Tinfoil Campfire Meals: Lumberjack Breakfast, Thanksgiving Dinner, Apricot-Glazed Pork Chops, Nachos, Potatoes and Vegetables, and Banana S'More Dessert

Will and I were camping this past week and we made some delicious meals over the campfire using tinfoil. The amount of ingredients will vary depending on how many people you're cooking for and preferences. We ended up with a lot of food for two people at every meal so the ingredients listed below may be better suited for 3-4 people.

Note: All of these meals can be made on a campfire or a grill.

Lumberjack Breakfast Packet

Ingredients:

• 4 sausages or bacon strips
• 1/2 pack of frozen hash browns
• 4 eggs
• 1 can of diced tomatoes with onions/garlic
• 1 cup of cheese (cheddar, Colby Jack, or whatever your preference is) 

Directions:

1. Spray tinfoil with cooking spray.
2. Lay sausages or bacon on the bottom followed by the potatoes because the meat and potatoes take the longest to cook and the things at the bottom of the packet receive the most heat.
3. Place the egg, tomato, and cheese on top of that.
4. Fold tinfoil packet into a tent: bring the two long ends together and fold a number of times, then fold the short ends together, at the end, pull up on the middle of the foil to create the tent-shape while keeping the package completely sealed.
5. Arrange campfire so that there are hot coals to lay the tinfoil packets on. 
6. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the meat is thoroughly cooked. 

This should make 3-4 breakfast packets.

Enjoying my Lumberjack breakfast

Thanksgiving Dinner Packet

Ingredients:

• 1 turkey cutlet (if you can't find turkey cutlets, you can cut up a larger portion of turkey)
• 1/2 cup of prepared stuffing
• 1/2 cup of frozen hashed browns or cubed potatoes
• 1/2 cup of turkey gravy
• 1/2 cup of green beans
• 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
• Salt, pepper, and thyme (to taste)

Directions:

1. Spray tinfoil with cooking spray.
2. Place turkey on the bottom because meat takes longer to cook and the bottom receives more direct heat.
3. Place hashed browns/potatoes on next, followed by the stuffing, then the green beans.
4. Pour the turkey gravy over everything.
5. Add cranberries and any seasonings desired. 
6. Fold tinfoil packet into a tent: bring the two long ends together and fold a number of times, then fold the short ends together, at the end, pull up on the middle of the foil to create the tent-shape while keeping the package completely sealed.
7. Place the packet on hot coals.
8. Cook for 20 minutes until meat is done. 

This makes one packet.

Preparing the meals

Cooking over the hot coals

Apricot-Glazed Pork Chop Packet

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless pork chop
• 1/3 cup of apricot preserves
• 1 tbsp of soy sauce
• 1/2 package of frozen stir-fry vegetables
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. Mix apricot preserves, soy sauce, and salt and pepper (if desired).
2. Place pork chop in the center of the tin foil.
3. Spread half of the apricot sauce on the top of the pork chop.
4. Put the vegetables on next.
5. Pour the remaining apricot sauce over the top.
6. Fold into a tent pack by bringing the two long ends together and folding a number of times, then folding the short ends together, pulling up on the middle of the foil to create the tent-shape while keeping the package completely sealed.
7. Place the packet on hot coals.
8. Cook for 20 minutes or until meat is done. 

This will make one packet.

Nacho Packet

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of tortilla chips
• 1 small container of taco sauce
• 1/2 lb of ground beef
• 1 can of black beans
• 1 can of diced tomatoes (with garlic/onions)
• 1 can of Mexicorn (corn mixed with peppers)
• 2 cups of cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or whatever your preference is)

Directions:

1. Spray tinfoil with cooking spray. 
2. Spread tortilla chips in the center of the tinfoil.
3. Place ground beef on top, followed by 1/2 of the taco sauce.
4. Add black beans, tomatoes, Mexicorn, and cheese to the top. 
5. Drizzle the remaining taco sauce over the mixture.
6. Fold packets into tent-shape by bringing the two long ends together and folding a number of times, then folding the short ends together, pulling up on the middle of the foil to create the tent-shape while keeping the package completely sealed.
7. Place the packets over hot coals.
8. Cook 10-15 minutes until meat is cooked and cheese is melted. 

This would serve about 4 people.

Potatoes and Vegetables Packet

Ingredients:

• Bag of red potatoes (chopped)
• 1 lb of brussel sprouts (chopped)
• 1 lb of baby carrots (chopped)
• 1/2 cup of olive oil
• 1 packet of seasoning (your choice but we used McCormick's Grill Mates: Garlic, Herb, and Wine Marinade)

Directions:

1. Wash and chop the potatoes, brussel sprouts, and baby carrots.
2. Place the potatoes on the tinfoil first, followed by the carrots, then the brussel sprouts.
3. Drizzle olive oil over it.
4. Sprinkle the seasoning on top.
5. Fold tinfoil packets into tent-shape by bringing the two long ends together and folding a number of times, then folding the short ends together, pulling up on the middle of the foil to create the tent-shape while keeping the package completely sealed.
6. Shake the packet around a little to distribute the seasoning and olive oil. 
7. Place on hot coals and cook for about 20-30 minutes or until the potatoes and vegetables are soft.

These packets would serve about 4 people. 

We enjoyed the potatoes packets with BBQ ribs.

Banana S'More Dessert Packet

Ingredients:

• Banana
• Mini marshmallows
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Spray tinfoil with cooking spray.
2. Slice the banana peel vertically (from stern to bottom), then slice the banana horizontally within the peel.
3. Stuff marshmallows and chocolate chips (as many as desired) into the banana peel with the sliced banana.
4. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil. 
5. Place packet over hot coals.
6. Cook for about 5 minutes (or until chocolate and marshmallows are melted). 
7. Once cooked, open banana peel and eat with a spoon.