15 BEST Campfire Cooking Kits for Tasty Outdoor Meals [2024]

Short on time? Our pick for the best campfire cooking kit is the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All Kit.

Find the best campfire cooking kit for an authentic camping experience.

Some of my favorite camping memories come from cooking meals the old-fashioned way. I’ll never forget the family camping trip where we wrapped biscuit dough around sticks, baked them in the fire, and then filled them with cherry pie filling. YUM!

There are lots of compelling reasons to cook a meal over a campfire. First, humans have been cooking this way for tens of thousands of years, so it’s gotta be in our blood somewhere. 

Second, a fresh, hot meal tastes better and gives you a bigger sense of accomplishment than downing cold, pre-made snacks. 

That’s why I went on the hunt for the best campfire cooking kit, and compiled all of my top picks into this list. Plus, I’ve answered all your campfire cooking kit FAQs at the end of the article.

I’ve also shared my top tips for cooking outdoors based on ten years’ experience of camping and cooking outside! 

So, If you’re camping cookware-curious, read on to find the right campfire cooking kit for you.

Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.

#1 Bisgear Camping Cookware Kettle Mess Kit

Best Backpacking Camping Cooking Set

Our Rating: 4.5/5
Material: Anodized aluminum
Carry Bag Included: Yes
Flatware/Utensils Included: Yes

If you’re looking for a backpacking campfire cooking set with a kettle for your next camping trip, check out the Bisgear Camping Cookware Kettle Mess Kit. 

Backpackers love Bisgear’s anodized aluminum outdoor cooking kit because of its lightweight construction, nesting pots, and reasonable price. It’s a big bonus that it comes with a storage bag and all the cooking utensils you need, too!

As is typical with portable outdoor cooking equipment, there is a small amount of plastic on the pot and kettle handles. I don’t usually recommend pots with plastic for campfire cooking kits, but this should be ok with small backcountry fires over a grill grate.

#2 RIrueyal 15pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit

Best Budget Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.4/5
Material: Anodized aluminum (pots), stainless steel (utensils)
Carry Bag Included: Yes
Flatware/Utensils Included: Yes

I am shocked at the bargain basement price of the RIrueyal 15pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit. The RIrueyal comes with a frying pan and pot, two mini bowls, eating utensils, a mini wooden spoon, a cleaning sponge, a carry bag with a carabiner, *and* a mini camp stove.

This set is undoubtedly the best campfire cooking kit for those on a budget. 

One drawback is that there is plastic on the handles of the pots and the top of one of the lids. While that isn’t ideal, the fact that it comes with a mini stove (fuel not included) means that you can cook food in any situation, which I love.

#3 Stanley Even-Heat Camp Pro Cookset

Best Premium Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 5/5
Material: Stainless steel
Carry Bag Included: No, but everything nests into one pot
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

One of the best premium campfire cooking sets is the Stanley Even-Heat Camp Pro Cookset. This stainless steel nesting pot set includes a 4.75 qt soup pot, a 1.8 qt saucepan, and an 8.5-inch frying pan with vented lids for straining liquids. 

While this dishwasher-safe set doesn’t include eating utensils or plates, the Heat Camp Pro Cookset does have a spatula, stirring spoon, and a collapsible cutting board. It also doesn’t include a storage bag, but the nesting pots have a locking lid to keep everything together.

Finally, you will pay for quality! This mess kit is Stanley’s best camping cooking setup, and that’s reflected in the price.

#4 Solo Stove Cooking Pot

Best Set for Solo Campers

Our Rating: 4.9/5
Material: Stainless steel
Carry bag Included: Yes
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

If you’re interested in minimalist-style camping gear for one, check out the Solo Stove Cooking Pot. This 4000 ml stainless steel pot is perfect for a campfire survival cooking kit for solo backpackers and even conventional tent camping. 

The pot’s interior has volume markings for easy measuring, and the whole thing weighs just under two pounds. The lid locks in place, and you can hang it from a tripod over a fire. 

I love that this piece of camping gear is entirely stainless steel, but you will need a glove to safely take it off an open flame.

Interested in Solo Stove products? Check out our full Solo Stove Bonfire Pit Review!

#5 MSR Flex 4 Group Camping Cook Set

Best Camp Cooking Kit for a Family

Our Rating: 4.9/5
Material: Anodized aluminum
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: Plates included, no utensils

Need cookware for your next family camping trip? Or do you simply need to cook food for a group? The MSR Flex 4 Group Camping Cook Set might be for you. 

