What should you cook over a campfire that won’t end up burnt on the outside and raw in the middle? If you’ve ever stared at a crackling fire, wondering how to turn it into a proper meal, you’re not alone. Research shows that while millions camp each year, many stick to the same basic hot dogs and s’mores because they’re unsure what works over open flames. However, a growing trend indicates campers want more: the 2023 North American Camping Report found that 36% of campers prioritize seeking out culinary experiences as part of their travel, proving that upgrading your camp meal is a major part of the modern outdoor experience.

We built this guide by digging through camping forums, watching real campers cook in YouTube videos, and reading through countless reviews of what worked (and what flopped) at actual campsites. We skipped the fancy recipes that need a full kitchen and focused on campfire food that delivers great taste with minimal fuss and equipment you probably already have.

What you’ll find here are 12 proven recipes for what to cook over a campfire, covering everything from filling breakfasts to crowd-pleasing dinners and easy desserts. These campfire meals work whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who’s been camping for years. Ready to upgrade your outdoor cooking game? Let’s get into it.

What to Cook Over a Campfire: 12 Recipes Worth Trying

1. Foil Packet Dinners

Foil packet meals are the ultimate campfire food for beginners. You prep everything at home, wrap it in heavy-duty foil, and toss it on the coals. No cleanup, no mess, and you can customize each packet for picky eaters.

Try mixing shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes with butter and Old Bay seasoning. Or go simple with chicken, bell peppers, onions, and your favorite spices. The key is cutting everything into similar-sized pieces so it all cooks evenly. Place packets on hot coals (not flames) and cook for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Pro tip: Double-wrap your packets to prevent tears and keep juices inside.

2. Cast Iron Breakfast Skillet

Start your camping morning right with a one-pan breakfast that’ll keep you full until lunch. Cooking over a campfire in a cast-iron skillet gives you that perfect crispy edge on everything. Cook diced potatoes first until they’re golden, then add peppers and onions. Push everything to the side, scramble some eggs, and toss in pre-cooked sausage or bacon. Top with shredded cheese and let it melt. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes and feeds a hungry group with minimal effort. Cast iron heats evenly over coals and holds temperature like nothing else, making it essential for campfire cooking.

3. Campfire Nachos

Yes, you can make nachos over a campfire, and they’re absolutely worth it. This campfire dinner comes together in minutes, and everyone can build their own.

Layer tortilla chips in a cast-iron skillet or disposable aluminum pan. Add cooked ground beef or black beans, shredded cheese, jalapeños, and any other toppings you like. Cover with foil and place on a grill grate over the fire. Check after 10 minutes, the cheese should be melted and bubbly. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole.

For a quicker version, use pre-cooked taco meat you made at home and just reheat it.

4. Campfire Quesadillas

Quesadillas are perfect campfire food ideas for lunch because they’re fast, filling, and hard to mess up. Plus, kids love helping make them.

Butter one side of a flour tortilla and place it butter-side down on a piece of foil. Add cheese, pre-cooked chicken, black beans, or whatever you brought. Fold the tortilla in half, butter the top, and wrap loosely in foil. Place on the grill grate or directly on coals for 3-4 minutes per side until crispy and melted inside.

The beauty of quesadillas for campfire cooking is that you can make several at once, and everyone gets exactly what they want.

5. Hot Dogs and Brats with a Twist

Sure, hot dogs are a camping classic, but let’s upgrade them. Threading sausages on sticks and roasting them over open flames is camping 101, but cooking brats with peppers and onions in a cast-iron skillet takes it to another level.

Slice peppers and onions, toss them in the skillet with a little oil, and cook until softened. Add your brats (pre-cooked or not) and let everything brown together. The vegetables soak up all those smoky, savory flavors. Serve on buns with mustard, and you’ve got campfire dinners that beat anything from a package.

6. Campfire Pizza (Flatbread Style)

Making pizza while camping sounds ambitious, but it’s actually one of the easier campfire meals if you use pre-made dough or flatbread. Stretch your dough thin and place it directly on a grill grate over gentle flames.

Let the bottom cook until crispy (about 5 minutes), then flip it. Quickly add sauce, cheese, and toppings to the cooked side, then cover with foil or a lid. The trapped heat melts everything perfectly in another 3-4 minutes. The result is crispy, smoky, and way better than expected. This campfire food idea impresses everyone at the campsite and makes for a fun group activity.

