43 Easy Camping Recipes That Go Beyond Burgers & S 'mores
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We go camping for a lot of reasons: the fresh air, the fireside ghost stories, and yes, the food (and not just s'mores and weenies on a stick). As summer is PRIME camping time, this season we're taking our campground cuisine very seriously. Even if you've been doing it for years, there are plenty of ways to upgrade your campfire kitchen. These easy skillet, skewer, and campfire cooking recipes will guarantee you'll be eating well in the great outdoors from breakfast to dessert. Whatever you choose to cook, we've got plenty of tips on how to build a solid cooking fire so you'll never be too far away from having campfire popcorn, campfire Caprese brie, and skillet beer cheese. And of course, TikTok creators have some genius tips for cooking over a campfire. You'll wish you could cook all your meals over a campfire this year, and we highly recommend you do!
When it comes to cooking over a fire, we love how foil packs take all our favorite home-cooked meals and make them campfire-friendly, with almost zero cleanup. Check out all our favorite foil pack recipes, like these gnocchi foil packets, berry crisp foil packs, and surf 'n' turf foil packs. Your favorite cast-iron skillet meals are also campfire-friendly, making it almost too easy to make loaded campfire nachos, skillet beer cheese, and a campfire breakfast skillet. Plus, they all go great with a camping-friendly cocktail!
Looking to replace your camping gear or upgrade your campfire kitchen? We have a handy guide to all the best camping gear and best camping cookware that will turn anyone into an outdoors expert. Camping on a budget? Check out our handy $20 Budget Eats guide to feeding four people while camping.
Best-Ever Burger
There are about a million ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes onto your patty. It is our duty to make sure that you're cooking burgers as best as you possibly can. Our golden rules: Be sure to let the meat come to room temperature and season generously with salt and black pepper before you grill up.
Get the Best-Ever Burger recipe.
Grilled Peaches
Nothing beats a ripe, sticky-sweet peach, and while you can just bite right in, cooking with peaches is killer. One of our favorite ways? Grilling them, then drizzling them with honey, olive oil, and sea salt. Add freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to take them OTT.
Get the Grilled Peaches recipe.
Grilled Beer Brats
It takes almost zero cooking skills to get perfectly charred brats topped with flavor-packed caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnished on the grill, then they finish off in a simmering beer bath alongside the veg. Use whatever beer you like to drink, but not IPAs (India Pale Ales), which are brewed to be hoppy (i.e., bitter).
Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.
Grilled Brie with Wine
We love digging into a wheel of gooey oven-baked brie, but in the summer, no one wants to bother with the oven. Give this classic appetizer a summery twist by cooking it on the grill, seasoning it lightly with garlic, herbs, and wine, and serving with some lightly charred bread.
Get the Grilled Brie with Wine recipe.
Best Baked Beans
When it comes to year-round American cuisine, baked beans could quite possibly be looked at as one of the most classic side dishes. They’re sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder! Throw in the fact that one batch feeds a small crowd and that most of the cooking is done unattended in the oven, and you have a winning dish that’ll be a staple for all your family gatherings for years to come.
Get the Best Baked Beans recipe.
Gnocchi Foil Packets
The foil packets trap in steam from the wine and juices from the tomato and corn as everything grills, which in turn cooks the gnocchi to perfectly tender while infusing the pasta with all the flavors of the dish. Bonus: Some of the meal browns a bit on the bottom right before it finishes cooking, adding extra flavor.
Get the Gnocchi Foil Packets recipe.
Best-Ever S'mores
Ah, s'mores: three simple ingredients working together to make something much more delicious than the sum of its parts. Whether you keep it to the classic three ingredients or experiment with fun toppings like caramel or sliced fruit, this is one simple dessert that never disappoints.
Get the Best-Ever S'mores recipe.
Maple Chorizo Breakfast Skillet
The smoky-sweet combo will haunt your dreams.
Get the Maple Chorizo Breakfast Skillet recipe.
Honey Mustard Chicken, Tomato & Zucchini Foil Packs
Smothered in sweet honey mustard sauce, these chicken breasts are grilled to perfection, staying super-tender and juicy by cooking inside foil packets. Honey mustard sauce can be as simple as just two ingredients; however, we amped it up for flavor and cooked it slightly to thicken the sauce so it stays on top of the chicken, creating almost a glaze. A duo of mustards is a must for the flavor—grainy mustard is more mild with a pop of texture, while Dijon adds a burst of that signature mustard intensity.
Get the Honey Mustard Chicken, Tomato & Zucchini Foil Packs recipe.