The MSR Flex 4 includes a sizeable 5.3-liter pot and a 3.2-liter frying pan, which are big enough for a group meal. Each pot also has a strainer lid for easy pasta. 

The other family-friendly feature of the Flex 4 is the four deep dish plates (which double as bowls) and the four insulated mugs. 

Everything nests together into the large pot with the locking lid, and everything is under four pounds. The larger pot is not nonstick, but the smaller one is. 

One point against this set is that some users find the handles flimsy.

#6 Sea to Summit Alpha Cookset 2.2

Best Ultralight Camp Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 5/5
Material: Anodized aluminum
Carry bag Included: No, but the lid locks
Flatware/Utensils Included: Bowls and mugs included

I chose the Sea to Summit Alpha Cookset 2.2 as the best ultralight camp cooking set because it includes two pots, two insulated mugs, and two BPA-free bowls for just under two pounds. 

The lid on each pot has a strainer, and of course, everything nests together with a locking lid. 

You often pay a premium for ultralight gear, which is true of the Alpha 2.2. I’ll also note that it doesn’t include eating utensils.

But this ultralight campfire cooking essentials kit is perfectly safe for campfire cooking, and I really like the silicone grips on the pots for secure, non-toxic handling.

#7 Bruntmore Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Cooking Set

Best Cast Iron Camp Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 5/5
Material: Cast Iron
Carry bag Included: Yes (box)
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

If you like front-country car camping adventures and don’t mind heavy camping cooking kits, you should check out the Bruntmore Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Cooking Set. 

The standout feature of this campfire cooking system is that it comes with a complete cast iron cookware set. You get a 16″ skillet, frying pan, Dutch oven, griddle, saucepan, grill grate, and a lifter for the lid. 

Few kits come with all of these campfire cooking tools, and I love that this one comes with a heavy-duty wooden carry box with rope handles on each side.

Of course, the main downside to all this cast iron is that it will be darn heavy. You’ll also need to pack cleaning tools, as cast iron is temperamental and tricky to wash.

#8 MSR Alpine 4 Stainless Steel Camping Pot Set

Best Stainless Steel Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.9/5
Material: Stainless steel
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: Lids double as plates

If you’re stocked up on cooking accessories, but want a solid set of stainless steel pots, take a gander at the MSR Alpine 4 Stainless Steel Camping Pot Set. 

This set of three pots is 100% stainless steel. The total weight comes to three pounds, two ounces, and each pot has a steel lid that can double as a plate. 

We have some MSR pots, and I love their PanHandler pot lifter–it’s a separate handle that attaches to the pots securely, but the downside is that it’s all stainless steel, too, so you’ll need a cloth or silicone pot holder to take it off an open flame.

#9 Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick PRO Cookware Set (6 pcs)

Best Gourmet Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.7/5
Material: Anodized aluminum
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

If you prefer a glamorous camping style (glamping) and need camping gear to match, look at the Le Creuset Toughened Nonstick PRO Cookware Set. 

I’ll say upfront that this is unlike the other open-fire cooking kits on my list because it isn’t specifically for camping trips. However, it has almost all the features I love for cooking food outdoors and is still lighter than any cast iron set. 

The Six Piece Le Creuset set comes with two frying pans, a saucepan, and a large skillet; all made of triple-reinforced, extremely durable aluminum safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The lids on the pots are tempered glass, which isn’t ideal for campfire cooking because of the potential to shatter, but Le Creuset guarantees them up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Finally, the steel handles on this premium cook set have “stay-cool ergonomics,” but you still may need a pot holder for an open fire.

#10 Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo

Best Minimalist Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.8/5
Material: Aluminum
Carry bag Included: Yes
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

The best cooking kit for the most minimalist among us is the Soto Amicus Stove Cookset Combo. This 1000ml pot (with a 500ml lid/bowl) is untreated aluminum. 

While using this on a campfire is perfectly safe, it won’t be as durable as the anodized variety. Additionally, this small pot has a proportionally small handle that will make it tricky to retrieve without some hand protection.

 If you’re an ultra-minimalist, these may be acceptable tradeoffs for the supremely lightweight design. 

The Soto Amicus also comes with a tiny stove, making it an ideal hybrid cook set.

#11 GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Mess Kit

Best Nonstick Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.9/5
Material: Nonstick-coated aluminum/polypropylene
Carry bag Included: Yes
Flatware/Utensils Included: Cup and bowl included

Cleaning up after camping trips is a pain, so make things easier on yourself with the best nonstick wood fire cooking equipment. 

The GSI Outdoors Bugaboo Mess Kit has nonstick-coated aluminum/polypropylene to make clean-up a snap. This ultralight cook kit has a small cup and bowl for one person, a one-quart pot, a 7.5-inch frying pan, and a pot gripper. 

