15 Recipes You Can Cook Over a Campfire

Have you ever wondered what you can cook over a campfire? Well, there are some really easy options for you to try! Cooking over a campfire is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but with this guide, you'll be able to ensure that you're cooking the safest meals possible. Follow our guide for safe and easy recipes that are sure to be a hit!

What to bring for your next camping

Sleeping gear

If you're camping, you know how important this is. We suggest a good quality sleeping bag and pillow, but if you don't need it, just bring an extra blanket.

A frying pan

The best thing you can bring to cook over a fire is a cast iron pan. Cast iron works over a campfire and on a stovetop, making it an incredibly versatile piece of cookware. They're able to hold heat better than any other type of pan, and they'll turn out perfectly seared meat every time.

This is an extremely helpful item when cooking on a campfire. It allows you to fry foods right on top of the fire, and it can also be used as a griddle for pancakes or eggs!

A pot and a lid

These are useful to have when cooking over a campfire. You can use them for boiling potatoes, boiling water for tea, etc.

A griddle for eggs, pancakes and veggies

This is essential for the mornings of the camping trip when you're looking for a more traditional breakfast! It makes everything that much more convenient.

A metal spatula or other stirring utensil

You really need your pan to be metal when you're cooking over a fire, otherwise it will stick. Wood and plastic don't react well with campfire coals and can cause food to burn. So, make sure you pack along a metal spatula or other tool to stir your food.

An oven mitt

You're going to need something to pick up your cast iron skillet when cooking over a fire, and you'll also need protection while stirring your food. Bring along an oven mitt to protect your hands.

A cake tin

While it might not seem like the most scientific way to cook, boiling a cake can be a great way to bring some extra flavor into your meal.

To Build a Campfire

1) Start by finding a flat space that has been cleared of all twigs, pine needles and other flammable objects. Be sure the area is approximately 10 feet away from any bushes or trees. Do not build your fire beneath a leaning tree.

2) Pick up rocks and sticks to clear the space. 

3) Once you have cleared as much debris from the area as possible, you can begin to assemble your fire pit. Lay out some books or bricks to create a barrier around the perimeter of your fire pit, so that when it is finished, no one will be able to accidentally step into the pit.

4) Place three large bricks in a circle at the center of your fire pit. These bricks will create the foundation upon which your fire will rest and cook your food.

5) Next, place some smaller bricks on top of the foundation to create an inner layer around the edge of the pit. This inner layer should be just a little higher than the foundation so that when you add logs later, they do not topple over into the center of the pit.

6) Now, place three large logs on top of the inner layer of bricks. These logs have to be exactly the same size or they will interfere with the cooking process, so stand them up side by side and ensure that they are perfectly alike.

7) Place smaller hardwood sticks around the perimeter of your fire pit in a circular arrangement. This will help to create stability when cooking your meals and keep the fire free of splinters.

8) Now, lay out some smaller sticks as stakes for your cooking area. These can also be used as kindling for your fire and should be placed at least three feet from the edge of the pit and set tightly together to prevent burning or sparking.

9) Place tinder at each end of your campfire. This will catch any stray sparks from the wood you have laid out along the perimeter of your cooking area.

10) Once you have your fire pit and cooking area prepared, you are ready to light it! Place the tinder at either end of your campfire and ignite it with a lighter or match. Work your way around the perimeter so that the length of your fire is complete.

11) Next, place two to three large logs across the top of the brick foundation in direct contact with one another. These logs should be heavy enough to lean into the fire pit and remain stable while you're cooking.

12) Add smaller pieces of wood, kindling and fruitwood onto the logs. Fruitwood is an aromatic wood that will add flavor to your food while it is on the fire.

13) Light the tinder you have laid out around the perimeter of your cooking area and let them burn until they have acquired a good flame which can be placed under your pots.

14) Add your pots to the fire and let them cook slowly while you enjoy the outdoors.

Cooking over a fire is a great way to relax. You don't need to worry about having all the gadgets; instead, you can let the flames do all the work for you!

