Best Campfire Recipes for Kids: Campfire Food Ideas
Cooking over a campfire is one of those experiences that children absolutely love and adults find surprisingly satisfying. But to make it go to the next level, you need a list of campfire food ideas for kids to keep your tribe happy.
There is something deeply enjoyable about preparing food in a completely different way to at home, and the results always seem to taste better in the fresh air.
The best campfire recipes are the ones that are simple enough to involve children in the preparation, robust enough to work over an unpredictable heat source, and delicious enough to be worth the effort. Here are our favourites.
Before You Start: Campfire Cooking Basics
Let the fire burn down. Cooking over flames is dramatic but difficult. A bed of hot embers gives a more consistent, controllable heat than open flames. Wait until the fire has burned down to glowing coals before cooking.
Have water nearby. Always have a bucket of water or a sand bucket next to a campfire, especially with children around.
Invest in decent skewers. Long metal skewers are safer than sticks and far more effective. Telescopic ones pack flat and are worth the small investment.
Use foil generously. Heavy-duty foil is one of the most versatile tools in campfire cooking. Wrap food tightly, seal the edges, and let the embers do the work.
Campfire Food Ideas: The Classics
It’s best to start with the classics when it comes to campfire food ideas, so here’s the ones you know people are going to love!
Toasted marshmallows
The starting point for any campfire cooking session with children.
The technique is simple, patience, low heat, slow rotation, but the execution requires supervision and practice.
Children who learn to get the perfect golden marshmallow without letting it catch fire have genuinely mastered something.
S’mores
The campfire classic that has found a devoted following in UK campsites.
Sandwich a toasted marshmallow and a square of chocolate between two digestive biscuits.
Messy, sweet, and completely irresistible.
Campfire sausages
Sausages on long metal skewers, turned regularly over the embers, cooked until the skin is crisp and the centre is piping hot.
Serve in bread rolls with ketchup and mustard. Simple, reliable, and universally loved.
Easy Campfire Recipes for Kids: Foil Packet Meals
Foil packet cooking is the gateway to more serious campfire food and one of the easiest campfire food ideas for kids because children can help prepare their own packets.
Foil packet sausage and veg
Slice a sausage and a selection of whatever vegetables you have, peppers, courgette, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, into chunks.
Add a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper, and a spoonful of baked beans if you like.
Seal tightly in a double layer of foil and place on the embers for 15-20 minutes, turning once.
Open carefully, the steam inside is very hot.
Foil packet jacket potato
Prick a potato all over, rub with a little oil and salt, wrap tightly in double foil, and bury in the embers.
Depending on the heat, they take 45-60 minutes.
Pierce with a skewer to check they are cooked through. Serve with butter and cheese. The wait is always worth it.
Foil packet banana boats
A campfire pudding classic.
Split a banana lengthways without fully separating the two halves, stuff with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, wrap in foil, and place on the embers for around 5-8 minutes.
Open carefully and eat straight from the foil with a spoon. Absolutely brilliant.
Campfire Cooking for Kids: Easy Ideas to Try
This is where campfire cooking for kids really gets interesting, here’s a couple of different campfire food ideas you may not have heard of before, if you’re looking to steer away from the classics and introduce the family to something new!
These campfire recipes for kids will push them into potentially new foods.
Eggs in a pepper ring
Slice a pepper into thick rings and lay them flat on a griddle or frying pan over the fire.
Crack an egg into each ring and cook until set.
The pepper acts as a mould and adds a lovely sweetness to the egg.
Campfire quesadillas
Lay a flour tortilla in a dry frying pan. Cover one half with grated cheese and whatever fillings you have, ham, sweetcorn, peppers, fold in half, and press down.
Cook for two to three minutes per side until the cheese has melted and the tortilla is golden.
Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream if you have it.
For more inspiration, visit our full camping recipes for families section, take a look at our camping games for kids to keep children entertained between meals, and find everything else at Camping With Kids.
