Campfire Cooking Recipes - Chili

You can't have a collection of campfire cooking recipes without a good smokey pot of chili in the mix. Fire cooking with cast iron cooking just spells the great outdoors. What could be better depending on how hot you want that pot of chili than cooking it in a dutch oven and place on hot coals? And chili can be made so many ways that even a little celery and carrots added with some salt and pepper wouldn't turn up anyone's eyebrows if the mood struck to toss them in.

Traditionally the cast iron dutch oven is placed over the hot coals and about 1-2 Lbs of ground beef is added to brown with some chopped onion and garlic. Add about 2 Tbs of chili powder and stir to mix well. You can add some peppers of your choice depending on how hot you want to make it from mild with a sweet pepper to holy cow with some hot spicy peppers. You'll want to drain off the fat as the ground beef browns. You might want to throw in a couple pieces of bacon to give it that smokey taste and add a little Worcestershire sauce or about 1/2 Tsp of liquid smoke. Just keep letting the meat brown up nice but not burn and keep mixing in those peppers, onions and garlic.

When the meat is nicely browned and the onions, garlic and peppers are tender you can add canned kidney or chili beans to the meat mixture juice and all. If you like your chili with just a tiny taste of sweetness try adding a can of pork and beans. Continue simmering your chili over the campfire and stir to keep it from sticking. The chili will thicken as it continues to simmer over the coals or your wood fire.

Meanwhile you can take out a cast iron skillet and treat with a little oil. What goes better with a pot of campfire chili than a skillet fun of cornbread? You can actually make a box of cornbread that you bought in a store but instead of cooking it in an oven you just mix the ingredients together and pour into the cast iron skillet. Place the lid on the skillet and place it on the grate over the fire. The cornbread will cook in the covered cast iron skillet and you'll have a full flavored bread to go with your campfire chili.

Chili doesn't have to be made with ground beef either as other meats work just as well like buffalo, venison, ground pork and even chicken. Chili can also be made with no meat at all or with meat and no beans. Let's not forget either that chili can also be made with stewed tomatoes, tomatoes and diced peppers, tomato sauce or even vegetable juice if necessary. Garnishing chili with a little shredded cheese never hurts either or a spoonful of sour cream if you have it and some chopped green onions and let's not forget the corn chips for that added crunch instead of crackers.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Fish

Cooking over a fire is rewarding, fun, and probably isn't as hard as you think. If you are looking for something different than the traditional grilled chicken or steak items you might want to consider fish. Whether you buy it ahead of time or catch your own fresh for dinner while on your trip there are several ways to prepare it. Here are some good campfire cooking recipes to get you started. Remember, as with many campfire cooking recipes, cooking times may need to be adjusted depending on how hot the coals are.

FOIL FISH
Pairs perfectly with foil grilled corn on the cob.

4 fish fillets (white fish works well)
2 tablespoons butter
2 celery stalks, quartered
2 carrots, quartered
1 whole lemon, cut in half
Salt and Pepper

On two separate pieces of aluminum foil, place two each of the fish fillets in the center. Put half a tablespoon of butter on each fillet. Squeeze half of the lemon over one pair and the other half over another. Salt and pepper to taste and add half of the celery and carrots to each, then loosely wrap the foil around the fish. Place on hot coals or, depending on how hot the coals are, use a grill grate. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is flaky.

GRILLED CEDAR SALMON
Adding the cedar plank not only gives it some extra smokey flavor.

1 cedar plank long enough to fit your salmon fillet
1 large salmon fillet, scaled but with skin on
¾ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon thyme
Juice from ½ lemon
Salt and Pepper

Bring up a fire to medium heat and while the fire gets cooking, soak the cedar plank in water for 30 minutes. Brush the salmon with the olive oil and then gently rub in the rosemary and thyme. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place the plank on a grill grate that is almost touching the coals. Turn the plank over after 2 minutes to get both sides smoking. Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the plank and cover loosely with a foil tent to allow the fish to steam cook for 20 minutes. Remove the salmon from the plank or serve it from the cedar. Squeeze the lemon over it just prior to serving.

SNAPPER SOUP
Break out the Dutch oven! Cast iron cooking is a staple of campfire cooking recipes.

