40 Backyard Fire Pit Recipes
Updated: Apr. 12, 2023Grab some foil and head to the backyard fire pit! These foil packet recipes are perfect for a relaxing evening at home.
If you’re planning a camping trip or spending the day in the backyard, cooking on the fire pit is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. While cooking outdoors can be fun, using a fire pit for the first time can be a little intimidating so here are a few helpful tips to get you started with your campfire cooking.
Get Set Up
Before you can get to cooking, you’ll need the proper setup and equipment to cook over your fire pit. First, make sure your fire pit is placed in a safe and secure area where the fire cannot reach anything flammable. Make sure you have the proper cooking equipment you’ll need on hand like grilling tools, a camping Dutch oven, a grilling rack, etc. Once your space is set up, you can get to building the fire.
Cook With Foil Packets
If you want to avoid cleaning up a mess after cooking, foil-packet meals are the way to go. Traditional foil packet meals consist of potatoes, vegetables, meat or fish, but we’ve got a few creative ones on deck that you’ll enjoy just as much as the classics.
Try a Pie Iron
If you’re looking for other easy meals to make over the fire pit, try making pudgy pies with a pie iron. They’re perfect for making a pudgy pie and you’ll only have one dish to clean up afterward. Just make sure you let the sandwich cool down a bit before digging in!
Revamp a Classic Recipe
Eating the same meal over and over again on those longer camping trips can get a little tiring. Try thinking outside the box, or use some of our recipes as inspiration, for revamping a classic recipe.
Use cookies instead of graham crackers or peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars for s’mores. For those nights when you aren’t craving a toasted marshmallow, you’ll love these campfire desserts.
Stay Safe
Make sure you’re properly prepared when you’re cooking over the fire pit. Have the correct cooking gear, like long-handled tools, to make sure no one gets burned, always have a bucket of water nearby in case the fire grows too big and, most importantly, never leave a fire unattended.
Now that you’ve got the basics covered, try out some of our best fire pit recipes that’ll satisfy those hungry stomachs after a full day of outdoor activities.
Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire Bread
A neighboring camper made a bread so tempting, I had to ask for the details. Here’s my version, best enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee by the campfire. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Ham & Jack Pudgy Pie
Pepper jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty sandwiches. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
Sourdough Bread Bowl Sandwich
I created this recipe for when my husband and I go to the lake. I don’t like to spend a lot of time hovering over a stove or grill, especially in the hot Oklahoma summer months, and this filling sourdough bread bowl sandwich is ready in minutes. For extra flavor, brush melted garlic and herb butter over the top prior to cooking. —Shawna Welsh-Garrison, Owasso, Oklahoma
Grilled Maple Pork Chops
Pork chops on the grill are hard to beat. The marinade is simple, and so good. —Nicholas King, Duluth, Minnesota
Campfire Bean ‘N’ Ham Soup
These are the best beans and ham you’ll ever taste—bar none! Friends rave about this hearty soup that I serve hot off the grill. For easy cleanup, consider covering the outside of your Dutch oven with heavy-duty foil first. —Tom Greaves, Carrollton, Illinois
Steak and Potato Foil Packs
As a park ranger, I’ve cooked a lot of meals outdoors. I often assemble a steak and potato foil pack and toss it into my backpack with some ice. Then when I set up camp, it’s easy to cook over a campfire. If I’m at home, I use my grill, and the food is just as good. —Ralph Jones, San Diego, California
Pizza on the Grill
Pizza is such a favorite at our house that I make it at least once a week. But when the heat and humidity rise, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven. So I just move my recipe to the grill—the barbecue flavor mingling with the cheese tastes delicious. —Lisa Boettcher, Columbus, Wisconsin
Chicken and Zucchini Foil Packs
I enjoy foil-wrapped dinners cooked on the grill, especially because there are no pots or pans to wash. You can try making chicken foil packs with most fresh vegetables you have on hand. —Dianna Smith, Newport, Tennessee
Campfire Hash
In our area we are able to camp almost all year-round. My family invented this recipe using ingredients we all love so we could enjoy them on the campfire. This hearty meal tastes so good after a full day of outdoor activities. —Janet Danilow, Winkleman, Arizona
Pot of S'mores
Mom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho
Campfire Dessert Cones
Kids love to make these! Set out the ingredients so they can mix and match their own creations. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Eclairs on the Grill
My best camping treat is an easy eclair on a stick. This is the one that makes people watch what you’re doing and beg to be included. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Lemon-Dill Salmon Packets
Grilling in foil is an easy technique I use with foods that cook quickly, like fish, shrimp, bite-sized meats and fresh veggies. The options are endless—and the cleanup is easy. —A.J. Weinhold, McArthur, California
Grilled Peach Sundaes
These peaches with a hint of grill flavor are sweet and juicy. We serve them in a waffle bowl with ice cream. That’s jackpot at our house. —Nancy Dentler, Greensboro, North Carolina