All the pieces nest together in a lightweight mesh bag that allows the pots to dry after you put them away. Finally, this set is budget-friendly.

#12 Lodge LCC3 Cast Iron Combo Cooker

Best Classic Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 5/5
Material: Cast iron
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

Are you looking for a no-frills set? The Lodge LCC3 Cast Iron Combo Cooker includes a pre-seasoned 10.25″, one-quart pan with a shallower skillet that doubles as a lid.

This pre-seasoned cast iron cook set is ready to use when you purchase it and is perfect for a camping trip for two. 

This set doesn’t have any other accessories, and unlike other campfire cooking kits on my list, it doesn’t include a storage bag or box. But since it’s just two pots, you should be able to easily pack it up yourself.

#13 Stanley Adventure Series Prep+Eat 9-Piece Frying Pan Set

Best Campfire Cooking Kit for Two

Our Rating: 4.7/5
Material: Stainless steel
Carry bag Included: No, but lid locks in place
Flatware/Utensils Included: Yes

My pic for the best camping cooking kit for two is the Stanley Adventure Series Prep+Eat 9-Piece Frying Pan Set. This budget-friendly set includes a 0.9-liter frying pan, a cutting board and spatula, two plates, two sporks, and a heat-resistant trivet. 

The Adventure Series doesn’t have a carry bag, but everything nests together, and the pan lid locks in place. 

The biggest complaint about the Adventure Series is that the plastic spatula and eating utensils aren’t top quality. The spatula, in particular, may melt onto the stove (no bueno!).

#14 Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All Kit

Best Multipurpose Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 5/5
Material: Cast iron
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

The best campfire cook sets have multiple uses, so I absolutely love the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All Kit. 

Forget hot dogs– with virtually only one pot and lid, you get a griddle surface, a grill, a deep dish skillet (they call it a wok but let’s not get crazy), a Dutch oven, and a Dutch oven stand that doubles as a lid lifter. 

Lodge uses both sides of the skillet and lid to create a versatile cooking setup. Plus, you can purchase the setup with or without the Dutch oven tool and grill gloves. 

Most people love this setup. If there are any drawbacks, I’d only complain that it’s heavy (like all cast iron) and doesn’t come with a carry box.

#15 Lodge L8DO3 Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 5 qt

Best Dutch Oven Campfire Cooking Kit

Our Rating: 4.6/5
Material: Cast iron
Carry bag Included: No
Flatware/Utensils Included: No

If you’re unfamiliar, Dutch ovens are deep cast iron skillets with cast iron lids. You bury Dutch ovens in the coals of a hearth/campfire or pile coals on the top to create an outdoor oven. 

The Lodge L8DO3 Cast Iron Duch Oven has existed for over a century. You can grip the wire bail handle without burning yourself (although I still recommend a pot holder). 

This Dutch oven comes pre-seasoned, but some users complained it wasn’t a good seasoning. Frankly, I believe you always need to season cast iron yourself.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Campfire Cooking Equipment

What to Look for in Campfire Cooking Kits

Pan Material

The best open-fire cooking equipment will depend on your preferences. Here are the options:

• Cast iron: Cast iron cookware is the classic choice for outdoor cooking. Cast iron is very durable; it heats evenly and you can place it directly on an open fire.
  
  The downside is that a single cast iron skillet is heavy and hard to clean properly. Note that wrought iron campfire cooking gear isn’t a thing. Wrought iron is different from cast iron. 

• Aluminum: The anodized version of aluminum is excellent for campfire cooking pots thanks to its nonstick quality without harmful chemical coating.
  
  Aluminum is also one of the lightest metals for cooking, but you should avoid prolonged exposure to direct flames. 

• Stainless steel: Stainless steel cookware is durable, but you shouldn’t use it directly over open flames. Stainless steel is lighter than cast iron and easier to clean but may be prone to uneven cooking.

• Titanium: Titanium is standard in backpacking camping cooking kits because it has an outstanding balance of strength and weight.
  
  You can use titanium directly over an open flame, and it’s easy to clean compared to cast iron, but it’s expensive compared to stainless steel and aluminum.

Avoid Plastic and Glass

Don’t ruin your delicious meal with toxic plastic or broken glass! Avoid camping cooking kits with plastic or glass components, as they can melt or shatter. 

Note that camp cooking equipment intended for a camp stove may have plastic, which is usually fine. 

Silicone is perfectly safe on campfire cooking tools–it (essentially) does not have a melting point, which is why they make muffin molds and cast iron pan holders out of silicone.

