Whether you're packing the car for a trip to the woods or simply enjoying a staycation in your own backyard, camping is all about enjoying nature, spending time with people you love, and eating those campfire meals.
And while the classics, like Hebrew National® Kosher beef franks and Gardein™ Ultimate plant-based burgers are reliable stand-bys, it’s also helpful to have a few more simple, delicious dishes in your (figurative) backpack. So build up a fire and settle into your camping chair, our campfire meals are about to ignite.
SUNRISE BREAKFAST
Our Sweet Potato and Black Bean Hash will get your day off to a great start. The recipe calls for topping the hash with a poached egg, but if you're taking this meal on the road, pack Egg Beaters® instead (you don't want to risk the breakage!) and create a scramble instead. With the salsa and black beans, this campfire cooking recipe already has a Southwest feel to it, so feel free to add tomatoes, avocado, and/or Birds Eye® Sweet Kernel Corn and maybe a jalapeño for a kick.
Pair your breakfast with a coffee-shop worthy beverage by adding Reddi-wip Barista Series Foam Topper or Nitro Coffee Creamer to your coffee. Sip on that, and you'll feel like you got the best sleep of your life—even if it was on the ground (or interrupted by the occasional wild animal sound).
FOIL PACKET MEALS
The only limit here is your imagination! Foil packet meals are easy to prepare in advance. Simply wrap your marinated meat and veggies in the foil packets, then put them in the cooler until it's time to eat. Place them on the grill or the hot campfire coals, and they're ready to go in 15-30 minutes!
The Grilled Italian Eggplant and Zucchini Foil Packet is a great vegetarian choice, and it's finished with mouthwatering fresh basil and goat cheese. Meanwhile, meat-eaters will get in line early for the Barbecue Chicken Dinner, drawn by the sweet smell of barbecue sauce, or Grilled Chicken with Summer Squash, filled with summer's abundant squash and zucchini.
Feel free to get creative with your favorite meats and vegetables. Foil packets are easy to customize, so everyone can savor the exact campfire meal they want.
SKILLET DINNERS
Everything comes together in one pan! Our Beefy Chili Skillet is great for a weekend away as it only calls for a pound of ground beef, two cans of Wolf® Brand Chili with beans, and one can of Hunt's® Diced Tomatoes. This campfire recipe is especially hearty and satisfying after a day of outdoor adventures.
Our Spicy Taco Rice Skillet is perfectly cheesy and packed with beef, beans, peppers, onions, and just the right amount of spicy kick. Since it requires more ingredients than the Beefy Chili Skillet, it may be better for a backyard barbecue where you’ll have access to your kitchen!
SIMPLE SIDES
Our Loaded Scalloped Potatoes can be made in the oven during a staycation stay, or over the coals covered in foil. It may take an hour or so before that cheesy goodness is ready, but the wait will be worth it.
Cold salads, like this colorful Mediterranean Pasta Salad, are easy to prepare in advance and store in a cooler until you've arrived at your campsite. You can even make it with a wheat pasta alternative, such as Birds Eye® butternut squash veggie spirals. Either way, the tang of balsamic vinaigrette is perfectly matched with black olives, ham and salami, and fresh basil for a savory side that's almost a meal in itself!
For a quick appetizer or a late-night snack, Jiffy Pop® butter popcorn, with its self-contained popping pan, can easily be popped over the grill or fire. And we swear it smells and tastes better than anything you’d find at the movie theatre.
CAMPFIRE DESSERTS
Bring back those foil packets! S'mores are a classic campfire treat, but you can take them up a notch with our Campfire S'more Nachos. It's all the graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows you love with the added bonus of Peter Pan® peanut butter and crumbled brownies. After about five minutes, you'll have a gooey dessert the entire camp crew will rave about.
Grilled Peach and Blueberry Foil Packets are another great packet option for those who would prefer something light and fruity. (Sidenote: Grilling really brings out any fruit’s sweetness—try grilling your pineapple, grapefruit, or pears while you're at it!) Top it with Reddi-wip® extra creamy, or ice cream if you're staycationing with easy access to your freezer. If you're looking to bust out the cast iron skillet again, use those peaches (and the Reddi-wip!) to make our Skillet Peach Cobbler.
Campfire meals certainly don't have to be boring! They can play a major role in the memories you're creating with your family and friends, whether that's over a weekend at the lake or a backyard movie night at home. Get the fire going and enjoy!
P.S. Want more camping recipes? Pack up and head outside with our complete campfire meals and recipes collection!
