Campfire breakfast: 14 tasty meals to cook over the flames

Waking up on a camping trip with birds chirping around already means you’re up for a good day. But beautiful surroundings aren’t enough to get your belly satisfied. It’s breakfast time.

You likely won’t want to throw a whole cooking party in the early morning (hats off if you do), but a delicious meal can elevate your camping trips to the next level.

Why settle for a boring bowl of cereal when you can cook a delicious breakfast over the flames?

In this blog post, we’ll share 14 tasty, easy-to-cook camping breakfast ideas to start your day right. From egg-based meals to mouth-watering pancakes – whatever you prefer, you’ll find it here. So grab your campfire cooking kit, and let’s get cooking!

14 easy camping breakfast ideas that’ll make you want to wake up early

Heads up: These recipes aren’t set in stone. Mix and match ingredients to best suit your taste and make more exciting breakfast foods by adding different seasonings, sauces, or dips. Or choose gluten and lactose-free alternatives. Use these campfire breakfast ideas as a kick-off to get your creativity flowing.

As with any campfire cooking, you might need to make minor adjustments in terms of cooking time and the number of ingredients depending on the size of your skillet, the heat of the fire, etc.

Don’t forget camping safety while cooking over an open fire!

1. Scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs

What you’ll need:

• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons of milk or cream
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheese (e.g., Swiss or cheddar cheese)
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs (e.g., chives or parsley)

How to prepare:

Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Then, prepare your skillet or frying pan – add it over the campfire, toss some butter, and let it melt. Pour the egg mixture into it and keep stirring until the eggs are set and become fluffy. Add shredded cheese and herbs, stir to combine, and cook until the cheese melts.

2. Campfire omelet with vegetables and cheese

What you’ll need:

• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup of milk or cream
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1/2 cup of diced vegetables (onions, bell peppers, mushrooms)
• 1/2 cup of shredded cheese

How to prepare:

Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Heat a skillet or frying pan over the campfire, add butter and let it melt. Add diced veggies and cook until they’re soft. Pour the egg mixture on top. 

Cook for a couple of minutes till the bottom is set, then gently lift the edges with a spatula while any uncooked egg flows to the bottom. When the bottom sets, sprinkle shredded cheese over one half of the omelet and carefully fold the other half over the cheese. Use a spatula, don’t put your hands in the pan, of course.

Another minute or two till the cheese melts, and you’re off to go!  

3. Egg and bacon muffins

What you’ll need:

• 6 slices of bacon
• 6 eggs
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup of diced vegetables (onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes) (optional)
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheese

How to prepare:

Cook the bacon in a skillet or on a camping griddle until it’s crispy. Drain on a paper towel and crumble into small pieces.

Crack the eggs into a bowl, add salt and pepper, and whisk together. If you’re up to some vegetables, saute them in the skillet until tender.

Grease the muffin cups with butter or cooking spray. Place a small amount of crumbled bacon in each muffin cup. Add diced vegetables and pour the egg mixture over them. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.

Use tongs or a metal skewer to place the cast iron muffin tin over the campfire and cook for about 10-15 minutes or until you see it’s set.

4. Breakfast burrito with eggs, beans, cheese, and salsa

What you’ll need:

• 4 tortillas
• 4 eggs
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheese
• 1/4 cup of salsa
• Butter or cooking spray

How to prepare:

Preheat a skillet or griddle over your campfire. Whisk the egg, salt, and pepper together.

Grease the skillet or griddle with butter or cooking spray, then pour the egg mixture into it. Keep stirring till the eggs are set. 

Heat the tortillas in the skillet or a foil package over the fire until warm. Place scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese, and salsa on each tortilla. Roll tightly to form a burrito.

5. Campfire skillet breakfast

What you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon of butter or oil
• 1 diced onion
• 1 diced bell pepper
• 4 diced potatoes
• Salt and pepper
• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheese
• Salsa, hot sauce, or sour cream

How to prepare:

Preheat a cast iron skillet over the campfire. Add oil or butter and let it melt. Put diced onion and bell pepper, and cook till they’re soft. Then, toss in diced potatoes and cook until they’re tender and slightly browned. Season with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, whisk together eggs. Pour them over the vegetables in the skillet and stir gently. Cook till eggs are set and scrambled.

Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Give a minute for the cheese to melt, and enjoy!

6. Campfire french toast sticks

What you’ll need:

• 6 slices of bread
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup of milk or cream
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Salt
• Powdered sugar and syrup for serving (optional)
• Butter or oil

How to prepare:

Preheat a skillet or griddle over the campfire. Cut the bread slices into strips or sticks.

Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt. Dip each breadstick into the mixture to coat all sides.

Grease the skillet and cook these french toast sticks for a few minutes on each side until they’re golden brown. Remove from the skillet and dust with powdered sugar or serve with syrup.

