If you've got a campfire, you can make grilled cheese. No fancy equipment required. Here's two easy ways to make this quick, satisfying, kid-friendly meal while camping. No campfire allowed? Make this easy grilled cheese on your camp stove or griddle instead.
Recipe at a Glance: Campfire Grilled Cheese
- DETAILS
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Preparation method: Campfire cooking (pie iron or foil pack)
- HIGHLIGHTS
- This easy campfire grilled cheese recipe offers two ways to make the kid-friendly camping meal over the campfire. You can make your sandwich wrapped in foil, or use a campfire pie iron. Both methods will make a perfect grilled cheese.
- Transform the classic grilled cheese into something truly special with your favorite types of cheese, or add some meat or grilled vegetables to make it more hearty.
- Offer this simple sandwich up for an easy camping lunch with some chips or raw vegetables on the side.
Camping food doesn't need to be fancy. If you've ever camped with kids you know that the best option is usually something that is quick, easy, and satisfying. Grilled cheese checks all those boxes and can be made as simple or customized as you like. Here's two easy ways to make this kid-friendly camping meal over your campfire using only foil or your campfire pie iron.
Jump to:
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Bread--Use your favorite, whether that's spongy white sandwich bread or artisanal sourdough. Anything goes here. Do try to use bread of an even thickness and keep the slices to about ½-inch thick so that the cheese melts fully before the bread gets overly toasted.
- Cheese--Cheddar is classic, but you can swap in any good melting cheese. If you like a spicy grilled cheese, try pepper Jack. For a mild flavor, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Havarti will all work well.
How to Make Grilled Cheese Over a Campfire
1. Butter each slice of bread on one side.
2. Place two slices of cheese on the unbuttered side of half the bread slices.
3. Wrap in foil and cook over the fire until melted, flipping once.
4. Alternatively, cook in a pie iron over the campfire until melted, flipping once.
Ways to Make Your Grilled Cheese Better
As written, this camping grilled cheese sandwich recipe makes a classic, melty, toasted sandwich, and is the perfect kid-friendly camping meal. Here's a few suggestions to glam up your grilled cheese, if you're looking for something more elevated than the classic:
- Add a spread to the inside of your sandwich bread. Basil pesto, red pepper paste, or mayonnaise are great options.
- Use a couple types of cheese. Feel free to mix and match your favorites.
- Add some thinly sliced deli meat, like ham or roast beef.
- Grill thin slices of zucchini, eggplant, or squash, and add those to the sandwich. Slices of raw tomato are also a great addition.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- If you're adding extras to your sandwich, make sure you add it between the two slices of cheese. The melted cheese is the glue that holds everything together.
- The cook time will be dependent on how hot your fire is and how far your sandwich is cooked from the heat. For best results, ensure your fire has very hot coals and low flame. Avoid high flames, which can cause the sandwich to burn.
- This recipe is suitable for vegetarian diets. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free bread.
More Sandwich Recipes You'll Love
Tried This Recipe?
If you've tried this recipe, please leave a comment below. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or Pinterest for more great camping and grilling recipes.
Recipe
Campfire Grilled Cheese Two Ways
Equipment
- Cast iron pie cooker optional
- Heavy duty aluminum foil optional
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons butter softened
- 4 slices bread about ½-inch thick
- 4 slices cheese
Instructions
- Prepare a campfire and let it burn down to hot coals with a low flame. (It takes about 20 minutes from starting the campfire until the coals are ready).
- Spread 1 teaspoon of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Add two slices of cheese between the unbuttered sides of the bread.
- If using the foil pack method, wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil. Place it on the grate of the fire and cook, flipping once, until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted, 6 to 7 minutes per side.If using a pie iron, add one sandwich to the pie iron and hold it over the fire, flipping once, until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes per side. Repeat with the second sandwich.
- Remove from the heat and let sit for a minute before slicing in half and serving.
Notes
- If you're adding extras to your sandwich, make sure you add it between the two slices of cheese. The melted cheese is the glue that holds everything together.
- The cook time will be dependent on how hot your fire is and how far your sandwich is cooked from the heat. For best results, ensure your fire has very hot coals and low flame. Avoid high flames, which can cause the sandwich to burn.
- This recipe is suitable for vegetarian diets. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free bread.
Leave a Reply