Our top 15 list of the best campfire recipes:

- Sugar - to taste

- Ketchup - to taste

- Salt and pepper - to taste

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame.

2. Cut the steak into thin strips, dredge in flour and then fry (until lightly browned) in a frying pan with oil, or on a griddle over the campfire.

3. Serve with chopped onions, sugar, salt and pepper. Add ketchup if desired.

4. Enjoy! For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

- Salt, to taste

- Pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame.

2. Cut the salmon into thin strips and dredge in flour, and place in a frying pan with oil to brown.

3. Serve with salt, pepper and ketchup if desired.

- Beans, kidney beans, black beans - cooked

- Campfire prepared salsa

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the tortillas one at a time.

2. Add the onions to the tortilla and spread an even layer of salsa onto the tortilla.

3. Grate Cheddar cheese over the salsa and onion, then sprinkle with cooked beans over the grated cheese.

4. Roll and eat! For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the bread one by one on both sides, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Put the cheese inside one piece of bread and put the other bread on top to close it.

3. Put the sandwich on a pan and grill-broil until browned.  You can add more cheese or ham to the sandwich if desired.  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the hot dog one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Remove and serve with onion, relish and ketchup if desired.  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

- Onion, chopped

- Campfire prepared relish - to use (if desired)

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the bread one at a time, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Grate onion on one slice of bread, spread mustard on the other slice of bread and add the hamburger patty.

3. Put the two slices together and make sure you close everything up tight so that nothing leaks out when grilling-broiling is done (or eating).

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the brownies one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Add the chocolate chips to the brownies, mixing them delicately until melted.

3. Serve with ice cream if desired. For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the crackers one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Place a slice of salmon on top of the cracker and sprinkle with chopped dill if desired.  Enjoy! For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the potatoes one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

  2. Remove and serve with ketchup or campfire prepared salsa if desired. For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

- Campfire prepared ice cream, to use (optional) (or place a small amount of ice cream on the graham cracker before adding the marshmallow, then close it up and enjoy!)

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the marshmallows one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Place the marshmallow on top of the graham cracker.

3. Add chocolate chips and top off with ice cream if desired.  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the slaw mix one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Chop green onion finely and mix with mayonnaise in a small bowl after removing from heat.

3. Mix in the cooked slaw mix and you're done!  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook brownies one by one, flipping once, until browned.  

2. Remove from heat and add ice cream to the middle of the warm brownie.  Melt down slightly and close back up where you originally opened it.

3. Serve with additional ice cream if desired.  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook whatever root beer float mug or glasses you have one by one, flipping once, until browned and hot.  

2. Serve ice cream and root beer in the same glass, but if you have a lot of ice cream, put some on the sides of the glass as well.  For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the dates one by one, flipping once, until browned.

2. Wrap the date with bacon and secure the bacon with a toothpick.  Repeat for each date.  Serve warm with more bacon if desired! For more recipes like this see Campfire Cuisine.

- Potatoes - 1/2 lb. per person

- Tomato sauce - as much as you'd like (about 1/2 cup per serving or just enough to fill the pot) you can also use water, but tomato sauce tastes better!  

  Directions:

1. Heat up the grill (or campfire) to a medium flame. Add more fuel to the fire if it seems to be low.  You don't want it to go out too fast.  Cook the ground beef and vegetables one by one, flipping once, until browned.  Fill the pot with tomato sauce and cook on medium heat until heated up through.  

2. Serve hot with a side of your choice - potatoes or other veggies, macaroni, rice or noodles... or any other food you can think of!

Conclusion

As you can see from this list, there are tons of delicious foods that you can cook on a campfire!  Of course, you can use more than just the food listed here.  The possibilities are endless.  If there is something that you enjoy eating, you can most likely make it on a campfire!  Experiment with different ingredients and flavors until you find favorites that work for you.  While this list is not in any particular order, it just seemed like the best place to start.

There is a lot of great food that we could have added, but for the sake of brevity, we have decided to keep it somewhat simple. Have fun with all of these great recipes and happy grilling!  I hope you enjoyed this list as much as I did creating it.