Whether this is your first time camping, or you want to add some new recipes to your campfire kitchen, knowing what to bring for an easy and fun trip can be difficult. Here are some of the best campfire foods you can prepare with just a few ingredients and tools.
Corn on the Cob
When deciding what to cook over the fire, vegetables like corn on the cob are a staple. They require no refrigeration, pack easily and the husk is great for roasting to perfection. To make a savory corn snack, get your fire going, throw down a campfire grate and put the corn (with husk on) right on top. Flip the corn over a few times for optimal roasting. Cooking the corn with the husk on will lock in moisture and make the perfect juicy corn on the cob. After a couple of minutes, pull off the husks, add some butter, a pinch of salt and a dash of pepper for a healthy and delicious dinner side dish.
Pancakes
Who doesn't want to wake up on a relaxing weekend to a batch of fresh, hot, sweet pancakes? Indulge in the classic treat with a campfire rendition of a pancake breakfast. Before you hit the road, prepare your favorite pancake mix at home and store it in a squeezable condiment bottle or mason jar. When you're ready for breakfast, heat up a pan over the fire, grease it up and then squeeze or scoop out the pancake mix. Make them just like your mama would.
Pizza Log
On the east coast they call them pies, in the woods we refer to them as logs. Wherever you’re from, a gooey, cheesy pizza is the comfort food needed around every campfire. Before you hit the trail, pack up all the cheese, sauce and toppings you can handle. For fast, easy and storable pizza dough, grab a can (or a few) of the pre-made stuff. Roll out the dough into a rectangular shape, add the sauce, cheese, and toppings, then roll it all up to create a log. Pinch the sides so you don't lose any sauce, and then wrap it in foil. Cook it over the grill or fire until the dough is browned and the cheese is melted.
Tending over the pizza can be a bit exhausting on your back so make campfire cooking more comfortable with a Folding Camp Stool. Trust us, you won't burn the pizza or your back.
Stick Foods
S’mores aren’t the only thing you can cook over a campfire with no grate. Avoid the sugar sweats with a balanced diet of stick foods! Hot dogs, squash, peppers, onions, shrimp, sliced steak, chicken cubes and even pineapple make for a savory kabob that can be made with nothing more than a fire and a stick. Pack some small tortillas and shredded cabbage to turn your kabob meats into a sizzling Trail Taco. The possibilities are endless, you just have to get creative with it! And, of course, after a healthy meal, treat yourself with a warm, gooey s’more.
Curly Dogs
Throw it back to your childhood with a campfire rendition of Pigs in a Blanket! While you are picking up dough for your pizza log, grab a can of crescent dough for a batch of curly dogs. Curly dogs are another great stick food to whip up over an open flame. Just grab your roasting stick and skewer it through your hot dog. Spiral thin strips of crescent dough around the hot dog and roast until the dough is golden brown and inviting you into it’s warm caress. Enjoy them with a few dips into ketchup, mustard or any dressing of your choice.
Hot Chocolate or Coffee
Nothing nurtures a curly dog hangover like a hot steamy drink in the morning. Pack some instant coffee, tea, or packets of hot chocolate, use a campfire safe mug to warm up your water and voila! It's as easy as using your Keurig.
After a long day of exploring, winding down with savory food next to a campfire is pure bliss in our book. Keep these campfire food staples in your pack for your first camping trip, or your millionth and use your imagination to create some delicious dishes with nothing but a campfire.
