When camping, you want to pack lightweight, durable materials that don’t require extensive care or cleanup. A well-packed campfire cooking kit can help make cooking easier while out on the trail or in the campsite, so it's important to pack with that in mind. Let’s take a look at cookware designed to help you enjoy your time outdoors to the fullest.
What Is a Campfire Cooking Kit?
Campfire cooking kits include all the supplies that you need to cook outdoors like a pro, including pots, pans, and utensils.
While some associate camping meals with reheating beans out of a can, and while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, campfire cooking kits give you the opportunity to flex your outdoor cooking skills and cook much the same as you would over the stovetop.
Some kits combine over 20 items, while others may include just one or two pre-kitted lightweight, highly versatile pieces. Other brands offer enough variety for you to build your own. The type of kit you build depends on the trip you’re going on and the amount of weight you feel comfortable taking on the trail.
When putting your kit together, steer clear of materials that break or deteriorate easily, like glass or ceramic. Instead, choose a material that’s durable and lightweight: enameled cast iron, stainless steel, and carbon steel all offer both to varying degrees—though keep in mind some cast iron can be quite heavy.
4 Best Campfire Cooking Kits
The campfire cooking kit you choose will depend on where, what, and how often you cook over fire. Below, we’re sharing three of our favorite options that offer the most durability, functionality, and convenience.
Best Overall: Pro Grilling Set
Featuring two of our signature high heat-optimized Carbon Steel Pans, the Stainless Steel Grill Press, and Butter Warmer, this set has everything you need for a successful campfire grilling session. Use the Carbon Steel Pans to get smoky char on your proteins, maximize surface contact with the Grill Press, and whip up some melted butter or sauce in the Butter Warmer—campfire cooking has never been easier (or more delicious).
Best for Off-Grid Camping: The Griddle System
Designed for indoor-outdoor cooking, our Griddle System is a modular toolkit that includes our award winning Griddle, Griddle Stand, Lid, and Grill Press. It’s the perfect multipurpose set you can separately or together on the grill or over open flame.
Most Lightweight: Grill Frying Pan
Our Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan features 62 perforations on the bottom that help to maximize flame contact and smoky flavor. The pan—like the rest of our Carbon Steel Collection—can withstand temperatures of up to 1200F, and grills veg, fruits, wings, and more with ease, without running the risk of losing any smaller ingredients between grill grates or to the charcoals of your fire pit.
Most Versatile: Carbon Steel Frying Pan
Our Carbon Steel Frying Pan is a home and chef-favorite for a reason, and is just at home over a fire as it is on your stovetop. As a bonus, it's much lighter to carry than the camping standard cast iron skillet. Like our entire Carbon Steel Collection, it's durable up to 1200F—perfect for cooking up some camping favorites.
How to Use a Campfire Cooking Kit
Once you have everything you need, it’s time to pick out your recipes and prepare your outdoor cooking space. We’ll help you match the right pieces of cookware to your recipes—and give you tips for setting up the perfect campfire kitchen.
What to Cook While Camping
Whether you choose a ready-made campfire cooking kit or create your own, you should choose pans that can easily help you make camping favorites.
Griddles are perfect for cooking up summer favorites like corn, potato salad, pizza, beet salad, and more, while our lightweight Carbon Steel Pan is able to tackle hearty meals like steak and potatoes, seafood, and grilled veg.
How to Cook Outside
As you set up your outdoor cooking space, make sure to choose a cleared area away from brush, leaves, and debris. For safety, you can dig a pit and surround it with rocks. Choose dry campfire wood that burns evenly, and use your fire-starting kit to light the flames.
To avoid burning your food, don’t place your pots and pans directly in the fire. Instead, use a cooking rack or stand to add elevation to your camp cookware. Many campsites feature a fire pit and cooking rack already. For more information on cooking outside, refer to our guide on the topic.
Ready to Cook?
A campfire at your favorite scenic location can do more than just keep you warm and keep the mosquitos away. With these tips (and some great cookware), you can conquer your next trip in the great outdoors.
