Come summertime, our kitchen moves outside! Be it a backyard grill or a firepit in the woods, we can’t wait to go back to basics and cook over a live, smoldering fire. If you’re heading out on a camping trip, bring along your trusty skillet, a hefty cooler, and a good pair of tongs so you can try one of these great outdoor-inspired recipes.
Cast-Iron Caramel, Marshmallow, and Salted Almond Brownies
End the evening around the campfire with this luscious, gooey brownie dessert from Country Living. A boxed mix serves as the base and caramel candies adorn the top. And, of course, this indulgence wouldn’t be complete without mini marshmallows!
Campfire Breakfast Burrito
These easy-to-make and even easier to warm up breakfast burritos will make you one happy camper! Spend less time cooking and more time camping with this quick but totally delicious meal from Fabulessly Frugal. Simply prep the filling and roll the burritos before your trip. When it’s time to eat, toss them onto your campfire coals for about 10 minutes to enjoy a hot and hearty breakfast!
Campfire Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and that’s exactly what we crave while camping. This simple recipe from Delish is extra gooey with three kinds of cheese and has a buttery Ritz cracker topping!
Camping Breakfast Beans
This one-pot breakfast from Olive has everything you need to fuel you for a full day of hiking, fishing, or whatever the great outdoors calls for! A riff on a full English breakfast, it has crispy bacon, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, and beans that are rich with smokiness from the flames.
Grill-Baked Potatoes with Chive Butter
This recipe from Food & Wine is designed for a gas grill, but the technique lends itself well to a campfire. Make your butter before you leave on your trip, then store it in your cooler. When it’s time to cook, assemble the hasselback potatoes, wrap them in foil, and then nestle them in the low-burning coals around the edges of your fire. Heads up: You’ll want tongs for this job!
Campfire Nachos
The secret to these nachos from Fresh Off the Grid is to have a sturdy cast-iron Dutch oven or deep skillet with a lid. The lid traps the heat inside, allowing the cheese to melt while the chips on the bottom get nice and crispy. This recipe relies mostly on shelf-stable canned goods, but bonus points for garnishing with some cilantro, scallions, and ripe avocado from the cooler. Pro tip: Fry some eggs in a separate pan and serve them over the nachos for a chilaquiles-inspired breakfast.
Seared Cod with Potato and Chorizo Hobo Packs
If you’re heading out on a fishing trip, then keep this clever recipe from Bon Appétit in your backpack! After a long day out on the water, nothing is more satisfying than seared fish basted in a homemade compound butter and served over a warm bed of grilled potatoes and chorizo. For easy execution, make the compound butter in advance and keep it chilled in your cooler until ready to use.
Vegan Pancakes
Start your morning in the wilderness off strong with these filling pancakes from From My Bowl. The key is to prep your dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate jars before you leave for your trip. Unlike many pancake recipes that require eggs and milk, this version opts for plant-based milk that doesn’t need refrigeration, plus a homemade oat flour that makes them extra hearty.
Campfire Beans ’n’ Ham Soup
Ham, aromatics, and a pound of dried navy beans are all it takes to assemble this crowd-pleasing stew from Taste of Home. Before you leave on your hike, soak the beans in a pot of water. When you return, drain and assemble this soup over the fire. It’s easy and hearty after a long day, and it has a savory smokiness from the campfire and ham hock.
S’mores Nachos
No cheese or tortilla chips here, just lots of marshmallows and chocolate! We love these s’mores “nachos” from Liv for Cake—not only does this treat require only three ingredients, but you can make it in just 10 minutes.
Joan Crady says
Have you ever been to Camp Verde, TX? Centuries of history, scenic area, a very good restaurant (they even serve gelato). Look for the camel outside, and take home some T O E Jam, or T RA F F I C Jam from the General Store. Good stuff.
Tanji says
Yes, we featured Camp Verde several years ago -LOVE that special place!