Short answer: cook over hot coals, not big flames. Let the fire burn down for 30 to 45 minutes, spread the coals, and control the heat by moving your food higher or lower. A grate, a cast-iron pan or a simple tripod with a hanging pot covers almost every campfire meal.
Here's how to cook over a campfire, even if you've never done it before.
Before you start: check the fire rules
Fire bans are common in dry seasons. Check the campground or park rules, use the existing fire ring, and keep water and a shovel nearby. Buy firewood near where you camp instead of bringing it from home. Moving firewood can spread tree pests.
1. Build a fire for cooking, not for show
A tall, roaring fire is great to sit around but terrible to cook on. Build a medium fire with dry hardwood if you can, then let it burn down until you have a bed of glowing coals with little flame. That usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, so start the fire well before you're hungry.
2. Make heat zones
Push more coals to one side for high heat and leave fewer on the other side for low heat. Move your pot or pan between the two to control cooking, the same way you'd turn a stove knob.
3. Pick your cooking method
Grate over the fire ring
Many fire rings have a built-in grate. Use it like a grill for burgers, sausages and vegetables, or set a pan on it.
Hanging pot on a tripod
A tripod lets you hang a pot over the coals and raise or lower it to change the heat. It's perfect for soups, chili, boiling water and one-pot meals. Our Campfire Tripod Hanging Kit ($11.99) is a steel ring and an adjustable 31.7 in chain: slide three sticks through the ring and you have a tripod. It fits in a pocket.
Foil packets
Wrap sliced potatoes, onions, sausage and butter in heavy foil, seal tightly, and set the packet on the coals. Flip once. About 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the heat.
Skewers
Hot dogs, kebabs and marshmallows. Use long metal skewers or green sticks, and keep turning.
4. Easy campfire meal ideas
- Chili or stew in a hanging pot
- Foil packet potatoes and sausage
- Burgers on the grate
- Corn on the cob in the husk, right on the coals
- Banana boats: slit a banana, stuff with chocolate and marshmallows, wrap in foil
- S'mores, of course
5. Keep a stove as a backup
Rain, wind or a fire ban can cancel campfire dinner. A small gas stove means you can still boil water and cook. Our mini camping stove ($22.99) packs into a case smaller than your hand (gas canister sold separately). See 10 easy camp stove meals for ideas.
6. Gear checklist for campfire cooking
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Long tongs and a spatula
- Heavy-duty foil
- A pot with a bail handle (for hanging)
- Tripod or grate
- Water bucket and shovel
- A folding saw to cut firewood to size, where collecting wood is allowed
7. Put the fire out completely
Drown the fire with water, stir the ashes, and drown it again. Repeat until everything is cold to the touch. Never leave a fire unattended.
FAQ
How long should a campfire burn before cooking?
About 30 to 45 minutes, until most of the wood has turned into glowing coals with little flame.
What wood is best for campfire cooking?
Dry hardwood like oak, maple or hickory burns hotter and longer than softwood. Use local firewood from the campground or a nearby store.
Can I use a regular pot over a campfire?
Yes, as long as it has no plastic parts. Expect soot on the outside. A pot with a wire bail handle is easiest to hang from a tripod.
Gear for the camp kitchen: see the Camp Kitchen collection. Every order ships free to the US, and 3 or more items get 15% off automatically at checkout. Most orders arrive in 7–15 business days.