Campfire Rice Krispies Treats
Rice Krispies Treats never go out of style, and this toasted version is one of our new favorite ways to eat them. In order to get your treats nice and charred, they'll need a minute or two over the open fire. Make sure they were tightly packed into the baking dish before cutting; this will help keep them secure on your skewer while you're roasting. Using a double-pronged skewer helps too!
Get the Campfire Rice Krispies Treats recipe.
Skillet Beer Cheese
One of our top hall of famers, this dip will get any campfire party started. The pinch of cayenne really adds that special something to this melty, creamy beer cheese. This is best served with toasted baguette, good company, and a cold beer.
Get the Skillet Beer Cheese recipe.
Grilled Pizza
Here's our #1 tip for success: Prep everything you are going to need before you start grilling your pizzas. The grilling part goes fast. We're talking 4 minutes tops, so don't wait to slice your tomatoes until the pizza is on the grill. Have everything ready and near you so that as soon as you flip the pizza crust, you can start topping and pull your pizza off the grill as soon as it's done.
Get the Grilled Pizza recipe.
Chicago-Style Hot Dogs
Chicago is as picky about hot dogs as New York is about pan pizza. The specific toppings are as important as the order in which they get layered. It's been "dragged through the garden," as the locals say, and we love it so very much.
Get the Chicago-Style Hot Dogs recipe.
Bánh Mì Kebabs
A classic bánh mì is one of the world's great sandwiches. Think contrast: flavor and texture from the meat, veg, and condiments are key to this sandwich standout. An ideal way to get that classic bánh mì taste? With these kebabs! Par-cooked carrots and slightly sweet daikon grill up nicely with thick pieces of pork chop, and they're perfectly matched with a straightforward combo of fish sauce, soy sauce, and honey.
Get the Bánh Mì Kebabs recipe.
Loaded Campfire Nachos
We apologize to many a camping trip for not thinking of this idea sooner. Thanks to a handful of canned goods, these loaded nachos come together almost instantly.
Get the Loaded Campfire Nachos recipe.
Grilled Baked Potatoes
Sure, a baked potato in the oven is great, but have you tried them on the grill? Use this method for your backyard grill or even when you're out camping. The potatoes cook up just as fluffy as they do in the oven, but have the bonus of smoky flavor.
Get the Grilled Baked Potatoes recipe.
Frito Pie
Originally created in Mexico but popularized in the American Southwest, Frito pies (not actual pies) are comfort food perfection. Picture this: a freshly opened bag of Fritos smothered in spicy beef chili, cheddar cheese, and some bright, crunchy onions and jalapeños. Best eaten directly out of the bag.
Get the Frito Pie recipe.
Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs
Sure, gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had nicely browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill? We’re here to tell you that the crispy-chewy texture is something that you've GOT to try this summer.
Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.
Campfire Berry-Peach Cobbler
You can cobbler over a fire—and it even browns like the real thing. Stupid-easy to prep, this bubbling fruit skillet is impossible to mess up.
Get the Campfire Cobbler recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets
We love a good shrimp boil, but sometimes we don't have time for the production. Foil packs turn a shrimp boil into individual parties that are so fun to throw onto the grill! It's everything you love with way less work.
Get the Grilled Shrimp Foil Packets recipe.
Buffalo Cauliflower Kebabs
These Buffalo cauliflower kebabs puts all your favorite flavor from classic Buffalo wings onto skewers—and they're vegetarian to boot! Glaze the kebabs with more buffalo sauce, grill until the cauliflower is tender, then drizzle with blue cheese dressing.
Get the Buffalo Cauliflower Kebabs recipe.
Campfire Caprese Brie
We used a big wheel of brie to fit perfectly inside a 10" skillet. It was almost THREE POUNDS. You can definitely use something a bit smaller, depending on the size (and brie obsession level) of your crowd.
Get the Campfire Caprese Brie recipe.
Campfire Potatoes
These potatoes are the cheesy side your BBQ needs. They're great for camping too—the Parmesan and mozzarella might just sway even those who hate the outdoors.
Get the Campfire Potatoes recipe.
Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs
At your next summer camping trip, put a few of these bad boys on the coals and take more time to enjoy your evening. Once you have the ingredients prepped—all of which can be done the day before and stored in your fridge—it's a few minutes of assembly and only around 15 minutes of hands-off grilling.
Get the Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs recipe.
Campfire Mac & Cheese
Extra cheesy mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and that's exactly what we want when we're camping. This simple recipe makes the ultimate macaroni and cheese with a buttery Ritz cracker topping. Get that campfire going!
