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50 Camping Recipes To Make On Your Next Trip Outdoors

Upgrade your weenies on a stick routine.

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grilled bratwurst braised with beer in a pan with caramelized onions and bell peppers
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI

There's a LOT of reasons to go camping—fresh air, fireside ghost stories, and yes, the food (and not just s'mores and weenies on a stick). As summer is PRIME camping time, this season we're taking our campground cuisine very seriously. Even if you've been doing it for years, there are plenty of ways to upgrade your campfire kitchen. These easy skillet, skewer, and campfire cooking recipes will guarantee you'll be eating well in the great outdoors from breakfast to dessert.

Whatever you choose to cook, to start you off we've got plenty of tips on how to build a solid cooking fire so you'll never be too far away from having campfire popcorn, campfire Caprese brie, and skillet beer cheese. And of course, TikTok creators have some genius tips for cooking over a campfire. You'll wish you could cook all your meals over a campfire this year, and we highly recommend you do!

When it comes to cooking over a fire, we love how foil packs take all our favorite home-cooked meals and make them campfire-friendly, with almost zero cleanup. Check out all our favorite foil pack recipes, like these gnocchi foil packets, our berry crisp foil packs, and our sausage & peppers foil pack. Your favorite cast-iron skillet meals are also campfire-friendly, making it almost too easy to make our loaded campfire nachos, our skillet beer cheese, and our campfire breakfast skillet. Plus, they all go great with a camping-friendly cocktail!

Looking to replace your camping gear or upgrade your campfire kitchen? We have a handy guide to all the best camping gear and best camping cookware that will turn anyone into an outdoors expert. Camping on a budget? Check out our handy $20 Budget Eats guide to feeding four people while camping.

1

Campfire Hot Dog Skewers

grilled skewers with sliced hot dogs, pineapple, red bell peppers basted with a bbq sauce
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

In this recipe, we layer cut up hot dogs, bell peppers, pineapple, and onions on skewers before basting with a homemade sweet-tangy BBQ sauce and grill until charred and caramelized. The result is a slightly sweet, summer-worthy skewer made to be served at any BBQ, camping trip, or casual summer dinner.

Get the Campfire Hot Dog Skewers recipe.

2

Campfire Strawberries

strawberries with toasted marshmallow and graham crackers
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

These fruity beauties are the perfect combination of sweet grilled fruit and a campfire classic: fresh strawberries are skewered then coated in marshmallow fluff and roasted before being topped with chocolate and graham crackers. They're the perfect way to enjoy melty s'mores without ending up with sticky hands.

Get the Campfire Strawberries recipe.

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3

Grilled Beer Brats

grilled bratwurst braised with beer in a pan with caramelized onions and bell peppers
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI

It takes almost zero cooking skills to get perfectly charred brats topped with flavor-packed caramelized onions and peppers. First, the brats get burnished on the grill, then they finish off in a simmering beer bath alongside the veg. Use whatever beer you like to drink, but not IPAs (India Pale Ales), which are brewed to be hoppy (i.e. bitter).

Get the Grilled Beer Brats recipe.

4

Grilled Portobello Tacos

grilled portobello tacos topped with cabbage slaw, avocado, and queso fresco
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Mushroom lovers alert: Camping taco nights just got upgraded. Featuring portobello mushrooms marinated in taco spices and grilled to perfection, these vegetarian tacos will delight meat-lovers and vegans alike.

Get the Grilled Portobello Tacos recipe.

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5

Grilled Baked Potatoes

grilled baked potatoes
Erik bernstein

Sure, a baked potato in the oven is great, but have you tried them on the grill? Use this method for your backyard grill or even when you're out camping. The potatoes cook up just as fluffy as they do in the oven, but have the bonus of smoky flavor.

Get the Grilled Baked Potatoes recipe.

6

Campfire Mac & Cheese

campfire mac and cheese
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Extra cheesy mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and that's exactly what we want when we're camping. This simple recipe makes the ultimate macaroni and cheese with a buttery Ritz cracker topping. Get that campfire going!

Get the Campfire Mac & Cheese recipe.

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7

Best-Ever S'mores

classic s'mores with graham crackers, toasty marshmallows, and melty chocolate
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Ah, s'mores: three simple ingredients working together to make something much more delicious than the sum of its parts. Whether you keep it to the classic three ingredients or experiment with fun toppings like caramel or sliced fruit, this is one simple dessert that never disappoints.

Get the Best-Ever S'mores recipe.

