For Spam recipes for camping in the PNW, I consider Spam a must-have item in my kit. I keep a can in Leif the Adventure Van for impromptu trips to places like Olympic National Park. These easy PNW camping meals are perfect for campfire cooking, offering high-energy fuel for hikes. From breakfast burritos to kebabs, Spam’s versatility makes it a go-to for delicious, no-fuss meals on Washington trails.
Spam: The Secret Weapon for Campfire Cooking
Spam might not seem like healthy camping food, but it’s a smart choice for campfire cooking with Spam in the PNW. When you’re burning calories on trails like Mount Rainier, you need fuel that lasts. Spam’s high fat and protein (210 calories, 16g fat per 100g) provide long-lasting energy for hikes and climbs. Its saltiness replenishes electrolytes lost to sweat, making these easy PNW camping meals ideal for North Cascades adventures or rainy coastal campgrounds..
Not only that, but Spam is also loaded with salt. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Salt? Isn’t that bad for you?” Well, not when you’re sweating buckets on the trail. Your body loses electrolytes like sodium when you sweat, and Spam can help replenish them. It’s like nature’s sports drink, but way more delicious.
Why Spam Is Perfect for PNW Camping
For Spam recipes for camping in the PNW, Spam’s versatility makes it a top choice. Its long shelf life suits multi-day trips to places like the North Cascades, where refrigeration is limited. Spam’s high fat and protein fuel demanding hikes like Mount Rainier’s Skyline Loop, while its saltiness replenishes electrolytes lost in sweaty PNW summers.
Unlike fresh meats, Spam resists spoilage in rainy coastal weather, ideal for campgrounds near Seattle. From campfire cooking with Spam-like kebabs to quick sandwiches, it requires minimal gear, saving space for backpackers. Prep ingredients at home to simplify cooking over a campfire or stove, letting you enjoy Washington’s trails sooner.
For example, pre-diced Spam for breakfast burritos streamlines prep at damp campsites like Deception Pass, ensuring you’re ready for kayaking or exploring without complex setup. Spam’s compact cans fit easily in packs, making it a practical choice for PNW’s rugged terrain and variable conditions.
What Is Spam Made Of?
Despite its reputation as mystery meat, Spam is actually made of high quality ingredients.
- Pork with Ham: This is the primary ingredient, making up the majority of the product.
- Salt: Used for flavor and preservation.
- Water: Added during the mixing and canning process.
- Potato Starch: Acts as a binder, helping to hold the meat together and retain moisture.
- Sugar: Added for a touch of sweetness and to balance the saltiness.
- Sodium Nitrite: A common preservative used in cured meats to prevent spoilage and maintain color.
Compared to a lot of processed foods, Spam is actually relatively clean eating. If you eat any fast food, you are eating things a lot worse than you will find in your can of Spam.
Isn’t All That Salt Bad For You?
Unless you have a medical condition that makes your body retain salt, it is very difficult to get too much salt from the food you eat. In fact, when you’re active and sweating, your body loses essential electrolytes like sodium. Spam’s saltiness can help replenish these lost electrolytes, aiding in hydration and preventing muscle cramps.
What About All The Fat In Spam?
To start with, if you are being active, you need calories and fat to maintain your body. That means all the fat in Spam is a good thing. If you are still flinching at it, consider that half a can of Spam, what I consider a serving, has about the same amount of fat as your average cheeseburger.
| Restaurant | Calories | Fat(g) | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spam (100g) | 210 | 16 | >1 |
| McDonald’s Single Cheeseburger | 300 | 13 | 7 |
| Burger King Single Cheeseburger | 290 | 13 | 7 |
| Wendy’s Dave’s Single Cheeseburger | 480 | 37 | 8 |
| Sonic Cheeseburger | 720 | 42 | 12 |
| Jack in the Box Single Cheeseburger | 490 | 21 | 4 |
It is pretty easy to see that Spam is pretty reasonable when it comes to total fat compared to your average cheeseburger.
