Cooking outdoors has rules that a home kitchen never teaches you. The heat is uneven, the cooler is small, and whatever you forgot stays forgotten. Mexican cooks know a little about live fire, and there is a reason so much good food starts over coals. The trouble is that a campsite gives you very little margin.
A good camping cookbook plans for that. It tells you what to do at home first, what to pack and how to manage a fire. This guide picks seven books from named authors and publishers, says which kind of trip each one suits, and notes what the publisher and any named reviewers say.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for in a cookbook, the Amazon listing, publisher and author information and published reviews, which we name where we use them.
Quick verdict: the best camping cookbook to pack
For most campers, start with Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson’s The Campout Cookbook, which covers both make-ahead dishes and campsite cooking, plus how to manage the fire. If you want most of the work done before you leave, choose Chris Nuttall-Smith’s Cook It Wild. If you want a clear, friendly plan for a group trip, choose Emma Frisch’s Feast by Firelight.
The other four cover road trips, a scout-troop Dutch oven book, cast iron over the fire and easy food on a stick.
Five camp cookbooks side by side
Five of the seven, one for each kind of trip, with what each listing or publisher gives. All seven are described in full below.
| Cookbook | Best for | Recipes | Length | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most camping trips | More than 75 | 224 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon | |
Cook It Wild, Chris Nuttall-SmithBest prep-ahead
|
Less work at camp | 80 | 240 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Feast by Firelight, Emma FrischBest for groups
|
Group campouts | 70 (publisher) or over 75 (PW) | 208 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
The New Camp Cookbook, Linda LyBest for road trips
|
Road trips | Not stated | 224 pages, hardcover | View on Amazon |
Scout’s Dutch Oven Cookbook, Christine and Tim ConnersBest for scout troops
|
Troops and families | Not stated | 176 pages, paperback | View on Amazon |
Cover images from Amazon. Page counts and formats are from the Amazon listings for the editions linked. Recipe counts are from the title, the publisher’s copy or the review named on the book’s entry.
Our picks for the best camping cookbook, book by book
All seven were in stock in print, new and sold by Amazon when we checked. We have not cooked from these books at a campsite or anywhere else; where we describe a strength, we say whose view it is.
1. The Campout Cookbook, Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson – Food and Fire, Together
The publisher describes more than 75 recipes for camping trips, split between make-ahead dishes and meals cooked at the site: wood-fired skillet pizzas, stews and chilies, fire-roasted vegetables, cast-iron breads, hearty breakfasts, several s’mores and drinks for cold nights.
It also goes past the food, with guidance on choosing a campsite, building and managing a cooking fire, troubleshooting and packing. That is what makes it our first choice, because managing the fire is half of camp cooking.
Publisher copy quotes The Washington Post saying it “Spells out how to eat well when camping out,” and The Kitchn calling it “the most packable book for the glamping of your dreams.” We read those through the bookseller’s copy. Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review. Hanel and Stevenson’s earlier book, The Picnic, won an IACP Award, according to the author note.
Why we like it
- More than 75 recipes, per the publisher
- Make-ahead and at-camp recipes
- Fire-building and packing advice
- Authors’ earlier book won an IACP Award
Key specifications
| Author | Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Artisan |
| Year | 2018 |
| Pages | 224 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | More than 75 |
| Focus | Make-ahead and campsite cooking |
| Best for | Most campers |
Why we recommend it
If you want one book that covers the planning, the fire and the food, this is the safest choice.
Skip it if you backpack and carry everything on your back. A skillet pizza is a car-camping idea.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers fire and packing as well as food
- Good range of dishes
- Includes drinks
Cons
- No named review we read in full
- Suits car camping best
2. Cook It Wild, Chris Nuttall-Smith – Do the Work at Home
This book has one big idea and it is a good one. The publisher says each of its 80 recipes has separate “at home” and “at camp” steps, so most of the work is done before you leave, and the camp stage usually means heating or grilling what you prepared.
