Cooking over an open flame is a great opportunity to try new recipes and techniques that you just can’t do in your home kitchen.
There are a few pieces of equipment that make campfire cooking easier. A cast iron Dutch oven with lid, a cast iron frying pan, heavy duty foil, a long-handled spatula or tongs, and really good oven mitts are all extremely useful.
Hot Breakfast Ideas
There’s nothing quite like a hot meal cooked over a campfire on a crisp morning at the campsite. These breakfast ideas will get everyone ready for a great day outdoors:
- Pancakes in a Jar
Making pancakes couldn’t be easier with shake and pour pancakes. Premix the dry ingredients at home. When you’re ready for breakfast, simply add an egg and water, shake, and pour straight onto your hot cast iron pan.
- One Pan Breakfast Frittata
Skip the dishes and mix all of the ingredients for a frittata directly into the cast iron frying pan. Crack two eggs per person into the pan, add a glug of milk, and any other additions like chopped vegetables, bacon, cheese and spices. Mix it all together and cook over a warm (not too hot) part of the fire.
Main Courses
Lunch and dinner don’t have to be complicated when you are camping. Try these easy mains that are easily adaptable to suit anyone’s tastes.
- Campfire Nachos
Nachos make an easy and delicious all-in-one camping meal. Layer tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and any favourite nacho toppings into a cast iron Dutch oven pot. Cook uncovered over the fire until the cheese is gooey. Make sure to precook meat before adding.
- Campfire Paninis
There are a few ways to make delicious and hot grilled sandwiches over the fire. The easiest is to use a pie iron, which is a cast iron tool designed specifically for the task. You can also wrap your sandwich in tin foil, place it in a cast iron frying pan over the fire and top it with a heavy rock or another heavy pan. Either way, you will have a delicious hot sandwich in no time.
Don’t Forget the Vegetables
It is easy to skip the veggies when camping, but your body will thank you if you include some nutritious dishes as well.
- Vegetable Packets
Place seasoned fresh vegetables and a little oil or butter on a square of heavy-duty foil. Wrap it up tightly and place around the edges of the fire while the rest of the meal cooks.
- Veggie Skewers
First, soaks wooden skewers in water for about twenty minutes to help reduce burning. Then skewer chunks of seasoned vegetables. Brush or spray lightly with oil and grill over the fire until slightly charred.
Sweet Treats
Every camping trip needs a few treats. Try something other than the standard s’mores on your next trip.
- Roasted Starburst
Everyone has tried roasted marshmallows, but have you tried roasted candy? Cook unwrapped Starburst candies on a marshmallow stick until bubbling. Just like a marshmallow, they get crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside.
- Campfire cones
Each person fills a waffle cone or sugar cone with the ingredients of their choice. Popular additions include mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles, fruit, cookies, and dried coconut. Wrap each cone in heavy duty foil and place in the fire. In about five minutes, the ingredients will be ooey gooey and delicious.
One key to successful campfire cooking is to remember that the temperatures vary in the different parts of the fire. You can ‘turn down the heat’ by moving your pan to the edges of the fire or get a good sear by placing the pan over the hottest area.
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