Nutritional Benefits of Spam for Camping
Spam’s nutritional profile makes it ideal for healthy Spam camping recipes in the PNW. With 210 calories and 16g fat per 100g, it provides sustained energy for hikes like Mount Baker’s trails, powering you through demanding climbs. Its high sodium content acts as an electrolyte source, combating sweat loss during strenuous PNW summers, such as on Mount Rainier’s Skyline Loop.
Pair Spam with veggies or rice for balanced, easy PNW camping meals, enhancing nutrition for multi-day trips. Unlike perishable meats, Spam’s shelf stability suits adventures in North Cascades, where coolers are often impractical. Its 7g of protein per serving supports muscle recovery, perfect for backpackers tackling Washington’s coastal campgrounds. For example, Spam fried rice or breakfast burritos deliver quick fuel at rainy Deception Pass sites, keeping you energized for kayaking.
Enjoy Spam in moderation to avoid excess salt, ensuring it’s a practical, high-energy option for PNW camping without complex meal prep.
Where Is The Best Place To Buy Spam?
If you are just grabbing one or two cans for a camping trip, the best place to get Spam is at your local grocery store. However, if you are going to buy a lot of it, as much as I hate to say it, Amazon is your best bet. I’m finding cases of Spam on Amazon for about a dollar a can cheaper than what the store charges.
Easy Campfire Cooking Spam Recipes
Enough talking about how awesome Spam is for cooking while you are camping, on to the recipes. I’ve put together this list of Spam recipes that lend themselves to cooking over a campfire, or camp stove. These are all simple and easy to prepare and I think you will love to eat on your next camping trip!
In any of these recipes, if there are ingredients like onions, peppers or potatoes, you can prep those ahead of time to make cooking at camp easier. Do note that for best results, potatoes should be par-cooked ahead of time. This will give you a much better finished product faster when cooking on your camp stove or campfire.
Pan-Fried Spam Bacon
Pan-fried Spam bacon is a staple for easy Spam recipes for camping in the PNW, perfect for quick breakfasts on Olympic Peninsula trails. I keep a can in Leif the Adventure Van for impromptu trips. Slice Spam thinly and fry until nearly crispy for a high-protein meal (210 calories, 16g fat per 100g) that fuels hikes. This campfire cooking with Spam idea is simple, requiring minimal gear for a satisfying PNW camping morning.
How to make Spam Bacon
- Start heating up your pan while you slice your Spam as thin as you can get it
- When your pan is hot, add some bacon crease or other high-temp oil and a layer of Spam
- Cook until tender-crispy, turning and moving them around the pan often to ensure even cooking
- Repeat with however many batches of Spam you need, keeping the cooked ones warm.
Spam And Hashbrown Foil Breakfast Packets
Cooking in foil is a great time saver when you are camping. There are no pans to clean or dishes to wash. Simply cook and eat them right out of the foil. This recipe from AlaskaGranny combines pre-shredded hashbrowns, eggs, cheese and Spam to make an easy to make and easy to clean up breakfast.
How to make spam breakfast packets
- Dice your spam into small cubes
- Tear off about a 16″ sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Liberally grease the foil with bacon grease or shortening
- Spread ~1 cup of frozen pre-made hashbrowns across the foil making a well in the center
- Crack one egg into the well in the hash browns
- Add ~1/2 cup of your Spam chunks to the top of you hash browns avoiding your egg
- Top your egg with ~1/4c of shredded cheese of your choice, or one slice of processed ‘cheese’
- Bring the long sides of your foil together and pinch to seal
- Roll the ends to seal
- Place on a grill or over your coals until cooked through, ~15 minutes
Spam Breakfast Sandwiches
This camping Spam breakfast sandwich comes straight from the makers of Spam itself. To save time when you are camping, you can pre-slice and caramelize your onions at home. This recipe is scaled to make four breakfast sandwiches.