Chris Nuttall-Smith is a food writer and a judge on Top Chef Canada, as well as a backpacker and wilderness paddler, according to the author note. Dishes named by the publisher include lemon chicken, vegan dan dan noodles and fire-baked pecan sticky buns, and it also covers cheeses that travel, chilling drinks without ice and choosing a backpacking stove.
Publisher copy quotes Ruth Reichl saying that if you like to camp, “this exuberant book will change your life,” and Matty Matheson praising how much has been thought through. We read those through the bookseller’s copy. Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review.
Why we like it
- 80 recipes, per the publisher
- Split into at-home and at-camp steps
- Practical gear and packing topics
- Author is a backpacker and paddler
Key specifications
| Author | Chris Nuttall-Smith |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Clarkson Potter |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 240 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 80 |
| Focus | Prep-ahead meals for the outdoors |
| Best for | Campers who plan |
Why we recommend it
If you would rather spend the weekend outside than chopping onions on a folding table, buy this one.
Skip it if you do not like planning. This method only works if you cook before you go.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Least work at the site
- Clever, modern dishes
- Advice on stoves and coffee
Cons
- Needs prep time at home
- No named review we read in full
3. Feast by Firelight, Emma Frisch – A Friendly Group Plan
Emma Frisch is a cofounder of Firelight Camps, a glamping site, and a finalist on Food Network Star, according to the author note, so she has fed people outdoors for a living. The publisher describes easy recipes for gatherings, with menus, shopping and equipment lists, and illustrations of how to pack a cooler and build a fire.
Publishers Weekly’s review is the most detailed we read on this page. It says the recipes “emphasize flavor over fuss” and likes the make-ahead approach, with chili and coal-baked potatoes prepped in zip-top bags. It also doubts that graham crackers from scratch are worth it, which seems fair. It concludes that outdoor fans will find the book as useful as “a good knife and extra matches.”
One note on the count: the publisher’s copy says 70 recipes and PW says over 75, so we give both.
Why we like it
- Reviewed by Publishers Weekly
- Menus and shopping lists, per the publisher
- Cooler and fire illustrations
- Make-ahead approach, says PW
Key specifications
| Author | Emma Frisch |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Ten Speed Press |
| Year | 2018 |
| Pages | 208 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | 70 (publisher) or over 75 (PW) |
| Focus | Easy gatherings at camp and cabin |
| Best for | Campers feeding friends |
Why we recommend it
If you are the one organizing the group trip, the menus and lists do a lot of the thinking for you.
Skip it if you camp alone or in a very simple way. It is pitched at gatherings.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Praised by PW
- Menus take out the planning
- Good for beginners and veterans, says PW
Cons
- Some recipes more effort than a campsite needs, says PW
- Recipe count varies between sources
4. The New Camp Cookbook, Linda Ly – Road Trips and Global Flavors
Linda Ly runs the blog Garden Betty and has also written The Backyard Fire Cookbook, according to the author note. This book is pitched at campers, day trips and road trips, with a focus on fresh ingredients and global flavors.
The publisher says it covers planning meals, packing coolers, stocking a camp pantry, building fires, foil-pack cooking and using a Dutch oven. Recipes are grouped into morning meals, midday meals, small bites, group dinners, and drinks and desserts, with an icon showing the cooking style of each and a photo of every recipe.
Publisher copy quotes The Seattle Times saying “Get inspired to dine like a king while at the campground.” We read that through the bookseller’s copy. Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, and the copy we read does not give a total recipe count, so we do not state one.
Why we like it
- Icons show each recipe’s cooking style
- A photo for every recipe, per the publisher
- Cooler and pantry advice
- Foil packs and Dutch oven both covered
Key specifications
| Author | Linda Ly, photographs by Will Taylor |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Voyageur Press |
| Year | 2017 |
| Pages | 224 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Fresh ingredients and global flavors |
| Best for | Road trippers and day trippers |
Why we recommend it
If you camp out of a car and like eating well away from home, this has the most variety of flavors.
