Campfire Potatoes: How To Cook Aluminum Foil Potatoes
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This method is an easy way to prepare potatoes on a camping trip. Aluminum foil with oil keeps the potatoes moist and adds flavor.
Campfire Potatoes are an easy foil packet potato recipe using aluminum foil. These aluminum foil potatoes can be made on the grill, campfire or in the oven. Since they are cooked in a foil packet, clean up is a snap.
Campfire Potatoes Recipe
Our family gets together at the cabin my dad built at the back of our farm as much as we can when the weather is nice. It usually has to happen after a rain in the spring or fall because otherwise my dad and brother-in-law are in the fields.
There’s no electricity or running water (there’s a rain barrel at the back of the cabin to wash grubby hands) but we do have a fire pit and a couple of fryers so we’ll either have a fish fry (yum) or grill hamburgers and hot dogs over the open fire.
These Campfire Potatoes are a perfect side dish for our cookouts at the cabin. They beat a bag of chips any day! Just remember that potatoes take a while to cook so be sure to throw them on the grill/fire first thing. If they are done before your meat, they’ll stay warm in the foil packet for quite a while.
Cheesy Campfire Potatoes Ingredient List
- Potatoes, any variety sliced thin
- Onions, sliced thin
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Worcestershire sauce
- Parsley, dried or fresh
- Butter
- Chicken broth
Aluminum Foil Potatoes
This recipe came from the Pot O’ Gold Cookbook from the St. Patrick Altar Society of Imogene, Iowa. Those Iowans know how to cook! Even though the name has “campfire” in it, you can definitely do these on the grill or even in the oven.
Be sure to tear off a nice size piece of aluminum foil. Use heavy duty foil if you have it. If you don’t, you might want to do a double layer of foil just so it doesn’t tear while on the fire. Don’t ask us how we know this!
What goes with campfire potatoes?
Making foil packet potatoes on the grill is the perfect side dish for a number of dishes. Here are our top five main dishes to serve along campfire potatoes.
- Grilled Pork Steak
- Classic Beef Brisket
- Grilled Beef Steak (easy marinade)
- Rosemary Lemon Pork Chops
- Oven Pulled Pork
How to make foil packet potatoes on the grill?
Step By Step Instructions
- Wash and peel potatoes. Thinly slice onions.
- Take 20 x 20 inch piece of aluminum foil; spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place potatoes and onions in center of foil.
- Dot butter in between potatoes and on top of potatoes in the foil pouch.
- In a bowl, stir together shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt and pepper.
- Pour cheese mixture over potato mixture.
- Fold up the sides of the foil to create a pouch.
- Pour chicken broth in the pouch. Close pouch to keep steam in.
- Place potato packets on the grill for 35 – 50 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Open packets carefully; hot steam will come out.
For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for cheesy campfire potatoes, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Equipment
I love using my Traeger Grill/ Smoker for this recipe and all grilled meats. It packs a ton of flavor into the food with the smoke option. I bought mine in 2011, and it’s still running great!
Recipe FAQs
- Use any type of potatoes you prefer including Idaho, yellow, Russet, etc.
- Heavy duty aluminum foil works best.
- If you’re feeling really lazy, leave the skins on. Just be sure to wash well before thinly slicing.
- Substitute dried onion flakes for sliced onions, if desired, or leave them out completely.
- We use shredded cheddar cheese, but feel free to use up whatever variety of cheese you have on hand.
- Margarine could be used instead of butter.
- Use 1 tablespoon dried parsley instead of 2 tablespoons fresh, if that is what you have on hand.
- Water, beef broth or vegetable broth could be used instead of chicken broth.
- Cook times can vary based on how hot the fire/grill is. It is best to start these early. They can stay hot in the foil for quite a while.
- Be very careful when opening up the foil; the steam is HOT.
- Bake these at 400 degrees F instead of using a grill, if desired.
- Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite pantry and kitchen items.
Recipe Variations
- Use red potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, or any type of potato you have on hand.