How To Perfectly Caramelize Onions
How To Make Spam Breakfast Sandwiches
- Thinly slice two white onions
- Slice 1/4″ slabs of Spam making squares
- In a small bowl combine the following to make a sauce
- 4 Tbsp mayo
- 2 Tsp Sriracha
- Heat a pan to medium low, add cooking oil, your onions, and a pinch of salt and sugar
- Cook slowly, stirring often until cooked and golden brown
- Remove the onions from the pan, increase the heat and add your Spam
- Fry the Spam until golden brown
- Remove Spam and cook 4 eggs to desired doneness
- Toast 4 burger buns
- Return your Spam to the pan, top with cheese and let it start to melt
- While the cheese is melting, spread your sauce on your toasted buns
- Assemble your cheesy spam slices, caramelized onions, and eggs into your buns and enjoy
Spam Breakfast Burritos
Who doesn’t love a good breakfast burrito? In this recipe from Jason Bolt, Spam plays center stage to an otherwise Southwestern breakfast. One tip for this is if you are camping, you can dice or chop your vegetables at home, as well as drain and rinse your beans, so they are all ready to go when the time comes. Since he made his recipe at home, I’ve made some adjustments to his recipe to be more suitable for camping. This recipe makes 5 burritos.
How To Make Spam Breakfast Burritos
- Dice one onion, one red pepper, one can of Spam, and about 2 cups of potatoes
- Drain and rinse one can of black beans
- Heat 1Tbsp of oil in a cast iron pan then sautee your onions and peppers
- When cooked, remove them from the pan
- Add more oil and your potatoes, when they are about done add the spam to the pan.
- Mix up 8-10 eggs with some salt and pepper
- When your potatoes and Spam are browned, add your eggs to the pan
- Cook your eggs, stirring until they are done
- To start assembling your burritos lay them out and spread sour cream on each
- Evenly portion out your egg, potato, and Spam mix among your burritos
- Then portion out your onions and peppers
- Top with about 1/4c of each shredded cheese
- Roll tightly and enjoy!
Spam Quesadillas
The dictionary defines a quesadilla as ” a tortilla filled with cheese and often a savory mixture (as of meat and vegetables), folded, and usually fried“. That being the case, that makes this Spam quesadilla legit. About as easy as it can get, all you need is a pan, some tortillas, a bag of cheese, and a can of Spam and you have a pretty much all purpose meal. In the video, he makes this recipe with two pans, I’ve modified it to use just one pan.
How To Make Spam Quesadillas
- Dice or finely chop one can of Spam
- Heat a pan with a little oil and brown your Spam
- Remove the Spam the pan and reduce the heat
- Add one tortilla, top with a handful of shredded cheese
- Add a reasonable helping of Spam
- Top with another tortilla and cook
- When one side is brown, flip and repeat
- After cooking, cut it up and enjoy
Spam ‘Steaks’ With Mushroom Gravy
Treat this spam like you would a bunch of roasted beef and whip up a batch of fried Spam and some mushroom gravy. People thing gravy is some mystical thing that is hard to create. Amazing gravy is an art, but a good gravy isn’t that hard and if you are cooking it while camping, it gets bonus points. The video uses a can of evaporated milk and a can of mushroom. The canned milk I can be ok with, but the mushrooms to me need to be fresh and sauteed, not canned. If you don’t have canned milk, you can also use half and half. They also add a dash of soy sauce at the end. This is a great time to put one of those soy sauce packets that come with your takeout food to good use!
How To Make Spam With Mushroom Gravy
- Slice your Spam into 1/4″ thick steaks
- Slice your mushrooms if needed
- Heat a firing pan with a generous amount of cooking oil (not olive oil)
- Fry your Spam in batches until they are brown and crispy on the outside
- Dump the cooking oil out of your pan and add 3-4 Tbsp of butter
- Once melted, add in ~1 cup of sliced mushrooms and cook until soft
- Remove the mushrooms, and add 2 Tbsp of flour and stir
- Cook for 1-2 minutes but don’t brown your flour
- Reduce your heat and add one can of evaporated milk or 1 1/2 cups half and half
- Return your mushrooms to the pan and cook until smooth stirring often
- Arrange your Spam on a plate and pour your gravy over the top to serve
Spam Kebabs
This is an easy recipe that you is a snap to make. You could prep your Spam at home and coat it with seasoning so it is easier to assemble when it is time to cook.
