8 Easy Campfire Meals for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Spending a couple of days in the great outdoors doesn’t mean you have to restrict your diet to trail mix or granola bars. There’s an abundance of nourishing delicacies to fill your camping meal plan throughout the trip. These easy campfire meals cover all your bases — from single-skillet recipes to prepped foil packets you can enjoy on the go. 

1. Hot Dogs With Cast-Iron Beans

Hot dogs are a classic camping meal ready to fuel you up for the adventures of the day. This filling recipe is easy to throw together. You only need a cast iron skillet and a hot grill. 

Ingredients

• Six hot dogs
• Six hot dog buns
• One can of small white beans
• Olive oil
• One small onion
• Plum tomatoes
• Two garlic cloves 
• Two tablespoons of molasses
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Worcestershire sauce
• Mustard, ketchup and relish for serving

The cooking process is quite straightforward, too. Simply heat the olive oil in the skillet and add the onions, garlic, tomatoes and beans, making sure to stir occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, then add the Worcestershire. Grill the hot dogs over direct heat until warmed through. Serve and enjoy. 

2. Camper’s Breakfast Hash

This dish has everything you’d want from a hearty breakfast meal — delicious, filling and easy to make. 

Ingredients

• Two packages of shredded hash brown potatoes
• One pack of fully-cooked breakfast sausage links
• One cup of shredded cheddar cheese
• One-quarter cup butter
• One-quarter cup chopped onion
• One-quarter cup chopped green pepper
• 12 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Start by melting the butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the hash browns, sausage, green pepper and onion, gently cooking for around 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are lightly browned. Push the mixture toward the edge of the pan and crack in the eggs. Season with salt and pepper when the eggs are thoroughly cooked, then add the shredded cheese. Cover the skillet and let the cheese melt before giving the mixture one final stir. 

3. Protein Waffles

These waffles pack a whopping 17 grams of protein per serving. But the best part is this quick dish consists of only three ingredients: bananas, eggs and your favorite protein powder. It might be best to prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in a sealed container. This way, when you’re ready to cook, you only need to prep the waffle maker. 

Protein waffles are super customizable, so feel free to top yours with anything from buttermilk syrup to peach jam. 

4. Spinach-Artichoke Dip with Roasted Bread

This delicious dip is the perfect campfire snack after a long day exploring the wild. And the best part is you can prepare everything in a single pan or skillet. 

Ingredients

• One can of artichokes
• One pack of frozen-leaf spinach
• One pack of cream cheese
• One clove of pressed garlic
• One loaf of country bread
• Half a cup of sour cream
• Half a cup of grated parmesan
• Lemon juice and zest
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mix all the wet ingredients in a bowl, carefully folding in the artichokes and spinach. Season the mixture with the black pepper and salt, then transfer it to your skillet. Top with some more grated parmesan and cover with an aluminum foil. Cook until bubbly and golden brown. Grill the bread over indirect heat until crisp and dig in. 

5. Gnocchi Foil Packet

Fancy a tasty pasta meal for lunch? Cook these handy gnocchi packs straight on the grill — no boiling water necessary and zero dishes to clean afterward. 

Ingredients

• Store-bought gnocchi
• Shucked corn 
• Cherry tomatoes
• Unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• Two garlic cloves 
• Salt and red pepper flakes
• Dry white wine
• Finely chopped fresh basil
• Grated parmesan
• Freshly ground black pepper

The most complex part of this process is folding the foil packets so they’re leak-free and able to hold form during cooking. Divide the ingredients into the packs, drizzling the white wine evenly. The foil packets trap in steam from the wine, cooking the gnocchi to perfectly tender and elevating the flavors of the corn and basil. Eat directly out of the packet.

6. Hot Chili Mama 

This make-ahead campfire meal packs a punch and can be the perfect way to spice up your outdoor experience, literally. 

Ingredients

• Three pounds of lean ground turkey (or other protein of your choice)
• Three chopped tomatillos
• Two minced garlic cloves
• One can of chili 
• One can of beer
• One pound of frozen cannellini beans 
• One finely chopped carrot
• One large yellow onion
• One chopped orange bell pepper
• Finely chopped habaneros
• Chili powder
• Dried thyme

Since you’ll be preparing the dish ahead, you have the luxury of time, plus access to all the proper utensils. Start by browning the ground turkey in a large stock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients and let it simmer for 2 ½ hours before packing. Consider your spice tolerance when adding the habanero and chili powder. Remember, there are no standard bathroom facilities in the wild. 

7. Salmon With Vegetables in Foil

Smothered in fresh ingredients, these salmon filets are cooked to perfection, staying super-tender and juicy inside foil packets.

Ingredients

• Four skin-on salmon filets
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Chopped fresh dill
• Finely chopped garlic
• Lemon zest
• Red bell peppers
• Frozen corn
• Frozen lima beans

Season the filets with salt and pepper, making sure to place each piece on the foil skin-side down. Combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl and spoon the mixture over the salmon evenly. Wrap the foil tightly and grill over the campfire. Garnish with dill when ready to serve. 

Easy Campfire Meals

Camping is the perfect getaway for escaping into the great outdoors and relaxing with the sounds of nature. Don’t let complicated cooking get in the way of your adventure. Take advantage of these easy campfire meals for your next trip.