7. Campfire Chili Mac

When you want comfort food in the wilderness, chili mac delivers. This one-pot wonder combines two classics and cooks right in your camping pot or Dutch oven. Brown ground beef with onions, add canned chili, tomato sauce, and your favorite chili spices. Once it’s bubbling, stir in uncooked macaroni and enough water to cover. Let it simmer over the fire until the pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and allow to melt. It’s hearty, warm, and exactly what you want after a long hike.

8. Skewered Kebabs

Kebabs are tailor-made for cooking over a campfire. You can prep everything at home, store it in zip-top bags, and just assemble at the campsite. Thread chicken, beef, or vegetables onto skewers and cook over direct heat. Chicken and pineapple kebabs bring a sweet-savory combo that cooks fast. Greek-style gyro kebabs with tzatziki sauce feel fancy but take minimal effort. Vegetable kebabs with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and zucchini work great for vegetarians. The trick is leaving a little space between pieces so the heat reaches all sides. Rotate every few minutes for even cooking.

Suggested Reads- 20 Best Vegetarian Camping Meals to Cook Over a Campfire

9. Campfire Breakfast Burritos

Make these campfire meals ahead at home, wrap in foil, and reheat over coals for an effortless breakfast. Scramble eggs with cheese, add cooked sausage or chorizo, hash browns, peppers, and wrap everything in a large flour tortilla.

Wrap each burrito tightly in heavy-duty foil and refrigerate until you’re ready to camp. At the campsite, place them on hot coals and rotate every 4-5 minutes until heated through (about 15 minutes total). They’re filling, portable, and fuel you for hours of outdoor activities.

10. Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls

For a sweet breakfast treat, Dutch oven cinnamon rolls are surprisingly easy and always a hit. Use canned cinnamon roll dough (yes, really) to skip the hard part.

Butter your Dutch oven and arrange the rolls inside. Put the lid on and place the pot on a bed of hot coals, then add more coals on top of the lid. This creates even heat all around. Check after 15 minutes, they should be golden and puffy. Drizzle with the included icing and watch everyone’s faces light up.

This campfire food idea turns any morning into something special without requiring baking skills.

11. Grilled Corn on the Cob

Corn is one of the simplest and most satisfying campfire food ideas. Peel back the husks (leave them attached), remove the silk, then pull the husks back up and soak in water for 10 minutes.

Place the corn directly on your grill grate over hot coals and turn every few minutes. It’ll be done in 15-20 minutes. For extra flavor, brush with butter, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime. Or go full Mexican street corn style (elotes) with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime.

12. S’mores and Campfire Desserts

No list of what to cook over a campfire is complete without s’mores. Toast marshmallows on sticks over the fire until golden (or burnt if that’s your style), sandwich between graham crackers with chocolate, and you’ve got the classic camping dessert.

But don’t stop there. Try banana boats: slice a banana lengthwise (leave the peel on), stuff with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, wrap in foil, and heat for 10 minutes. Or make campfire cones by filling waffle cones with chocolate and marshmallows, wrapping in foil, and warming until melted.

For something different, grill peaches or nectarines coated in sugar for a caramelized treat. 

Looking for quick bites between meals? Don’t forget to pack some easy camping snacks like trail mix, roasted chickpeas, or granola bars; they keep your energy up while exploring and pair perfectly with your campfire coffee.

Essential Campfire Cooking Tips

Build the Right Campfire: Cooking over flames is romantic but impractical. You want hot coals for even heat and better control. Start your fire early so you have a good coal bed when you’re ready to cook.

Bring the Right Tools: A cast-iron skillet is your best friend for campfire cooking. Also pack: heavy-duty aluminum foil, long tongs, heat-resistant gloves, a grill grate, and a good cooler for food storage.

Prep at Home: Cut vegetables, marinate meat, and measure spices before you leave. Store everything in labeled bags or containers. The less prep work at camp, the more time you have for fun.

Control Your Heat: Move food around to hotter or cooler spots as needed. If something’s cooking too fast, raise it higher or move it to the edge. Banking coal gives you different heat zones.

