come in—which also doubles as a sink for after-dinner dishwashing. 

Best Large Camping Pots and Pans For Camping With Kids

The downside to purchasing a set of family camping cookware is that you may not like all the pieces which are included in the set. If this is the case, it may be more cost-effective for you to purchase the exact camping pots and camping frying pans you want separately so you don’t end up with a lot of unused camping cookware. 

Best Nesting Camp Pot Set
GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Base Camper Nesting Cook Set

This nesting camp cookware set is lightweight and compact, perfect for your backpacking adventure. This family camping pot set comes with six pieces, a 5-liter pot, 3-liter pot, and 9” frying pan. There are lids for both of the camping pots, a cutting board, as well as a detachable handle which can be used for either the pots or the pan, these camping pots really cut down on storage space. As mentioned above, all of the pieces nest into one another, and they can be placed into the bad they come with, which can also double as a sink for easy cleanup. This set is composed of all non-stick camping cookware. 

Best Large Frying Pan For Camping
Utopia 11 Inch Nonstick Frying Pan

The Utopia 11in Nonstick Frying pan is easily one of the best frying pans for camping. Not only is it a bit larger than a frying pan which comes in a typical camp cooking set, but it also is coated with non-stick material to make cleaning up after foods like eggs much easier. This pan is not expensive and can be used at home just as easily as it can be used on your next campfire cooking adventure. 

Best Large Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

If you don’t like cooking with either stainless steel or non-stick camping pans, you can also purchase a cast-iron skillet to cook in. Please note that this option is generally for campers and not backpackers, as cast iron skillets are often time a bit too heavy to be carried around all day. This frying pan is 12” in diameter, with a fixed handle that can make it difficult to fit into a bag. The nice thing about using this type of pan as a camping pan is that it is easy to clean, cooks food well, and will outlast even your most expensive camping cookware. 

Best Backpacking Pot for Families
MSR Stowaway Pot

The MSR stowaway pot is a 1.6-liter stainless steel pot with an easy to use extendable handle. This camping pot is the perfect option for backpacking, as it only weighs 15.5 ounces, and you can place your eating utensils for easy transport inside. The handle folds in to lock the lid into place when needed, and can even become a carrying handle. This pot is a durable, inexpensive option that can fit into even the slimmest budgets.   Although it’s small, this is our family go-to for backpacking since it folds small and we can manage to fit 7 bowls for our whole family inside the pot. This is the best backpacking cookware for families!

Stansport Heavy Duty 7-Piece Stainless Steel-Clad Cookware Set

Although you may not want the dishes included in a full camping kitchenware set, you may still want more than one pot. If this is you, definitely look into the Stansport set which offers 7 high-quality stainless-steel pots and pans with their set. This has all the pots and pans you need for camping with kids. For pots, there is a 4-quart pot, a 3-quart pot, a 2-quart pot, and a 1-quart pot. There is also a 9.75” diameter frying pan, which has a detachable handle that can be used with any other pots. There is also a universal lid. All items in this set are made from high-quality stainless steel which will help you cook with ease. 

These items easily nest within each other, and if you don’t need them all for a particular trip, it’s easy to leave some behind! This set is great value for the price, and you can easily use these pots and pans for your home cooking as well!

GSI Outdoors Halulite Pot

This camping stainless steel pot is perfect for the backpacking minimalist as it can hold 4.7 liters but only weighs 1.5lbs. You can easily fit your serve ware, plates, or bowls inside this pot for easy transport. The pot also comes with a lid and has handles on either side for easy transport. This pot is made of hard-anodized aluminum which improves conductivity—so your campfire meals will be ready faster than ever! This pot is a bit more expensive than the MSR Stowaway pot, but can still fit into a budget better than a full camping kitchen cookware set.  This is the perfect pot for cooking large meals while camping, like stew or soup!

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill

This cast iron griddle is perfect for cooking for a large group, and is our go-to for making pancakes, bacon and sausage. This is another suggestion for the campers who plan to drive to where they will camp. This grill is basically a massive camping frying pan, at 16.75 in by 9.5in, and is shaped like a rectangle. The grill can be reversed so you can cook on the smooth, or raised side. I absolutely love our griddle an this that this griddle is a family camping must-have item. Unfortunately, just like a cast-iron skillet, this item is bulky, and difficult to carry for a backpacker. But for a camper, this can be a great, long-lasting investment to make in the world of camping cookware. 

Eating a meal around the campfire with friends and family can be one of the most memorable parts of camping! Make sure that you have large camp cookware the simplify tour camping meals. Once you have decided the size, material, and cooking capacity you need, then you just need to decide if you want to purchase pieces separately or as a camping cookware set. After you make your decision, purchasing the perfect camping cookware for your family will be as easy as clicking a button!

About Jessica Averett

Hi, I’m Jessica, a mom of 5 kids and married to my favorite adventure partner. I love to bike, ski, camp and hike. We've visited over 40 countries with our kids, but are equally happy on the road as we are exploring our home state of Utah.

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