Food for the Cabin: Easy Recipes to Make Ahead
You’re at the cabin or vacation rental, and you want to maximize your time enjoying sun and the beautiful outdoors. Here are some favorite, tried-and-true recipes you can easily prepare in advance. These cabin food ideas are meant to feed your family well, with minimal effort, so you can get back on the lake.
Breakfast
- 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
- Perfect, Smoky Pulled Pork (Slow Cooker)
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
- 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 Bacon Ranch Potato Salad Recipe (Gluten-Free)
This is an oldie but goodie around here; it’s picnic-ready, cabin-friendly, and is perfect for making ahead of time.
Treats & Snacks
- 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.
- How to Make Potluck S’mores (Easy & Mess-Free)
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 Technique)
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.