Get the Campfire Mac & Cheese recipe.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Chicken tastes even better when slid on skewers alongside bok choy and scallions, then glazed with a hoisin BBQ sauce. The best part of the glaze: There's no need to cook anything! Just whisk the ingredients together, and you’re ready to go.
Get the Grilled Chicken Kebabs recipe.
Oreo Cookie Skillet
This beyond-simple campfire dessert is like survival food, but make it Delish. Don't wait until the center turns golden—the rest will burn before it does! Plus, the top will continue to firm up as it cools. Serve it warm, scooped into bowls topped with your ice cream of choice.
Get the Oreo Cookie Skillet recipe.
Grilled Corn on the Cob
This is our simplest, easiest recipe, but the flavor combo options are endless—check out the rest of our grilled corn ideas too.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Veggie Kabobs
These kabobs have the *perfect* combination of flavors and textures. Serve them up with our ultimate meat-lovers veggie burger for a backyard vegetarian feast that even a carnivore couldn't turn down.
Get the Veggie Kabobs recipe.
Campfire Popcorn
Popping popcorn over a campfire is just as easy as making it on the stove, and way more fun. Get your favorite seasonings, a cold one, and watch the stars outside!
Get the Campfire Popcorn recipe.
Grilled Asparagus
Few veggies grill up as nicely as asparagus. Thin stalks get crispy while thicker ones get tender. Finish with a bit of lemon or Parm and you'll have the perfect summer side dish in under 5 minutes.
Get the Grilled Asparagus recipe.
Campfire Cinnamon Rolls
Breakfast? Dessert? Both? Consider this skewered cinnamon roll hack your path to a vacation state of mind.
Get the Campfire Cinnamon Rolls recipe.
Berry Crisp Foil Packs
Fruity crisps and crumbles (blueberry crumble, rhubarb crisp, peach crisp...) are some of our favorite summer desserts, but we don't always want to turn on our oven to make them. Luckily, you can make them on your grill instead! Top this berry version with vanilla ice cream and dive in.
Get the Berry Crisp Foil Packs recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packs
Who knew Philly cheesesteaks could so easily transform into a light summer dinner? These foil packs are great as is with slices of flank steak, peppers, and onions topped with melty provolone, but they're also bomb on a fluffy hoagie roll.
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packs recipe.
Campfire Pigs In A Blanket
If you've got some skewers, hot dogs, and refrigerated crescent rolls, you are WELL on your way to making these delicious campfire dogs.
Get the Campfire Pigs In A Blanket recipe.
Grilled Watermelon
For this recipe, we brush the watermelon wedges with a mixture of olive oil, honey, and lime juice and zest. It adds a lovely depth of flavor and helps caramelize the watermelon over the hot grates.
Get the Grilled Watermelon recipe.
Burger 'n' Fries Foil Packs
Worried you're not up to the challenge of mastering your grill this year? Make your burgers in these easy foil packs instead. Bonus: You get fries too!
Get the Burger 'n' Fries Foil Packs recipe.
Campfire French Toast
Forget cold muffins and Clif Bars—you can make FRENCH TOAST over your campfire. Bring sparkling wine and OJ for mimosas, and you'll practically be at brunch.
Get the Campfire French Toast recipe.
Foil Pack Chicken Nachos
On the grill, the bottom chips take on a texture similar to migas—it's a magical crisp-gone-soggy texture we're OBSESSED with. We love these nachos with chicken, but you can easily swap in cooked ground beef or pulled pork.
Get the Foil Pack Chicken Nachos recipe.
Campfire Queso
Let's be real, everyone loves melty, cheesy queso. The only way to make it better? Adding sausage and beer, then promptly eating this fireside.
Get the Campfire Queso recipe.
Grilled Pizza Bread
Grilled pizza is one of our favorite summer foods, but, if we're being honest, it's a little annoying to make. (Who actually likes stretching dough?) Pizza bread, on the other hand, is gloriously easy—just top a loaf of bread with all your favorite pizza toppings and toss on the grill!
Get the Grilled Pizza Bread recipe.
Grilled Cheese Dogs
Can't choose between a hot dog and a grilled cheese sandwich? Why not both? 😈 Now you don't have to debate over whether "Is a hot dog a sandwich?" especially when it means perfectly seared hot dogs and melty cheese.
Get the Grilled Cheese Dogs recipe.
How To Make Creamy Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great blank canvas for your fave flavors and makes breakfast while camping a breeze. Mix and match chopped fruit, toasted nuts or seeds, dried fruit, Nutella or peanut butter, maple syrup, and warm spices. It’s also a great vehicle for leftovers, like roasted sweet potato. And don’t forget to add a pinch of salt!
Get the How To Make Creamy Oatmeal recipe.
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