Campfire Pasta with Clams
Here’s something that’ll surprise even the most seasoned campers – gourmet pasta with clams cooked over an open flame. This showstopper dish features pasta with clams from the campfire, topped with toasted breadcrumbs that give it just that little extra something that will have campers almost giggling with delight as they slurp around the fire. The smoky flavor from the fire combines beautifully with the briny sweetness of clams.
The secret to pulling this off lies in timing and temperature control. You’ll need a large cast-iron pot and some patience as the flames lick the bottom of your cookware. The toasted breadcrumbs aren’t just for show – they add a wonderful textural contrast that transforms this from a simple seafood pasta into something truly memorable.
Korean Budae Jjigae (Army Stew)
This one-pot-wonder is ideal for camping because it can be made in a Dutch oven or a large cookpan or pot over a campfire. Most of the work for this dish is in prepping the ingredients; the cooking process is more of a letting-it-bubble-along sort of deal. That kind of preparation also makes Budae Jjigae great for group camping, as you’ll end up with a rich, flavorful stew ready to satisfy a lot of hungry mouths.
Born out of necessity during the Korean War, this fusion stew combines American processed foods with traditional Korean flavors. Think instant noodles, spam, and hot dogs swimming in a spicy, umami-rich broth with kimchi and vegetables. It sounds weird, but trust me – this is comfort food at its finest. Korean dishes wonderfully marry the delicious and the nutritious through extensive use of both fresh and fermented vegetables, delivering sumptuous hits of spiciness, sweetness, and umami.
Gnocchi with Tomatoes
Gnocchi is something that’s insanely easy to cook over a fire. These homemade foil packs steam as they cook, giving you soft and pillowy gnocchi alongside tasty corn and tomatoes in just a few minutes. You can even use the foil as a dish. Most people think gnocchi requires a proper kitchen, but that’s where they’re wrong.
The steam created inside the foil packet creates the perfect cooking environment for these little potato dumplings. Add some fresh herbs, a drizzle of olive oil, and maybe some parmesan if you’re feeling fancy. The cleanup is virtually nonexistent – just crumple up the foil and toss it in the fire-safe trash.
Watermelon and Halloumi Skewers
Here’s where things get interesting – grilled fruit and cheese over a campfire. The perfect vegetarian camping appetizer or side dish, these skewers take advantage of fresh summer watermelon and pair it with salty halloumi. The contrast between the sweet, juicy watermelon and the squeaky, salty cheese creates an explosion of flavors that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about campfire cooking.
The key is getting the timing right – you want the halloumi to develop a golden crust while the watermelon just starts to caramelize around the edges. It’s like a Mediterranean vacation on a stick, and it takes maybe five minutes over the coals. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
Campfire Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Yes, you read that right – we’re making cake over a campfire. This five-ingredient campfire-grilled pineapple upside-down cake goes way beyond charred marshmallows for an impressively-memorable camping dessert. With just pineapple rings, butter, brown sugar, cake mix, and a cast-iron skillet, you can create magic.
The trick is using the right coal setup – you need consistent, moderate heat rather than roaring flames. The cast iron distributes heat evenly, creating that perfect caramelized pineapple top. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people think you’re some sort of campfire wizard, when really you just followed a simple recipe.
Korean Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps
Wrap some grilled slices of pork belly in crisp lettuce and dip into the spicy BBQ sauce called ssamjang. Korean Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps are easily made at the campsite: Just cook the meat in a cast-iron pan or flat grill, then add it to a handheld wrapper of fresh lettuce. Throw in some chopped-up scallions and sautéed or fire-roasted garlic inside to level this up even more.
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and the incredible flavor payoff. The rich, fatty pork belly gets crispy and smoky from the fire, while the fresh lettuce provides a cooling contrast. The ssamjang – a fermented soybean paste mixed with chili paste – adds depth and heat that elevates the entire experience. It’s interactive eating at its finest.
Mediterranean Chicken
Boneless, skinless chicken breast has never been this exciting! The salty, briny flavors of tomato, capers and olives (along with some garlic and artichokes for good measure) get soft and saucy and contribute their depth to the meat, which, from its foil-pack poaching, soaks it all in beautifully. This isn’t your typical bland campfire chicken.
The foil-pack method creates a perfect steam environment where all those Mediterranean flavors meld together. The chicken emerges incredibly moist and flavorful, infused with the essence of the Mediterranean. Garlic bread certainly does punctuate the dish, so don’t leave that out. It’s like bringing a taste of the Greek islands to your campsite.
Walking Tacos in Bags
If you haven’t heard of walking tacos, you’re in for a treat. Cook off the mince and veggies in a pan, tip the contents into an individual bag of tortilla crisps, and sprinkle some cheese on top. They work for wild camping or are great for a fuss-free kids meal. This might sound like college dorm food, but it’s actually brilliant.
The genius is in the portability and personalization – everyone gets their own bag, and you can customize toppings however you like. The warm meat mixture slightly melts the cheese and creates this amazing contrast of textures between the crunchy chips and savory filling. Plus, there are practically no dishes to wash, which any camper will appreciate.
Summer Panzanella with Grilled Bread
Panzanella is one of those recipes that truly tastes like peak summer—when the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor and make it even more summery, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.
This Italian bread salad transforms stale bread into something spectacular. The charring from the fire adds a smoky depth that you simply can’t get indoors. This panzanella bread salad is like the greatest hits album of summer flavors with sliced peaches, tomatoes, and basil. We made this as a side at our campground wedding dinner and it was a favorite. It’s rustic, elegant, and perfect for using up day-old bread.
Campfire Popcorn with Spices
Once you cook popcorn over the campfire, you’ll wonder why you’ve been cooking it any other way. (You may also become more prone to wearing flannel and carrying an axe.) This isn’t just regular popcorn – we’re talking about artisanal, smoky kernels with creative seasonings.
This DIY version of the Jiffy Pop popcorn we all loved as kids uses a few simple spices to make things interesting. This popcorn is so much fun to make and delivers a ton of flavor! Better than any snack mix from the store! Make a big bowl for hanging out around the campfire or just gazing up at the night sky. The key is constant movement of the pot and the right heat level – too hot and you’ll burn the kernels, too cool and they won’t pop.
Campfire cooking doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor or creativity. These ten dishes prove that with a little imagination and the right techniques, you can create restaurant-quality meals under the stars. These camping recipes feel “gourmet” but don’t require you to spend your entire trip cooking. All of our meals have been tested and perfected at real campgrounds, using standard camp cooking equipment you probably already own. The smoky flavors and outdoor atmosphere make everything taste better anyway. Next time you’re planning a camping trip, skip the hot dogs and try something that’ll actually make you excited for mealtime. Your fellow campers will thank you.
