Camping is one of those experiences that brings people closer to nature, and nothing complements a day outdoors like a good meal cooked over an open fire.
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or new to the great outdoors, having the right recipes can elevate your camping trip from good to unforgettable.
When you’re out in the wilderness, simplicity is key, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor. The best camping recipes are those that combine ease of preparation with delicious results.
From breakfasts that fuel your adventures to dinners that wrap up your day in the most satisfying way, these recipes will ensure you eat well, no matter where you pitch your tent.
Cooking in the great outdoors comes with its own set of challenges, but with a little creativity and the right ingredients, you can prepare meals that are just as tasty as anything you’d make at home.
Whether you’re cooking over a campfire, using a portable stove, or even trying out a Dutch oven, these recipes are designed to be flexible and foolproof.
Best Camping Recipes
31. Breakfast Scrambler from My Organized Chaos
This BBQ Breakfast Scrambler combines hashbrowns, ham, eggs, cheese, and vegetables into a hearty one-pan meal cooked outdoors. It can be prepared on a barbecue grill or over a campfire, making it ideal for camping or summer mornings without heating up the kitchen.
The dish cooks covered with foil to keep moisture in, then uncovered to crisp the edges, resulting in a satisfying mix of scrambled eggs and crispy potatoes.
It offers a simple, no-fuss way to enjoy a balanced breakfast or brunch with minimal cleanup.
30. Egg Bake Breakfast Foil Packet from Julie’s Eats & Treats
This item features a simple and delicious egg bake cooked in foil packets, perfect for preparing breakfast over a campfire or grill. The recipe combines eggs, shredded hash browns, diced ham, and cheese, all sealed in foil for easy cooking and cleanup.
It offers a convenient way to enjoy a hearty breakfast outdoors without needing extra dishes. The foil packets cook quickly and can be customized with favorite ingredients, making them ideal for camping or summer mornings by the lake.
29. Breakfast Burritos – Campfire Style from Taste and Tell
These camping breakfast burritos combine seasoned eggs, hash browns, ham, cheese, cilantro, and green chiles wrapped in a warm tortilla. They are designed to be prepared ahead of time, making them easy to store and cook over a campfire or portable stove.
The recipe highlights a southwestern flavor profile with the addition of taco seasoning and green chiles for a spicy kick. Wrapping the burritos tightly in foil allows for convenient reheating, providing a hot, satisfying breakfast even in the outdoors.
28. Donuts from Must Have Mom
These campfire donuts are a simple and fun recipe perfect for outdoor cooking with kids. Using biscuit dough fried in a cast iron pan over a campfire, the donuts are shaped, cooked until golden, and then coated with cinnamon sugar for a sweet finish.
The process encourages kids to get involved by shaping their own donuts, making it an engaging activity during camping trips. The recipe is quick to prepare and can be enjoyed as a breakfast treat or dessert while camping.
27. Cheesy Western Skillet with Hash Browns and Ham Breakfast Casserole from Kid Friendly Things To Do
This Cheesy Western Skillet combines shredded hash browns, diced ham, green peppers, eggs, and cheddar cheese into a hearty breakfast casserole. It can be prepared ahead of time and cooked on a grill or in the oven, making it ideal for camping or family meals.
The dish serves about eight people and offers a comforting, savory start to the day with melted cheese and flavorful ham. Leftovers can be easily reheated, providing a convenient option for busy mornings or outdoor gatherings.
26. Camper’s Outdoor Apple Cobbler from Instructables.com
This item demonstrates how to prepare a rich and sweet apple cobbler using a cast iron Dutch oven over an outdoor charcoal fire. It guides you through layering canned apple pie filling, brown sugar, cake mix, and butter without mixing, then cooking the dessert by placing the Dutch oven among hot coals for even heat distribution.
The process includes tips on seasoning the cast iron cookware and managing the fire for optimal cooking conditions. It offers a practical approach for campers or outdoor cooks to create a comforting dessert with minimal refrigeration and simple ingredients.
25. Cinnamon Roll-ups from Almost Supermom
