10 Foods To Cook Around The Campfire and & 10 That You Should Make Ahead of Time
Good food, Less fuss, and More Time To Relax
Camp meals don’t need to turn into a big production. Once the flames have burned down to glowing coals, the fire gives you steady heat for foods that cook simply and pick up a little smoky flavor. Do the chopping, mixing, and other fiddly prep at home, where you’ve got good light and a real kitchen. If you plan, you can make your camping experience better for everyone.
1. Foil-Packet Potatoes And Vegetables
Potatoes, peppers, carrots, onions, and zucchini cook until soft when they’re wrapped in foil and set over even coals. Add a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs, then seal each packet well. Let everyone choose their own vegetables before dinner starts, and no one has to pick through a plate looking for onions.
2. Corn On The Cob
Corn is easy to bring along and doesn’t need much attention while it cooks. You can leave it in the husk or wrap shucked ears in foil, then turn it over the coals every so often. A little butter, lime, chili powder, or salt is plenty once it’s hot and ready to eat.
Wouter Supardi Salari on Unsplash
3. Chicken And Pepper Skewers
Chicken, peppers, onion, and mushrooms make a colorful dinner that’s easy to cook over the fire. Keep the heat moderate and turn the skewers often so the pieces cook evenly.
4. Cast-Iron Cheeseburgers
A simple cheeseburger tastes especially good after a day outside. Keep raw patties cold until it’s time to cook, and use a clean plate for the cooked burgers. Ground beef needs to reach 160°F, even if the outside already looks ready.
5. Lemon Salmon Packets
Salmon, lemon slices, dill, and green beans make a full meal in one tidy foil packet. The packet keeps the fish moist while it cooks over the coals, and cleanup is pleasantly quick afterward. Serve the salmon once it comes apart easily with a fork.
6. Black Bean Quesadillas
Tortillas, canned black beans, cheese, corn, and salsa make an easy skillet dinner. They come together quickly, and they’re filling enough to stand on their own. They also give anyone who isn’t eating meat something filling and tasty.
7. Campfire Breakfast Hash
Combine diced potatoes, peppers, and onions in a skillet until the vegetables have softened, then add eggs. Let the eggs cook until the whites and yolks are firm before serving. Warm tortillas, salsa, and avocado fit right in with the hash and make breakfast feel a little more fun.
8. Sausage And Peppers
Cook sausage with peppers and onions in a cast-iron skillet, then spoon it into rolls or over rice. Fully cooked sausage gets dinner on the table fast when everyone’s hungry.
9. Campfire Flatbreads
Store-bought naan or pita warms up nicely on a clean grate or in a dry skillet. Add pesto, cheese, cooked vegetables, or sliced tomatoes once the bread is warm. You’ll get an easy pizza-ish dinner without bringing a pile of cooking gear.
Christopher Stites on Unsplash
10. Banana Boats
Cut an unpeeled banana lengthwise, fill the opening with dark chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, or a few marshmallows, then wrap it in foil. Set it near the coals until the banana softens and the filling melts. It’s a sweet little treat that won’t leave dishes stacked around the picnic table.
1. Freezer Breakfast Burritos
Cook eggs, potatoes, beans, cheese, and any breakfast meat at home, then roll the filling into tortillas and freeze the burritos one at a time. Keep them cold until you’re ready to heat them. Reheat them over the fire, and breakfast is handled without dealing with raw eggs.
2. Pasta Salad With A Bright Vinaigrette
Make pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, olives, and an oil-and-vinegar dressing before you leave. Keep it chilled in a sealed container until lunchtime. It’s a nice option when everyone wants to eat, but no one wants to start the fire again.
3. Three-Bean Salad
Beans, red onion, bell pepper, herbs, and a tangy dressing taste even better after a little time in the cooler. Serve it next to grilled food at dinner, or eat it on its own for lunch. Keep it cold, and it’s there when your bigger dinner plan doesn’t quite work out.
4. Hummus And Vegetable Wraps
Spread hummus on tortillas, then add shredded carrots, cucumber, greens, and roasted peppers before rolling them up. Keep the wraps cold once they’re assembled. On longer trips, pack watery vegetables separately so the wraps don’t get soggy.
5. Taco Meat
Brown and season taco meat at home, cool it promptly, and pack it in a leakproof container in the cooler. You can reheat it at camp, then spoon it into individual bags of corn chips. Put out cheese, salsa, lettuce, and avocado at the table, and everyone can finish their own meal.
6. Quinoa And Chickpea Salad
Toss cooked quinoa with chickpeas, cucumber, herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil before the trip. Keep it cold, and it’ll work as a full lunch or a simple side with dinner. You can also use it as a base for grilled chicken, feta, or vegetables left over from another meal.
Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger on Unsplash
7. Overnight Oats
Portion oats, milk or a plant-based alternative, fruit, and nut butter into lidded containers the night before you leave. Keep them chilled and bring crunchy toppings separately. They’re ready before the camp coffee setup is sorted out, which is always a relief on a slow morning.
8. Peanut Butter And Banana Roll-Ups
Spread peanut butter on a tortilla, add a banana, roll it up, and slice it into easy bites for the first morning or the drive in. They take only a few minutes to make before you go. Their small size is handy when everyone wakes up hungry.
9. Snack Boxes
Fill small containers with cheese, whole-grain crackers, fruit, vegetables, and nuts for an easy picnic-style meal. These boxes work well for an afternoon hike, a quick lunch, or the moment hunger shows up sooner than expected.
10. Muffins Or Banana Bread
Bake a batch before the trip and pack it in a sealed container for breakfast, snacks, or whenever someone’s feeling a little peckish. Add fruit, nuts, oats, or seeds if you’d like. It’s one of the few camp foods that doesn’t need a pan or any real planning once you’ve arrived.
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