Portable Camping Kitchen – Options for Taking the Kitchen With You

We all have that one friend that loves cooking at camp. They can be picky about their primitive kitchen setting and even have odd rules for fire side etiquette, but we endure their weirdness because having great food while camping makes the whole experience a true getaway vacation. If you don’t have one of these friends, chances are that odd fire side chef is you. Here are some options for taking the kitchen with you when you go camping – portable camping kitchens!

Cabela’s Deluxe Portable Camper’s Kitchen

Good ol’ Cabela’s offers a camper’s kitchen package to make your camp feel like a second home with the Deluxe Camper’s Kitchen. This 57 pound kitchen measures 88” wide by 22” deep and packs into its own storage bag. PVC sink, melamine table tops and 600 denier polyester customizable compartments make it durable. It sets up easily on a sturdy powder coated steel frame. A steel storage rack under the sink/top holds heavier pots and pans making more room to use as a work surface. Two 80” hooks overhead mean you can hang lanterns and actually see whether you are cutting sausages or your fingers. Hanging hooks and spice rack shelf put everything in arm’s reach.  Cabela’s offers a cheaper alternative in the Easy Set Kitchen but it lacks the stable platform and larger work area that another $40 will buy.

Bass Pro Shops Deluxe Camp Kitchen

To rival the Deluxe from Cabelas, check out the Bass Pro Shops Deluxe Camp Kitchen. Handle the camp stove with a main table top made of heat resistant MDF flanked by a wire side table on one side and another MDF table on the other. Heavy duty steel legs and a durable aluminum frame provide a strong base for the kitchen, while the adjustable feet accommodate uneven terrain. A heavy-duty bottom wire rack and zippered fabric pantry with 2 internal shelves give you space to store goods off the ground. A spice rack, utensil hooks, and paper towel holder on the flip up back splash help you keep the basic tools close at hand when preparing meals. This kitchen has a removable plastic wash basin. I like this wash basin better than the PVC. I guess because I am accustomed to using plastic wash basins. This convenient design also incorporates a side divider ”splash screen” to separate your cooking and wash areas. A telescoping lantern pole makes it easy to keep a light close after the sun goes down. Measuring 84” x 19-3/4” x 30” when in use, this lightweight 36 lb. camp kitchen folds up compactly for easy transport and storage in its heavy-duty zippered carry bag. Adjustable legs, removable wash basin, lighter weight and backsplash mean I might like this one best.

Coleman Portable Camping Kitchen

Weighing in at just over 33 pounds and measuring 64 inches wide and 19.7 inches deep is the Deluxe stove by Coleman. The Coleman Packaway Deluxe Kitchen includes a wire-grid extender shelf that will hold most Coleman grills and other brands of grills and is made of a rust-resistant aluminum frame, crafted from heavy-duty channel-extruded aluminum for extra strength. The Coleman Packaway Deluxe Kitchen can be folded into a compact carrying case. Lantern hook, removable sink and plenty of room to store utensils along with a side stand that fits most Coleman stoves and coolers make this a good deal.

Grub Hub Mesa 1 Camp Kitchen

The Grub Hub Mesa 1 is a super cool camp kitchen setup. The optional camping package includes utensils, Camp Chef Teton stove, 6 liter water bag and hose kit, Lifeline Aluminum shovel and Grub Hub fire grate with cover. Just set up and go to work. The rugged Grub Hub provides all the portable kitchen components you need in one compact unit. Camp tables, lantern tower, camping cupboard, camp sink, camp stove platform, camp organizers, and more are all included in 14x22x36 inch dimensions. The Grub Hub Mesa I folding camp kitchen packs up like a suitcase with wheels, weighs 32 pounds, sets up in less than 3 minutes and is engineered to last multiple lifetimes of outdoor adventures. Call it a chuck box, camp box, grub box, patrol box or camp kitchen – Grub Hub is the outdoor cooking station that will make your road to adventure organized and fun!

Ozark Trail Portable Deluxe Camp Kitchen

The Ozark Trail Portable Deluxe Camp Kitchen is the cheapest alternative listed. It weighs only 8.2 pounds and offers a decent size of 56”wide ”x 21”deep. For a cheap price, you have a place to put your cook stove, a table top work surface and a lantern hook.

L.L. Bean QuickPack Folding Camp Kitchen

Rounding out the list is the QuickPack Kitchen from L.L. Bean. This portable camp kitchen features a folding top that doubles as a carrying case. It has all the organizational features you need for cooking at a campsite. At 20 pounds, its Dimensions of  71’L x 21″W x 32″H have a capacity to hold 66 pounds of cooking mayhem. Features include durable powder coated steel frame, aluminum top and storage rack, hanging cup rack, lantern pole and side table.

After researching these fun camp kitchens, my pick for value is the Bass Pro Shop Deluxe Kitchen. If money is no matter, opt for the GrubHub kitchen due to its fun factor and it is like no other kitchen. But, its price is a little high for this minimalist when getting back to simply asking, “what do you really need out there?” These kitchens are fun and offer some awesome conveniences, so regardless which one you choose, have fun and take everything with you…even the kitchen sink.