9 Campfire-Friendly Foods to Try for Labor Day

There’s something about cooking over a campfire that captures summer’s spirit. Maybe it’s that pleasant charcoal flavor, the meal cooked entirely outside, or the inherent bonding that sitting in a cozy and fire-lit circle fosters — or a beautiful combination of all these elements. It’s the perfect way to cap off summer and a favorite Labor Day weekend activity. Try these recipes over your campfire, from dinner to dessert — and make more than just s’mores.

Camping Sandwiches (pictured above)
These sandwiches get grill rings from special sandwich presses, but you can use a foil-wrapped brick to weigh the sandwiches down instead. Guy Fieri suggests options from chili to berry cream cheese, but feel free to invent your own pairings. Keep your ingredients at room-temperature to minimize melting time.

Camping Baked Potatoes with Herbed Sour Cream
Rubbing salt on potatoes before wrapping them in foil helps to crisp the skin and results in perfectly fluffy insides. You can tell if the potato is baked through without unwrapping the foil by poking a paring knife through to the center. If it goes in without resistance, you’re good to go. Top with sour cream blended with mixed herbs and scallions for the full baked potato experience.

Foil-Packet Corn
Grilled corn is a staple for summertime meals. Forget the gas grill and go right to the campfire with these ears cooked in foil packets. Toss in sprigs of thyme, basil and rosemary along with two tablespoons of butter for deep, herby flavor. Sayonara, standard salt and pepper.

Stuffed Peppers
Cheesy stuffed peppers are ideal for cooking over a campfire. Baby bells are best for skewer roasting, so pick up a bunch in a variety of colors for a pretty appetizer or side. After cutting a slit in each, stuff with a cube of salty cheese like halloumi or feta. Roast until the skin blackens and blisters to give the peppers that desired smoky flavor.

Velveeta Italian-Seasoned Chicken Campfire Packets
There’s no reason to skip out on weeknight favorites, even if you’re far away from your usual kitchen amenities. Top chicken with frozen vegetables and wrap in a foil packet, which will steam the veggies while cooking the meat. Add in the cheese right before the fire cooks the chicken all the way through so it has just enough time to melt to gooey perfection before serving.

Campfire Beans
Cast-iron pots are a campfire’s best friend. Let your campfire reach a medium-high flames and heat the pot through before sauteing bacon, onions and garlic. The two-hour cook time and combination of ingredients give the pinto beans extraordinary depth of savory flavor. They’re perfect served with hot dogs roasted over the open flame.

Sweet Breadsticks
Cinnamon breadsticks aren’t above roughing it for the night. These no-fuss treats are made out of refrigerated breadstick dough. Cut the breadsticks into bite-size pieces for speedy preparation. Toast over the campfire flames until golden brown (think perfectly roasted marshmallows) and top with cinnamon sugar.

Turkey-Brie Baguettes
Who said camping (or campfire cooking) can’t be fancy? Make these turkey-Brie sandwiches for a hint of fireside elegance. Brie’s creamy texture and rich flavor elevates the classic turkey sandwich, making it a fun option for kids and adults alike. Cut the sandwiches into 2-inch bites before skewering to ensure they are secure and won’t tumble into the flames.

Samoa S’mores
There are some things that just go together. Campfires and s’mores are two of those things. These s’mores get a serious upgrade, featuring caramel coconut cookies in lieu of graham crackers. The hot marshmallow will melt the cookie’s chocolate drizzle to a messy-fingered finish (so double up on napkins).

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