7. Campfire breakfast foil packet

What you’ll need:

• Breakfast sausages
• 4-6 small red potatoes, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• Salt and pepper
• 4-6 eggs, scrambled
• Shredded cheese

How to prepare:

Place the sausage, diced potatoes, onion, and bell pepper on the center of a large aluminum foil sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the foil to create a packet and seal the edges to keep the steam inside. 

Place the foil packets in the campfire or over the camping stove for around 20 minutes. Keep turning till the potatoes get soft. Then carefully open and add scrambled eggs and cheese. Let the cheese melt, and enjoy. 

8. Grilled cheese sandwich

What you’ll need:

• 2 slices of bread
• 2-3 slices of cheese
• Butter

How to prepare:

Preheat a skillet or griddle over the campfire. Place the cheese between two slices of bread to form a sandwich. Spread butter on the outside of each piece. Place the sandwich on the skillet or griddle and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until it’s golden brown and the cheese melts.

9. Campfire sandwich with bacon, egg, and avocado

What you’ll need:

• 2 slices of bread
• 2-3 slices of bacon
• 1-2 eggs
• 1 avocado
• Salt and pepper
• Butter or oil

How to prepare:

Preheat a skillet or griddle over the campfire. Cook the bacon till it’s crispy, remove it from the skillet, and place it on a paper towel to absorb the excess fat.

Crack the eggs into the skillet and cook them to your preference (sunny side up, over easy, etc.). Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit; slice or mash it as you prefer.

Toast the bread on the skillet or griddle, and assemble the sandwich with toasted bread, bacon, egg, and avocado slices. A pinch of salt and pepper to set it up. 

10. Pancakes with butter and syrup

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter or oil
• Butter and syrup for serving

How to prepare:

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl. Whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter or oil in a separate bowl.

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until they become one. Don’t overmix, as pancakes can get tough. 

Get your skillet or griddle ready by preheating and greasing it over the campfire.

Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook till it’s golden brown. Serve with butter and syrup.

Bonus tip: You can make the most delicious treats with a pie iron. Equip yourself with some hearty breakfast ideas for your next camping trip in our blog post.

11. Berry muffins with streusel topping

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup of melted butter or oil
• 1 cup of frozen or fresh berries

For the streusel topping:

• 1/4 cup of flour
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of butter, chilled and diced

How to prepare:

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together the milk, egg, and melted butter in a separate bowl.

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until they’re one. Again, avoid over-mixing. Fold the berries into the batter.

Preheat the campfire or use a camp stove. Grease the muffin cups with butter or cooking spray. Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 of the way full.

For the streusel topping: Mix flour and sugar. Add chilled butter, and use a fork or mix with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the muffin batter in the muffin cups.

Use tongs or a metal skewer to place the muffin tin in the campfire and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

12. Dutch oven cinnamon rolls

What you’ll need:

• 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup of warm water
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup of butter, melted
• 1/2 cup of warm milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of butter, melted
• 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons of milk

How to prepare:

Combine the yeast and warm water. Let stand for 5 minutes or until it gets foamy.

Combine the sugar, melted butter, warm milk, and egg in a separate bowl and mix well. Add in the yeast mixture and mix again.

Gradually add flour and salt until the dough is formed and easy to handle. Knead the dough for about 8 to 10 minutes or until it’s smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.

Prepare your dutch oven with non-stick cooking spray or butter. Roll out the dough into a rectangle shape, about 1/4 inch thick.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread the melted butter over the dough, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon mixture on top. 

Roll the dough up tightly, starting from the longer side. Cut it into slices, about 1 inch thick.

Put the cinnamon rolls in the dutch oven. Place it over the campfire and cook for about 20-25 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown.

Remove from the fire, and let cool for a few minutes. Mix powdered sugar and milk to make a glaze. Drizzle it over the cinnamon rolls and serve warm.

13. Banana bread pancakes

While pancakes are a filling meal, they aren’t famous for being a healthy camping breakfast. But you can actually get closer to it with some added nutrition from bananas!

What you’ll need:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Non-stick cooking spray or butter

How to prepare:

Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt well. Mix milk, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Then combine two mixtures in one.

Grease the skillet or griddle. Pour ¼ cup batter per pancake and cook 2 minutes on each side till golden brown. Add maple syrup, honey, or any other toppings for extra flavor. 

14. Breakfast hash with bacon and cheese

What you’ll need:

• 6 slices of bacon, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• 1/4 cup of shredded cheese
• 1 tablespoon of butter or oil

How to prepare:

Add the bacon to your skillet or pan and cook until it’s crispy. Remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon, leaving the bacon grease in the pan.

Add the onion, bell pepper, potato, salt, and pepper to the pan. Keep stirring and cook until they’re soft. Add the bacon back to the pan and mix it all. Sprinkle some cheese and butter, wait until they melt, and taste!

More campfire cooking recipes

Breakfast is just the start of your day. We covered more open fire cooking meal ideas to keep you full and happy during the daytime. Check them out:

• Campfire lunch recipes
• Vegetarian camping food
• Camping desserts
• Campfire dinner recipes