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Who says camp-side eating has to be boring? Campfire mac and cheese is a super easy recipe you can completely prep before heading to the campground. It’s a decadent, creamy, cheesy dish that is the perfect meal to enjoy post-hike.
save this recipe!Summertime means camping, and camping means campfire food! But you can do so much more with a campfire than simply roast s’mores.
This mac n cheese is so easy to prep, and it’s safe to eat as is! The only reason we cook it over a campfire is to melt all of that yummy cheese, making it feel like a decadent home-cooked meal wherever you are!
Reader rating
“Ok so I tried this and it is absolutely DELICIOUS! this is definitely easier than I thought it was going to be and everyone loved it thanks for the recipe 🙂” —Sophia
here’s what you’ll need for camping mac and cheese
Feel free to add salt to this mac and cheese, but I never feel like it needs it since parmesan is so salty already. Some black pepper adds a nice bite, though.
- Elbow Macaroni: You’ll need uncooked elbow pasta. Any noodle would work, but let’s be real — elbow is classic!
- Alfredo Sauce: Next, 1 cup of alfredo sauce is the magic ingredient that adds so much flavor and creaminess.
- The Cheese: Cheddar cheese provides a strong cheesy flavor, while parmesan cheese adds salty notes, and mozerella gives it that traditional cheese pull. It’s best to shred the cheese yourself as opposed to using pre-shredded cheeses.
- Milk: You can use any milk you like to bring together the creamy sauce. Half and half or heavy cream will create a richer sauce!
How to make mac n cheese while camping
Prepping campfire mac and cheese is just like making mac and cheese any other way. The trick is carefully storing it after it’s prepared so that you can easily reheat it over a campfire.
Step 1: Prepare The Pasta
Cook the macaroni in heavily salted water according to the instructions on the package.
Step 2: Combine The Ingredients
Stir together the cooked pasta, alfredo, cheeses, and milk.
Step 3: Assemble the dish
Spoon the mix into a disposable large aluminum pan (8×8 inch). Cover tightly with aluminum foil and store in a fridge or cooler until you’re ready to cook it (up to 3 days).
storing it in a cooler
Place the prepared pan in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag to prevent water from getting in!
Step 4: Cook The Mac and Cheese
Cook over hot coals or elevated over a fire. Cook until the cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
Sarah’s Tip
When cooking in aluminum containers over a campfire, avoid putting the containers directly on the flame, as it can burn through the pan! Hot coals, or even stones that are hot and have been in the fire, are best for getting even heat.
more campfire-friendly recipes
Campfire Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni, 150 g
- 1 cup alfredo sauce, 240 g
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar, 56 g
- ½ cup shredded parmesan, 56 g
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella, 56 g
- ½ cup milk or half & half, 120 mL
Instructions
- Pasta: Cook macaroni in heavily salted water according to instructions on package.
- Stir: Stir together cooked pasta, alfredo, cheeses, and milk.
- Assemble: Spoon into a disposable aluminum pan (8 x 8 inch). Optionally top with a bit more cheese! Cover tightly with aluminum foil and store in a fridge or cooler until ready to cook (up to 3 days).
- Cook: Cook over hot coals, or elevated over a fire, until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
ok so I tried this and it is absolutely DELICIOUS! this is definitely easier than I thought it was going to be and everyone loved it thanks for the recipe 🙂
YAY!! So happy to hear it! Camping season is almost here for us in Colorado and I’m so excited! 😀
Could this be made in a cast iron skillet?
Yes! 🙂
Can I freeze this ahead of cooking?
I haven’t tried freezing this so I can’t say for sure! It’ll last for a while in a cooler of ice though if you’re bringing it camping.
How many does this feed? It looks delicious!
This recipe feeds 4! Enjoy! 😀
What could I substitute for the Alfredo sauce? My fam isn’t a big fan of it.
A block of cream cheese and a bit of seasoning (like garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper) would probably be delish!
Can I cook this at home in the oven instead?
Yes absolutely! I’d probably cook it at around 375 for 20 to 30 minutes.
Wounding if I can store cooked ingredients in a ziplock bag instead of a aluminum pan trying to maximize space in my cooler
Yes that would work!
I was thinking about cooking this in my Dutch oven on the campfire. How long do you think that would take?
Probably 30ish minutes!
Took this camping over the summer and it was a HUGE hit! I want to take it as my contribution to a big family gathering of about 50 people. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on multiplying in for a large group? I’m thinking I could just 4x it in a bigger pan with a bit longer cook time in the oven… thoughts? Thanks!!!
Yep this recipe is SUPER easy to scale up as needed! If you’re 4x-ing it maybe do it all in 2 big pans.
We made this for our kiddos on their first official tent camping trip and we all LOVED it!! Definitely a hit!
Baby number 4 is on the way and I’m curious if you have tried freezing and cooking at home in the oven? Just thought it might be a good one to have for when baby comes too!?
I haven’t tried this one so I can’t say for sure! I feel like maybe the pasta will overcook when you thaw and reheat it. If you do try it, cook the pasta to just barely al dente before freezing! (And congrats!!)