Anyone who has ever been camping understands there's just something weirdly satisfying about sharing a meal that was prepared on a messy picnic table, cooked over an open fire (with a few ashes for extra flavor), or eaten with your dirt-covered hands. Maybe the joy comes from the smokey taste of all the food, or maybe it’s the novelty of camp cooking. Whatever it is, it’s freaking delicious.
But preparing a camping meal for a group of people can be a tall task, particularly when you’re fighting for table space or struggling to locate the serving utensils. Being organized should not be overlooked — especially when there are hungry mouths to feed. Enter the camping kitchen: a portable cooking station with space to keep your food, stove, knives, pots, and pans all within reach and neatly arranged.
Camping kitchens range from simple to deluxe. When buying a camping kitchen, we recommend you consider the amount and size of work surfaces (counter space), packed size (portability), and additional organization features.
Workspace: Simple camping kitchens may just have one work surface, while more elaborate options will have multiple prep surfaces and a dedicated area for the stove. We prefer at least two surfaces — one for food prep, one for the stove — when cargo space allows.
Portability: A small camping kitchen with a roll-top design or one that collapses into itself is a nice way to save space because larger camping kitchens obviously take up more real estate in your vehicle. We love the idea of using a large, three-tier camping kitchen, but we rarely have space for something that doesn't collapse into itself.
Additional Organization: Shelves, racks, cubbies, and lantern hooks all help you keep your food, utensils, and cookware organized, so your prep area is clear to whip up a masterpiece.
Check out our recommendations for the best camping kitchens — from simple to deluxe — and have your friends and family raving about their next outdoor meal at a tailgate, a picnic, or fireside at your favorite campsite.
If maximum prep space is what you're after, this camping kitchen has three aluminum tabletops, so there's ample working space to prepare a three-course meal. Meanwhile, three cloth cupboards — each with a zipping lid — keep bugs away from your food.
Tired of windy nights flickering the flame? This camping kitchen is equipped with a pop-up windscreen to keep the wind out and the heat in, so your food will cook faster and more evenly.
At 69 inches long, this might even have more counter space than your first studio apartment. But don't worry: It folds down to just 35x20 inches for transport.
When the cooler is full of trout from a long day of fly fishing, you'll be stoked to filet your catch and fire up dinner with this deluxe kitchen. Its large center surface, left side table, and right camping stove rack provide plenty of space to prepare dinner for an RV full of moochers, and the adjustable legs are clutch for uneven surfaces.
With an overall length of 83 inches, it's the longest camping kitchen in our review. But it all folds into the 40x20-inch middle prep table and slides into the included zip carry bag with a handle for storage.
Bass Pro calls this a deluxe option because it's loaded with extras, such as a swing-out windscreen that separates the cooking and prep surfaces, a post to hang your lantern, a spice rack, a zippered fabric food pantry, a side-mounted towel rack, and a removable dishwashing bin. It's portable kitchens like these that make us never want to go home.
Some camp kitchens are bulky, and others are nearly impossible to set up. But this option from Mountain Summit Gear — with two work surfaces and one storage shelf — is neither bulky nor impossible.
Simply slide this 47x31-inch table out of the included carrying case, erect the sturdy aluminum legs and solid side table, unroll the other two surfaces, snap everything together, and voilà — a sturdy yet lightweight camping kitchen appears.
With a packed size of just 32x20 inches, this compact camping kitchen packs a lot of punch in a small package.
Simple, affordable, and lightweight (just under 19 pounds), this cook station is perfect for many occasions. It collapses to the size of a large beach chair, and with GCI’s Slim-Fold technology, you can set up and break down your on-the-road kitchen in a jiffy.
This camping kitchen boasts a powder-coated steel frame for rigidity, an aluminum countertop that’s strong enough for a heavy camp stove (up to 48 pounds), and a lower rack that’s the ideal spot for your dish bin or cooler. Each of the four side tables has holders for beverages, wine glasses, garbage bags, paper towels, and utensils.
Not enough cargo space for a deluxe camp kitchen? Camp Chef's Sherpa table is your time-saving solution. This cooler-sized storage container does not collapse or fold up. Rather, it acts as a large storage tote with dividers.
Pack your food, cookware, and cleaning supplies in the four colored bags, stack them inside the Sherpa, and toss the whole kit in your truck. When you get to camp, pull the Sherpa out, extend the legs, roll out the single 27x17-inch tabletop, and your storage box transforms into a prep station for drink-mixing and meal-prepping. Bon appétit.
If you’re looking for a kitchen that won’t fold under pressure, Coleman’s Pack-Away option is sturdier than most, thanks to its full-sized expanding aluminum support frame. The main tabletop is ideal for slicing and dicing, while the smaller side rack fits most camp stoves and coolers.
Tired of asking someone to hold the flashlight on the stove? Hang your camping lantern on the dedicated overhead hook and you'll be in the spotlight, ready to whip up a feast in no time. And when you're done, this cook station packs away into the 32x21-inch main tabletop (hence the name), so you can carry it with the briefcase-style handle to the car like a boss heading home from closing a deal.
Designed specifically for your camping stove or grill, this table is lightweight, durable, and a breeze to set up. Snap a few pieces into place, hang your spatula, tongs, and paper towels from the hooks, and you're ready to fire up the grill on the main surface, with two side tables for food and drinks.
The steel frame with angled cross-beams is stronger than most portable tables, so it won't collapse when weighed down with a pot of boiling water. When you're done cooking, your kids (not you) will appreciate how easy Camco made it to clean all the surfaces of this grilling table. And when it's all wiped down and folded up, the 37x19-inch camp kitchen fits perfectly in your trunk under the rest of your gear.
Anyone who's ever cooked multiple meals outside knows the struggle of cleanup afterward. It can be nearly impossible to keep dishes from getting gummy, especially when they sit on an open fire. But that's where this washing table will become your new favorite addition to your camping kitchen.
This option from Stromberg's is like a simple folding table with a sink — no hooks, shelves, or cubbies. It's just one large prep surface (45x23 inches) and a sink, which makes it easier than ever to clean fish or wash your pots, pans, and tongs. Hook up the faucet to a garden hose (if you're lucky enough to be near one), or just use water from the spigot. Then just add some soap and your teenage son, and you'll have clean dishes in no time.
Whether you're spending a few weeks on a road trip or just a weekend in the woods, things can get messy pretty darn quickly. Keep your dinnerware, cookware, food, and even cleaning supplies tidy and organized with this pantry-like option from L.L.Bean.
This camp kitchen has an aluminum frame and single aluminum prep space, cloth walls, and three removable storage shelves. It's one of the lighter options we reviewed, weighing just 16 pounds total, and it folds down compactly (25x20 inches) to slide in your trunk under the cooler or food box.
Andrew BettlachAndrew has been contributing to the outdoors and fitness content on BestProducts.com since 2017; he's a nature lover, peak-bagger, skier, and general good-time haver who lives in Colorado, knows where all the fresh snow is, and what gear you should be wearing for staying warm or looking fresh.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
