When it comes to camping and cooking, there are two basic schools of thought. One group aims to get the job done with as little time and effort as possible, while the other group embraces the challenges of outdoor cooking and rises to the occasion. Whatever your M.O., we’ve whipped up some camping recipes that will please any palate the next time you set up camp in Oklahoma.
When you’re ready to hit the road, check out Eight Great Places to Camp in Oklahoma for a sampling of Oklahoma’s most popular outdoor recreation areas and tent camping spots.
Campfire Donuts
If you prefer a sweet treat in the morning, try these sugared campfire donuts. The easiest way to prepare these rolls is using a tube or two of your preferred brand’s refrigerated biscuit dough.
What you’ll need: refrigerated biscuit dough, melted butter, cinnamon, sugar, metal skewers
Pop open a can of refrigerated biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into thirds. Roll each piece of dough into a ball and then thread onto metal cooking skewers, leaving about ½ inch of space between balls of dough. Cook the dough over hot coals or your campfire, turning constantly until they’re golden brown, about seven minutes. Being careful not to burn your hands, slide the dough balls into melted butter and toss with cinnamon and sugar.
Breakfast in a Bag
There’s nothing like the smell of bacon and eggs to get you going in the morning. This hearty morning meal doesn’t even require a skillet to prepare and has absolutely zero clean up.
What you’ll need: brown paper bags, strips of bacon, eggs
First, create a bacon “bowl” by lining the bottom of the bag with strips of bacon. Then, crack the eggs on top of the bacon, ensuring that the cracked eggs remain completely within the bacon “bowl.” Fold the top of the bag over at least twice and place it on a grate over your campfire.
Don’t open the bag until you see bacon grease reaching halfway up the bag, or else you’ll lose your heat. After the grease is halfway, pluck the bag off the grate, allow it to cool a bit and then dig in! You can enjoy this meal right out of the bag and then burn the paper bag in your campfire afterward. Keep in mind that this meal is best prepared over a bed of hot coals, not licking flames, and must be watched at all times.
Lunch & Dinner Sandwich Loaves
Savory ham, gooey cheese and crusty Italian bread unite in this melted sandwich recipe that is super easy to prep ahead of time.
What you’ll need: 1 loaf of Italian bread, 3 Tbs. butter, 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard, 6 slices Swiss cheese, 3/4 lb. thin sliced, fully cooked ham, heavy-duty aluminum foil
Slice bread vertically 12 times (about ¾ of the way through) along the entire length of the loaf. Place the loaf of bread onto a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil. Blend the butter and Dijon mustard together and spread it over every other slice of bread. Stuff ham and cheese into every other slice of bread to create six sandwiches. Seal aluminum foil around sandwich loaf and cook 20 minutes, turning frequently. Once cheese is melted and bread is hot, remove from heat. Pull apart the sandwiches and enjoy.
Cheesy Campfire Potatoes
These savory potatoes are a surefire crowd-pleaser and will provide fuel for even the most strenuous outdoor activities you have planned.
What you’ll need: 6 sliced potatoes, ¼ cup diced onion, 2 Tbs. butter, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ¾ cup grated mozzarella cheese, ¾ cup grated cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, heavy-duty aluminum foil
Cut two large lengths of heavy-duty aluminum foil and place them on top of each other, creating a strong base for the potatoes. Grease one side of the foil before placing sliced potatoes on top, leaving room along the sides to fold up later. Spread the diced onions over the potatoes and dot with butter. Sprinkle the cheeses over the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and bring edges of foil together to seal. Place the foil packet on a grill over your campfire and cook until the potatoes are soft, approximately 35 minutes.
Veggie Hobo Packs
Going meatless isn’t just for Mondays anymore. This tasty hobo pack makes a great vegetarian main meal or a tasty side dish for all. Prior to your outing, cut up your desired amount of vegetables keeping in mind that the larger the chunks, the longer it will take to cook. Some combinations include:
• Sweet potatoes, black beans & spinach
• Broccoli, potatoes & cheese
• Bell peppers, zucchini & parmesan
Top your foil pack with a pat of butter, your choice of spices and fold it up. Make sure to leave a little breathing room at the top for the veggies to steam. After 15 minutes (or until bulkier veggies are easily pierced with a fork), your meal is ready. Bon appetite!
Cowboy Casserole
This hearty main dish will squelch any rumbling tummy after a day’s worth of hiking, swimming or other outdoor activity. For a quick meal around the campfire, pre-cut the onion and you’ll be enjoying this comfort food favorite in no time.
What you’ll need: ½ lb. bacon, 1 lb. ground beef, 1 small chopped onion, 2 cans baked beans, 1/3 cup barbecue sauce, 1 package refrigerated biscuit dough
Cook bacon in a deep cast-iron skillet or dutch oven on a grill over your campfire. Drain, crumble and set aside. Add hamburger and onion to the skillet and cook until done. Drain off the drippings. Add the bacon back to the pan with the hamburger along with the baked beans and barbecue sauce. Bring everything to a boil. Place biscuits over the bubbly mixture in a single layer, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes until the biscuits are done. Place cooked biscuits on a plate and spoon beans over.
Fudge Brownies in an Orange
Pack a sack of oranges, and they’ll do double duty as daytime snacks and delicious dessert cups.
What you’ll need: box of brownie mix plus all the needed ingredients listed on the box, oranges, aluminum foil
To begin, slice off the top of an orange and hollow out the inside. Feel free to eat the orange flesh, because you won’t need it for the brownie. After that, dump your pre-mixed brownie batter into the orange, stopping about an inch from the top. Pop the top of the orange back on and wrap the whole thing in foil. Drop the foil-wrapped oranges right into the coals and turn them every few minutes to ensure that the batter is cooked all the way through. Cook time is approximately 30 minutes. The orange may be a bit burned when you open it up, but the brownie will be moist and warm.
Dessert Burritos
Make this recipe when you’re camping with kids in tow – it requires no cookware and the kids can help make their own.
What you’ll need: tortillas, canned pie filling, peanut butter, mini-marshmallows, milk chocolate chips, heavy-duty aluminum foil
Set out the pie filling, peanut butter and toppings with spoons along a camp table. Let the kids fill a flour tortilla with their desired toppings and fold into a burrito with sealed ends. Make sure not to overfill the tortillas or the toppings will escape during the cooking process. Wrap each burrito in foil and place along a cooking grate set over your campfire. After 5 minutes, turn once and continue cooking for another five minutes. Cool until just warm and enjoy.
Camping Cooking Gear
When you’re camping, it’s important to have the right cooking equipment, supplies and utensils. Take a look below for a general checklist of what to pack:
• Lighter
• Charcoal
• Firewood (Not all campsites allow you to bring firewood, so call ahead to find out).
• Skillet
• Tongs
• Pot holders
• Aluminum foil
• Knife (to sharpen cooking sticks)
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Plates
• Cups
• Utensils
• Biodegradable dish soap & scrubbing pads
Before you embark on your camping trip, make sure to check to see if there are any burn bans in effect. During burn bans, it is illegal to burn anything that could spark a wildfire including lighting a campfire or grilling with any type of charcoal or wood. While many efforts are made at camping facilities to notify of the bans, it is ultimately your responsibility to check for burn bans.
See the Complete Beginner’s Guide to Camping in Oklahoma for more great recipe ideas, as well as camping tips and comprehensive checklists.