Weight

Most camping cooking kits are for front-country use because it’s impractical (and sometimes illegal) for backpackers to start open flames in the backcountry. 

All that to say, pots and pans for campfire cooking aren’t usually lightweight, but some are much heavier than others.

Cast iron cookware is notoriously heavy, but frankly, any metal cooking set will be best suited for car camping. 

Ease of Cleaning

Cast iron cookware requires special care, which may be challenging to provide in a camp setting. All other metals (steel, aluminum, titanium) are dishwasher safe and you can be clean it easily in camp.

Flatware/Utensils Included

You need more than a frying pan to eat outside! If you don’t have eating utensils, choosing a campfire cooking set with eating and cooking utensils is a plus.

Even if you already have your own plates and spoons, sometimes the pre-included ones fit nicely into a pre-made carry bag, making organizing a breeze. 

Storage Sack Included

The best campfire cooking kits come with a storage bag or box. Everything in the cooking set has its place in the handy bag, and you don’t have to worry about remembering to pack every little thing. 

Cooking Surface 

You *can* place cast iron directly into a fire, but depending on what you’re cooking, you may not want to.

All other metal pots and pans need a cooking surface to rest above the open flame. Some pre-established fire rings have a campfire grill grate installed, but others don’t. 

Look for a campfire cooking kit with a foldable grill grate, a cook stand, a rotisserie spit, or a campfire tripod. The iconic cowboy campfire cooking equipment includes a tripod and a big Dutch oven or cast iron pan.  

Heat Safe Handling Tools

The *number one* way campers injure themselves is by cooking food outdoors. Whether it’s spilling boiling water or burning themselves on open flames, cooking can be dangerous without the right tools. 

Look for kits with these campfire cooking essentials:

• Steel tongs
• Long-handled utensils (i.e., roasting forks or spoons for stirring long distances are clutch)
• Dutch oven lid lifter
• Silicone pan grippers
• Elbow-length grill gloves
• Metal log grabber (to arrange the fire safely)

Other Helpful Accessories

Here are more helpful cooking utensils you should look for in a quality campfire cooking kit. If these items aren’t in your kit, I recommend adding them to your camp kitchen as needed. 

• Cutting board: You can get a small collapsible cutting board to save space.
• Meat thermometer: It’s tricky to gauge cooking temperature outdoors. 
• Lid stand: You’ll need a spot to put your heavy cast iron pot lid when you stir the food
• Grill basket: These are thin, square metal traps with long handles. Ideal for burgers and buns. 
• Pie iron: My favorite piece of fire pit cooking equipment. A pie iron is like a metal clamshell with a long metal handle to put pie fixin’s (sweet or savory).
• Steel skewers: If hot dogs are on the menu, sometimes some simple skewers are all you need.

Tips for Campfire Cooking

Do a trial run

Even if you don’t have a fire pit at home, many city parks have standing grill pits open. A trial run will allow you to hone your craft, experiment, and find the best methods before the big camping trip.

Ensure open fires are allowed at your campsite.

California is in a perpetual state of fire emergency. The fire restrictions change based on where you camp, but most popular public lands have rules regarding fire rings. 

Obtain a campfire permit, if necessary. 

In California, these free permits are available online for all BLM land. Most national parks don’t require fire permits and will post the fire rules on an information board in the campground.

Find out if wood collecting is permitted. 

If not, come prepared with all the wood, tinder, and kindling you need. Don’t pick live or still-green branches if you collect your firewood, as it won’t burn. Leave standing dead trees because these are critical wildlife habitats. 

Pick a safe campfire spot.

If you’re not using an established campfire ring (which I highly recommend regardless), pick a spot devoid of vegetation on the ground and directly above the fire. 

Get the coals going

Notice that I said “coals” and not “raging inferno.” Placing your cookware directly on flames will burn your food. You want nice, slow-burning coals for even heat, and a fire can take a while to burn down to good hot coals. 

Clean or cover existing grill grates

Deer and other animals lick grill grates for the salt leftover from camp food. Always clean or line an existing grill grate with foil rather than cooking directly on the grate. 

Use the right gear

Many campfire cooking techniques exist, so don’t feel limited to a single cast iron skillet. In addition to metal skewers, there are grill baskets, foldable grill tops, pie irons, rotisserie spits, and many more. 

Food prep ahead of time

I have prepped many meals outdoors, and gosh, it’s just way easier to do the food prep at home. Bag everything up and just throw it in the skillet. 

