At Waterdog RV, we know that camping is about spending time with the people you care most about. There really is no better way to do that than sharing a meal that was prepared over an open campfire together. So, we have some fantastic easy recommendations for you!
With any of these recipes getting the fire right will be key to your success. Start by preparing your campfire. Make sure you have a good bed of hot coals or a consistent medium-high heat fire. Remember to follow all campfire safety guidelines and regulations while cooking.
Enjoy!
Six easy campsite recipes.
Campfire Breakfast Skillet
Cook up a hearty breakfast by combining diced potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and your choice of breakfast meat (such as bacon or sausage) in a cast-iron skillet. Cook everything over the campfire until the potatoes are tender and the meat is cooked through. Crack a few eggs on top and let them cook until the yolks are set. Season with salt and pepper.
If you want to add a smokey sweet flavor that accentuates the outdoor cooking, you can also add a little mesquite seasoning. Serve with bread or tortillas that you warm up over the campfire for a satisfying breakfast.
Foil Packet Meals
These are easy and versatile. You can create a variety of meals by combining your choice of protein (such as chicken, fish, or sausage) with vegetables, seasonings, and a little oil. Mix and match what you like and Seal everything in a foil packet. Then just cook it over the campfire or grill until the ingredients are cooked all the way through.
It’s a convenient and delicious way to enjoy a complete meal with minimal cleanup. I also love that everyone can mix and match their own ingredients to suit their own tastes.
Campfire Tacos
Prepare your favorite taco fillings ahead of time. Seasoned ground beef or grilled chicken are excellent choices. Then add in any toppings you want to have. Shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa are all traditional choices, but feel free to experiment a little by including things like diced cucumbers for a cool counterbalance to the salsa.
Another interesting choice would be diced grilled pineapple. Slice up a pineapple, grill the slices over the campfire then dice them up for a nice, sweet topping that works great with grilled chicken. Remember to be bold, have fun and experiment with different things that you don’t usually do with Tacos to make them special and different. Even if you try something that really doesn’t work in your tacos, it will be a great story you will all have to share for years to come. And that is what you are out there doing. Building memories that last a lifetime.
Your last step is to warm up tortillas over the campfire or grill, then assemble your tacos with the fillings and toppings. It’s a fun and customizable meal that everyone can enjoy.
Campfire Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Take your grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level by making them over the campfire. Butter the bread slices, add your favorite cheese, and cook the sandwiches in a cast-iron skillet or on a griddle over the campfire. The heat from the fire will give the sandwiches a delicious smoky flavor.
Add in any sliced deli meat you like in between the cheese slices to create a different and even hardier meal.
Campfire Banana Boats
Slice a banana lengthwise, leaving the peel intact. Stuff the banana with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and any other desired toppings (such as crushed graham crackers or peanut butter). Wrap the banana in foil and place it over the campfire or grill until the chocolate and marshmallows melt.
Open, peel and then eat! It’s a simple and tasty dessert that kids and adults alike will love.
Traditional Campfire S’mores with a twist
Break the graham crackers in half to create the base for your s’mores. Set them aside. Then place a marshmallow on a skewer or roasting stick and hold it over the campfire, rotating it slowly to ensure even cooking. Roast the marshmallow until it turns golden brown and starts to melt.
Once the marshmallow is roasted to your liking, carefully remove it from the fire and place it on one half of a graham cracker. Add your desired toppings on top of the marshmallow. You can spread peanut butter on the other half of the graham cracker, drizzle caramel sauce, or add sliced strawberries, bananas, diced pineapple, crushed cookies, or any other toppings you prefer.
Place a piece of chocolate bar on top of the marshmallow and toppings. Take another graham cracker half and gently press it down on top of the chocolate to create a sandwich.
Allow the heat from the marshmallow to melt the chocolate slightly, or you can place the s’more back near the campfire for a few seconds to melt the chocolate further. Then carefully remove the s’more from the fire and let it cool for a moment before taking a bite.
Repeat the process to make more special s’mores with different toppings and flavors. Experiment with different fruits or sauces for variety.