Skip it if you want plain camp staples. The appeal here is food that does not taste like camp food.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Global flavors
- Clear icons for the method
- Advice on packing
Cons
- Recipe count not stated in our sources
- No named review we read in full
5. Scout’s Dutch Oven Cookbook, Christine and Tim Conners – From Scout Leaders and Campers
If your camping is a Dutch oven and a bed of coals, this is one of two books here built for that. The publisher describes recipes selected for scouts and other outdoor users, including hikers, campers and paddlers, along with cooking methods and tips for the field. Examples on the page include “Commissioner’s French Toast” and “Chicken Dutchiladas.”
The Conners are campers and outdoor cooks who have twice judged Scouting magazine’s camp food contest, according to the author note. The bookseller’s copy quotes Scouting magazine’s managing editor recommending it for every scouter, and a Boy Scouts council executive calling it a good single source on cooking, safety, care and the differences among Dutch ovens.
Those voices come from within the scouting world, so read them that way. Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review. If you need the pot itself, see the best camp Dutch oven.
Why we like it
- Written for scouts and outdoor users
- Covers field methods and tips
- Praise from scouting leaders, via the publisher
- Paperback, easier to pack
Key specifications
| Author | Christine Conners and Tim Conners |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Falcon Guides |
| Year | 2012 |
| Pages | 176 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Recipes | Not stated |
| Focus | Field Dutch oven recipes |
| Best for | Scouts and outdoor families |
Why we recommend it
If you are feeding a troop or a large family, this was written with you in mind.
Skip it if you want a modern food-writer’s book. This is practical camp cooking from the scouting world.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Written for group camping
- Practical advice on Dutch ovens
- Packable paperback
Cons
- Recipe count not stated in our sources
- Praise comes from scouting insiders
6. Campfire Cooking, Jakob Nusbaum – Skillet, Dutch Oven and Skewer
This book is built around three tools: a cast iron skillet, a Dutch oven and a skewer. Booksellers’ descriptions give about 50 recipes for the open fire, from grilled trout with herbs and lemon to pizza on a stick, along with chapters on splitting firewood, choosing equipment and keeping a fire going.
Jakob Nusbaum is a Denmark-based outdoor chef who, according to booksellers’ author details, spent about twelve years as an advertising art director before cooking outdoors full time from 2016. The book first appeared in Danish in 2021, and Skyhorse published this English edition in 2023, according to library catalog records.
We found no named independent review, so this rests on the publisher’s, booksellers’ and library details. It is the pick here that teaches the fire itself as much as the food, which suits campers who cook over wood rather than on a camp stove.
Why we like it
- Skillet, Dutch oven and skewer in one book
- Covers firewood and fire building
- About 50 recipes, per booksellers
- Hardcover
Key specifications
| Author | Jakob Nusbaum |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Skyhorse |
| Year | 2023 |
| Pages | 184 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Recipes | About 50 |
| Focus | Open-fire cooking with cast iron and skewers |
| Best for | Campers who cook over wood |
Why we recommend it
If you own a skillet and a Dutch oven and want to cook over the fire rather than a stove, this covers both pans and the fire under them.
Skip it if you cook on a camp stove; the book assumes a wood fire.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fire skills as well as recipes
- Three methods in one book
- Durable hardcover
Cons
- No named review in our sources
- Fewer recipes than some books here
7. On a Stick Cookbook, Julia Rutland – Fun for Kids and Campfires
This is the smallest book here, and that is its charm. The listing gives 80 pages for 50 recipes, and the publisher describes food cooked on sticks over a campfire or grill. Examples include grilled strawberry shortcake kebabs, meatball sub skewers, bacon-wrapped shrimp and sausage-and-gravy biscuit cups.
Julia Rutland is a food writer and recipe developer whose work has appeared in Southern Living and Coastal Living, and she often camps with her family, according to the author note.
