Question 1

What is the best simple camping meal for beginners?

Accepted Answer

My favorite beginner-friendly camp meal is steak and green beans because it’s ridiculously hard to mess up and it always tastes good. In this video, I still keep it simple, but I learned a better method: cook the steak first, rest it, then cook the beans in the same pan. That way you get a full meal with way more flavor without adding a bunch of steps.

Question 2

Should you cook steak or green beans first when camping?

Accepted Answer

Cook the steak first. Chef Corso explained that you want the steak to rest at least 10 minutes, and while it’s resting you can cook the beans in the leftover fat and beefy bits in the pan. That one change alone makes the whole meal taste more “complete.”

Question 3

How do you keep camp steak from drying out?

Accepted Answer

The big thing is letting it rest after you cook it—at least 10 minutes—so the juices don’t just run everywhere when you cut it. Also, don’t chase a magic number of minutes; thickness, wind, and stove heat all change the cook time. I like rare to medium-rare, so I’m watching the sear and managing heat instead of guessing.

Question 4

What’s an easy sauce to level up steak and green beans at camp?

Accepted Answer

We made a simple “flavor pack” with soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, a little sriracha, garlic powder, ginger powder, and sesame seeds. You pre-mix it in a small 2–4 oz container so you’re not hauling five bottles. Dump it into the pan with the beans and scrape up the beefy bits—then spoon that sauce back over the steak.

Question 5

Butter vs olive oil for cooking steak while camping—what’s better?

Accepted Answer

I usually default to butter because I like the flavor, but Chef Corso pointed out both work. Butter gives more flavor, oil is “just pretty,” and ghee can be a good option if you’re worried about fats going rancid. Coconut oil can also be nice for winter camping since it stays solid until you need it.

Question 6

What’s the best cheap cut of steak for camping?

Accepted Answer

Chef Corso called sirloin a “bulletproof steak,” and I agree—it’s a solid, more economical option that still eats well. If you want to get a little fancier, hanger or skirt steak can be great too. Thickness matters a lot for camp cooking, so pick something that matches how much time you want to spend at the pan.

Question 7

Do you need to trim the ends off fresh green beans for camping?

Accepted Answer

Nope. In the video we just dumped the fresh beans straight in—no trimming—because I’m not trying to add a slow, annoying step at camp. Chef Corso’s take was basically: it’s a little extra fiber and it won’t hurt you. I’m good with that.

This Simple Camping Meal Beats Everything

About This Video

Frequently Asked Questions

🎬 More from Outdoor Empire