Campfire Cuisine: 9 Easy Recipes for Outdoor Cooking

Embarking on a camping trip is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with nature and indulge in the simplicity of outdoor living. One of the most cherished aspects of camping is gathering around the campfire to cook delicious meals under the starry sky. While gourmet campfire cooking can be impressive, sometimes it's the simple, affordable, and easy-to-make meals that truly hit the spot. In this blog post, we'll explore ten delectable campfire meals that require minimal effort, won't break the bank, and are sure to satisfy your hunger after a day of outdoor adventures.

Foil Packet BBQ Chicken:

Ingredients:

-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

-1 cup barbecue sauce

-2 cups diced potatoes

-1 cup sliced bell peppers

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Lay out four large sheets of aluminum foil.

2. Place a chicken breast on each foil sheet and generously brush with barbecue sauce.

3. Divide the diced potatoes and sliced bell peppers evenly among the foil packets.

4. Season everything with salt and pepper.

5. Fold the foil over the ingredients and seal tightly.

6. Cook the packets over the campfire for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Campfire Mac and Cheese:

Ingredients:

-2 cups elbow macaroni

-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

-1 cup milk

-2 tablespoons butter

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.Cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente.

2. Drain the macaroni and return it to the pot.

3. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, milk, butter, salt, and pepper until the cheese is melted and the mixture is creamy.

4. Transfer the mac and cheese to a cast-iron skillet.

5. Place the skillet over the campfire and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is bubbly and the edges are golden brown.

Grilled Sausage and Vegetable Skewers:

Ingredients:

-4 Italian sausage links

-2 bell peppers, cut into chunks

-1 red onion, cut into chunks

-8 cherry tomatoes

-Olive oil

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.Preheat the grill over the campfire.

2. Thread the sausage links, bell peppers, red onion, and cherry tomatoes onto metal skewers.

3. Drizzle the skewers with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

4.Grill the skewers for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until the sausages are cooked through and the vegetables are tender and slightly charred.

Campfire Nachos:

Ingredients:

-1 bag tortilla chips

-2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

-1 cup cooked black beans

-1 cup diced tomatoes

-1/2 cup sliced jalapeños

-1/4 cup chopped cilantro

-Sour cream and salsa for serving

Instructions:

1.Spread the tortilla chips in an even layer on a large sheet of aluminum foil.

2. Sprinkle the shredded cheese, cooked black beans, diced tomatoes, and sliced jalapeños over the chips.

3. Fold the foil over the nachos and seal tightly.

4. Cook the packet over the campfire for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

5. Carefully open the foil packet and sprinkle the nachos with chopped cilantro.

6. Serve with sour cream and salsa on the side.

Campfire Tacos:

Ingredients:

-1 pound ground beef or turkey

-1 packet taco seasoning

-1 cup diced onions

-1 cup diced bell peppers

-8 small flour or corn tortillas

-Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream

Instructions:

1.Heat a cast-iron skillet over the campfire.

2. Add the ground beef or turkey to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon.

3. Stir in the taco seasoning, diced onions, and diced bell peppers.

4. Cook until the vegetables are tender.

5. Warm the tortillas over the campfire.

6. Fill each tortilla with the meat mixture and your desired toppings.

Campfire Breakfast Burritos:

Ingredients:

-8 large flour tortillas

-8 eggs, beaten

-1 cup cooked breakfast sausage or bacon

-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

-1 cup diced bell peppers

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.Heat a cast-iron skillet over the campfire.

2. Pour the beaten eggs into the skillet and scramble until cooked through.

3. Stir in the cooked breakfast sausage or bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced bell peppers.

4. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Warm the flour tortillas over the campfire.

6. Spoon the egg mixture onto each tortilla and roll up into burritos.

Campfire Veggie Packets:

Ingredients:

-2 zucchinis, sliced

-2 yellow squash, sliced

-1 cup cherry tomatoes

-1 cup sliced mushrooms

-1/4 cup olive oil

-2 cloves garlic, minced

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.Lay out four large sheets of aluminum foil.

2. Divide the sliced zucchinis, yellow squash, cherry tomatoes, and sliced mushrooms among the foil packets.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

4. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the vegetables.

5. Fold the foil over the vegetables and seal tightly.

6. Cook the packets over the campfire for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Campfire Stuffed Bell Peppers:

Ingredients:

-4 bell peppers, halved and seeded

-1 cup cooked quinoa or rice

-1 cup cooked ground beef or turkey

-1 cup diced tomatoes

-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

-Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1.Preheat the grill over the campfire.

2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa or rice, cooked ground beef or turkey, diced tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Spoon the mixture into the halved bell peppers.

5. Place the stuffed bell peppers on the grill and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the peppers are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Campfire Banana Boats:

Ingredients:

-4 bananas, unpeeled

-1/4 cup chocolate chips

-1/4 cup mini marshmallows

-1/4 cup crushed graham crackers

Instructions:

1.Cut a slit lengthwise along the top of each banana, leaving the peel intact.

2. Stuff each banana with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.

3. Wrap each banana tightly in aluminum foil.

4. Cook the banana boats over the campfire for 5-10 minutes or until the chocolate is melted and the marshmallows are gooey.

5. Carefully open the foil packets and enjoy the warm, gooey goodness straight from the peel.

Camping is all about simplicity, and these ten campfire meals embody that spirit perfectly. From foil packet BBQ chicken to campfire banana boats, these recipes are easy to make, delicious to eat, and perfect for enjoying under the stars. Don’t forget to bring an amazing cooler with you. Click here to see some options on Amazon! So the next time you're planning a camping trip, be sure to pack your cast-iron skillet, aluminum foil, and appetite for adventure. With these simple and satisfying recipes, you'll be well-equipped to enjoy all the wonders of the great outdoors – one delicious meal at a time. What did we miss, what are some of your go-to favorites? Let us know! Happy camping and bon appétit!