Publishers Weekly’s page at this ISBN shows no review, and the bookseller’s page shows only the publisher’s own description, so this pick rests on the publisher’s and author’s details. It will not feed you for a week, but it could keep children busy around a fire for an evening. Keep an adult close to the coals.
Why we like it
- 50 recipes, per the title
- Short at 80 pages
- Desserts, entrees and breakfasts
- Works over a fire or a grill
Key specifications
| Author | Julia Rutland |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Adventure Publications |
| Year | 2019 |
| Pages | 80 |
| Format | Paperback |
| Recipes | 50 |
| Focus | Food cooked on sticks over a fire |
| Best for | Families with kids |
Why we recommend it
If you camp with kids and want dinner to be part of the fun, this is an easy add to the box.
Skip it if you want a full meal plan for a long trip. Treat it as a side book, not your only one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fun for families
- Light to pack
- Also works on a backyard grill
Cons
- Short and narrow
- No named review in our sources
How to choose a campfire cooking book
The right book depends on how you camp. Answer these before you buy.
- Car or backpack. Most books here assume a car and a cooler. If you carry everything, read the publisher’s notes closely. Cook It Wild does cover backpacking stoves.
- Fire, stove or both. A campfire needs a grate and some patience. See the best campfire grill grate and the best camping gas stove if you are still kitting out.
- The pots you own. Our best camping cookware set guide covers the basics, and the best camping griddle pan helps with breakfast.
- Prep at home. If you do not mind cooking the day before, the prep-ahead books will save you the most work at the site.
- Follow the rules of the place. Check whether fires are allowed where you are going, and how food must be stored. No cookbook can tell you the rules for your site.
How we picked these seven books
We searched Amazon’s book listings and kept print editions from named authors at established publishers, in stock, new and sold by Amazon when we checked. We left out every title already on our other book pages, including the best Dutch oven cookbook and the best grill cookbook. Author, year, format and page count come from the Amazon listing. Recipe counts and descriptions come from the title or the publisher’s copy, as carried by booksellers, unless we credit someone else.
Here is which evidence stands behind which pick. Feast by Firelight has a Publishers Weekly review that we read ourselves. The Campout Cookbook, Cook It Wild, The New Camp Cookbook and the Scout’s book have praise we read only as quoted in the publisher’s copy, so we name the source but cannot vouch for the full piece. Campfire Cooking and On a Stick Cookbook rest on the publisher’s and author’s details.
We also looked at Jakob Nusbaum’s Campfire Cooking, which was in stock, but we could not open a publisher description for it. We skipped several in-stock books that credit only publisher editors, because we were looking for named authors.
Camping cookbook questions, answered
What is the best campfire cooking book for beginners?
The Campout Cookbook, because it covers building and managing a fire as well as recipes. Publishers Weekly also says Feast by Firelight‘s setup and fire advice helps beginners and experienced campers alike.
Which book needs the least work at the campsite?
Cook It Wild, by design. Its publisher splits each recipe into at-home and at-camp steps, and the camp stage is usually heating or grilling.
Is there a good Dutch oven book for camping?
Yes: the Scout’s Dutch Oven Cookbook for groups, and Campfire Cooking by Jakob Nusbaum covers the Dutch oven alongside the skillet and skewers. For home-oven books, see the best Dutch oven cookbook.
Which book is best for camping with kids?
On a Stick Cookbook for fun around the fire. Keep an adult near the coals.
Can I use these recipes at home?
Often, yes. The publisher of The New Camp Cookbook says its recipes can be adapted for home kitchens, and On a Stick Cookbook also suits a backyard grill.
Which camp book should you pack first?
Buy The Campout Cookbook if you want the widest help. Choose Cook It Wild for prep-ahead meals, Feast by Firelight for groups and The New Camp Cookbook for road trips. The Dutch oven, cast iron and stick books each suit a narrower trip, and each entry says who that is.
Related guide: Best cowboy cookbook.
And if you are home and tired after the trip, see the menu or call to order.