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Rashanda Cobbins
Ivis EstradaUpdated: Feb. 29, 2024
Grab some foil and head to the backyard fire pit! These foil packet recipes are perfect for a relaxing evening at home.
EJJOHNSONPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
If you’re planning a camping trip or spending the day in the backyard, cooking on the fire pit is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. While cooking outdoors can be fun, using a fire pit for the first time can be a little intimidating so here are a few helpful tips to get you started with your campfire cooking.
Get Set Up
Before you can get to cooking, you’ll need the proper setup and equipment to cook over your fire pit. First, make sure your fire pit is placed in a safe and secure area where the fire cannot reach anything flammable. Make sure you have the proper cooking equipment you’ll need on hand like grilling tools, a camping Dutch oven, a grilling rack, etc. Once your space is set up, you can get to building the fire.
Cook With Foil Packets
If you want to avoid cleaning up a mess after cooking, foil-packet meals are the way to go. Traditional foil packet meals consist of potatoes, vegetables, meat or fish, but we’ve got a few creative ones on deck that you’ll enjoy just as much as the classics.
Try a Pie Iron
If you’re looking for other easy meals to make over the fire pit, try making pudgy pies with a pie iron. They’re perfect for making a pudgy pie and you’ll only have one dish to clean up afterward. Just make sure you let the sandwich cool down a bit before digging in!
Revamp a Classic Recipe
Eating the same meal over and over again on those longer camping trips can get a little tiring. Try thinking outside the box, or use some of our recipes as inspiration, for revamping a classic recipe.
Use cookies instead of graham crackers or peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars for s’mores. For those nights when you aren’t craving a toasted marshmallow, you’ll love these campfire desserts.
Stay Safe
Make sure you’re properly prepared when you’re cooking over the fire pit. Have the correct cooking gear, like long-handled tools, to make sure no one gets burned, always have a bucket of water nearby in case the fire grows too big and, most importantly, never leave a fire unattended.
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, try out some of our best fire pit recipes that’ll satisfy those hungry stomachs after a full day of outdoor activities.
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Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire Bread
A neighboring camper made a bread so tempting, I had to ask for the details. Here’s my version, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee by the campfire. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
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Pepper jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty sandwiches. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
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Ham and Swiss Sliders
My next-door neighbor shared this ham and Swiss sliders recipe with me, and I simply cannot improve it! You can make it ahead and cook it quickly when company arrives. The combo of poppy seeds, ham and cheese, horseradish and brown sugar makes it so delicious. —Iris Weihemuller, Baxter, Minnesota
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4/39
Grilled Maple Pork Chops
Pork chops on the grill are hard to beat. The marinade is simple, and so good. —Nicholas King, Duluth, Minnesota
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5/39
Quick Ham and Bean Soup
If you like ham and bean soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty, quick version will leave you with a satisfied smile. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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6/39
Steak and Potato Foil Packs
As a park ranger, I’ve cooked a lot of meals outdoors. I often assemble a steak and potato foil pack and toss it into my backpack with some ice. Then when I set up camp, it’s easy to cook over a campfire. If I’m at home, I use my grill, and the food is just as good. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
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Chicken and Zucchini Foil Packs
I enjoy foil-wrapped dinners cooked on the grill, especially because there are no pots or pans to wash. You can try making chicken foil packs with most fresh vegetables you have on hand. —Dianna Smith, Newport, Tennessee
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Campfire Hash
In our area we are able to camp almost all year-round. My family invented this recipe using ingredients we all love so we could enjoy them on the campfire. This hearty meal tastes so good after a full day of outdoor activities. —Janet Danilow, Winkleman, Arizona
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Pot of S'mores
Mom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
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10/39
Campfire Dessert Cones
Kids love to make these! Set out the ingredients so they can mix and match their own creations. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
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11/39
Eclairs on the Grill
My best camping treat is an easy eclair on a stick. This is the one that makes people watch what you’re doing and beg to be included. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
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12/39
Lemon-Dill Salmon Packets
Grilling in foil is an easy technique I use with foods that cook quickly, like fish, shrimp, bite-sized meats and fresh veggies. The options are endless—and the cleanup is easy. —A.J. Weinhold, McArthur, California
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13/39
Grilled Peach Sundaes
These peaches with a hint of grill flavor are sweet and juicy. We serve them in a waffle bowl with ice cream. That’s jackpot at our house. —Nancy Dentler, Greensboro, North Carolina
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14/39
Tomato-Herb Grilled Tilapia
This super tilapia with ginger and lemon takes dinner over the top with minimal prep. Grilling the fish in foil is about as easy as it gets. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Pizza Mountain Pies
Because we liked this pudgy pie recipe so much, I started making them for my daughter even when we’re not camping. —Pam Weik, West Lawn, Pennsylvania
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16/39
Hot Quick Banana Boats
These delicious, warm bananas are great on camp-outs or in the backyard. You can eat them right out of the foil bowl. Cleanup is easy, too. —Sheila Parker, Reno, Nevada
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Grilled Green Beans
