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Are you looking for some delicious camping pie iron recipes for your next outdoor adventure?
Camping is a great way to spend time with family or friends, and camping pie irons are an easy way to cook delicious meals for camping. And while a camping trip may not seem complete without some S’mores or hot dogs cooked over an open fire, these easy pie iron recipes for camping are a great way to simplify your campfire cooking.
We have shared plenty of ways to make your camping meals easier, with no-cook camping meal ideas, foil packet recipes, make-ahead camping food and dutch oven recipes, but if you’re looking to mix up your camp recipes even more, a pie iron is a camp kitchen essential you will love!
We love this double pie iron for family camping trips
What Is A Pie Iron?
A pie iron, or camp cooker, is a simple cooking utensil designed to cook directly over a campfire.
It has two cupped cast iron metal cooking plates hinged together, with attached long metal rods and a wooden handle so that you can hold it securely without burning your hands as the warm flames lick up at them from below.
Camp cookers are remarkably durable and sturdy, making them perfect for camping! And they aren’t just for cooking pies either!
If you’ve never heard of a pie iron before, it’s possible you’ve heard it referred to as a jaffle maker or a Pudgie pies maker, camp cooker, mountain pie maker or toastie iron instead.
What Is The Best Pie Iron For Camping?
The best pie irons for camping depend on what you are looking for. Some campers may prefer a non-stick pie iron that makes it easier to clean up while others will want to find the cheapest pie iron possible.
There are many different types available on the market, with each one claiming to have something special that it does better than the others.
Campfire pie irons, which are usually made out of cast iron or aluminium, come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the preference.
- Aluminum pie irons may warp if too close to coals but they’re lightweight and easy to hold over campfires – just don’t hold them too close! A cast iron pie iron is far more sturdy although is heavier.
- A square pie iron design is great for sandwiches and tends to be popular due to its large cooking area, while round designs can seal more flavour by crimping bread around its edges.
- A double pie iron is a great option if you have a larger group and want to get the cooking done quicker, or by having 2 or more pie irons you can use at the same time.
Regardless of your budget or your cooking preferences, there is a perfect pie iron out there for you! Here are some options for choosing the best pie iron:
How To Cook With A Camping Pie Iron
Using a pie iron while camping could not be easier! It’s a great tool to have in your camping essentials for cooking. Although it may take a couple of practices before you get it perfect!
In saying that, no two times of cooking over the campfire or fire pit will ever be the same since no two campfires are ever quite the same.
The best thing about a pie iron is that you can take a peek by opening up the camping iron and checking the progress.
Here are the basics for cooking with a pie iron:
- Spray the inside of your pie iron with cooking spray.
- Fill the bottom tray with your food.
- Close and cook until golden brown.
Easy Camping Pie Iron Recipes
These easy mountain pie recipes for camping are the perfect meals to add to your camping meal plan, with quick to prepare and cook breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts that the whole family can enjoy.
One of the best things about pie iron cooking is you can put pretty much anything between two slices of bread, with the limit only being your imagination (and tastebuds).
This makes pie irons a great option for repurposing leftovers too.
Last night’s hearty beef stew becomes today’s delicious beef stew jaffle or tinned baked beans can become simple finger food in the form of a camp hobo pie!
Taco meat, spaghetti, casserole – anything goes with a camp cooker!
But if you’re in need of even more inspiration, here are some delicious classic pie iron recipes and plenty of modern twists to add to your camp food menu:
Pie Iron Breakfast Ideas
These pie iron breakfast ideas are perfect for camping with the family, with simple single serve breakfasts to get your day started before kicking off with your adventures:
French Toast – The yummy pie iron french toast recipe is such a fun way to make french toast for the family over the campfire, and with a double pie iron it makes cooking this breakfast favourite twice as fast.
Hashbrowns – Who doesn’t love hashbrowns for breakfast? These stuffed hashbrowns with avocado, tomato and cheese are a hearty breakfast to start the day off full of energy.
Pie Iron Breakfast Wrap – This breakfast wrap provides you with an easy-to-prepare and mouthwatering portable snack that will delight your taste buds while taking care of morning hunger! All you need are tortillas and your preferred fillings. Bacon, eggs, whatever you please. You could also do the same with bread to make your own breakfast sandwiches.
For more breakfast ideas, check out these easy camping breakfast recipes.