8

Corn Salsa

grilled corn salsa
Erik bernstein

While we have plenty of recipes where sweet summer corn gets to shine, this fresh homemade salsa has to be one of our faves. Paired with creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, sharp red onion, fresh basil, and a simple homemade dressing, this easy recipe can pair with just about anything.

Get the Corn Salsa recipe.

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9

Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs

tomato gnocchi kebabs
Andrew bui

Sure, gnocchi is amazing served in a bowl with a sauce, but have you ever had nicely browned gnocchi taken straight off the grill? We’re here to tell you that the crispy-chewy texture is something that you've GOT to try this summer.

Get the Tomato Gnocchi Kebabs recipe.

10

Grilled Steak

delish quarterly 2021 campfires and cookouts dinners on the grill perfect grilled steak marinade cowboy butter
ERIK BERNSTEIN

If you've got time (even just 30 minutes!), marinate the meat, especially for flank and skirt steak. Our flank steak marinade is perfect, but it's really really easy to make your own. Start with olive oil, then whisk in something bold (like balsamic vinegar + mustard), something fresh (herbs, citrus, or a combination of the two), and something sweet (brown sugar or honey).

Get the Grilled Steak recipe.

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11

Grilled Peaches

grilled peaches
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Nothing beats a ripe, sticky-sweet peach, and while you can just bite right in, cooking with peaches is killer. One of our favorite ways? Grilling them, then drizzling them with honey, olive oil, and sea salt. Add freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to take them OTT.

Get the Grilled Peaches recipe.

12

Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes

grilled tomato feta pizzettes with scallions and mozzaraella
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These little pizzettes are excellent for a lazy summer backyard hangout or outdoor camping trip. The combination of crunchy grilled pizza dough, garlic, and olive oil with charred sweet tomatoes and briny, salty feta is a simple pleasure

Get the Grilled Tomato Feta Pizzettes recipe.

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13

Summer Panzanella

best ever summer panzanella
Andrew bui

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.

Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.

14

Grilled Cabbage Steaks

grilled cabbage steaks topped with bacon, sour cream and chives
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

While cabbage is a star side dish, it also makes for a perfect main. It’s hearty, substantial, and is surprisingly great on the grill. If you’re looking for an alternative to steak for your summer BBQ, turn to these cabbage “steaks” instead. We give ours the loaded treatment, but these steaks are nothing if not versatile.

Get the Grilled Cabbage Steaks recipe.

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15

Tex-Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets

tex mex fajita chicken foil packs
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

In these foil packs, a heap of veggies (there are potatoes, onions, and bell peppers) and tender nuggets of boneless, skinless chicken thighs are all flavored with delicious fajita spices. Though potatoes aren't traditionally served with fajitas, here they're a welcome addition (they help soak up ALL the flavor).

Get the Tex-Mex Chicken Fajita Foil Packets recipe.

16

Grilled Pizza

grilled pizza with every slice being a different flavor combo
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI

Here's our #1 tip for success: Prep everything you are going to need before you start grilling your pizzas. The grilling part goes fast. We're talking 4 minutes tops, so have everything ready and near you so that as soon as you flip the pizza crust, you can start topping.

Get the Grilled Pizza recipe.

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17

Breakfast Burritos

breakfast burrito
PARKER FEIERBACH

There's no ONE right way to make a breakfast burrito, but if you follow these easy rules, you're guaranteed perfect results (that can even cure a hangover!) every time. Spoiler alert: We cook the potatoes in bacon fat. Make a bunch, wrap them in foil, and freeze 'em to bring with you camping.

Get the Breakfast Burritos recipe.

18
cheesy potatoes in a foil pack
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These potatoes are the cheesy side your BBQ needs. They're great for camping too—the Parmesan and mozzarella might just sway even those who hate the outdoors.

Get the Campfire Potatoes recipe.

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19

Grilled Tomatoes

grilled tomatoes with tahini caesar
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Tomatoes are maybe the best part of summer, especially when you grill them. Not only does the char from the grill add a slight bitterness that balances a tomato’s acidity and sweetness really well, but the direct heat manages to bring some out some of their deep umami flavors without them falling completely apart.

Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.

20

Oreo Cookie Skillet

oreo cookie skillet
Parker feierbach

This beyond-simple campfire dessert is like survival food, but make it Delish. Don't wait until the center turns golden—the rest will burn before it does! Plus, the top will continue to firm up as it cools.

Get the Oreo Cookie Skillet recipe.

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