1 pound of red snapper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cups of chicken broth
¾ cup coarsely chopped carrots
½ cup coarsely chopped celery
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon paprika
¼ teaspoon of pepper
½ teaspoon of salt
1 cup of frozen peas

Place the Dutch oven over the hot coals. Bring the chicken broth, celery and carrots, garlic and onions, paprika, salt and pepper, and peas to a boil for 5 minutes. Add the snapper and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Porterhouse Italian Marinated Steaks

Campfire cooking recipes are not complete without a great marinated porterhouse steak recipe. What could smell better than a couple of thick porterhouse steaks when you place them on hot coals with a dash of salt and pepper and roasted corn on the cob than an Italian marinated steak?

Depending on how hot your coals are you should always try to time your foods so everything should get finished cooking at close to the same time so everything stays hot and is at its peak flavor. Cast iron cooking can be fun in the open campfire and lets open fire cooking flavor your food with that great smokey flavor that everyone thinks of when they think of campfire cooking recipes. It makes your mouth water waiting for the vegetables you could be cooking in the dutch oven like celery and carrots with come finely chopped onion and garlic with sliced carrots.

Depending on how many people you have present to feed you should figure one large porterhouse steak per person but don't be surprised if a few end up splitting a porterhouse because they are big meaty cuts that are quite filling. To marinate your steaks it is best to either seal them in a gallon zip lock bag with about a 1/2 Cup of Italian dressing each and coat each steak thoroughly or place the steaks in a large cake pan and pour the salad dressing over the steaks. Wait about 20 minutes and then turn the steaks over and make sure to coat both sides. Just before you place the porterhouse steaks on the hot coals wipe off any dripping Italian dressing. Grill on the first side for about 5-7 minutes being careful not to burn them over to hot a campfire.

What are good campfire cooking recipes without a side dish to accompany a mouth watering steak like an Italian grilled porterhouse steak? Try roasting some asparagus spears wrapped in strips of bacon. A tasty treat to beat a plain potato would be to try roasting a sweet potato instead. You need to start the sweet potato about 45 minutes before you start your steaks though and make sure you wash them, coat them with a little oil and pierce the skins with a fork to hasten the cooking time and to keep the skin from drying out. The roasted sweet taste of a sweet potato is not to be missed.

Never forget the tried and true campfire cooking recipes queen of the campfire, the smores around a fire at night. Who can resist the temptation of chocolate, marshmallow and that yummy cracker? Can you just smell the sweet smell of a smore in the air? Campfire cooking recipes are endless with so many foods to choose from for ingredients.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob might not be a typical campfire cooking recipe but once you have perfected the simple recipe, you will wonder why you hadn't tried it before!

First, select corn at its prime. The husks should be stiff and dark and you should be able to feel the kernels when you press against the husk. Strive to cook and serve the corn the same day it is picked to maximize freshness. Once the corn is picked, the sugars begin to convert to starch and the corn will start to lose its natural sweetness.

Collect enough cold water in a sink or bucket to cover the corn for soaking. The corn will float on top but the water will get where it needs to be. If you prefer, add a handful of coarse salt to the water and stir. Let the corn soak for about an hour. You can stir occasionally but it's not necessary. If you are roughing it while camping and don't have access to a sink for soaking the corn, just skip this step.

After you have removed the corn from the bath, shake the excess water off but don't be afraid to leave a little moisture on the kernels. This will aid in the steaming process. Pull back the husks to the handle and remove the silk. Slather the kernels with sweet, salted butter and shake some salt and pepper on. Pull the husks back up to cover the corn. Tightly wrap the buttered corn in 2 layers of tin foil and place on the hot coals of the fire. The roasting should be complete in 20 minutes. Check one ear after 10 minutes to gauge the remaining cook time. The corn should be steamed through and the heated butter should have caramelized. If scorching occurs, bury the next batch in ashes.

Allow the corn to cool off before unwrapping. The foil may have pockets of steam that could burn you.

When you are ready to deviate from standard corn on the cob, try a sweeter version. Mix some honey and salt with some butter and slather on before wrapping in tin foil. The sweetness of honey combines well with the salt and butter.

