(Cheap) Camp Recipes for Crisp Fall Nights! 

Nothing beats sitting around a campfire on a crisp fall evening—cheeks rosy from the flames, hands wrapped around a steaming mug, and the scent of woodsmoke drifting through the air. Autumn camping brings cold fall mornings, golden leaves, and an undeniable urge to gather close and share a hearty meal with friends! If you’re planning a weekend getaway or just lighting up the firepit in your backyard, here are some cozy (and cheap!) mouth-watering recipes to make your fall nights even better.

1. Cast-Iron Chili with Cornbread Topping

Few things are as comforting as a steaming bowl of chili on a cold night. Start by cooking ground beef (or plant-based crumbles) in a cast-iron dutch oven over the fire. Add diced onions, garlic, kidney beans, tomatoes, and your favorite chili spices—cumin, paprika, and a dash of cayenne for warmth. Once it’s bubbling, mix up some cornbread batter and pour it right on top. Cover the pot with a lid and let the cornbread bake in the rising heat. The result? A hearty one-pot meal with sweet fluffy cornbread on top and rich, savory chili underneath.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef (or plant based patties)
• Can of kidney beans 
• Garlic 
• Onions 
• Can of tomatoes (or fresh from a late summer garden!)
• Salt & Pepper 
• Spices to taste 
• Egg and milk (depending on the cornbread recipe) 
• Cooking oil

2. Foil-Packet Harvest Veggies

The campfire classic, foil packets are easy, and mess-free. For a fall twist, chop up butternut squash, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, red onions, and apples. Toss with olive oil, maple syrup, salt, pepper, fresh rosemary and a little bit of garlic. Wrap tightly in foil and place the packets on hot coals for 20–30 minutes, flipping halfway through. When you open them, the veggies will be caramelized, sweet, and smoky—perfect as a side or even a main dish.

Ingredients

• Tin foil 
• Butternut squash 
• Sweet Potatoes 
• Brussels sprouts 
• Red onion 
• Apples 
• Garlic 
• Olive Oil 
• Maple syrup 
• Salt & pepper 
• Rosemary 

3. Fancy Ramen 

While not specifically a fall dish, I find that you can’t go wrong with a classic. Fancy ramen is my go-to meal for when I’m feeling sick, and it also happens to make a delicious cold-weather meal. Chop finely onions, garlic, spicy peppers, and raw ginger, then saute them until fragrant. Add in boiling water, the ramen of your choice (the spicier the better), and the ramen seasonings. Squeeze a whole fresh lime into the mix, stir, and enjoy! If you feel yourself sweating, you’re doing it right. Nothing like hot soup to keep you warm on a cold night! (You can even crack an egg on it if you’re feeling extra fancy) 

Ingredients

• Any Instant Ramen Packet 
• Onions 
• Garlic 
• Ginger 
• Jalapeno or other spicy pepper 
• Lime 
• Optional: Egg 

4. Poor Man’s Meal 

It may go by different names, but this is the only one I’ve ever known it by. This is a hearty dish that can cost less than a few bucks, hence the cheeky name! Start by cubing one golden potato and sauteing until crisp. Then add in some onion, and chopped hot dogs. Add the spices of your choosing and enjoy as a bowl meal or get creative and slap this bad boy into a hot dog bun. Can be enjoyed with ketchup, mustard, or any sauce of your choosing! This carb and protein heavy meal that will keep you full and warm around any evening campfire!

Ingredients

• Cooking oil 
• Potato 
• Onion 
• Hot dog 
• Spices to taste 
• Ketchup or mustard 

5. S’mores with a Twist

Sure, the classic graham-chocolate-marshmallow combo is unbeatable, but why limit yourself? Try swapping the chocolate for peanut butter cups, dark chocolate with sea salt, or caramel-filled squares. Or replace the graham crackers with ginger snaps for a seasonal kick. Gather everyone around the fire, roast those marshmallows to golden perfection, and enjoy a sweet gooey mess.

Ingredients

• Marshmellows 
• Graham crackers 
• Peanut butter cups 
• Dark chocolate with caramel 
• Candied ginger 
• Any other types of chocolate you’ve been dying to try! 

A Few Campfire Cooking Tips:

• Prep at home: Chop veggies, measure spices, and pack ingredients in reusable containers for less mess at camp.
  
• Mind your heat: Cooking directly over flames can burn food quickly—try to work over glowing coals for even heat.
  
• Use heavy-duty foil: It stands up better to the high heat of campfires and prevents accidental tears.
  
• Be Patient: Timing in campfire cooking is variable! Make sure your coals aren’t too hot, or too cold, and keep turning your meal as much as possible to get all sides of it. 

No matter if you’re deep in the mountains or cozied up in your backyard, these campfire/campstove recipes will keep you warm, full, and smiling under the autumn stars. So grab your favorite sweater, a mug of hot cider, and get cooking—the crisp fall nights are calling.

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Cover Photo Credit: Conner Baker