- Red onions, yellow onions or white onions work! Or, sprinkle heavily with dried minced onion.
- Any type of broth will work for chicken broth.
- Minced garlic clove is a great addition.
- Use olive oil instead of butter.
- Sprinkle with your favorite herbs such as thyme, rosemary, Italian seasoning, etc.
- Choose your favorite type of cheese such as mozzarella.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley, chives or green onions before serving.
How to make campfire potatoes in the oven?
To make campfire potatoes in the oven, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the recipe instructions for preparing the potatoes and assembling the foil packets. Instead of placing the packets on the grill, place them on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Remember to be careful when opening the foil packets, as the steam will be hot.
Old Fashioned Potato Recipes
Rice Krispies Topped Cheesy Potatoes
Potato Salad using Mashed Potatoes
Favorite Cookout Recipes
We love a good cookout and we have lots of recipes that are perfect for your next one, including the recipe below. Here are some of our favorite dishes to take to meals eaten outdoors.
- Crock Pot Calico (Cowboy) Beans
- Crock Pot Green Beans
- Red Bean Salad
- Western Dressing Pasta Salad
- Yellow Cake Mix Gooey Bars
- Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Can you bring potatoes camping?
Potatoes are a great option for a weekend at the campgrounds. Bring foil along too to make up potato packets. These can be prepped at home, and placed on the grill to serve for lunch or dinner.
How to make campfire potatoes in the oven?
Instead of placing the foil packs on the grill, place the potato packets in a preheated 400 degree F oven to cook.
Campfire Potatoes – Aluminum Foil Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 medium potatoes washed
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons minced parsley
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Peel and thinly slice potatoes.
- Place potatoes and onions on a large piece of heavy duty aluminum foil (20 by 20 inches).
- Dot with butter in between layers of potatoes and on top.
- Combine cheese, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper; sprinkle over potatoes.
- Fold up foil around potatoes to form packet; add broth.
- Seal edges of foil well.
- Grill for 35-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Notes
- Heavy duty aluminum foil works best.
- Use any type of potatoes you prefer including Idaho, yellow, Russet, etc.
- If you’re feeling really lazy, leave the skins on. Just be sure to wash well before thinly slicing.
- Substitute dried onion flakes for sliced onions, if desired, or leave them out completely.
- We use shredded cheddar cheese, but feel free to use up whatever variety of cheese you have on hand.
- Margarine could be used instead of butter.
- Use 1 tablespoon dried parsley instead of 2 tablespoons fresh, if needed.
- Water, beef broth or vegetable broth could be used instead of chicken broth.
- Bake these at 400 degrees F instead of using a grill, if desired.
- Be very careful when opening up the foil; the steam is HOT.
- Cook times can vary based on how hot the fire/grill is. It is best to start these early. They can stay hot in the foil for quite a while.
- The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should not be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
Participating in the Weekend Potluck!!
We love making foil packet meals camping so I’m planning on making these the next time we go. Thanks for linking up your recipe to the Celebrate 365 Blog Party!
I loved this recipe so much I included it in my #Celebrate365 Grilling Bucket List: https://www.cornbeanspigskids.com/2018/06/grilling-bucket-list.html. Thanks again for linking it up!
We loved these potatoes! I was looking for a potato packet recipe that provided a little more interest than my standard recipe (potatoes, salt, pepper, butter), and I was not disappointed. We started the potatoes in the coals of our patio fire pit [because we don’t have time for real camping these days] and finished them in a 425-degree oven.
I’m planning to use this recipe all year long as a quick substitute for au gratin potatoes on busy nights.
Thanks for sharing, Angela! So glad that you loved them so much!!
can i make packet ahead of time, hrs before cooking po
i dont want potatoes to turn brown
We are afraid they would brown too if you prepped the packets way ahead of time. If you wanted to prep ahead of time, you could slice the potatoes and put them in a bowl and cover with water by at least an inch. That would cut down on some of the prep. Sorry!