food
By Alexia Dellner
•
Published May 13, 2021
Additional reporting by
Katherine Gillen
Whether you’re hiking the trails, glamping in the desert or exploring your own backyard, you don’t have to sacrifice good food in order to enjoy the great outdoors. These 31 camping recipes (like foil packet fajitas and beer-boiled brats) are a cinch to make and taste just as delicious as what you’d eat in your own kitchen. Now that’s the kind of campfire food that we can get on board with.
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Erin McDowell
1. Easy Cherry-almond Granola Bars
Behold, a good-for-you snack that’ll fit perfectly into your backpack.
Get the recipe
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Honey-lime Chicken And Veggies In Foil
These foil packets are delicious and easy to clean up—no plates necessary.
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
3. Grilled Corn With Spicy Aioli
Roast your cobs over the coals, then drizzle them with Sriracha aioli.
Get the recipe
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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Make-ahead Mashed Potatoes
Whipping up creamy taters from scratch while camping? No, thanks. Make these at home, then simply reheat over the fire.
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5. Garlic Lovers Salmon In Foil
What looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to whip up? This fish-in-foil dinner.
Liz Andrew/Erin McDowell
6. Buttermilk Skillet Corn Bread With Tomatoes And Green Onions
It’s the ideal accompaniment for chili (but equally delicious on its own).
Get the recipe
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
7. Crispy Cast-iron Skillet Pizza With Fennel, Sausage And Garlic
Pizza + stargazing = best night ever. The secret to this dish is store-bought dough.
Get the recipe
8. Shrimp Boil Foil Packets
Bonus points if you’re camping at the beach.
9. Caramel Apple Crumble Foil Packs
Just in case you need another reason to go camping, here it is. (Skip the ice cream if you don’t have access to a freezer.)
10. S’mores Dip
Why make one s’more when you can make a whole skillet?
Erin McDowell
11. One-pot Mac And Cheese
The trick to this gooey, one-pot winner is that the pasta gets boiled in milk, which then becomes the base for that cheesy sauce.
Get the recipe
12. Chicken Fajita Foil Packet Dinners
These protein-rich packets will keep everyone satisfied for that late-night hike, plus they’re ready to eat in about 30 minutes.
13. 3-ingredient Tropical Trail Mix
It’s an ideal snack for all the nature gazing you’ll be doing.
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14. Campfire Peach Crisp
No meal is complete without something sweet, even when you’re in the wilderness.
15. Vegan Chilaquiles
We’ll happily wake up at dawn if chilaquiles are involved.
Get the recipe
16. Grilled Beer Boiled Brats
Crack open a few brews to flavor these brats before they go on the grill. (Just save a can for yourself.)
17. Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches
A warm breakfast sandwich that requires almost no effort? Don’t mind if we do.
18. Vegan Sloppy Joes
Aside from being plant-based and protein-packed, lentils have the added benefit of requiring zero refrigeration.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
19. Cheater’s Skillet Paella
Campfire cooking, but make it totally fancy.
Get the recipe
20. Breakfast Burritos
Make these babies ahead of time, then dish ’em up in the morning with a side of salsa.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
21. Rainbow Vegetable Skewers
These colorful skewers can be cooked over the fire or on the grill—your pick.
Get the recipe
22. Grilled Brown Sugar Peaches
Proof that the simplest desserts are often the most delicious.
23. Spicy Black Bean Burgers
Even the most carnivorous campers will gobble these up.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
24. Steak Skewers With Chimichurri Sauce
Pro tip: Make the herby chimichurri in advance.
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25. Trail Mix Pancakes
Oh look, it’s our two favorite camping foods in one dish. Pure maple syrup is optional but highly recommended.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
26. Grilled Angel Food Cake With Blueberry Sauce
Psst: This starts with store-bought angel food cake, in case you’re wondering.
Get the recipe
27. Loaded Barbecue Potatoes
These loaded spuds make an excellent side dish, but they’re also filling enough to be the main course.
28. Sausage, Potato And Green Bean Foil Packets
Can you tell we love foil-packet cooking for camping trips?
29. Baked Beans
When the campfire is hot, you don’t even need an oven.
30. Vegan 3-bean Chili
Serve up this classic camping recipe with a side of skillet cornbread.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
31. Skillet Chicken Fajitas
They taste even better when cooked over an open flame.
Get the recipe
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Alexia Dellner
Executive Editor
Alexia Dellner is an executive editor at PureWow who has over ten years of experience covering a broad range of topics including health, wellness, travel, family, culture and...
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Katherine Gillen
Senior Food Editor
Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...
read full bio