To save prep time at the campsite, try covering the corn with the butter mixture and wrapping in foil while at home. Once you are ready to cook at camp, you can simply pull out the foil packages and toss them in the fire. If you prepare at home, you can also be more creative with the seasonings you pair with the butter. Think chives or chili powder!

Once you and your family have tried this recipe, you can make your own variations of campfire cooking recipes. Enjoy!

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Hamburger Stew

There is nothing better than hamburger stew on the open flames of the campfire and there are some wonderful recipes that even the least experienced cook can handle on the outdoor fire ring. Here is a recipe that any cook would love to have in their recipe files to make camping. You should first start with the perfect fire and it will make the difference in how hot the charcoals are, they will be ashy and gray. Depending on how hot the coals are will determine how fast the stew will cook. You can prepare the ingredients at home before your trip to eliminate some of the work when you get to your campsite. Chop your vegetables prior to your trip. Chop your celery, carrots, onions, and potatoes mix with salt and pepper then place in a zip lock baggy. Be sure to place them on ice or in a cooler so they do not turn brown.

Ingredients

. 1 -1/12 pound(s) ground beef
· 1 -2 c chopped carrots
. 2 celery stalks (diced)
· 1 medium onion, chopped
· 4 -5 medium potatoes, chopped
· 1 bag frozen peas
· 1 package onion soup mix
· water
· salt and pepper
· oregano or basil
· 1 loaf french or sourdough bread

Brown the meat in a large cast iron pot or dutch oven. Add the carrots, celery onions, potatoes and onion soup mix with enough water to cover. Cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are tender (about 20-30 minutes). Slice and butter the bread. Wrap it in foil and place near the fire so that the bread will toast from the heat of the fire. Add the peas to the pot. Season to taste with salt, pepper and oregano or basil. Simmer until the peas are hot. Serve with the warm bread. Yummy, there is nothing better then campfire cooking

Another recipe that you cook on the campfire is Brunswick stew. You can also eliminate the chopping, dicing, and cutting for home prior to your camping trip.

Ingredients

· 3 pound(s) stewing chicken (cut up)
· 2 pound(s) beef stew meat
· 2 bay leaves
· 1 tsp thyme, parsley
· 3 stalks celery
· 2 onions
· 1 Tbsp black peppercorns
· 2 Tbsp salt/pepper Blend
· 2 cans tomatoes (cut up)
· 2 cup carrots (peeled and chopped)
· 2 cup celery (chopped)
· 2 cup onions (chopped)
· 3 large potatoes (diced)
· 2 cup lima beans (frozen)
· 3 cup corn (fresh off the cob)

Directions

Add chicken and beef stew meat to dutch oven then place on the hot coals. Add bay leaves, thyme, parsley, celery stalks, onion wedges, salt and pepper blend and peppercorns. Simmer covered until chicken and beef are thoroughly tender, about 2 hours. Remove meat and set aside to cool. Strain the stock and discard veggies and herbs. Skim off some of the fat. Add tomatoes, carrots, chopped celery, onions, potatoes, lima beans and corn to strained stock. Simmer uncovered until all vegetables are tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bone chicken and remove pieces of ham hock from the bone. Return meat to pot.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Chicken

For those of you that enjoy cooking around the campfire there are a number of recipes that you can enjoy. Campfire cooking recipes include those that are for chicken. Chicken is a staple in the American diet and there is no reason it can not be enjoyed in a campfire setting. I will include some popular choices of chicken recipes in this article. I will include a few instructions and variations on them. One of the popular choices is a Hawaiian chicken recipe which includes onion soup mix to taste, as well as pineapple, chicken, strips of bell pepper cooked with a chicken breast in aluminum foil. This recipe is available on various sites that deal with campfire chicken recipes. I think such chicken is such a versatile meat there are a wide variety of recipes available to prepare it. Campfire cooking recipes are pretty easy to find on the internet a There are many good sites for these recipes.

