Is there anything better than a delicious meal at the campground when the leaves are falling?

Autumn is our favorite season for RV cooking because the hot summer Texas weather becomes cool and crisp when the foliage changes. Vibrant red, orange, and yellow brighten up the campground. It makes for a great time to take your Jayco on the road, get outside, and cook by the campfire.

We have selected four easy campfire recipes for fall RVing that we consistently keep in our cooking rotation. Each one is kid friendly and have been tested on our two boys multiple times. The recipes are broken into two categories: easy to clean up and one pot meals.

One Pot Meals for Fall RVing 

Campfire cooking is easy when you only have to do it in one pot. It makes life simple.

These are our main one pot meals usually cooked in a cast iron pot; sometimes inside our RV and sometimes over a campfire grill.

Chili Over a Campfire 

I'm a sucker for some good, spicy chili. We have kids, so this is a mellowed-out version of my favorite recipe. If you have picky eaters, feel free to omit certain ingredients.

Recipe Ingredients:

• • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 2 cans chili beans (15 ounces)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (28 ounces)
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 2 tbsp chili powder (to taste)
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp Tabasco or other pepper sauce
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • Corn chips
  • 1 package shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)

Directions: 

1. Seed and chop the bell peppers and jalapeno pepper.
2. Chop the celery and onions.
3. Brown the sausage and the beef in a pot with some cooking oil.
4. Drain the excess grease.
5. Add the beans, celery, onions, and diced tomatoes.
6. Season with sugar, spices, and Worcestershire sauce.
7. Stir all ingredients, cover, and simmer over the campfire for at least 1 hour.
8. Serve in a bowl with chips and cheese.

Campfire Sloppy Joe 

Skip the canned sloppy Joe and try this easy version. Not only does it have  less preservatives, it is always loved by kids.

Recipe Ingredients:

• • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ cup water
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 ¼ cup ketchup
  • Hamburger buns

Directions:

1. In a cast iron pot, brown the ground beef and drain any remaining fat.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour the sauce over the ground beef. Be sure the meat is coated well.
4. Cover and cook over the campfire, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
5. Once cooked through, serve on hamburger buns.

Easy to Clean RV Recipes 

I don't think I've ever met anyone that likes to do dishes after cooking, especially when RVing. After a fun but tiring day out on the lake or hiking miles on a trail, the last thing I want to think of is scrubbing some pots and pans after a meal. So, we have two easy to clean campfire recipes you might want to try if you are like us.

Philly Cheese Steak Over a Campfire 

“With or without” isn't a question you probably need to answer if you have kids. Ours avoid onions like the plague when we make Philly cheesesteaks. The same goes for bell peppers.

We love cheesesteaks regardless of the type of cheese on top too. Provolone, white American, and Cheese Wiz are all great options for our family.

Recipe Ingredients:

• • 1 lb thinly sliced ribeye steak (for convenience we like to use Walmart’s seasoned sirloin Philly Steak meat)
  • Green Bell peppers, thinly sliced
  • Yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Provolone, white American, or cheese wiz
  • Hoagie rolls
  • Butter

Directions: 

1. Add 2 tbsp oil to a cast iron griddle. Sauté onions and peppers until tender.
2. Add sirloin meat to the griddle and cook until no longer pink. Add garlic powder and salt.
3. Cut open the hoagie rolls and spread a small amount of butter on each side. Toast the bread on the griddle if desired.
4. Add meat, onions, peppers, and choice of cheese to sandwich and wrap each roll in foil
5. Place on the campfire until warmed through.

Campfire Nachos 

Kids love nachos. Adults love nachos. Everyone loves nachos. They are simple to make and our most requested meal.

The kids prefer a stripped-down version with fewer ingredients than this one: meat, cheese, and chips. Here's what Alison and I like.

Recipe Ingredients:

• • Tortilla Chips
  • Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend
  • Canned Black Beans, rinsed
  • Diced onion
  • Diced Green Bell Pepper
  • Diced Jalapenos
  • Precooked ground taco meat

Directions:

1. Sauté onion, bell peppers, and jalapeno in oil until tender.
2. Layer chips, taco meat, black beans, grilled onion, peppers, jalapeno, and cheese in cast iron pot.
3. Repeat layers 3-4 times.
4. Cover and place on campfire until warmed through and cheese is melted.

Optional: For a faster clean-up, line the cast iron pot with some parchment paper before layering.