One of our favorite things about camping in the fall is cooking over the campfire. The air is cool and crisp. The fire is warm. And the food seems even better when it’s made outside.
On quick weekend getaways, we like to keep our camp cooking simple and delicious. Friday nights will often find us all sitting around the campfire, toasting up dinner in our pie irons. These old-fashioned sandwich makers are loved by kids and adults alike. You can find them in cast iron or cast aluminum. We prefer the cast aluminum since they are a bit lighter and easier to hold. Here are the ones that we’ve been using for years:
You can put anything you want into a pie iron and it will probably taste delicious. But in case you need some inspiration, here are five of our favorite pie iron treats. Note that times are approximate, because temperatures vary when cooking over a campfire. A few minutes on either side usually does the trick for us!
Pie Iron Pizza
Ingredients: 2 slices of wheat bread, shredded mozzarella, marinara or pizza sauce, pepperoni or any of your favorite pizza toppings.
Grease your pie iron with spray, oil, or butter. Place a slice of wheat bread on the pie iron. Spoon on the marinara. Sprinkle the mozzarella. Add any additional ‘toppings’. Top with the second slice of wheat bread. Close the pie iron and toast over the campfire for about two minutes on either side.
Pie Iron Ham Sammies
Ingredients: 2 slices of rye bread, deli-sliced ham, deli-sliced provolone cheese, and honey mustard sauce (we make our own, but you can buy pre-made if you wish).
Grease your pie iron with spray, oil or butter. Place a slice of rye bread on the pie iron. Spread your honey mustard sauce on the bread. Layer your cheese and ham on top. Place your second slice of rye bread on top of the sandwich. Close the pie iron and toast over the campfire for about three minutes on either side. (We find you need some more toasting time if your cheese is in slices rather than shredded!)
Pie Iron Turkey Reubens
Ingredients: 2 slices of pumpernickel bread, deli-sliced turkey, sauerkraut, sliced Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing.
Grease your pie iron with spray, oil or butter. Place a slice of pumpernickel bread on the pie iron. Layer your cheese and turkey on the bread. Spoon sauerkraut and thousand island dressing on top. Place your second slice of pumpernickel bread on top of the sandwich. Close the pie iron and toast over the campfire for about three minutes on either side. (We find you need some more toasting time if your cheese is in slices rather than shredded!)
Pie Iron Tasty Tacos
Ingredients: Two small flour tortillas, cooked leftover taco beef, rice, black beans, grated cheddar, salsa, and sour cream.
We double our taco Tuesday recipe at home, and then use the leftovers for this yummy treat at the campground the following weekend! Grease your pie iron with spray, oil or butter. Place a small flour tortilla on the pie iron. Spoon on your meat, rice, and beans. Layer your cheese and salsa on top. Place your second tortilla on top. Close the pie iron and toast over the campfire for about three minutes on either side. Serve with sour cream and/or guacamole on the side!
Pie Iron Dessert for Dinner
Ingredients: 2 whole grain waffles, Nutella, strawberries or raspberries.
Grease your pie iron with spray, oil or butter. Place a waffle on the pie iron. Spread your Nutella on the waffle. Layer your fruit of choice on top of the Nutella. Place your second waffle on top. Close the pie iron and toast over the campfire for about two minutes on either side.
Simple, fun, and delicious. That’s our favorite way to roll on a Friday night at the campground. Cooking over the camp fire is the perfect way to reset from a busy week and spend time together.
And if you’re looking for some easy make-ahead meals for quick weekend getaways, check out this post.
To all you weekend warriors…see you at the campground,
Stephanie