Prep and side dish

There are other recipes for campfire cooking that include cooking in a Dutch oven and using various ingredients including salt and pepper and carrots and celery.There are some delicious pot pie recipes that can be made in a Dutch Oven. Many recipes also include using corn as a side dish. this is a versatile addition to any campfire meal as it can be made by wetting the husks and wrapping the corn in aluminum foil and placing in hot coals. You can remove it whenever the corn is cooked depending on how hot you like it. Some recipes also include using a skillet to make your dish. This is an alternative to placing directly in the fire. or placing on a camp stove.

Other recipes and methods

Most recipes seem to include the use of aluminum foil. You should make sure you have plenty on hand when trying these recipes. There are some dishes that have an Italian flair that are chicken breast combined with the use of pepperoni and cheese to flavor your dish. Fire cooking tends to be the preferred way to make these dishes but there are other alternatives as well.The use of a camp stove figures prominently in many of the recipes. Celery and Carrots seem to be a popular additive to many of the chicken dishes, particularly those that are stew based.

Cast Iron cooking is another popular way to make campfire cooking dishes. People that use the cast iron may use either a Dutch oven or other forms of heavy skillets to make their dishes. Of course when using cast iron for cooking proper care and seasoning of the skillet ,and accompanying utensils are needed so that you can cook your meal with a minimum of sticking and associated trauma to your dinner. I think the variations in cooking recipes and preparation methods will keep you happy on your next cookout.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - Kabobs

Campfire cooking recipes can be fun to try over an open fire surrounded by your friends and family as you enjoy the sounds and smells of the great outdoors all around you.

Ahead of time make this glaze for the chicken kabobs:

1/4 Cup Orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 Tbs of Honey
1 Tbs of Soy Sauce
Dash of Ground Ginger

Kabob Ingredients:

1 Lb skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1" pieces
1 Cup fresh pineapple chunks
1 medium green sweet pepper, cut into 1" pieces
1 medium red sweet red pepper, cut in to 1" pieces

Taking 6" long skewers alternate the chicken, pineapple, green peppers and red peppers leaving about 1/4" between each piece for basting. Place the kabobs on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over the medium fire and grill for about 12-14 minutes or until no longer pink. Place on hot coals, turning and brushing with glaze for up to the last 5 minutes of grilling time will help prevent the glaze from burning. If you are using wooden skewers instead of metal it is best if you soak them in water first before grilling with them or they may catch fire. You should soak them in water for about twenty minutes before using them.

Roasting Sweet Corn on the Campfire

You'll need about 6 Ears of Sweet Corn with husks, peel back the husks from the corn but do not remove. Clean all the silk off of the corn and rinse, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the corn in the corn husk and tie with wet kitchen string. Place on a grate over the fire but not where it will char and slowly turn and roast the ears on all sides for about 25-30 minutes. You would want to start the sweet corn first before the kabobs.

Campfire cooking recipes should be tried with cast iron cooking as an asset in regards to roasting a few vegetables in a dutch oven like celery and carrots with a little bit of spices and any left over chicken you could turn this dish into a tasty stew or hash by adding a few potatoes and some left over corn. Corn on the cob never tasted better than fire cooking over a campfire enjoying the great outdoors.

Kabobs can be made with several kinds of meats including lamb, beef, chicken, chunks of potatoes, pineapple, onions, peppers, shrimp and even fish. If you can thread it on to a skewer than you can make a kabob out of it. You can glaze the kabobs with soy sauce, olive oil, seasonings, honey or fruit juice to come up with a combination that you like. Kids enjoy a twist on a campfire cooking recipes by turning ordinary hot dogs into a kabob by threading chunks of hot dogs with chunks of pineapple and slowly roasting them over a campfire.

Campfire Cooking Recipes - 4 Great Camping Dishes Using Traditional Campfire Cooking Recipes

There is nothing like the fresh air and exercise that you get on a hiking or camping trip, to work up a really big appetite. But you don't want to spend ages preparing and cooking complicated meals, which turns it into a chore.

The whole experience should be fun, so if you can plan out a few simple camping dishes, it can make it a lot more enjoyable. Well with some traditional campfire cooking recipes, this can be a lot easier than you think.

Try out a couple or even all of the easy recipes below and see how much more exciting and interesting you can make your camping meals.

BREAKFAST

Oat and nut pancakes.

Ingredients.

