Easy and delicious campfire cooking recipe ideas for your Australian camping adventures

Cooking outdoors is one of life's great pleasures. Your RV may be equipped with a pretty decent kitchen, but cooking over a campfire in the great outdoors creates not only a unique experience but, for some reason, the food tastes so much better as well. Let’s look a little deeper into campfire cooking and some easy and delicious recipe ideas for your Australian camping trip.

Essential equipment

It is common when cooking on a campfire to use cheap metal pots. If you are hiking, these are ideal as they are lightweight, but if you are travelling in an RV, you can pack better options. Cast iron pots are the best option for cooking on an open fire as you can regulate the heat easily, and the pot will retain the heat long after the coals have died down. Couple this with an adjustable over-fire potholder, and you are ready to go! Of course, you will need to bring along your chosen kitchen utensils as well. The beauty of campfire cooking is that it can be as elaborate or as basic as you like.

Setting up

First things first, you will need to establish a good fire. Make sure it is safe from wind and contained. The last thing you want to do in the Australian bush is to start a fire that can get out of control. Digging a small pit to have your fire in will give you more room to allow for burning while helping to keep those embers in one place. Collect your firewood and get it started. Once you have the desired level of coals and flames, you can set your over-fire potholder to the height required and then set the pot in place. It is quite easy to get the hang of using an over-fire potholder as a temperature regulator, and once you have tried it a couple of times, you will be a pro at knowing which height you will need for low, medium and high heat.

Methods of campfire cooking

If you do not have a pot, you can still cook on a campfire. One popular method is to use aluminium foil. Baked potatoes are a classic example. Simply prick with a fork and wrap in foil before burying your potatoes in the coals. You could also cook a variety of meats, including freshly caught fish this way. Another popular option is to cook your food on a stick. You could choose to use skewers, but if you do not have them, any stick is just as good in a pinch. Place your chosen food on the end and hold it over the coals much in the same way you roast marshmallows. It is surprising just how flavoursome flame-grilled vegetables can be when you use this method. 

Meal prepping

If you are camping well off the beaten track, you need to consider which meals you would like to enjoy in the bush, as there will not be a corner shop or supermarket nearby. Try to choose meals that use a lot of the same ingredients to save on space in your RV. Then it's simply a matter of stocking the appropriate items in your pantry and fridge. You may wish to create some gourmet delights or keep it simple. Whatever recipes you have in mind are achievable if you pre-plan your meals for your trip.

Damper

No information on Australian campfire cooking would be complete without at least mentioning damper, so let’s start with that. Damper is a traditional bush bread that the stockmen and drovers of early settlement times created when travelling for long periods through the bush. Ideally, you would bake it in your cast iron pot, but it is also possible to use the aluminium foil method. Flour, water, and salt are all that is needed to create your own fresh bread. Of course, you could add butter, olives or even sun-dried tomatoes for an extra touch of decadence. The process is extremely simple. Just knead the ingredients together and place them in your pot with the lid on, creating an oven effect, or you can encase your damper in foil and bury it in the coals. In no time at all, you will have freshly baked, steaming bread to enjoy.

Stew

A good hearty stew is a staple campfire cooking favourite. Look for recipes that require one pot, such as a beef and vegetable stew with good chunks of veggies such as potato, carrot and onion combined with stock and spices. Simply combine all ingredients and set the pot above your fire if you have the over-fire potholder, or rest your pot on the coals. You will need to stir it regularly and keep an eye on it, but this would have to be one of the easiest hearty meals to make in the bush. Serve with your damper, and you have a complete meal with very little effort.

Cakes and desserts

Just because you are camping, it does not mean you have to forego those tasty desserts. Think of your coals as a hotplate that doubles as a Dutch oven and your cast iron pot as an oven that doubles as a saucepan. You essentially have all the cooking methods available at your fingertips with a good campfire. An all-time favourite that requires minimal ingredients is scones. Flour, sugar, baking powder, butter and salt will create amazing fluffy scones that you can serve with jam and cream. Whether you’re craving pancakes, sponge or carrot cake, they are all achievable in the bush.

The fry up

The great Aussie fry-up is considered the breakfast of champions, and when prepared on a campfire, the flavours on your plate just burst. Bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, eggs and sausages comprise a basic fry-up. You can also substitute the meat options with vegetarian or vegan alternatives if you prefer. Serve with freshly toasted damper and the all-important tomato sauce, and you have a popular Aussie breakfast that will see you powering through your day.

Embrace old-time favourites

Embracing recipes from times when we did not have a need for all those gadgets in our kitchens, such as blenders, air fryers and microwaves, will open a treasure trove of recipe ideas for campfire cooking. If you are looking to enjoy campfire cooking with some easy and delicious recipe ideas for your Australian camping trip, the favourites of the 1970s and 1980s are where you will find answers. Recipes such as potato gratin, apricot chicken, meatloaf or even fondue are all very easy to achieve on a campfire. Snacks such as pizza rolls and classic ham and cheese toasties can also be enjoyed. There really are no limits to what you can achieve over your campfire, but these types of recipes will not call for any adaptations to the traditional cooking methods.

International cuisine

There is no need to limit yourself to Australian favourites on a campfire. Although with such a diverse population in our great land, a lot of Australian staples have been inspired by international dishes. Shakshuka is a prime example. This spicy tomato-based dish topped with a fried egg is bursting with flavour and nutrients, or maybe you would like to try something a little more complex, such as paella or tacos. You are getting the idea now that you can create whatever you desire while camping, even without a kitchen.

Don’t feel like cooking?

You are on holiday, and of course, there will be times you do not want to go through the process of making your own food. Try some roadside Aussie favourites, such as the iconic meat pie, which has been a staple in any Australian diet since the late 18th century. Chiko Rolls are another classic travelling snack. Inspired by traditional Chinese spring rolls, these pastry-encrusted vegetable delights have been a classic part of local culture since the early 1950s and still retain their popularity today. The meat pie and the Chiko roll can be found at most service stations and roadhouses, heated and ready to be eaten.

Vegemite

Okay, I get it. Not everyone likes vegemite. But if you are not from the local lands and want to experience a true local spread, give it a go! It is amazing on fresh bread or toast with generous lashings of butter. Just don’t compare it to Marmite, which is a British spread of similar appearance. If you ask any Brit or Australian, they taste completely different. There is a true rivalry between vegemite lovers and marmite lovers. Why not discover whose side you're on while enjoying the Australian bush?

Campfire appliances

There are quite a few tools available these days to get the most out of your campfire cooking, and if you have the room to store them during your travels, you will be able to enjoy everything from a snack to a three-course meal with ease. RV Parts Express can help you determine which items would be most practical for you, such as a flame stove toaster, an over-fire grill plate or a plethora of other appliances and tools that are available. Just as you can decide whether you want to keep your recipes simple, you can also decide if you want to keep your tools simple. There is no right or wrong way.

We hope these suggestions for campfire cooking with some easy and delicious recipe ideas for your Australian camping trip have helped you understand just how easy and enjoyable campfire cooking can be. Enjoy your travels!