I cook almost everything outdoors, including grilled green beans. I prepare this snappy side dish while the entree is cooking. The recipe has won over my picky eaters. —Carol Traupman-Carr, Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
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18/39
Potatoes Plus
On our busy farm, meals need to be ready fast. These herb-seasoned potatoes and vegetables wrapped in foil packets cook in only half an hour. They're excellent with steak or chicken. —Jill Jellett, Leduc, Alberta
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19/39
Can-Can Chicken
Here's a tasty take on the popular beer-can chicken. Once the bird is on the grill, the work's basically done. And cleanup is a cinch—a must for a guy like me. —Steve Bath, Lincoln, Nebraska
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20/39
Potato-Sausage Foil Packs
We had these smoky campfire bundles at a friend's house for dinner and loved the simplicity of this great summer meal. Now we often make it for summer weeknight dinners. —Alissa Keith, Forest, Virginia
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For these nifty foil packs, small hands make quick work of topping potato wedges with a hot dog, onions and cheese. — Kelly Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
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22/39
Buttery Horseradish Corn on the Cob
For a July Fourth barbecue, I whipped up a butter and horseradish topping for grilled corn. People actually formed a line to get seconds. —Trish Loewen, Bakersfield, California
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23/39
Cajun Boil on the Grill
I came up with these everything-in-one seafood packets for a family reunion, since the recipe can be increased to feed a bunch. The foil steams up inside, so open carefully. —Allison Brooks, Fort Collins, Colorado
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24/39
Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy Pie
Here’s an ooey-gooey treat that’s just right for campfires and cookouts. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama
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25/39
The most casual cookout will seem elegant when it stars this delicate fish combined with seafood stuffing and a lemony sauce. Just add a salad and baguette. —Bryn Namavari, Chicago, Illinois
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26/39
Grilled Cabbage
The first time I made this, I couldn’t believe how good it was! We served it with grilled burgers and our dinner was complete. I never thought I’d skip dessert because I was full from too much cabbage! —Elizabeth Wheeler, Thornville, Ohio
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27/39
Quick Barbecued Beans
Barbecued beans are a simple, classic recipe and cooking them on the grill adds great smoky flavor. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois
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28/39
This warm Dutch oven cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It's yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho
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29/39
Reuben Pudgy Pie
Our favorite pudgy pie is the Reuben: corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese! We always use buttered bread. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Chicken Ole Foil Supper
These Tex Mex–style chicken packets can be assembled ahead and frozen if you like. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge, then grill as directed. I like to serve them with warm tortillas and fresh fruit on the side. —Mary Peck, Salina, Kansas
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If you’re new to cooking fish (or even if you’re a pro), this no-fail salmon recipe is one you have to try. It’s easy enough for everyday, but also wows at dinner parties. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
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Grilled Peppers and Zucchini
This versatile side dish is so simple and quick that I had to share it. Grilling the colorful veggies in a foil packet means one less dish to wash, but I sometimes stir-friy the mixture on the stovetop. —Karen Anderson, Fair Oaks, California
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Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets
Dining by the campfire? This easy packet of potatoes, bacon and cheese makes a terrific hash. We like to serve it with eggs and fresh pico de gallo. —Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Ginger Salmon with Green Beans
I developed this flavor-packed dinner for a busy friend who wants to eat clean. —Nicole Stevens, Austin, Texas
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Spiced Grilled Corn
The wonderful spice mixture doesn't add heat, only great flavor. This just may be the best corn you've ever had! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Cheese-Topped Potatoes in Foil
Whenever we go camping, cheesy potato packets are a must. They just may remind you of scalloped potatoes. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
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Milky Way Pudgy Pie
My favorite pudgy pies have Milky Way candy bars, graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows. So irresistible! And buttered bread is a must. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
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Campfire Cinnamon Twists
Cinnamon rolls get the toasty treatment when wrapped around skewers and warmed over a fire. Brush with butter, then sprinkle with sugar and spice. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Grilled Campfire Trout Dinner
Your fresh catch will taste even better with this simple treatment that keeps the fish moist. Carrots are an excellent accompaniment; cook up in a separate foil packet. —Wendy McGowan, Fontana, California
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Originally Published: May 29, 2019
Rashanda Cobbins
Rashanda is a former food editor for Taste of Home. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, Rashanda interned in Southern Living’s test kitchen and later spent nearly a decade developing recipes and food content at ConAgra Brands. In her spare time, she loves scoping out local farmers markets and having picnics in the park.
Ivis Estrada
Ivis recently completed her first year as assistant editor at Taste of Home, where she's been writing and updating content about cooking trends, food news and cleaning and organizing. She also works on behind-the-scenes projects that help keep the Taste of Home team ticking along. Still learning how to cook elaborate meals, she's an expert when it comes to finding and trying beginner recipes.After hours, you can find Ivis out looking for the best restaurants in Madison (especially those that serve authentic Mexican food) or taking her dog for scenic walks.
