Camp meals
Campfire Recipes
Campfire recipes for every kind of camper, from one-pot dinners and cast-iron breakfasts to foil packets, Dutch oven bakes and vegan meals. Each one lists the gear, the heat source and a realistic cook time, so you can plan before you pack.
190+ campfire recipes
Campfire breakfasts
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Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
Campfire lunches
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Crew Recipe
Campfire dinners
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Campfire snacks & treats
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Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
Campfire drinks
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Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
Crew Recipe
About campfire recipes
Start with the fire, not the food. Cook over coals, not flames. A bed of glowing, ash-edged coals gives steady heat, while flames scorch the outside and leave the middle raw. Give the fire 30 to 45 minutes to burn down, and rake coals into a thick side for hot cooking and a thin side for gentle heat. Always check fire restrictions first. If they're in place, most of these recipes work on a camp stove.
Pack a short, solid kit. Bring a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven, heavy-duty foil, long tongs, a heat-proof glove, a lid lifter and a flat metal spatula. Add an instant-read thermometer, because color is a poor guide over a fire. Chicken needs 165°F, ground beef and turkey 160°F, and pork 145°F. Keep raw meat in a sealed container at the bottom of the cooler, below ready-to-eat food. Keep the cooler at 40°F or below, in the shade, and don't leave food out for more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F).
A few mistakes cause most camp meal problems. Cooks skip the prep and end up chopping onions in the dark, so measure dry mixes and chop vegetables at home. They also season cast iron badly or not at all, so oil it lightly before you cook, and dry it right after washing. Plan for 20 to 30 minutes more than the recipe says on a windy or cold day. Pack out all food scraps and strain dishwater, then scatter it well away from water and campsites.
Questions
What are the easiest campfire recipes for beginners?
Start with one-pot or one-skillet meals like taco rice, chili mac or a foil packet dinner. They need little gear, forgive uneven heat and clean up fast.
Do I need a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven for campfire cooking?
No. Foil packets, skewers and a basic pot on a grate work fine. Cast iron holds heat better, so it's worth bringing if you have the room.
How do I control the heat when cooking over a campfire?
Cook over coals instead of flames, and rake them so one side is hot and the other is mild. Move the pan to adjust heat, or add or remove a few coals.
Can I cook these recipes on a camp stove instead?
Yes, most skillet and pot recipes work on a camp stove over medium heat. Dutch oven bakes and coal-roasted dishes need a fire or coals, or a lidded pot on low heat as a stand-in.
How do I keep food safe when camping without a fridge?
Keep perishables in a cooler at 40°F or below, with plenty of ice, and pack raw meat separate from everything else. Use meat early in the trip and cook it to a safe internal temperature.