Keep it Simple: The best campfire meals don’t require complicated techniques or unusual ingredients. Stick with recipes that use basic seasonings and foods that travel well.

What Cooking Equipment Do You Actually Need?

You don’t need to haul your entire kitchen to the campsite. Here’s what makes campfire cooking actually work:

Cast Iron Skillet: Heats evenly, works directly on coals, lasts forever. A 10-12-inch skillet handles most campfire dinners.

Heavy-Duty Foil: Essential for packet meals and keeping food moist. Buy the thick stuff; it won’t tear.

Long Tongs and Spatula: Keep your hands safely away from the heat while flipping food.

Dutch Oven: If car camping, a Dutch oven opens up options like stews, breads, and cobblers.

Grill Grate: Gives you a stable cooking surface over the fire. Adjustable height models let you control temperature.

Heat-Resistant Gloves: Protect your hands when moving hot cookware.

Common Campfire Cooking Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced campers make these mistakes when cooking over a campfire:

Cooking Over Flames: Flames give uneven heat and burn food. Wait for glowing coals that provide steady, manageable heat.

Bringing Complicated Recipes: Save the five-course meals for home. Camp cooking should be fun, not stressful.

Forgetting Food Safety: Keep raw meat separate, store food in coolers with plenty of ice, and cook meat to safe temperatures.

Not Prepping Ingredients: Chopping vegetables in the dark after a long hike isn’t fun. Do your prep work at home.

Underpacking Seasonings: Food cooked outdoors needs good seasoning. Bring salt, pepper, garlic powder, and your favorites in small containers.

How to Plan Your Campfire Meals

Planning makes campfire cooking way easier. Here’s how to do it right:

Day 1: Stick with simple campfire food ideas like hot dogs or foil packets. You’re probably setting up camp and getting organized.

Day 2-3: This is when you can try more involved campfire meals like Dutch oven recipes or cast iron skillets full of nachos or breakfast.

Last Day: Keep it super simple. Oatmeal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch mean less cleanup before packing up.

Make a detailed shopping list and prep as much as possible at home. Marinate meat, chop vegetables, mix spice blends, and pack everything in clearly labeled bags.

Final Thoughts

Knowing what to cook over a campfire takes your camping experience from just okay to genuinely memorable. The recipes in this guide prove you don’t need fancy equipment or complicated techniques to eat well outdoors. With a little planning, basic tools, and these tried-and-true campfire food ideas, you’ll be serving up meals that taste even better under open skies.

The best campfire cooking happens when you keep things simple, prep ahead, and focus on flavors that work well with smoky, outdoor heat. Whether you’re flipping foil packets on the coals, melting cheese in a cast-iron skillet, or roasting marshmallows as the sun sets, cooking over a campfire connects you to something primal and satisfying.

So grab your gear, pick a few recipes from this list, and get ready to discover why campfire dinners beat restaurant meals every single time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the easiest thing to cook over a campfire?

Foil packet dinners are hands-down the easiest campfire food. Prep everything at home, wrap in foil, and place on hot coals for 15-20 minutes. No pots, no pans, and barely any cleanup. Hot dogs and brats on sticks come in a close second for simplicity.

Do I need special equipment for campfire cooking?

Not really. A cast-iron skillet, heavy-duty aluminum foil, long tongs, and heat-resistant gloves cover most campfire meals. If you’re car camping and have the space, a Dutch oven and portable grill grate are great additions, but definitely not required.

How do you keep food from burning over a campfire?

Cook over hot coals, not flames, and that’s the single most important thing. Flames are unpredictable and way too hot. Wait until you have glowing red coals for even, manageable heat. Also, keep food moving and check it frequently, especially when you’re learning.

Can you cook directly on campfire coals?

Yes, for certain foods. Foil-wrapped items like potatoes, corn, or foil packet dinners work great when placed directly on coals. For most other campfire cooking, you’ll want a grill grate over the coals to keep food from getting covered in ash and to make temperature control easier.

What foods should I avoid bringing camping for campfire cooking?

Skip anything that spoils quickly without refrigeration, like fresh fish (unless you’re eating it the first night) or delicate greens. Also, avoid recipes that need precise temperatures or timing. Stick with ingredients that travel well in a cooler and campfire food ideas that give you some wiggle room on cooking time.