Introduction


Cooking over a campfire is one of the best parts of camping. It's fun, tasty, and brings everyone together. This guide gives you easy and yummy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert on your next camping trip. Even if you're not a great cook, you can make these!


Before You Start Cooking


Before we jump into the recipes, let’s talk about some important things to remember when cooking at your campsite:


  1. Safety First: Always make sure your campfire is in a safe spot. Keep it away from trees and bushes. Have water nearby in case you need to put it out quickly.
  2. Bring the Right Tools: Pack a cast-iron skillet, aluminum foil, tongs, a spatula, oven mitts, and a camp stove. These will make cooking various meals much easier and allow you to control the heat with minimal effort.
  3. Prep at Home: You can chop vegetables, mix seasonings, and even pre-cook some items at home. This saves time at the campsite.
  4. Meal Planning: Plan your meals to make cooking at the campsite simpler and more efficient. Use tools like printable meal planners or Trello Boards to organize your meals, giving you more time to enjoy outdoor activities.
  5. Keep Food Cold: Use a good cooler and lots of ice to keep your food fresh. Put raw meat in sealed containers at the bottom of the cooler.
  6. Clean Up Properly: Bring biodegradable soap and wash your dishes away from water sources. Pack out all your trash to keep nature clean.


Now, let’s get cooking!



Breakfast


Starting your day with a good breakfast is important, especially if you’re planning a big hike or other outdoor activities.


  1. Campfire Breakfast Burritos
  • Ingredients: Tortillas, scrambled eggs, cheese, cooked bacon or sausage, salsa.
  • Instructions: Fill tortillas with scrambled eggs, cheese, and meat. Wrap in foil and heat over the campfire until warm.
  • Tip: You can scramble the eggs at home and bring them in a container to save time.


  1. Campfire Pancakes
  • Ingredients: Pancake mix, water, maple syrup, butter.
  • Instructions: Mix pancake batter according to package instructions. Pour batter into a greased skillet over the campfire. Flip when bubbles form, and cook until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup and butter to make the pancakes more delicious.
  • Tip: Bring pancake mix in a squeeze bottle for easy pouring and less mess.


  1. Campfire French Toast
  • Ingredients: Bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, butter.
  • Instructions: Mix eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in a bowl. Dip bread slices in the mixture. Cook in a buttered skillet over the campfire until golden brown on both sides.
  • Tip: Use slightly stale bread - it soaks up the egg mixture better.



Lunch


After a morning of activities, you’ll be ready for a tasty lunch. These easy recipes will hit the spot!


  1. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
  • Ingredients: Bread, cheese, butter.
  • Instructions: Butter the bread and place cheese between slices. Cook in a skillet over the campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.
  • Tip: Add sliced tomatoes or ham for extra flavor.


  1. Campfire Quesadillas
  • Ingredients: Tortillas, cheese, cooked chicken or beef, salsa.
  • Instructions: Place cheese and meat on a tortilla, and top with another tortilla. Cook in a skillet over the campfire until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
  • Tip: Bring pre-cooked and shredded chicken to make this even easier.


  1. Walking Tacos
  • Ingredients: Small bags of corn chips, cooked ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, and salsa.
  • Instructions: Open the bag of chips and add warm-cooked beef, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. Eat right out of the bag with a fork.
  • Tip: This is great for on-the-go lunches during hikes!


  1. BBQ Hot Dog Packs
  • Ingredients: Hot dogs, BBQ sauce, chopped vegetables (like bell peppers and onions), foil.
  • Instructions: Place a hot dog on a piece of foil, add BBQ sauce and chopped vegetables. Wrap the foil tightly around the hot dog and cook over the campfire for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally.
  • Tip: Let kids help assemble their packs for a fun, hands-on cooking experience.



Dinner


After a full day outdoors, a hearty dinner will be welcome. These recipes are filling and delicious.


  1. Foil Packet Dinners
  • Ingredients: Ground beef or chicken, sliced vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions), seasoning.
  • Instructions: Place meat and vegetables on a large piece of foil. Season with salt, pepper, and your favorite spices. Fold the foil into a packet and cook over the campfire until the meat is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
  • Tip: Make individual packets so everyone can choose their ingredients.


  1. Campfire Chili
  • Ingredients: Ground beef, canned beans, canned tomatoes, chili seasoning, onions.
  • Instructions: Brown the ground beef and onions in a skillet over the campfire. Add beans, tomatoes, and chili seasoning. Simmer until heated through.
  • Tip: Serve with cornbread and top with sour cream for a real comfort meal.


  1. Campfire Pizza
  • Ingredients: English muffins or pita bread, pizza sauce, shredded cheese, toppings of choice.
  • Instructions: Spread sauce on English muffins or pita bread. Add cheese and toppings. Wrap in foil and heat over the campfire until the cheese melts.
  • Tip: Let everyone make their pizza for a fun dinner activity.


  1. Campfire Baked Potatoes
  • Ingredients: Potatoes, butter, seasoning.
  • Instructions: Wash and dry the potatoes. Cut a slit in each potato and insert a pat of butter. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap each potato in foil and place it in the campfire coals. Cook for about 45 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender.
  • Tip: Serve with sour cream and chives for added flavor.



Dessert


No camping trip is complete without some sweet treats!


  1. S’mores
  • Ingredients: Graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows.
  • Instructions: Roast marshmallows over the campfire. Place a roasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers and enjoy.
  • Tip: Try different chocolate flavors like mint or caramel for variety.


  1. Campfire Banana Boats
  • Ingredients: Bananas, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows.
  • Instructions: Slice a banana lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Fill with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. Wrap in foil and heat over the campfire until melted.
  • Tip: Add crushed graham crackers on top for a s’mores-like treat.


  1. Campfire Cinnamon Rolls
  • Ingredients: Store-bought cinnamon roll dough, butter.
  • Instructions: Wrap cinnamon rolls around a stick, securing the ends. Cook over the campfire, turning slowly, until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Tip: Drizzle with the included icing for extra sweetness.


  1. Campfire Sweet Potato Dessert
  • Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, brown sugar, marshmallows.
  • Instructions: Slice sweet potatoes into rounds. Sprinkle with brown sugar and top with marshmallows. Wrap in foil and cook over the campfire until the sweet potatoes are tender and the marshmallows are melted and golden.
  • Tip: Add a pinch of cinnamon for extra flavor.



Conclusion


Campfire cooking in the great outdoors can be simple and delicious with the right recipes. These easy meal ideas ensure you enjoy tasty food on your camping trip, from breakfast to dessert. A family camping trip is a perfect opportunity to bond and create lasting memories by cooking together. Remember, cooking outdoors is all about having fun and enjoying good food with friends and family. Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect - it’s all part of the camping experience!


Happy cooking and happy camping!