Cooking over an open flame is one of the joys of camping. After a long day outdoors, nothing gets the stomach growling like the sizzle of a great meal. While campfire cooking is fun, it can also be a little daunting to first-timers or families with children. The following five options are easy, safe, and best of all, delicious!
1. Try a New Twist on Hot Dogs
Hot dogs may be classic camping fare, but they’re still downright tasty and easy to make. To turn the original hot dog into something exciting, try making spiral or spider hotdogs. Spiral hotdogs aren’t just more fun, they taste better too! The hotdog will get crispier and your condiments will fall into the grooves. Spider hotdogs are eight-legged fun for the kids and absolutely delicious.
2. Spice Up Your S’mores
S’mores are the legend of campfire food. What childhood is complete without making s’mores around a campfire? The best part is there are so many variations from the traditional s’more cookies, which can include tasty ingredients such as chocolate hazelnut spread, Oreos®, peanut butter, caramel, and anything else that gets your taste buds watering!
3. Pig Out With Pie Irons
If you’ve ever sacrificed a hot dog or mallow to the flame, you’ll appreciate that pie irons keep all of the ingredients contained. Simply line the iron with two slices of bread and add your favorite filling. From grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza pockets to fruit pies your kids will love learning how to make their own food over a fire. Don’t forget to try it out with eggs or cinnamon rolls for a quick breakfast idea.
4. Use An Orange as Your Oven
For a tasty treat, hollow out oranges and fill them with brownie batter. Wrap your mini oven in foil and place it in the hot coals. Rotate them occasionally and bake for 30-50 minutes. Customize your individual deserts with any extra ingredients or toppings your young ones crave. This chocolaty-citrus combo will keep the kids coming back for more.
5. Build Your Own Foil Packets
Tin-foil packets are great for the kids because they get to create their own individual meals. Picky eaters will have no room for complaints, as they choose which ingredients to add in their packet.
Simply choose a variety of ingredients then chop, slice, or cube them into bit-size pieces. Be sure to include veggies, meat, and potatoes. Have each person form a packet from tin foil, choose their ingredients, and add butter and seasonings to taste. Place the packets in hot coals, adding coals on top of them if possible. Check and rotate occasionally. Your packets are ready to eat when the potatoes are fully cooked.
Interested in stepping up your campfire cooking to the next level? Learn all about the art of dutch oven cooking here.