You love summer, and for good reason. Between adventurous hikes through the Uintas, relaxing evenings at the Redwood DriveIn, and lively road trips to Moab or Lake Powell, Utah offers a lot to do and see during the summer.
But when you’re not exploring, you crave relaxation and solitude. That’s where your backyard comes in. You love relaxing under the beauty of a Utah sunset, so you’ve loaded your yard with comfy furniture, calming decor, and some cool cooking equipment.
And if you wonder what to cook on that cooking equipment (because brats and burgers simply won’t do this summer), we have you covered. Whether you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, you can take your next cookout to the next level with these five recipes.
Cowhorn Biscuits
Craving carbs? Cowhorn biscuits offer a great alternative to canned biscuits, and you can stuff them with breakfast food, lunch meat, or hearty vegetables.
You’ll need:
Canned biscuits
Seasoned hardwood stick, about 1.5-2.5 inches in diameter
Stuffing (eggs, cheese, and sausage are excellent breakfast options; roasted vegetables and chicken are great for lunch or dinner)
Instructions:
Separate canned biscuits, pressing each of them flat.
Wrap a biscuit around the end of the stick, molding it closed on one end.
Hold the stick over the fire, just out of reach of the flame.
Turn the stick every 30 seconds or so until the biscuit is brown and flaky.
Hold the stick a little farther from the flame for several minutes to ensure the inside cooks. Remove from the fire, stuff as you please, and enjoy!
Ham and Cheese Pull Apart Sandwiches
If you want a warm, melty sandwich but don’t want the hassle of a grilled cheese, this recipe is for you. It’s perfect for sharing, although you may not want to share after you taste it!
You’ll need:
1 loaf Italian or French bread
3 tbs. butter or margarine
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
6 slices Swiss cheese
¾ lb. thinly sliced ham
Aluminum foil
Instructions:
Spray a large sheet of foil with cooking spray.
Cut bread loaf into 12 slices (you’ll make 6 cuts), stopping about ¼ inch from the bottom of the loaf.
Spread butter and Dijon mustard onto every other slice of bread.
Tuck cheese and ham into each cut, and make sure no cheese or ham hangs out of the cut.
Wrap foil around the bread, sealing the edges. Wrap two layers of foil around the loaf to protect the bread from burning.
Place loaf on a campfire grate, or on rocks close to the fire. Turn the loaf frequently to ensure the ham and cheese cooks evenly.
Remove from the fire after about 20 minutes.
Campfire Nachos
Who says you’re stuck with tinfoil dinners when cooking over a fire? These campfire nachos are just as filling as tinfoil dinners, but they will make your outdoor cooking experience ten times more special.
You’ll need:
Cast iron skillet
1 bag corn chips
- 14 oz. can refried beans
½ lb. shredded cheddar cheese
- tomatoes (diced)
½ onion (diced)
1 8 oz. jar salsa
1 14 oz. can sweet corn
1 6 oz. can black olives (optional)
1 4 oz. can diced jalapenos (optional)
Instructions:
Build a bed of hot coals underneath a campfire grate. If you don’t have a grate, you can place the coals in the center of a circle of stable rocks.
Place ingredients in layers in your skillet. Start with the chips, then follow with half the beans, cheese, tomatoes, onion, corn, and salsa. Then, place a second layer of all ingredients over the first layer.
Cover the skillet with a sheet of foil.
Place the skillet over the grate, or let it rest on the rocks. Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
Campfire Orange Cake or Muffins
Have you ever cooked over an open fire? If not, you’ve missed out. This recipe is perfect for dessert, but you can also use it at breakfast time.
You’ll need:
Oranges
Cake mix (chocolate is best for dessert) or muffin mix (try blueberry for a breakfast treat)
Aluminum foil
Instructions:
Mix your cake or muffin mix according to the package’s instructions.
Cut your oranges in half, then scoop out the orange flesh.
Fill one half of the emptied orange with cake or muffin batter.
Cover the filled half with the empty half, then wrap the orange in three layers of foil.
Place oranges in the fire, turning them over every 1-2 minutes. Remove oranges from the fire after 10 minutes and enjoy!
Banana Boats
Still craving dessert? Banana boats are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
You’ll need:
Bananas (plan on 1 per person, if you’re cooking for other people)
Chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips
Peanut butter chips
Sweetened coconut flakes
Aluminum foil
Instructions:
Cut bananas lengthwise, leaving the peel on the banana. Don’t cut all the way through the banana-stop just before you reach the back peel.
Stuff the bananas with your choice of chips and toppings.
Wrap the bananas in three layers of foil.
Place in the fire for 3-5 minutes, or until the toppings melt.
Whether you have (or just really want) an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, you can take it to the next level with these exciting recipes. Which one will you try first?