Campfire Cinnamon Roll-ups offer a simple way to enjoy a sweet treat cooked over an open flame. Using crescent roll dough coated in cinnamon sugar, these roll-ups are skewered and toasted until golden brown, creating a warm, gooey snack perfect for camping breakfasts or desserts.
The recipe requires minimal ingredients and equipment, making it easy to prepare outdoors without a full kitchen. Once cooked, they can be enjoyed plain or enhanced with a drizzle of glaze, adding a delicious finishing touch to this fun and shareable campfire delight.
24. Eclairs from The Many Little Joys
Campfire eclairs are a simple and delicious dessert made by wrapping crescent roll dough around a foil-covered stick and roasting it over an open fire until golden brown.
Once cooked, the hollow center is filled with creamy vanilla pudding and topped with chocolate or Nutella for a gooey, sweet treat.
This dessert brings a fun, interactive element to camping or backyard cookouts, allowing everyone to participate in the cooking process. The recipe uses easy-to-find ingredients and can be customized with different fillings or toppings to suit personal tastes.
23. Sausage and Hashbrown Breakfast Pizza from Taste of Home
This item features a savory breakfast pizza made with a flaky crescent roll crust topped with sausage, hash browns, eggs, and cheese. The combination creates a hearty, layered dish that bakes into a golden, satisfying meal perfect for brunch or a special breakfast.
The recipe offers flexibility with toppings, allowing for additions like vegetables, different meats, or cheese blends to customize the flavor. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge or freezer and reheated, making it a convenient option for busy mornings or gatherings.
22. Fried Eggs With Potato-and-Bacon Hash from Martha Stewart
This dish combines tender beets and Yukon Gold potatoes cooked until golden and mixed with sautéed onions and fresh parsley. Four eggs are cracked into wells made in the hash and cooked until the whites are set but the yolks remain runny, creating a hearty and colorful meal.
The recipe highlights how quickly beets can soften when boiled, making them easy to prepare despite their reputation. It offers a simple way to enjoy a nutritious breakfast or brunch with vibrant flavors and satisfying textures.
21. S’mores Granola from The Big Man’s World
This collection features a variety of granola and cereal recipes designed to offer flavorful and nutritious breakfast options. It includes recipes for healthy granola, low-calorie cereal, protein-packed mixes, and keto-friendly varieties to suit different dietary preferences.
Users can create homemade granola with diverse flavors and textures, ranging from crispy cereals to creamy granola butters. These recipes provide simple ways to enjoy wholesome, customizable breakfasts that can be tailored to individual tastes and nutritional goals.
20. Bacon from Zestuous
This item demonstrates a simple method for cooking bacon over a campfire using skewers and foil. Bacon strips are woven onto skewers with gaps between them, allowing for even cooking and a smoky flavor as they roast above the flames.
The skewers rest on logs or rocks positioned over the fire, and rotating them every few minutes ensures consistent crispiness. This technique offers a hands-on way to enjoy crispy bacon outdoors without the mess of a stovetop, making it ideal for camping breakfasts.
19. Camping French Toast from Fresh Off the Grid
This item demonstrates how to make perfect French toast while camping using simple ingredients and straightforward techniques. It emphasizes selecting the right bread thickness, balancing the egg-to-milk ratio, and adding sugar to create a crispy, caramelized exterior.
The method includes soaking fresh or stale bread for the ideal amount of time and cooking in a well-buttered skillet over medium heat to avoid uneven cooking.
The result is a golden, flavorful French toast that pairs well with maple syrup and fresh fruit for a satisfying outdoor breakfast.
18. Cake & Berry Campfire Cobbler from Taste of Home
This item features a simple recipe for a cake and berry cobbler cooked in a Dutch oven over a campfire or grill. It combines canned raspberry pie filling with a dry cake mix topping, creating a warm, bubbly dessert that’s perfect for outdoor gatherings.
The cooking method involves layering the pie filling in the Dutch oven and spreading the cake batter on top before covering and baking with charcoal briquettes.
The result is a sweet, comforting treat that pairs well with vanilla ice cream and offers an easy way to enjoy dessert while camping or barbecuing.
17. Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie from Homemade Heather

