Nothing tastes better than a delicious meal cooked outdoors, especially if you are on a Boy Scout camping trip. These dinners can be prepared easily at the campground, or at home before you leave. All you need is heavy-duty foil or a Dutch oven, skewers, a long pair of tongs for the open fire, and the ingredients. Multiply these ingredients by the number of people eating.
Chicken and Potato Kabobs
Kabobs are fun to make and eat. You can use any vegetable you'd like in this easy recipe. Just make sure that the pieces are cut to about the same size so they cook evenly. The recipe is for a single kabob, so multiply accordingly for however many you want.
Ingredients
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2" pieces
- 4 (1/2" thick) slices potato
- 4 (1/2" thick) slices zucchini
- 2 (2" square) pieces red onion
- 4 (2" square) red bell pepper pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Use metal skewers, or use bamboo skewers and soak them in water for 20 minutes before using so they don't burn on the fire.
- Thread the chicken, potato, zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers on the skewers.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Repeat to make as many kabobs as you want.
- Grill the kabobs on a grill rack or heavy duty foil over glowing coals, turning often with the tongs, for 10 to 14 minutes or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and the vegetables are tender.
Breakfast Egg Sandwich
Every kid loves the omelet sandwiches sold at fast-food outlets. Did you know you can make your own and it will taste even better? This simple recipe is perfect for hungry Boy Scouts in the morning. This recipe serves 12.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 pound bulk pork sausage
- 18 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 English muffins, split with a fork
- 12 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Heat the Dutch oven on coals until it is hot.
- Put some heavy duty foil on the grill.
- Cook the bacon until it is crisp, turning frequently. Set aside.
- Form the sausage into 3" round patties. Cook on more heavy duty foil on the grill until thoroughly cooked.
- Beat the eggs and milk in a bowl with the salt and pepper.
- Melt the butter in the Dutch oven and add the egg mixture.
- Cover and bake using 8 to 10 briquettes below the oven and 12 to 15 on top for 20 minutes or until eggs are firm and thoroughly cooked.
- Make sandwiches with the eggs, bacon or sausage (or both!), cheese slices, and the English muffins.
Pigs in Blankets
This classic childhood treat is perfect for picky eaters. And kids love to open the packages of crescent rolls. You can use sausages or hot dogs for this recipe.
Ingredients
- Hot dog or fully cooked sausage
- Thin slices American or Swiss cheese, torn into pieces
- Pickle relish
- Mustard or ketchup
- Refrigerated crescent rolls
Instructions
- Cut a slit into each hot dog or sausage. Fill with little pieces of cheese and some relish.
- Spread a tablespoon of mustard or ketchup on each crescent roll.
- Put the filled hot dog on the wide part of the roll. Roll up, enclosing the hot dog. Pinch the ends to seal.
- Put a sheet of heavy duty foil on a grill rack and top with the pigs in blankets.
- Grill for 12 to 17 minutes, turning the pigs in blankets occasionally with the tongs, until the dough is browned and crisp.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Nothing satisfies a Scout's lunchtime appetite quite like an authentic outdoor cooked mac and cheese topped with chili. Follow this simple recipe that feeds 8, and it's sure to be a big lunchtime hit.
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 (16 ounce) box elbow macaroni
- 3 cups cold water
- 1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef and onion in a Dutch oven placed over the coals. Stir to break up the meat.
- When the beef is cooked, add the macaroni to the Dutch oven. Add water.
- Cook, stirring frequently to make sure the macaroni doesn't stick to the bottom, until the macaroni is tender. This should take 8 to 13 minutes.
- Add the salsa and tomato sauce to the Dutch oven and stir. Bring to a simmer.
- Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the cheese over everything and cover the Dutch oven for 3 minutes to melt the cheese.
Delicious Meals Prepared Simply
Make sure that you keep all the meats and eggs in an insulated cooler that is well packed with frozen gel packs and ice for food safety reasons. Cook all meats well done. With these time-tested recipes, mealtime is sure to be a big success. Get the boys involved in the meal preparation so they can learn campfire cooking skills and teach them about food safety too!
