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6 Easy Foil Packet Recipes for the Campfire

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What to look for Bring salmon in a cooler and cook it the first night — fish doesn’t hold up as well in a cooler after day one.
3 Cheesy Chicken Fajita Packet ~20 min

Sliced chicken breast, bell peppers, onion, a spoonful of taco seasoning, and a handful of shredded cheese on top for the last few minutes. Serve with tortillas on the side for instant fajitas.

Make it easier Slice the chicken at home and marinate it in the zip-lock bag with the seasoning overnight — more flavor, less work at camp.
4 Garlic Butter Shrimp and Corn Packet ~10 min

Shrimp, a piece of corn on the cob (halved), butter, minced garlic, and Old Bay or a similar seasoning. Cooks fast — shrimp turns pink and curls when it’s done, so check at 8 minutes.

What to look for Buy shrimp already peeled and deveined. At camp, that prep step is not worth the hassle.
5 Loaded Breakfast Packet ~18 min

Diced pre-cooked breakfast potatoes, scrambled egg (cracked in raw, it cooks in the packet), crumbled bacon or sausage, and shredded cheese. A full breakfast in one foil pouch, no skillet required.

Make it easier Microwave the potatoes for 5 minutes at home first — raw potatoes take too long over coals and the rest of the packet overcooks waiting for them.
6 Cinnamon Apple Dessert Packet ~15 min

Sliced apples, a sprinkle of brown sugar and cinnamon, and a pat of butter. Cooks down into a warm, soft dessert that tastes like apple pie filling. Top with granola or eat straight from the foil.

What to look for Firmer apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold their texture better than soft varieties.

A Few Tips That Make This Easier

  • 🧊 Pre-pack ingredients in labeled zip-lock bags at home. Each bag becomes one packet. Dump, wrap, cook — no chopping at the campsite.
  • 🔥 Coals beat open flame every time. If you’re cooking over a fire, wait until the flames die down and you’ve got a bed of glowing coals.
  • ⚖️ Cut everything roughly the same size. Uneven pieces mean some parts are done while others are still raw.
  • ⚠️ Steam burns are real. Open packets slowly, away from your face, and let the steam escape before digging in.

Once you’ve made two or three of these, you’ll start improvising your own combinations. Foil packet cooking is forgiving — as long as you stick to the basic technique, almost any protein and vegetable combination works.

Got a foil packet combo you swear by? Share it in the comments — we’re always adding to the list.

📝 Want more easy camp meals? Check our 5 Easy Camping Recipes for First-Timers — more one-pot and one-pan ideas.

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