13 non-perishable food ideas for keto camping: including no-cook, snack & drink options

We’re not here to bring you time-consuming keto camping recipes. No. We’re here to help you pick what food to take camping on a keto diet so you can cut out the worry of what you’re going to eat, and enjoy the great outdoors instead.

Staying in ketosis while camping may seem like an impossible feat, but with just a few of the staples below it will be a breeze, and you won’t be missing those campfire marshmallows either!

The list is comprised entirely of non-perishable foods, so don’t worry if you don’t have a cooler, or are backpacking and can’t carry a large cooler around. We’ve also made sure to feature plenty of no-cook keto meals, snacks and drink options, so every possible camping situation is covered.

13 non-perishable keto camping foods

1. Next Mile Meals

We’ll cut straight to the chase. If you have access to cooking equipment Next Mile Meals are, by far, the easiest, most nutritious and filling keto meals for camping. Next Mile Meals are one of the only producers of keto backpacking foods.

If you have access to a stove or other form of cooking device, Next Mile Meals make keto camping or backpacking super easy. They offer lightweight packets of non-perishable keto meals such as sausage scramble for breakfast lunch or Italian meatballs for dinner. There’s plenty of selection to have a different meal every day for a decent period, and we can confirm, they are ALL delicious. 

So if you have access to cooking equipment, Next Mile Meals is definitely the easiest way to go to enjoy warm, tasty keto camping meals every day of your trip.

2. Nut butter sachets

Nut butter is a perfect companion on any keto camping trip. It’s easy to store, lightweight (particularly the sachet versions) and is very calorie-dense. 

Our favorite brand is SuperFat. Made from macadamia and almond nuts, it’s packed with fat and protein without any added carbs.

SuperFat are one of the only nut butter brands not to include honey or cane juice to add sweetness. These 2 ingredients add unnecessary excess carbs and may knock you out of ketosis. Supplied in sachets as well as jars, it’s a super convenient way to quickly and easily get the fat intake you require. 

Another great brand of nut butter that comes in sachets is Noosh. While Noosh nut butter does include cane sugar, it is still keto-friendly. What we really like about Noosh is the vast array of flavors, something which might come in really handy if you plan to eat a lot of nut butter on your camping trip. 

3. Quest protein bars

Quest bars are another great staple when camping on keto, especially if you don’t have any form of refrigeration as they handle heat really well. They are high in protein and low in carbs. 

While there are some protein bars out there with a lower carb count, the reason Quest bars have gained such a strong foothold in the keto community is due to their HUGE flavor selection (31 at time of writing) and great taste. 

If you’re struggling to pick a flavor, our favorite flavors are Birthday Cake, Cookies and Creme and Rocky Road.

4. Quest protein powder

Quest protein powder requires nothing but water to make a fulfilling, nutritious meal replacement. With a variety of different flavors such as Cinnamon Crunch, Salted Caramel, Cold Brew Coffee Latte, and Peanut Butter, you’ll be sure to find a taste you love. 

It’s a perfect product to take with you if you are doing a lot of hiking as you can take some in your bag with you and simply mix with water on your route. It’s also perfect as a backup in case you run out of food while on your trip.

5. Canned/packet food

Canned meats and fish, such as tuna and chicken, are a perfect starting point to make a meal (cooked or uncooked). 

For a no-cook option, you can make tortillas or pitas (using low-carb pitas or low-carb tortillas) with chicken or tuna and a sachet of mayo. 

There are also sachets/packets of chicken and tuna instead of cans if weight and space in your backpack are an issue.

6. Beef Jerky

Beef jerky is a super tasty non-perishable keto food to take camping with you. It’s high in protein and low in carbs. However, it’s often made from lean cuts of beef so is usually not high in fats you need when on a keto diet. As such, it makes a perfect pairing with other high-fat foods such as cheese (Babybel works well if you have no refrigeration and so does cream cheese if eaten relatively quickly) or nuts. 

Some great brands of beef jerky are Jack Links and CHOMPS beef sticks, or you can make your own using a dehydrator. 

7. Pepperoni

Pepperoni and salami are another excellent meat addition to make up a meal. Pepperoni and salami are high in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, have a decent amount of protein and a negligible amount of carbs. If bought in vacuum packed wrappers, they can last in hot weather and out of refrigeration exceptionally well. 

8. Beans

Beans are a great snack or addition to a meal. There are plenty of great beans to snack on, but our favorite beans are Lupini beans. Brami’s snacking lupini beans come in packets, and each pack contains a whopping 7g protein and 0g of carbs. They also come in various flavors such as hot chili pepper, garlic and rosemary and chili and lime. 

9. Keto instant coffee

An easy option to get your morning caffeine fix while camping is with Perfect Keto’s instant coffee sachets. What’s more, you can enjoy it hot or as a cold brew. Perfect for super hot weather, or if you don’t have access to hot water.

Perfect Keto’s instant coffee is the best instant keto coffee around right now. It is sugar free, lactose free, and additive free, with 10g of 100% MCT oil from organic coconuts and 60mg of caffeine for an instant hit.

10. Sparkling Ice

Now, this is a fun one. While obviously, you can drink these as a zero-sugar, zero-carb soft drink, there’s another use. One that may end in blurred vision and bad decisions. Sparkling ice is an excellent mixer with alcohol such as Vodka. And we can personally recommend the apple flavor sparkling ice with Vodka as a very near replacement for cider. All the fun without the guilt. Well, keto guilt at least. 

11. Nuts

Nuts are a great no-cook snack that are high in protein and fats. Any nuts are suitable really, but peanuts are super fatty so make a great choice, pistachios are also great to curb hunger pangs if you buy them in their shells. The deshelling provides you with something to do while slowing down your eating, making it an enjoyable, time-consuming snack.

12. Hot dogs and bratwurst

Tinned or vacuum-packed hot dogs are another great snack or meal component while camping. 

You can either snack on them individually, eat them cold as part of a meal with low-carb pittas or cheeses, or grill them over a campfire or stove to warm your belly. 

These hot dogs are a great keto option for meat-eaters, or these Loma Linda plant-based hot dogs are fantastic for vegan campers on a keto diet. 

13. Whisps Keto Crisps

Whisps offer some of the tastiest keto-friendly chips around. Made 100% from cheese and baked in herbs and spices, they are yummy, high in protein, low in carbs and low in sugar. The perfect crunching snack while everyone else is eating potato chips.

Make a list, grab your stuff from the grocery store and look forward to a stress-free camping trip full of yummy food and blissful ketosis.