For the more adventurous Campfire chefs we have a few more challenging recipes:
Campfire Grilled Chicken Recipe
Ingredients:
– 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, your preference.
– 1/4 cup of olive oil
– 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
– 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
– 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Optional toppings: fresh herbs, lemon slices
Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper to create a marinade.
2. Place the chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, making sure to coat each piece evenly. Seal the bag or cover the dish and let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
3. Once the chicken has marinated, remove it from the bag or dish and discard the excess marinade.
4. Place the chicken breasts directly on the grill grate over the campfire. Cook for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for fully cooked chicken.
5. While the chicken is cooking, you can brush it with any remaining marinade for added flavor.
6. Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the fire and let it rest for a few minutes.
7. Optional: Garnish the grilled chicken with fresh herbs and lemon slices for presentation.
8. Serve the campfire grilled chicken hot and enjoy!
Campfire Mesquite Burgers Recipe:
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef (80% lean)
– 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion
– 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
– 1 tablespoon of mesquite seasoning
– Salt and pepper to taste
– Hamburger buns
– Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, etc.
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped onion, minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mesquite seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
2. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape them into burger patties. Make sure to create an indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent them from puffing up during cooking.
3. Place the burger patties directly on the grill grate over the campfire. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness. For medium-rare burgers, aim for an internal temperature of 130-135°F (55-57°C). Adjust the cooking time accordingly for your preferred level of doneness.
4. While the burgers are cooking, you can toast the hamburger buns over the campfire until lightly golden.
5. Once the burgers are cooked to your liking, remove them from the fire and let them rest for a few minutes.
6. Assemble the mesquite burgers by placing each patty on a toasted bun. Add your desired toppings such as lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, or any other condiments you prefer.
7. Serve the campfire mesquite burgers hot and enjoy!
Campfire Pulled Pork Sandwiches Recipe
This one takes some time to cook, so I would only recommend it if one of the family was willing to stay around the campfire all afternoon while everyone else went off playing. I will add that when it is done right people will be talking about your pulled pork sandwiches for weeks after the trip is over. And, once the Pork is cooked, it can be reheated and served over the next couple of days rather easily.
Ingredients:
– 3-4 pounds of pork shoulder or pork butt
– 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce
– 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
– 1/4 cup of brown sugar
– 1 tablespoon of paprika
– 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
– 1 tablespoon of onion powder
– 1 tablespoon of salt
– 1 tablespoon of black pepper
– Hamburger buns or sandwich rolls
– Coleslaw (optional, for topping)
Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to create a dry rub.
2. Rub the dry rub mixture all over the pork shoulder, making sure to coat it evenly.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to create a sauce.
4. Place the seasoned pork shoulder on a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Pour half of the sauce mixture over the pork, reserving the other half for later.
5. Wrap the pork tightly in the foil, making sure to seal it well. Repeat this process with another layer of foil to ensure it doesn’t leak.
6. Place the foil-wrapped pork directly on the hot coals or grill grate over the fire. Cook for about 4-5 hours, turning the foil packet every hour to ensure even cooking.
7. After 4-5 hours, carefully remove the foil-wrapped pork from the fire. Open the foil packet and check the internal temperature of the pork with a meat thermometer. It should read around 195-205°F (90-96°C) for tender pulled pork.
8. Once the pork reaches the desired temperature, use two forks to shred the meat directly in the foil packet. Mix the shredded meat with the remaining sauce mixture.
9. Toast the hamburger buns or sandwich rolls over the campfire until lightly golden.
10. Assemble the pulled pork sandwiches by placing a generous amount of shredded pork on the bottom half of each bun. Top with coleslaw if desired, and cover with the top half of the bun.
11. Serve the campfire pulled pork sandwiches hot and enjoy!
Leftover pork can just be reheated in aluminum foil over the fire and then used to make new sandwiches over the next few days. It also makes those campfire grilled cheese sandwiches mentioned earlier even more special if you use this instead of the deli meat. Just make sure to keep the pulled pork in the fridge or cooler in between uses.
If you have some campfire recipes you love, feel free to share them with us. We promise to give them a try the next time we are out having fun with our families!
Contact [email protected] with your favorite recipes today!