How To Make Spam Kebabs
- Cut up two cans of Spam into large chunks ~12/block
- Place Spam in a container or bag
- Add 2-3 tsp paprika or taco seasoning to bag/container
- Close the container and shake to coat
- Place your Spam on skewers with a little space between them
- Cook over a grill/fire
- While your kebabs are cooking, make your sauce
- Combine 1/3c honey with 2/3c Heinz57 sauce
- Brush your sauce onto your kebabs and let the sauce cook in
- Serve up your kebabs
Spam Sandwich Spread
Most Spam sandwiches are just a couple slabs of Spam between two pieces of bread. This is another recipe that you can make mostly ahead of time.
How To Make Spam Sandwich Spread
- Using a fork, break up a block of Spam and put it in a bowl
- Add 1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper
- Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- Add 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Mix to combine and spread on sandwich bread
Spam Fried Rice
I would be greatly remiss if I didn’t include a Spam fried rice recipe in this list of camping Spam recipes. While fried rice might seem complicated for a camping recipe, it is actually very easy. The trick to good fried rice is to use enough oil and to keep your pan very hot. This will help to keep your food from sticking.
How To Make Spam Fried Rice
- Dice one can of Spam into small cubes
- Preheat a pan to high heat
- While your pan is heating, beat 2 eggs
- When your pan is hot, add some cooking oil and the eggs
- Stir constantly breaking the eggs up, remove from pan when done
- Add more oil and the Spam
- Stir constantly until the Spam is browned
- Add ~3 handfuls of mixed frozen vegetables
- Crush or mince 1-2 cloves of garlic and add to the pan
- When the vegetables are approaching being soft add 2 cups pre-cooked rice
- Stir constantly, breaking up the rice
- Add in 2 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- To finish, add in the cooked eggs, and stir to combine
Spam Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Get all your calories and salt back after a long morning hike with these Spam grilled cheese sandwiches. A great easy lunch for when you are camping, these are a snap to make and will be perfect before that afternoon nap in the hammock.
How To Make Spam Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Slice a can of Spam thin and fry them until browned
- Spread butter on two pieces of bread
- Place the bread butter side down in your hot pan
- Add a slice of American cheese, two slices of Spam, and top with one slice of cheese
- Close the sandwich, brown and turn until nicely toasted and serve
FAQs About Spam Recipes for Camping
What are easy Spam recipes for camping?
For easy Spam recipes for camping in the PNW, try pan-fried Spam bacon or breakfast burritos. Slice Spam thinly for a quick, high-protein breakfast (210 calories, 16g fat) on Olympic National Park trails. Pre-dice ingredients at home to save time over a campfire. These campfire cooking with Spam ideas require minimal gear, perfect for fast PNW mornings with no cleanup hassle, letting you hit Washington trails energized.
How do I store Spam for PNW camping trips?
Storing Spam for PNW camping meals is simple due to its shelf stability. Keep unopened cans in your pack for multi-day hikes in the North Cascades—no cooler needed. After opening, seal in waterproof containers to protect against rainy PNW weather. For Spam recipes for camping, pre-dice Spam at home to save space and prep time, ensuring fresh, high-energy meals for Washington’s rugged trails.
Are Spam recipes healthy for camping?
Healthy Spam camping recipes can fuel PNW adventures when balanced. Spam’s 210 calories and 16g fat per 100g provide energy for Mount Rainier hikes, while sodium replenishes electrolytes. Pair with veggies or rice for nutrition, as in Spam fried rice. Use in moderation to avoid excess salt. These easy PNW camping meals offer practical, high-protein options for backpackers and campers without complex cooking.
Can I make Spam recipes without a campfire?
Yes, Spam recipes for camping in the PNW don’t always need a campfire. Try Spam sandwich spread (mix with mayo, veggies) for a no cook camping breakfast idea for the PNW. It’s portable (200 calories, high protein) for trails like Deception Pass. Pre-prep ingredients at home to avoid cooking altogether, ideal for rainy days or burn bans in Washington’s campgrounds.
