Camping trips are better with good food. But cooking outdoors can be tricky.
You want meals that taste great without spending hours at the fire.
I’m going to show you a campfire chicken recipe that works perfectly. These aren’t complicated dishes. They’re simple, tasty, and use ingredients you can pack easily.
Benefits of Campfire Meals in Foil
Cooking in foil makes camping easier. You get tasty food without the mess, and the cleanup is so much easier than you’d think.
Easy Cleanup After Eating
Foil packets mean you don’t need to scrub pots and pans. You simply eat your meal and toss the foil when you’re done.
This saves water and time, which matters a lot when you’re camping in remote areas.
Locks in Moisture and Flavor
The foil traps steam inside while your food cooks. This keeps the chicken tender and juicy instead of dried out.
All the seasonings and juices stay sealed in, so every bite tastes better than regular grilling would give you.
Cooks Food Evenly Throughout
Heat distributes well around the sealed packet. Your chicken won’t have raw spots or burnt edges.
The even temperature means everything inside cooks at the same rate, so vegetables and meat finish together without any guesswork needed.
Requires Minimal Cooking Equipment
You only need heavy-duty foil and a fire. No pots, pans, or grills are necessary for these meals.
This makes packing lighter and easier since you don’t have to carry extra cooking gear that takes up space in your bag.
Most Loved Campfire Chicken Recipes
Cooking chicken over a campfire brings out flavors you can’t get in a kitchen.
The smoky taste, the outdoor air, and the crackling fire make every bite special.
1. Campfire Grilled Chicken & Veggie Foil Packet
This recipe wraps chicken breasts with colorful vegetables in aluminum foil. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and herbs.
Add sliced bell peppers, zucchini, and onions. Seal the packet tightly. Place it on hot coals for 20 minutes. Flip once halfway through cooking.
The steam inside creates tender, juicy chicken.
Click here to download the recipe card.
2. Roasted Chicken, Campfire Corn, and Beans
Place chicken pieces on a grill grate over the fire. Let them cook until golden brown.
Add corn cobs and canned beans to a cast-iron pan nearby. Season everything with butter and garlic (optional).
Cook for 25 minutes total. Turn the chicken twice. This complete meal needs just one fire and minimal cleanup.
Click here to download the recipe card.
3. Campfire Chicken Foil Packets with Potato
Cut the chicken into chunks and dice the potatoes into small cubes. Mix them with olive oil and seasoning. Divide the mixture between foil sheets.
Add a pat of butter to each packet.
Fold the foil securely. Cook on the grill for 30 minutes. The potatoes get crispy while the chicken stays moist and flavorful.
Click here to download the recipe card.
4. Easy Campfire Chicken Thighs
Marinate chicken thighs in Italian dressing before leaving home.
At camp, place them directly on a clean grill grate. Cook over medium heat for 8 minutes per side.
The fat in the thighs prevents drying out. Brush with extra marinade while cooking. They’ll develop a beautiful char and smoky flavor that everyone loves.
Click here to download the recipe card.
5. Make-Ahead Chicken Foil Dinner
Prep this meal completely at home before the camping trip.
For more make-ahead camping meals, you can check out our blog – 37 Delicious Make-Ahead Camping Meals to Try
Layer chicken, baby carrots, and mushrooms in foil.
Add cream of chicken soup and seasonings.
Seal each packet well. Store in a cooler until ready to cook. At camp, just place packets on coals for 25 minutes. Dinner couldn’t be simpler or more convenient.
Click here to download the recipe card.
6. Campfire Black Bean Chicken Chili
Dice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and brown them in a Dutch oven.
Add canned black beans, diced tomatoes, and chili powder. Stir in corn and chopped onions.
Let it simmer over low flames for 40 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Serve hot with shredded cheese and sour cream on top for comfort food perfection.
Click here to download the recipe card.
7. Campfire Chicken Pot Pie
Cook diced chicken with frozen mixed vegetables in a cast-iron skillet. Add cream of mushroom soup and chicken broth. Stir until everything combines well.
Top with refrigerated biscuit dough pieces. Cover the skillet with a lid.
Place hot coals on top and bottom. Bake for 20 minutes until biscuits turn golden and fluffy inside.
Click here to download the recipe card.
8. Smoked Campfire Chicken Packets
Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes before cooking. Season chicken pieces with your favorite dry rub. Wrap them in heavy-duty foil with the damp wood chips.
Seal tightly to trap smoke inside. Cook over indirect heat for 35 minutes. The trapped smoke infuses deep flavor. This method creates restaurant-quality smoked chicken at camp.
Click here to download the recipe card.
9. Grilled Chicken Thighs with Campfire Potatoes
Season chicken thighs with paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Grill them over direct flames for 15 minutes total.
Meanwhile, wrap quartered potatoes in foil with butter and rosemary.
Place potato packets at the fire’s edge. Both finish cooking at the same time. The combination makes a satisfying, protein-rich meal that fuels outdoor activities.
Click here to download the recipe card.
10. Campfire Chicken Sausage and Fries
Slice chicken sausages into thick rounds and thread onto skewers.
Cut potatoes into wedge shapes. Toss the wedges with oil and place them in a grill basket. Cook both over the fire simultaneously.
Turn frequently for even browning. The sausages get a nice snap while fries crisp up beautifully. Kids and adults both request this fun meal repeatedly.
Click here to download the recipe card.
11. Dutch Oven Lemon Herb Chicken
Place a whole chicken in a preheated Dutch oven. Rub it with lemon juice, thyme, and rosemary. Add sliced lemons and garlic cloves inside the cavity. Cover with the lid.
Arrange hot coals on top and underneath. Cook for 90 minutes without opening.
The result is incredibly moist chicken with crispy skin that impresses everyone at camp.
Click here to download the recipe card.
Campfire Cooking Equipment for Chicken Recipes
Having the right tools makes campfire cooking much easier and more enjoyable.
The cook won’t struggle with improper equipment or risk ruining good ingredients
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil: Creates packets and prevents food from burning.
- Cast iron skillet: Distributes heat evenly and lasts for years.
- Dutch oven with lid: Perfect for stews, chilis, and whole roasted chicken.
- Cooking grate: Provides a stable surface over flames for grilling.
- Long-handled tongs: Keep your hands safe from heat while flipping meat.
- Fire poker: Arranges coals for even heat distribution.
- Cutting board and knife: Preps ingredients at the campsite.
- Cooler with ice: Keeps raw chicken at safe temperatures.
- Storage containers: Holds marinades and pre-seasoned ingredients.
- Wood chips: Add smoky flavor to grilled dishes.
Wrapping it up
Campfire chicken recipe doesn’t have to be difficult or boring.
These campfire meals in foil to roasted recipes prove that outdoor cooking can produce meals just as good as anything from a home kitchen.
Remember that practice makes both a man and a woman perfect. The first attempt might not turn out flawless. That’s okay. Fire behaves differently from stovetops. Temperature control takes time to master.
Try one recipe on the next camping trip. See how it goes. Then experiment with others.
What recipe will be tested first?
