Creative Campfire Meals

Don't settle for plain old hotdogs on your next camping trip. Get creative with the meals you plan and take your outdoor cuisine to the next level. Even a novice camper can enjoy campfire cooking with a little planning and preparation. Adapt your favorite recipes or invent new ones to enhance the camping experience.

  1. Helpful Equipment

    • A cast iron Dutch oven, nestled in hot coals, provides the campfire equivalent of a crock pot as well as an oven. Cookie sheets do double duty as preparation surfaces and griddles. Thin metal rods toast marshmallows or support meat for roasting. Heavy-duty aluminum foil can form custom cooking containers along with speeding cleanup of other containers. Use long-handled barbecue tools for easy handling and serving of hot food.

    Dutch Oven Techniques

    • Line the oven with aluminum foil to expedite cleanup. Add the main ingredients and some liquid along with the seasonings. Bank coals below, around and atop the covered Dutch oven to create the cooking environment. Use the Dutch oven as a stock pot by hanging it over the campfire using the wire handle and a hook. Always use a heavy potholder or other protective device to place or remove the pot.

    Menu Planning

    • Prepare seasoning packets for the menu as part of the planning process. Pre-measure ingredients rather than carrying whole containers of items needed in small quantity. Look at the finished menu for steps to complete in advance, such as browning and draining ground meat for spaghetti sauce or chili. Freeze the pre-cooked meat and the package will help maintain the temperature in the cooler.

    Individual Cook Pots

    • Use squares of aluminum foil to let each person in the party have dinner to individual taste. Give each one aluminum foil with approximately 1/3 cup of ground meat, diced stew meat or chicken breast. Have containers of vegetables ready: sliced carrots, mushrooms and celery; potato cubes; green beans and diced onion, for example. Each person can add the desired vegetables to his square, along with preferred seasonings. Wrap the ingredients with double or triple folds across the top and sides. Place the packets on the coals and turn every five to seven minutes until done.

    Spice It Up

    • Avoid bland campfire meals by using appropriate seasonings for the dish. Experiment with a hint of some new spice or a simple recipe you haven't tried yet. The atmosphere of the camp out may make reluctant eaters more willing to try something different.