1 & 1/2 half cups of oats,

1 cup of flour,

2 tablespoons of brown sugar,

Pinch of salt, to taste,

3 teaspoons of baking powder,

½ a cup of mixed chopped nuts,

1 & ½ cups of milk,

2 eggs,

2 tablespoons of butter,

Mix together all the dry ingredients (oats, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, nuts,) and put to one side, while you whisk together the milk, eggs, and butter. Pour this onto the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Lightly grease a griddle or frying pan and pre heat on the fire. Pour about half a cup of the pancake mix into the pan and cook until bubbly and edges look dry, turn pancake over and cook until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup or similar.

LUNCH

Simple Spam snack.

Ingredients.

1 onion,

3 or 4 potatoes, (depending on size),

1 tin of Spam,

1 tablespoon of butter,

Salt & pepper to taste.

Peel and chop the onion and potatoes into roughly ¾ inch pieces, and cook in skillet or frying pan until tender. Chop spam into similar size cubes as onion and potatoes and add to skillet or pan add salt and pepper and continue cooking until all ingredients are, crispy and spam is well heated through. Allow to cool slightly and serve with some crusty bread and butter.

MAIN MEAL

Foil cooked Meatloaf.

Ingredients.

2 pounds of ground beef,

1 egg,

½ a cup of bread crumbs,

½ a can of tomato soup,

Salt & pepper to taste.

Mix all the ingredients together in a suitable container or bowl until it all binds together and can be moulded into a loaf shape of your choice. Place into a large piece of tin foil and wrap well, leaving an air pocket at the top for steam. Cook on small grill on top of fire embers for approximately ¾ of an hour, turning as necessary. Serve with potatoes and vegetables of your choice. Will serve 4 people.

SWEET

Baked Banana.

For a quick tasty desert, simply split a banana lengthwise leaving the skin on. Insert brown sugar and butter into split. Wrap in tin foil and bake in embers of fire until sugar and butter melt into the banana.

Campfire Cooking (Some Yummy Recipes)

It's almost picnic and camping time across most of North America. For that next trip into the woods or at the park, consider these treats-especially for the kids.

S'mores

This is every kid's favorite (including big kids). Simply put a marshmallow on a stick, roast it, and while it's still hot, slap it against a piece of chocolate bar and sandwich it between two graham crackers.

Banana Boats

Cut a banana lengthwise. Stud it with miniature marshmallows and chocolate chips. Wrap it in aluminum foil and set it on some coals to melt the chocolate and marshmallows. Eat it while it is still warm.

Cheesy Hot Dogs

Split the hot dogs lengthwise and roast on the grill. Turn them over, cover the split side with cheddar cheese, and grill skin side down.

Minute Pizzas

Split English muffins. Spread pizza sauce on them. Sprinkle them with mozzarella cheese, and place pepperoni slices on top. Place them on the grill to cook. Cover them with a can or pan to catch the heat and direct it onto the tops of the pizzas. You can also bake these in a Dutch oven.

Makeshift Pizza

To make Makeshift Pizza, you will need a frying pan as large as the pizzas you will make. Bake the pizza crusts the night before or purchase round pizza-crust bread from the store. Pack them in the frying pan to protect them from breaking. Bring along a can of tomato paste for each pizza and a mixture of Italian spices. Bring your favorite shredded cheeses-mostly mozzarella-and whatever pizza toppings you prefer. (You can find sliced pepperoni that does not have to be refrigerated in most grocery stores.)

When you are ready for lunch, build a small fire. A few one-inch diameter dead pine branches make the perfect fuel. Let the coals burn down.

As the fire is burning down, spread the tomato paste on the crust in the pan, sprinkle with Italian seasonings, and prepare the pizza with the toppings. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.

Scrape the coals away and nestle the pan down into the warm bed. If there is too much heat, the crust will burn. Place a hot stick or two on top of the foil. Let the hot bed warm the pizza through and until the cheese is melted. You may have to recharge the bed with reserved hot coals. When the cheese has melted and is bubbly, the pizza is ready.

Makeshift Pizza only works the first day out unless you have some way to keep the perishables cold. (A good snow bank will do.) And the ingredients are a little heavy to be packing far.