Rural lifestyle author Fennel Hudson once said, “Cooking and eating food outdoors makes it taste infinitely better than the same meal prepared and consumed indoors”…and we couldn’t agree more. From campfire coffee to a big pot of chili to ooey gooey s’mores…there’s something undeniably delicious about the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) smokiness that cooking over an open flame imparts on our food.

It's never too early to start planning your next camping adventure and thinking about the meals you want to serve. That’s why we’re sharing 4 of our favorite campfire dinner recipes, and to make it even easier, every recipe is cooked in a single pot…which means you’ll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your fire and friends after dinner.

One-Pot Pasta Primavera

Don’t let the simple ingredients in this dish fool you—fresh veggies and pasta come together quickly for an easy one-pot dish the whole family will love. And can we talk about the sauce for a second? While it couldn’t be easier—fresh goat cheese melts into starchy pasta water to create a decadent sauce that perfectly coats the pasta and vegetables—it helps create a dish that would be right at home at any fine-dining Italian eatery.

One-Pot Campfire Chili Cornbread Casserole

A dutch oven filled to the brim with piping hot chili is a staple for many outdoor enthusiasts. This recipe kicks the traditional chili up a notch by topping it with cornbread during the last few minutes of cooking, creating a delicious bready layer perfect for soaking up all those rich juices and spices.

And the best part? There’s no cornbread pan to clean afterwards…everything cooks in the same pot. We’re not kidding when we say, this dish is out-of-this-world-delicious, camp comfort food at its finest.

Campfire Nachos

Picture this…you’ve spent the day hiking and enjoying all that nature has to offer. You get back to camp and realize that you are starving. The idea of waiting on a pot of chili to simmer is grievous unto you. What to do?

You’ll find the solution with this recipe for campfire nachos. This delicious and hearty meal comes together in the time it takes to melt cheese and warm up beans. We love the ingenuity of this recipe—it turns out the art of creating the perfect pile of nachos is in skillful layering which ensures each chip is coated in cheesy, saucy goodness.

Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew

If you are anti-meat, fear not…we haven’t forgotten about our vegetarian and vegan friends. This South-African-inspired sweet potato and peanut stew is warm and comforting…a veritable hug for your stomach!

Here sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and kale swim in a peanut and chili-infused tomato broth. Feel free to add cayenne or diced jalapeno to increase the heat factor in this stick-to-your-ribs hearty stew.

As you can see, campfire cooking doesn’t have to be complicated, and meals don’t require hours of cooking to be downright delicious. We hope these recipes inspire you to pack your gear and head out for parts unknown where delicious meals wait after a long day of outdoor adventuring.

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No references as recipe sources are linked in each title