Bring aluminum foil

Aluminum foil is an essential piece of cooking gear. You can line your grill grate, make veggie foil packets, or line your cook stove with it to keep it clean. 

Beware greasy food

And not just for your heart health. Grease over an open flame (i.e., bacon or brats) will send sparks. Cook greasy food on a griddle and watch out for little kids around the fire. 

Check out this video for more campfire cooking tips!

FAQs About Outdoor Campfire Cooking

Where can I buy campfire cooking equipment?

You can buy a good campfire cooking kit just about anywhere. REI, Amazon, Walmart, Cabela’s, Tractor Supply Co., and many local hardware stores carry campfire cookware.  

You don’t have to buy an entire campfire cooking kit at once, either. You can assemble your own kit by looking at pre-made ones to give you campfire cooking gear inspiration.

How do I build or set up a campfire for cooking?

1. Find out if there’s a burn ban or fire restrictions in effect. 
2. Obtain a campfire permit, if necessary. 
3. Choose a safe campfire spot. Always use a pre-established fire ring if it’s available.
4. If you’re making your own ring, maintain a five-foot perimeter of completely bare soil around the fire. 
5. Have a shovel, sand, and water always available to respond if the fire escapes your ring. 
6. If wood collecting is not permitted, bring your firewood and tinder.
7. Stack your wood upwind and away from the fire. 
8. Arrange your wood in a log cabin or “teepee” shape with kindling and tinder in the center. 
9. Ignite the tinder, blowing gently on the flame to help it grow. 
10. Add more kindling as necessary until the larger wood begins to catch. 
11. Keep the fire small. Large fires will burn food and make accessing your pots and pans harder.
12. Do not leave an open flame unattended for any amount of time. When you finish, completely extinguish the fire. Stir the ashes to expose the burning coals until the fire is cool.  

What do you need to cook over a campfire?

The best campfire cooking kits include:

• Durable, flame-safe pots and pans (cast iron is ideal)
• Campfire cooking grate (if the fire ring doesn’t have one already)
• Lid lifter (cast iron cook sets have a unique hook tool)
• Long metal tongs
• Long-handled spoon 
• Roasting skewers
• Steel log grabber
• Elbow-length grill gloves
• Silicone or other heat-resistant pot holders and trivets

Which type of cookware is best for a campfire? What metal is best for campfire cooking?

Cast iron is an excellent choice for campfire cooking kits. The thick metal can go directly on the fire; it heats evenly and keeps your food warm. 

The downsides to cast iron are that it’s heavy, it may take a long time to heat up, and you must give it special care to clean it. 

Stainless steel, anodized aluminum, and titanium are all suitable for campfire cooking, but you cannot place them directly onto a fire. 

Can you use regular pots and pans on a campfire?

You can use regular pots and pans in your outdoor cooking kit, provided they don’t have plastic or glass components (silicone is fine) and you don’t place them directly on the fire. Instead, place the pans above the flames using a campfire grill top. 

What is the best wood for cooking over an open fire?

Hardwoods like hickory, mesquite, apple, pecan, oak, or cherry are the best wood for cooking over an open fire, and hardwoods burn hotter than soft pine woods. 

Are campfire cooking kits worth it?

Campfire cooking kits are totally worth the memories you’ll make while using them. Campfire cooking takes more skill and effort than cooking on a camp stove, but the flavor, nostalgia, and novelty of campfire cooking are totally worth it. 

How much do campfire cooking sets cost?

The best campfire cooking kits can run upwards of several hundred dollars, whereas homemade campfire cooking equipment can be virtually free if you repurpose what you already have.

Conclusion: Our Pick for the Best Campfire Cooking Kit

My all-time favorite campfire cooking kit on my list is the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All Kit. 

Yes, cast iron is heavy and hard to clean, but it’s also the OG campfire cooking metal, incredibly sturdy, and heats evenly. 

I’m so impressed with the Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All Kit because it combines so much functionality into one pot and lid, thus eliminating the need for several heavy cast iron pieces. 

You get a griddle surface, a grill, a deep dish skillet, a Dutch oven, and a Dutch oven stand that doubles as a lifter for the lid. You can make anything with this bad boy!

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

---

Looking for more camping gear? Check out these related articles below!

Best Camping Tables for Cooking

Best Double Camping Cots

Best Screen Houses for Camping

Best Tent Air Conditioners

Best Tent Stove for Winter Camping

Best Tent Waterproofing Spray

Best Heated Gloves for Cold Weather

Best Hammocks with a Mosquito Net

Best Camping Canopies to Stay Dry and Shaded

Pin this image for future reference