Pie Iron Dinner & Lunch Recipe Ideas
Try some of these pie iron main meals for camping, with quick and easy dinners and lunches over the campfire:
Pie Iron Pizza Pockets – A personal pizza in a handy little pocket, these campfire pie iron pizza pockets represent everything to love about camp cooking. They’re quick, easy and so much fun to make! Crispy crusts with melty mozzarella cheese and any toppings you please are all cooked in your easy to use camp cooker.
Garlic Grilled Cheese Sandwiches – Add a garlic bread twist to your grilled cheese sandwich. Save time by making the garlic butter ahead of time for a yummy flavour-packed quick dinner idea.
Chicken Pot Pies – Everybody loves pot pie. It’s so cozy and warm, a perfect dish for a cold day at the campsite! This great recipe is easy to make too
Sloppy Joes –What could be better than sloppy joes? The answer is pie iron sloppy joes. They are a hearty meal perfect for camping because they aren’t only easy, but inexpensive to put together and most of the ingredients can be prepped before your trip so it’s just the simple task of putting them together at the campsite before cooking.
Pepperoni Grilled Cheese Toastie – This recipe for pepperoni grilled cheese lets you enjoy that campfire taste and take care of your craving for pizza without the fuss. Avoid soggy dinner by serving the pizza sauce on the side as a dipping sauce instead.
See Also
Pie Iron Baked Bean & Cheese Toasties – Baked beans are a camp food staple but mix up those tinned beans by making them into a baked bean and cheese toastie that is great for a winter lunch or for campfire dinners. It even works for breakfast!
Garlic Bread – Who doesn’t love garlic bread? This pull-apart garlic bread is made using flaky rolls and homemade garlic butter.
Campfire Pie Maker Fajitas – This easy tortilla pocket recipe with the tasty flavours of steak, bell peppers and melty cheese is perfect for campfire cooking.
For more pie iron dinner ideas, try adding your favourite fillings with a slice of bread on either side, such as savoury fillings from a tin, pie filling, savoury mince or leftover taco meat, slices of pepperoni or salami with cheese or pieces of leftover cooked meat. So many options!
Pie Iron Dessert Recipes
Don’t forget dessert! These easy pie iron recipes are perfect tasty camping desserts when camping, so you can enjoy sweet treats while breathing in the fresh air outdoors during your next camping trip:
Campfire Muffins – The pie iron is a great way to cook muffins without having the need for any refrigerated ingredients. It’s also an easy and fun activity for families to bake a fun treat to enjoy during the day, although they do need to be made individually so it might be a good idea to have 2 pie irons to speed up the process!
Cherry Pie – The pie iron cherry pie is a simple, yet delicious dish to make while camping. It has easy steps and tips for the perfect crust so that you can enjoy this sweet treat any time of year! If you live outside of the USA, you can recreate a similar dough with this recipe.
Camp Cooker Cinamon Rolls – These pie iron cinnamon rolls are sure to be a camping hit with the whole family. Using a camp cooker to make these buns is great because it’s so simple that the kids can help you do it.
Pie Iron Apple Pie -No winter camping trip is complete without a campfire apple pie for dessert! This simple pie iron alternative could not be easier, with apples and spices between two pieces of bread.
Camp Cooker Cookies – Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies while camping? Yes please! Make two large cookies at a time using your open pie iron over the hot coals. In around 12 minutes you will have warm cookies with melted chocolate chips to enjoy while the next batch bakes.
Mutter Butters – This pie iron dessert brings your favourite S’mores flavours with peanut toasted peanut butter pockets and banana slices for a sweet treat everyone will adore.
Pie irons are a great tool for camping because they’re easy to use and allow you to cook with the campfire. They let you take some of your favourite recipes on the go without worrying about lugging heavy equipment to cook over the coals. Plus, there’s nothing like enjoying a quick and easy meal while sitting by the fire!
These easy pie iron recipes for camping are the perfect way to get you started cooking up delicious meals and snacks – from breakfast to dinner and dessert!
Which of these campfire pie iron recipes are you most looking forward to trying?
GRAB OUR MAMMOTH PRINTABLE CAMPING PLANNER TO TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE:
Find more tips and resources for your next camping trip:
- Family camping packing essentials
- Hacks for camping with kids
- Campervan cooking tips
- Winter camping essential checklist
- RV camping packing list
- Gifts for RVers and campers
- Camping activities for rainy days
- How to plan a camping trip
- No refrigeration camping foods
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