Party Planner: Summer Campfire Feast

On your next summer camping trip, try this firepit-friendly menu — it’s guaranteed to turn a night around the campfire into a memorable meal. Gather around to swap stories and share food that goes far beyond the usual campsite cuisine with these hearty outdoor favorites. Here are all the recipes, tips (and tools!) you need. 

 

 

Make the centerpiece of your meal something rustic and primal, like these spice-rubbed rib eye steaks. Charred peppers and a bright, zesty chimichurri sauce are the perfect accompaniments. On the side, serve grilled skewers of marinated summer vegetables, threaded on sprigs of rosemary for extra flavor, along with simple potatoes.

 

For dessert, take a childhood favorite to new levels with our homemade s’mores, which feature graham crackers made from scratch. Crunchy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside, they’ll make toasty marshmallows and dark, velvety chocolate shine. 

 

 

 

• 1 to 2 days ahead: Make the chimichurri. Par-boil the potatoes. Make the graham crackers, cool, and store in an air-tight container.
• Day of: Marinate the vegetable skewers.
• Just before serving: Finish the potatoes and grill the vegetables. Sear the steaks. Roast the marshmallows and finish the s’mores.

 

A cast-iron pan is your best friend for campsite cooking; it can go directly on the fire, on a hot grill, or on a portable stove. Plus, it’s easy to serve from! We also love this camping tripod, which can be used to hang a pot over your fire for even, hands-off cooking.

 

Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you can’t have a special, sit-down dinner! Pack a roll-up picnic table, shatterproof, heatproof dinnerware, and durable wineglasses for a meal that’s easy and practical but still celebratory.

 

After dinner, cozy up to a campfire in comfortable rocking chairs. Sit back, toast some marshmallows, and relax under the stars.