Potatoes are popular as a camping staple because they travel well: they are easy to bring, don’t need refrigeration, and versatile as a meal by itself or to substantiate any entrée.
Below are some of the most popular easy campfire baked potatoes recipes that you and your hungry little campers can enjoy. Notice they are mostly 1-person recipes and have very similar ingredients - potato, butter, salt, pepper, onions, seasonings. So, let your campers fix their own, to their own liking, making it is as much fun as eating it.
Potato Stand-Alone Recipes
The Plain Baked Potato
Slice potato in half and smear each half with butter, put potato back together and wrap with foil. Poke holes over the potato with a fork before you wrap it to allow for even, speedy cooking. Place potatoes on the coals or at edge of campfire. Let them bake for approximately 30 minutes or until fork tender.
Onion-Filled Campfire Potatoes
Slice potato in half and place sliced onion inside. Place pat of butter on top, wrap in foil and bake (see Plain Baked Potato)
Baked Potato in a Can
Use a tin can such as one from beans or vegetables. Generously butter the outside of the potato, season to taste. Next place the potato in the can and cover with foil. Put the can next to the fire of coals and let it cook for about 30-45 minutes. Do not remove the tin foil, even for a peek! You will have the best baked potato, perfectly cooked.
Campfire Mashed Potatoes
Bake the potatoes, then mash with a potato masher. Heat some milk and the butter before you add to the mashed potatoes. Be careful not to over mash so you will not get a waxy texture. Spice it up a bit with dried herbs or seasoning.
Hash Browns
This is great for breakfast and can be made with any type of left over potatoes you have from the meal the night before. Cook in a pan over the fire or coals and add some butter to crisp them up or cook with a little but of the grease from the bacon. Add seasonings to taste.
Potatoes as part a Recipe
Favorite Campfire Breakfast
Place 4 strips of bacon on a large piece of Aluminum foil and cover bacon with a large handful of frozen hash brown potatoes. Cut 3 rings of onion or bell peppers and place on top of potatoes. Crack an egg into each ring. Put Picante sauce or cheese on eggs, salt and pepper. wrap foil securely and place in coals.
Sausage and Potatoes
Spray pan with Pam. Sautee onions and potatoes in olive oil until onions are clear and potatoes brown. Add kielbasa and soy sauce.
Add to your Stews/Soups
Red potatoes work well for such meals that have pot roast in it or corned beef. Simply drop the unpeeled potatoes into the liquid of your meal 1 hour before the meat is done.
Tips for cooking potatoes at camp:
- Wash potatoes before you cook them.
- Poke holes on the potatoes before you wrap it up (don't want soot in it).
- Use heavy-duty foil. If not available, wrap foil around it twice.
- Yukon gold or russet potatoes for balking, unpeeled red potatoes for stews.
- When baking on a campfire, keep potatoes from the flames to prevent soot. Glowing, white coals produce the best results