Tomato-Herb Grilled Tilapia
This super tilapia with ginger and lemon takes dinner over the top with minimal prep. Grilling the fish in foil is about as easy as it gets. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Pizza Mountain Pies
Because we liked this pudgy pie recipe so much, I started making them for my daughter even when we’re not camping. —Pam Weik, West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Hot Quick Banana Boats
These delicious, warm bananas are great on camp-outs or in the backyard. You can eat them right out of the foil bowl. Cleanup is easy, too. —Sheila Parker, Reno, Nevada
Grilled Green Beans
I cook almost everything outdoors, including green beans. I prepare this snappy side dish while the entree is cooking. The recipe has won over my picky eaters. —Carol Traupman-Carr, Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
Potatoes Plus
On our busy farm, meals need to be ready fast. These herb-seasoned potatoes and vegetables wrapped in foil packets cook in only half an hour. They're excellent with steak or chicken. —Jill Jellett, Leduc, Alberta
Can-Can Chicken
Here's a tasty take on the popular beer-can chicken. Once the bird is on the grill, the work's basically done. And cleanup is a cinch—a must for a guy like me. —Steve Bath, Lincoln, Nebraska
Potato-Sausage Foil Packs
We had these smoky campfire bundles at a friend's house for dinner and loved the simplicity of this great summer meal. Now we often make it for summer weeknight dinners. —Alissa Keith, Forest, Virginia
BBQ Hot Dog & Potato Packs
For these nifty foil packs, small hands make quick work of topping potato wedges with a hot dog, onions and cheese. — Kelly Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Buttery Horseradish Corn on the Cob
For a July Fourth barbecue, I whipped up a butter and horseradish topping for grilled corn. People actually formed a line to get seconds. —Trish Loewen, Bakersfield, California
Cajun Boil on the Grill
I came up with these everything-in-one seafood packets for a family reunion, since the recipe can be increased to feed a bunch. The foil steams up inside, so open carefully. —Allison Brooks, Fort Collins, Colorado
Cherry-Chocolate Pudgy Pie
Here’s an ooey-gooey treat that’s just right for campfires and cookouts. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama
Crab & Shrimp Stuffed Sole
The most casual cookout will seem elegant when it stars this delicate fish combined with seafood stuffing and a lemony sauce. Just add a salad and baguette. —Bryn Namavari, Chicago, Illinois
Grilled Cabbage
The first time I made this, I couldn’t believe how good it was! We served it with grilled burgers and our dinner was complete. I never thought I’d skip dessert because I was full from too much cabbage! —Elizabeth Wheeler, Thornville, Ohio
Quick Barbecued Beans
Barbecued beans are a simple, classic recipe and cooking them on the grill adds great smoky flavor. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois
Cake & Berry Campfire Cobbler
This warm Dutch oven cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It's yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho
Reuben Pudgy Pie
Our favorite pudgy pie is the Reuben: corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese! We always use buttered bread. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chicken Ole Foil Supper
These Tex Mex–style chicken packets can be assembled ahead and frozen if you like. Just thaw them overnight in the fridge, then grill as directed. I like to serve them with warm tortillas and fresh fruit on the side. —Mary Peck, Salina, Kansas
Garlic & Herb Artichoke Salmon
If you’re new to cooking fish (or even if you’re a pro), this no-fail salmon recipe is one you have to try. It’s easy enough for everyday, but also wows at dinner parties. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
Grilled Peppers and Zucchini
This versatile side dish is so simple and quick that I had to share it. Grilling the colorful veggies in a foil packet means one less dish to wash, but I sometimes stir-friy the mixture on the stovetop. —Karen Anderson, Fair Oaks, California
Campfire Cheese Hash Brown Packets
Dining by the campfire? This easy packet of potatoes, bacon and cheese makes a terrific hash. We like to serve it with eggs and fresh pico de gallo. —Gina Nistico, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ginger Salmon with Green Beans
I developed this flavor-packed dinner for a busy friend who wants to eat clean. —Nicole Stevens, Austin, Texas
Spiced Grilled Corn
The wonderful spice mixture doesn't add heat, only great flavor. This just may be the best corn you've ever had! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cheese-Topped Potatoes in Foil
Whenever we go camping, cheesy potato packets are a must. They just may remind you of scalloped potatoes. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Milky Way Pudgy Pie
My favorite pudgy pies have Milky Way candy bars, graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows. So irresistible! And buttered bread is a must. —Susan Hein, Burlington, Wisconsin
Campfire Cinnamon Twists
Cinnamon rolls get the toasty treatment when wrapped around skewers and warmed over a fire. Brush with butter, then sprinkle with sugar and spice. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Grilled Campfire Trout Dinner
Your fresh catch will taste even better with this simple treatment that keeps the fish moist. Carrots are an excellent accompaniment; cook up in a separate foil packet. —Wendy McGowan, Fontana, California
