Are your camping recipes seriously lacking? Then, you’re in luck because these Campfire Baked Potatoes are here to save the day! Made with Russet potatoes and butter and topped with a variety of tasty accouterments, this simple side dish will put all your other recipes to shame.
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This recipe was developed for the Idaho Potato Council. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
From campfire sloppy joes to a tasty Philly baked potato, we’re all about tasty, hearty campfire potato meals with easy clean-up. Who wants to get out a bunch of dishes while you’re trying to enjoy the great outdoors? Not us. That’s why we love these campfire baked potatoes. They’re so easy; even a toddler could do it! Don’t believe us? Let’s unpack this easy side dish and find out!
What Are Campfire Baked Potatoes?
Campfire baked potatoes are one of our favorite campfire recipes. This camping-friendly method is no fuss, no mess, and is the perfect side dish recipe to pair with any main course. Camping meals are meant to be simple but not sacrifice flavor. A classic baked potato is the perfect blank canvas for a variety of your favorite toppings or the perfect side dish with whiskey brats. This recipe for foil wrapped potatoes also works on a traditional grill or even the oven, but there’s something about getting outside and cooking over a campfire that makes every recipe that much better.
Campfire Baked Potato Ingredients
- Russet Idaho Potatoes
- Butter
- Kosher Salt
For toppings:
- Butter
- Sour Cream
- Bacon Crumbles
- Additional Topping Ideas – Chives, black pepper, and shredded cheese
How to Make Campfire Baked Potatoes
Prep the Campfire
To get your charcoal grill or campfire ready, create a two-zone fire for indirect heat. Once the flames have died down and you’re left with hot glowing embers, it’s the perfect time to start cooking. This setup ensures a consistent and safe heat for your cooking adventures. Leave the open flame for roasting marshmallows and sipping campfire cocktails.
Prep the Potatoes
Give those potatoes a gentle poke with a fork 4 to 5 times, slather them in butter, and roll them in salt for that irresistible flavor. Now, wrap each potato in a double layer of tin foil or heavy-duty aluminum foil to lock in all the goodness.
Cook the Potatoes
Using tongs, nestle the wrapped potatoes into the open fire and build the coals around them. Cook for 30 minutes, flip them, adjust the coals as needed, and continue cooking for 20 to 30 minutes until they’re fork-tender or reach an internal temperature of 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Once they’re done, carefully remove the potatoes from the fire, give them a 10-minute cool-down, and then get ready to enjoy the deliciousness.
Serve
Carefully peel back the foil edges to create a stand for the potato. Slice it down the center, but don’t go all the way through. Now, using the foil as a heat barrier, press the potato to push the flesh upward, creating a fluffy mound. Fluff it up with a fork, add butter, a pinch of salt and pepper, and your favorite toppings. Get creative and make it your own!
Girl Carnivore Expert Recipe Tips
- Add some green onions instead of chives to the top of the potatoes for a more intense onion flavor!
- Want some fun? Set up a toppings bar and let people pick and choose what they put on their potatoes. Broccoli, cheese, even melted cheese, compound butters, and sliced grilled steaks or leftover smoked pork butt are perfect for decking these out.
- Want to guarantee your potato is cooked through? Use an instant read thermometer and check that the internal temperature is 210°F.
What to Serve With Campfire Baked Potatoes
These potatoes are the perfect start for building a creative campfire meal or a side dish made for hearty grilled tomahawk steaks, smoked pork chops or even grilled chicken legs. Set up a potato bar for toppings like sloppy joe mix, shredded beef birria, or even sliced grilled ribeyes for a Philly Cheesesteak baked potato. From mac and cheese to baked beans, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy these easy campfire baked potatoes!
Leftovers & Reheating
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- To reheat, place your campfire baked potatoes in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Use a baking sheet or place potatoes directly on the racks. You can also microwave your potatoes, but you won’t get that crispiness that comes from using an oven!
- Try to pick potatoes that are around the same size. Depending on the thickness of the potatoes, they may have a longer or shorter cook time.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! While the charm of cooking food over a campfire adds to the experience, you can easily adapt this recipe to a charcoal, pellet or gas grill for smoked baked potatoes. Simply set up your grill for indirect heat and follow the same instructions as you would for a campfire.
Look for a stage where the flames have died down, and the coals are glowing with intense heat. This ensures a steady and consistent cooking environment for your meat and potatoes camping recipes.
Certainly! While the recipe recommends using potatoes with a creamy texture, like Russet potatoes, you can experiment with other varieties like red potatoes or pee-wee potatoes like in our Campfire Potatoes recipe. Just keep in mind that different potatoes may require slight adjustments to the cooking time and tenderness testing.
Absolutely! This recipe is flexible, allowing you to customize the flavor to your liking. Feel free to experiment with different seasonings, herbs, or even spices to give your campfire baked potatoes a unique and delicious twist when you serve them
Absolutely! You can partially cook the potatoes at home before heading out on your camping adventure. Once partially cooked, wrap them in foil and refrigerate. When you’re ready to cook, finish them off on the campfire or grill for the perfect finishing touch.
Of course! Get creative with your toppings. Consider adding chimichurri, guacamole, poblano crema, diced tomatoes, or even grilled steak or chicken for an extra burst of protein and flavor!
MORE CAMPING RECIPE ideas
Campfire Recipes
Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers | Campfire Recipe
Seafood
Charcoal Grilled Tilapia
Seafood
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
Pork Recipes
Camping Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos
Now you have a delicious side dish for your next camping trip or weekend potluck! Made with simple ingredients like potatoes, butter, and delicious toppings, this easy camping recipe is a great choice for any occasion! Plus, it’s super easy to clean up, so you can focus more on basking out in nature rather than cleaning up your cooking mess! Also, please rate the recipe card if you’ve tested this one on your own adventures, and leave a comment below to help out the next reader!
Campfire baked potatoes
Ingredients
For the baked potatoes
- 4 Idaho® Russet Potatoes
- 4 tbsp butter
- Kosher salt
- Butter
For toppings
- Cheese
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Bacon crumbles
Instructions
- Poke holes in the Idaho® Russet Potatoes with the tines of a fork 5 to 6 times.
- Slather the potato skin in softened butter.
- Roll in salt to form a thin crust.
- Wrap in a double layer of foil, or a single layer if using heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Using tongs, nestle the potatoes into the fire and build the coals up around them.
- Cook the potatoes for 30 minutes, then flip them, rearrange the coals as needed to build up back around them, and cook another 20 to 30 minutes.
- Cook until fork tender or an instant-read thermometer reads 210°F.
- Carefully remove the potatoes from the fire and let them cool for 10 minutes before handling them.
- Carefully peel back the foil around the potato using the foil to create a stand for it. Some of the potato skin may be more toasted than other parts due to the coals.
- Slice the potato down the center, being careful not to cut it all the way through.
- Using your fingers and the foil as a heat barrier, press the potato in to push the meat of the potato up.
- Fluff it with a fork and top it with butter, a pinch of salt and pepper, and any of your desired toppings.
Notes
- Add some green onions instead of chives to the top of the potatoes for a more intense onion flavor!
- Want some fun? Set up a toppings bar and let people pick and choose what they put on their potatoes. Broccoli, cheese, even melted cheese, compound butters, and sliced grilled steaks or leftover smoked pork butt are perfect for decking these out.
Nutrition
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