Picture this: you are on a family camping trip and about to sit down to enjoy a meal together. Except, you do not have any propane for the grill that you brought with you, and the nearest place that you could find a replacement tank is several miles away.
Fear not, because nature is all you need when it comes to cooking a great meal in the wilderness! That’s right, it is completely possible to create a meal that is not only satisfactory, but delicious. Whether you are planning ahead to your next camping trip in the great outdoors or looking for a way to cook fun snacks on your fire in your backyard, then this is the article for you. All of these delicious meals can be made on the campfire with the help of aluminum (tin) foil.
Pineapple Chicken
Bet you didn’t think we were going to start with something quite so fancy, but here we are! You can make a delicious moist chicken breast with a pineapple glaze over the campfire. This delicious recipe from Creme de la Crumb not only features the aforementioned chicken and pineapple, but also some other delicious veggies such as green and red peppers.
Cheesy Asparagus
Hate it or love it, asparagus is by far one of the healthiest vegetables for humans! Well, healthy at least until you drench it in cheesy sauce. But hey, if you’re camping, you’re on vacation right? What’s the use of cutting calories at a time like that. At least, that is the philosophy of the folks over at Delish, who created this delicious recipe for tin foil cheesy asparagus.
Tin Foil Breakfast Burritos
We do not give the breakfast burrito enough attention. Packed full with protein and flavor, these majestic beasts are exactly what you need to kickstart your day off the right way. And while it is okay to bring some pre-wrapped breakfast burritos with you and serve them cold, bringing breakfast burrito ingredients and making them fresh over the campfire is a whole other world of taste. Get the tutorial at Taste and Tell Blog.
Cheesy Bacon Hot Dogs
Okay, now we are just purposefully trying to make you hungry as you read this. Everyone knows that the hot dog is a classic staple of camping food, but how about a hot dog wrapped in bacon? If you are really looking to impress your fellow campers, then you have to show up with this recipe for a cheesy bacon hot dog, as seen over at the Food Network.
Campfire Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and you don’t have to be at home near the fireplace to enjoy it. This recipe from the Dyrt does involve a good amount of preparation work, but trust us when we say that the end result is very much worth it. Who doesn’t love oozy cheesy goodness?
Berry Crisp in Foil
We would be much remiss to complete this entire article without any dessert options! You can make many delicious savory means on the campfire — as we have addressed in this article —but when it comes to deserts, your options are a little bit more limited. But who wouldn’t want to eat a delicious warm dessert when camping? Luckily Delish delivers with this recipe for a delicious berry crumble that can be made over the fire.
Philly Cheesesteak
Philly cheesesteak is only something that you get if you make a visit to Philadelphia, right? Wrong! You can also enjoy a delicious Philly cheesesteak on your next camping trip! In fact, this is a food type that lends itself well to the tinfoil method of cooking. This delicious recipe will also only take a minimal number of ingredients, among them being cheese, bread, and of course, roast beef! Find out how to make it over at Homemade Heather.
Cauliflower Curry Foil Packet
Vegetarians enjoy camping too, so you better be prepared with plenty of yummy meals for them to eat! One such meal is this cauliflower curry packet from Veggies Save the Day. Aromatic and perfectly spiced, the scent of this cooking on the fire is sure to entice even the most ardent of meat eaters.
Steak and Potatoes
Sometimes it’s about the simple things in life — and what can be more simple than steak and potatoes? If you’re somebody who is about the easy and wholesome things in life, then you will definitely want to consider making this recipe from Gimme Delicious. Not only will your dinner turn out juicy and delicious, but this recipe can also provide quite the feast, feeding up to a family of 4.
Grilled Vegetables
Sometimes less is more. This grilled vegetable recipe from Happy Foods Tube is simplicity at its best, and can be surprisingly filling on its own although it also of course acts as a great side dish. This recipe shows the use of garlic, zucchini, tomatoes, and onions, though you can use any veggies you have on hand.
Campfire Popcorn
We know that this is more of a snack than a meal, but snacks are important too! We have to warn you, though: once you make popcorn on the fire, you will never be able to eat a microwaved bag again. You’ve been warned. Find out instructions over at the Cookful.
Stuffed Peppers
This meal can be easily made for either herbivores or carnivores, depending on your group’s preference. Healthy and filling, the only ingredients that you will need in order to pull off this recipe from Peg’s Home Cooking includes instant rice, cheese, tomato sauce, and of course, the bell betters. But you can of course improvise with whatever you have in the fridge before you leave that needs to be eaten!
Grilled Herbed Chicken Potato Foil Packs
Here is another gem from Creme de la Crumb. This gourmet grilled chicken and potatoes with herbs is so delicious that you will want to eat it even if you are not on an open air camping trip. Just make sure that you plan ahead to ensure that you have the right spices available to you when it comes time to cook (we recommend that you bring small portions of them in little baggies).
Lime Shrimp
Here is a shoutout to all of the seafood lovers out there! This lime shrimp recipe from Delish is just that —delicious. Shellfish may not be the first thing that you think of eating while you are in the woods (it’s more of a beach food, really) but when the first rush of taste hits your mouth you will wonder why you spent so many years not bringing shrimp on your camping trips!
S’mores Granola
This is not a dessert, per se (we are calling it a breakfast), but it is still something that can count as dessert in a pinch if you have an insatiable sweet tooth! Whether you eat it first thing in the morning or last thing before bed, it’s all the same goodness! All you will need for this recipe that comes courtesy of The Big Man’s World is marshmallows, chocolate chip, granola, and of course, tinfoil!
Teriyaki Beef
Teriyaki beef isn’t just to be found at mall food courts and at the lunch buffet! You can enjoy delicious teriyaki beef that is cooked on the campfire if you follow this comprehensive recipe from Life Made Sweeter. Again, this one does take a little bit of planning ahead, but the end result is very much worth it if you can keep track of the ingredients.
Cheesy Fries
If you are going camping with a group of friends (or having a group of friends over to your backyard to hang out), then you are coming to want to share food that is made for entertaining! And what could be more a crowd pleaser than cheesy fries? The only thing that makes fries and cheese go together even better is the addition of green onions and, of course, bacon bits. You can see how to make this wonderful creation from the folks over at Pillsbury.
Even if you weren’t hungry when you started reading this article, we bet that you are now! That means that it’s a great opportunity to start doing some meal planning for your next trip. Be prepared to wow the friends that you bring with you on your journey in the great outdoors!