How to Cook a Full Course Meal Over a Campfire

It is not only fun but challenging to create a meal over an open campfire. With a little patience and a few hot coals, you will be able to create a meal that will put the average can of beanie weenies to shame.

Things You'll Need

• camp fire with hot coals
• iron grate
• heavy aluminum foil
• potatoes
• meat of choice
• marshmallows
• graham crackers
• chocolate candy bar
• cast iron cookware
• metal utensils
• fire proof kettle
• instant coffee bags or tea bags

Instructions

Cook a full course meal over a campfire

1. When building your campfire, create a wide bed of firewood as opposed to a tall pile. Allow the fire sufficient time to burn in order to create hot coals. The coals will create an even cooking temperature. Before placing the metal grate over fire, cover with aluminum foil and poke holes for draining grease. While waiting for the newly built fire to create hot coals, heat water in a kettle so that you can enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea.

2. To cook potatoes, slice into thin slices. Season potatoes with salt and pepper and wrap with aluminum foil. By slicing potatoes, you will help them cook quicker and evenly. Carefully dig holes in the ashes and place a foil packet of potatoes into each hole and cover lightly with coals.

3. No matter if you are cooking steaks, pork chops or chicken, place metal grate over the hottest part of fire. Place meat on grill and cover with foil. You should cover meat in effort to prevent fly away ashes from settling on your meat. Depending on the heat of your fire will depend on the time needed to cook. Check meat occasionally by using a meat thermometer.

4. If you wish to cook a pot of chili to complete your meal, dump a package of ground beef, turkey, or venison into a cast iron pot. Chop up an onion, open a can of tomatoes, and pour in a packet of your favorite chili seasoning mix. Place your pot onto a bed of hot coals. If your cast iron pot has a lid, cover chili and place more hot coals on top of lid and let it sit, untouched, for at least 30 minutes. If you do not have a lid, cover with a piece of foil. (Again, this is to prevent fly away ashes from settling on your food.)

5. No campfire cook out would be complete without s'mores. Over a small flame, roast marshmallows. Place hot marshmallow on top of a graham cracker and the piece of chocolate candy bar. The chocolate candy bar should be under the hot marshmallow to ensure that the chocolate melts to create a gooey campfire sensation. Top with a second graham cracker. Serve hot.

6. You have created a meal consisting of a meat, vegetable (potatoes), side dish(chili) and dessert(s'mores). To top off this delicious meal, you can also enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee. While the meal is cooking, sit back, relax and tell your favorite campfire story. Upon completion of each dish, remove from direct heat, but maintain warmth by placing them near the fire. Potatoes should be done first, followed by chili, then meat on grate.

Tips & Warnings

• To add to this delicious meal, you could also cook corn on the cob. Wrap each corn cob with foil and place into shallow pits and cover with hot coals, just the same as potato packets.