3 Simple & Delicious Vegetarian Campfire Meals

Cooking over a campfire is one of our favorite ways to slow down and enjoy time outside when we go camping. Whether you’re camping for a weekend or traveling full-time, preparing homemade meals around the fire is a great way to save money, reduce waste, and enjoy satisfying meals without relying on pre-made packaged foods. These three vegetarian campfire meals are easy to make with only a few ingredients. The only other things you need are foil and a campfire!

Prefer to see how these recipes are cooked on the fire? Watch our video from camping in Acadia National Park. 

Tips for Cooking on a Campfire

Tip 1: Build your fire early.

The best way to cook something in the campfire is to wrap it in foil and set it on hot coals. If you put the foil packet directly into the fire, you risk burning your food. By starting your fire early, the logs will have time to break down and create a bed of hot coals, which is the perfect spot to cook your campfire meal. Plus, it gives you enough time to do all of the prep for these recipes or just have some time to relax before dinner is ready.

Tip 2: Prepare ingredients at home.

If you’re headed out for a short camping trip, it can be so helpful to prep your ingredients at home so your cooking time is faster and you have less to clean up. For shorter trips or boondocking spots, we like to pre-chop our veggies for these recipes. We also keep homegrown and homemade spice mixes on hand since they taste so much better than store bought. If you have extra time, making the beans for these recipes homemade will make these meals even more incredible. Canned beans are great for convenience, but the flavor and texture you get from homemade beans will take these meals to the next level. No matter how much time you have before your camping trip, taking a few minutes to prep ingredients ahead of time will make cooking at camp so much easier.

Tip 3: Bring tongs and a heat resistant pan.

One of the hardest parts about cooking on the fire is trying to get the foil packets out without burning yourself. We usually camp in our travel trailer, so we keep a cast iron skillet and tongs in our kitchen for situations like this. The tongs make it easy to grab the foil packets without sticking your hand in the fire and the cast iron pan can handle the hot foil packet, plus any hot coals that may get stuck when you pick it up. Just be sure to get the hot coals out so they don’t ruin your pan. If you have any at home, grab your tongs and any heat resistant gloves or heatpads for a free and easy way to make these meals. 

Recipe 1: Loaded Baked Potato

This loaded baked potato is inspired by the jacket potatoes that they serve in the U.K. The crispy potato pairs perfectly with baked beans, cheese, and crunchy fried onions on top.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 2 russet potatoes

• 8 oz can of baked beans

• 2 tablespoons salted butter

• Shredded cheddar cheese

• Crispy fried onions (we like to use fried shallots from Trader Joe’s)

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Wash your potatoes thoroughly and remove any bruises or sprouts/eyes.

2. Poke each potato with a fork several times (to prevent it from exploding in the fire).

3. Season each potato with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

4. Wrap each potato in two layers of heavy duty foil.

5. Place them on a bed of hot coals close to the fire. 

6. Rotate occasionally and let cook until a fork easily pierces the potato (usually an hour to an hour and a half). 

7. For baked beans, add the can of beans to a foil packet and place near the fire for a few minutes to heat up or heat on the stove. 

8. Cut open potatoes and add toppings. Suggested toppings: Salt, pepper, butter, beans, shredded cheddar cheese, crispy fried onions.

Alternatives: You can swap out the baked beans for homemade beans or use Heinz English Baked Beans for a more authentic jacket potato. This recipe also works well with smaller potatoes, which will cook much faster.

Recipe 2: Veggie Fajitas

Veggie fajitas are a delicious and versatile meal that can incorporate all types of vegetables. Plus, cooking this meal on the campfire adds a delicious smoky flavor. 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 3 bell peppers

• Yellow onion

• Zucchini

• Mushrooms (any kind that saute well, like shiitake or white button)

• 8 oz can of black beans

• Salsa

• Tortillas

• Taco seasoning (Try our homemade taco seasoning recipe)

• Olive oil

• Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream

Instructions

1. Chop vegetables into thin strips.

2. Rinse the can of black beans. 

3. Combine black beans and vegetables with taco seasoning and olive oil. 

4. Split the mixture into two foil packets. 

5. Seal foil packets in a second sheet of foil and add to the campfire. 

6. Cook packets on hot coals for 30 minutes, turning them occasionally, until vegetables are tender. 

7. Add the cooked veggie mixture to a tortilla with salsa and any other toppings. 

Recipe 3: Chickpea Gyros

These chickpea gyros are our favorite vegetarian alternative to the traditional Greek gyro made with lamb. The smoky flavor from the campfire infuses into the chickpeas and veggies, giving it a similar flavor to a traditional gyro. 

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 2 servings (2-3 gyros per serving, depending on naan size)

Ingredients

• Yellow onion

• Red bell pepper

• Zucchini 

• Cherry tomatoes

• Cucumber

• 8 oz can of garbanzo beans/chickpeas

• Feta or goat cheese

• Naan or pita bread

• Salt and pepper

• Garlic powder

• Crushed rosemary

• Olive oil

• Optional: tzatziki, garlic sauce, or hummus 

Instructions

1. Rinse the can of chickpeas. 

2. Dice onion, bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumber. Set tomatoes and cucumber aside for gyro toppings.

3. Combine chickpeas and the rest of the vegetables in a foil packet. 

4. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, crushed rosemary, and olive oil. 

5. Seal foil packet in a second sheet of foil and add to the campfire. 

6. Cook packet on hot coals for 30 minutes, turning them occasionally, until chickpeas are golden brown. 

7. Add cooked chickpea mixture to naan and top with diced tomatoes and cucumber, crumbled feta or goat cheese. Add tzatziki, garlic sauce, or hummus for some extra flavor.

After a day outside exploring nature, there’s something special about gathering around the fire to make a homemade meal. These three vegetarian campfire recipes are simple to prepare, full of flavor, and only require a few ingredients. Whether you’re camping for a weekend or living on the road like we are, we hope these meals inspire your next campfire dinner. 

Have a favorite vegetarian campfire recipe? Let us know in the comments. We would love to add it to our list for future trips!

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About the Authors

The Votana Garden began with a desire to live more sustainably and grow our own food, flowers, and herbs. We started with no experience and have learned one season at a time. We share tips and practical insights to help make gardening and sustainable living feel possible for everyone. 

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