Cooking over the campfire is one of the great things in life.
It may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be!
Campfire cooking is all about maximizing flavor, while minimizing cook time and the number of steps required.
Below we’ll go through some of the easiest campfire meals you can make, and some ways to keep your campfire cooking experience stress-free.
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1. Hotdogs and Brats
Hotdogs, the classic, all-American campfire meal.
There is a reason why they are an outdoor staple, and it’s because they are incredibly easy.
Just skewer, roast until cooked, pop into a bun, and add your toppings!
Hotdogs are easy to manage, quick to cook, and completely customizable, making them the perfect food to eat when you’re camping.
2. Campfire Grilled Cheese
I ate a TON of campfire grilled cheeses when I was growing up.
Nostalgia and simplicity are high with this easy campfire recipe.
All you need is bread, cheese, and some kind of camp skillet to cook them in.
Build your sandwich, toast it to your desired level of crunch (flipping the sandwich as you go), and viola! In just minutes you have a hearty sandwich full of warm, cheesy, goodness.
Great for parents and children alike!
3. Campfire Walking Tacos (Hiking Tacos?)
Walking tacos are easy to make, designed to be handheld, and only take a few simple ingredients to build.
What you’ll need:
- Ground Beef, Chicken or Turkey (Whatever your protein of choice may be.)
- Taco Seasoning
- Individual-Sized Bags of Chips (Doritos or Fritos are the most popular)
- Shredded Cheese
- Additional Toppings (Sour Cream, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Salsa, etc.)
To make them, simply cook your meat, add your seasoning, then dump your meat, cheese, and topping in the bag. Mix, eat, and enjoy!
I like to use the medium sized bags of chips for this so i have a little extra space to mix the ingredients.
This meal is tasty and filling, but it also has a nice chippy crunch. It’s great for sitting around a fire and warming up after a long day of outdoor activities.
4. Campfire Pizzas
Campfire pizzas can be a little more time intensive than the other options on this list, but they are great if you have a larger group of people.
Made on personal size naan or pita bread, you can bring a variety of ingredients and simply let people build their own pizza the way they want to.
To make campfire pizzas:
- Spread pizza sauce evenly over the pita bread
- Sprinkle cheese across the pizza
- Add your ingredients (pre-cooked meat is recommended to avoid consuming uncooked meats)
- Cover your pizza with aluminum foil loosely and set the pizza on a grate over the campfire
- Cook until cheese is melted and bread is crispy
- Let it cool and then enjoy!
This recipe is great tasting, but also a fun activity for the whole family to do together around the fire.
Plus, then you can tell your coworkers on Monday you ate hand-crafted wood-fired pizza for dinner and make them all jealous.
5. Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes, a tasty campfire meal that is nearly impossible to mess up.
Potatoes are cheap, very filling, and like the campfire pizza–completely customizable.
They also take very little work.
To cook them, all you have to do is simply wrap them in aluminum foil and place them in the coals. The fire will do the rest.
Baked potatoes normally take about 45 minutes to an hour to cook, so make sure you get them in the fire a little before you actually plan on eating.
Flip the potatoes periodically as they cook, and when they are done you should have a nice soft potato ready to go.
Cut it open, add your butter, bacon, sour cream, cheese, etc., and you’re all done!
So easy even the worst camp cook can do it!
6. Corn on the Cob
This one is more of a side than it is an actual meal, but it is still a great thing to add to your meal supply list.
Like the baked potatoes, corn on the cob is cooked by simply wrapping it in aluminum foil and tossing it on the fire.
I like to butter and season the corn before I wrap it in foil so the flavors can seep inside while it’s cooking.
If done right, you should have a sweet, smoky cob of corn when you’re done.
Cook this alongside your favorite meals and you’ll go to sleep in your tent feeling full and happy.
7. Ham Steaks
Ham steaks are by far my favorite meal to cook on the fire.
Not only do I just love ham steaks, they are super easy to make and only take a few minutes.
We made this multiple times on our trip to New River Gorge National Park last march.
In a cast-iron pan or other skillet, place the ham down and flip it until it’s cooked on both sides. Sprinkle some salt and you’re good to go!
These are great for dinner, but can also be cut up and cooked with eggs in the morning for breakfast too.
Highly recommend this easy campfire meal idea!
8. Campfire Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles have long been famous for their affordability and ease, which makes them great for camping, hiking, or backpacking.
They are cooked the same way on the fire as they are at home.
Boil your water, cook your noodles until they are soft, then add your seasoning packet. Feel free to add any other ingredients you may desire.
Ramen takes up very little space in your pack and can be made quickly, even on something like a firebox or jet boil burner.
This makes it great for long-distance treks where you need to limit the weight in your pack.
9. Cast-Iron Breakfast Skillet
It’s the most important meal of the day, serving it up–the campfire way.
Cast iron breakfast skillet is the perfect way to start your morning at the campsite.
What you will need:
- Cast-Iron Skillet
- Diced Potatoes or Hashbrowns
- Protein (Sausage, Bacon, or Ham)
- Veggies (Onions, Peppers, etc.)
- Eggs
Cooking Directions:
- Cut your meat into smaller pieces and cook your meat.
- Drain the excess oil, then add your potatoes and veggies.
- Mix ingredients together, let them cook a little longer, then crack and add your eggs.
- Stir just like you would scrambled eggs.
- You’re done once the eggs are nice, fluffy, and fully incorporated.
This meal is a pleasant wake up that will give you all the energy you need to tackle another day of hiking or exploring on the trail.
10. SMores
Now, I know Smores are not considered a ‘real meal’, but I couldn’t possibly write a post about eating around the campfire without including them on the list. Right?
I shouldn’t have to explain smores to you, but just in case…
What you will need:
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate (Hershey’s)
- Graham Crackers
- Campfire Skewers
How to make smores:
- Skewer marshmallows and roast them until golden brown (or burn them if you’re one of those people)
- Stack a square of chocolate on the graham cracker
- Place marshmallow on top of chocolate, and use another graham cracker to sandwich the marshmallow down while you slide out the skewer
- Enjoy!
Fun tips–Try substituting your Hershey’s bar with a Reese’s Cup, or your graham cracker with chocolate chip cookies. This is supposed to be fun! Get crazy and creative. Calories don’t actually count when you’re camping, ya know. 😉
Thanks for Reading!
Camping over a campfire shouldn’t be intimidating. It should be rewarding, simple, and fun.
With these easy campfire foods and meals, you’ll spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the outdoors.
Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you’ll swing by again soon for more camping content, hiking tips, and fun outdoors posts.
Happy camping!
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