16. Pizza Nachos from Cooking With Janica
This recipe creates a rich and creamy campfire nacho dish topped with a garlic cream sauce, pepperoni, vegetables, and melted Colby-Jack cheese. It uses a cast iron skillet to layer tortilla chips and toppings, then cooks over an open fire until the cheese bubbles and the ingredients warm through.
Most of the preparation can be done ahead of time, making it easy to assemble at the campsite with minimal cleanup. The garlic cream sauce combines butter, olive oil, garlic, cream, milk, Parmesan cheese, and spices for a flavorful base that elevates the classic nacho experience.
15. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich from Twin Dragonfly Designs

14. Camping Hotdog Recipe for the Campfire from Frugal Coupon Living
This item features a simple recipe for making wrapped hot dogs cooked over a campfire. It uses hot dogs and crescent roll dough, which are wrapped together, covered in foil, and roasted on a stick for 15-20 minutes.
The recipe encourages serving the hot dogs with classic toppings like ketchup, mustard, and cheese, along with suggested side dishes such as coleslaw or corn on the cob.
It offers a fun and easy way to enjoy a tasty meal while camping or during backyard fire pit gatherings.
13. Cheesy Potato & Sausage Foil Packet from Who Needs A Cape?

12. Sausage Pierogie Campfire Foil Packets from Just 2 Sisters

11. Ground Beef Hobo Dinners from Britney’s Pantry

10. Garlic Butter Steak and Potato Foil Packets from Savory Nothings
These garlic butter steak and potato foil packets combine tender steak, seasoned potatoes, and rich garlic butter into a simple, all-in-one meal. The ingredients are wrapped in foil and cooked together on a grill, campfire, or in the oven, allowing flavors to meld while keeping cleanup easy.
Par-boiling the potatoes before assembling ensures they cook through without overcooking the steak. The foil packets can be customized by adding vegetables like green beans or asparagus, or extra ingredients such as bacon and cheese for added richness.
9. Campfire Monkey Bread from Sweet Anne Designs
Campfire Monkey Bread offers a simple way to enjoy a sweet, warm treat cooked directly over a campfire. It uses just a few ingredients—canned biscuit dough, cinnamon sugar, brown sugar, and butter—and requires minimal equipment like a Dutch oven or foil-lined pan.
The recipe is designed for outdoor cooking without electricity or refrigeration, making it ideal for camping trips. The result is a pull-apart bread with a rich cinnamon flavor that brings a cozy, nostalgic feel to any gathering around the fire.
8. Cajun-Style Grill Foil Packets from Favorite Family Recipes
These Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets combine shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes seasoned with bold Cajun spices, all cooked together in a foil packet. The packets lock in flavor and moisture while making grilling or baking simple and mess-free.
Each foil packet can be customized with additional vegetables or seasonings, allowing everyone to tailor their meal to their taste. They are perfect for outdoor cooking, camping, or quick weeknight dinners, and cleanup is as easy as discarding the foil.
7. 3 Cheese Bacon Campfire Potatoes from Just 2 Sisters

6. Campfire Cones from Hip2Save
Campfire cones transform waffle ice cream cones into warm, gooey treats filled with marshmallows, chocolate, and other favorite sweets. These handheld desserts cook quickly over a campfire, grill, or in the oven, melting the fillings into a delicious, melty snack.
The cones are wrapped in foil and heated for just a few minutes, making them easy to prepare and customize. They offer a fun twist on traditional s’mores, perfect for backyard BBQs, camping trips, or anytime a sweet, melty treat is desired.
5. S’more Nachos from Let’s Camp S’more
S’mores Nachos combine broken graham crackers, mini and regular marshmallows, and chocolate chips layered in a foil pan for a gooey, melty dessert. They can be cooked over a campfire, on a grill, or baked in an oven, making them versatile for both outdoor adventures and home kitchens.
This treat offers a fun twist on traditional s’mores by allowing customization with additional toppings like caramel, fruit, or pretzels. The recipe can also be adapted to vegan preferences by using suitable chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers.
4. Bacon Wrapped BBQ Meatball Onion Bombs from SHTF
This item highlights three flavorful bacon-wrapped recipes perfect for cooking over a campfire. Each dish combines simple ingredients with bacon to create quick, satisfying meals that elevate outdoor dining.
The recipes include BBQ bacon onion-wrapped meatball bombs, bacon-wrapped corn on the cob, and bacon-wrapped jalapeno cheddar poppers. These easy-to-prepare foods cook fast and add variety to camping menus without requiring complex preparation.
3. Samoa S’mores from Creme De La Crumb
This item features a creative twist on classic s’mores by using homemade Samoa cookies as the sandwich base. It combines toasted marshmallows with rich caramel, coconut, chocolate, and shortbread flavors for a unique and indulgent treat.
The process involves toasting marshmallows until golden and then pressing them between two Samoa cookies to create a gooey, flavorful dessert. This combination offers a delicious way to enjoy the nostalgic campfire snack with an elevated, homemade touch.
2. Banana S’more Boats from Suburble
Banana boats are a simple, sweet treat made by stuffing a banana with marshmallows and chocolate chips, then wrapping it in foil for cooking. They can be prepared over a campfire, on a barbecue, or baked in an oven, making them versatile for outdoor or indoor enjoyment.
Kids can easily assemble their own banana boats, turning dessert preparation into a fun activity. Once cooked, the melted chocolate and marshmallows create a gooey, delicious filling that’s perfect for sharing around a fire or at home.
1. Apple Crisp Foil Packets from Gimme Some Grilling

What are some easy-to-pack ingredients for camping meals?
When planning your camping menu, opt for ingredients that are lightweight, non-perishable, and versatile. Canned goods, dry pasta, rice, and dehydrated foods are excellent choices. Fresh produce like potatoes, carrots, and onions can withstand the elements better than others.
Don’t forget to bring spices in small containers to add flavor without bulk.
How do I keep perishable items fresh without a refrigerator?
To keep perishable items like meats and dairy fresh, use a quality cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs. Store these items in the cooler in a way that minimizes exposure to air each time it’s opened.
Frozen meats can act as additional ice packs and will thaw in time for use. For longer trips, consider pre-cooking and freezing meals that can be reheated over a campfire.
What are some effective ways to cook over a campfire?
Cooking over a campfire requires a bit of preparation. Invest in heavy-duty aluminum foil, a good cast-iron skillet, and a grill grate that can be placed over the fire.
Foil packets are an easy method, allowing you to cook meals with minimal cleanup. Skewers or a roasting stick are also great for direct cooking. Always ensure the fire has burned down to hot coals for even cooking.
How can I make cleanup easier when cooking outdoors?
To simplify cleanup, prepare as much as possible at home. Pre-chop vegetables, marinate meats, and pack them in resealable bags. When cooking, use non-stick spray on your pans and grills to prevent sticking.
Bring biodegradable soap and a small basin for washing dishes, and always follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all waste.