Easy Campfire Nachos

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Nothing makes a camping trip feel more festive than gathering around the fire to share food with friends and family. Easy Campfire Nachos are the perfect way to feed a hungry crowd with little effort and maximum flavor. They’re loaded with melty cheese, zesty toppings, and a satisfying crunch in every bite.

This recipe turns your campfire into an outdoor kitchen, delivering a cheesy, smoky plate of nachos that rivals your favorite Tex-Mex spot. Whether you’re looking for a quick appetizer or a fun dinner to enjoy under the stars, these nachos will quickly become your go-to camping meal.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Campfire Nachos Recipe

These nachos are ridiculously simple to prepare yet completely customizable to fit everyone’s tastes. You only need one pan and a handful of ingredients, making cleanup a breeze. Best of all, they’re endlessly adaptable — add some spiced ground beef, grilled chicken, or keep it vegetarian with beans and roasted veggies. The smoky flavor from the fire adds a delicious depth that you just can’t replicate indoors.

Can I Make These Nachos Without a Campfire?

Absolutely! While they’re perfect for campfire cooking, you can also make these nachos on a grill at home or even in your oven. The key is to keep the heat indirect and not too high so the chips crisp up without burning and the cheese melts beautifully. So even if you’re not heading outdoors anytime soon, you can still enjoy a plate of warm, cheesy nachos that capture the spirit of camping right in your backyard or kitchen.

Ingredients for the Easy Campfire Nachos

Tortilla Chips: The foundation of any good nacho recipe, sturdy chips hold up well to melted cheese and toppings without getting soggy. Go for thick-cut tortilla chips for best results.

Shredded Cheese: A blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack melts beautifully, giving you gooey, irresistible nachos. The cheese is what binds everything together and adds creamy richness.

Black Beans: These add a hearty, protein-packed element and a nice earthy flavor to balance the cheesy goodness.

Tomatoes: Fresh chopped tomatoes bring brightness and juiciness to each bite, keeping the nachos from feeling too heavy.

Jalapeños: For a kick of heat, thinly sliced jalapeños are perfect. Adjust the amount based on how spicy you like your nachos.

Green Onions: They add a pop of color and a mild onion flavor that complements the rest of the toppings.

Cilantro: A handful of fresh cilantro brings a fresh, herby note to finish off the dish.

Sour Cream: Optional, but dolloped on top it adds a cool creaminess that contrasts with the warm, spicy nachos.

How To Make the Easy Campfire Nachos

Step 1: Prepare Your Cooking Area

Get your campfire going and let it burn down until you have glowing embers. Place a grill grate over the fire or set up your cast iron skillet or aluminum pan on a stable surface.

Step 2: Layer the Chips and Toppings

Start with a layer of tortilla chips in the pan, followed by cheese, beans, tomatoes, jalapeños, and green onions. Repeat the layers until you’ve used up your ingredients, finishing with a generous sprinkle of cheese on top.

Step 3: Cook the Nachos

Cover the pan loosely with foil and place it over the campfire. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Carefully remove the pan from the fire. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the top and add dollops of sour cream if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your smoky, melty masterpiece!

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

When making campfire nachos, it’s easy to get a little carried away with the heat. Too much direct flame can burn the chips before the cheese has a chance to melt. Keep the pan over indirect heat and check it often. Another common mistake is overloading the chips with toppings. While it’s tempting to pile everything on, too much weight can make the nachos soggy and hard to handle. Finally, don’t forget to use a sturdy pan — flimsy aluminum trays can bend and spill in the fire.

Serving and Storing Easy Campfire Nachos

This recipe is best enjoyed immediately after cooking while the cheese is hot and melty and the chips are crisp. It serves about 4 to 6 people, making it a fantastic appetizer or casual dinner. If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the cooler and reheat over low heat the next day. Keep in mind, though, nachos are always best fresh.

What to Serve With Easy Campfire Nachos?

Guacamole

Creamy guacamole makes the perfect cool and creamy companion to spicy nachos.

Salsa Verde

A tangy salsa verde brightens up the smoky, cheesy flavors.

Mexican Street Corn

Sweet, charred corn on the cob sprinkled with cotija cheese and chili powder complements the nachos beautifully.

Grilled Sausages

For a heartier meal, pair the nachos with juicy grilled sausages.

Fresh Garden Salad

A crisp salad balances out the richness of the cheese and beans.

Iced Tea or Lemonade

Cool drinks like iced tea or lemonade are refreshing alongside the smoky heat of the campfire nachos.

Churros or S’mores

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with classic campfire s’mores or a plate of cinnamon-sugar churros.

Want More Appetizer Ideas?

If you love these easy campfire nachos, you’ll probably enjoy these other crowd-pleasing bites:

• Authentic 7-Layer Mexican Dip for a colorful and hearty party favorite.
• Buffalo Chicken Calzone if you’re craving cheesy, spicy goodness in a handheld package.
• Sausage Rolls Appetizer with golden flaky pastry and savory filling that everyone loves.
• Marry Me Chicken Pasta for a creamy and comforting main dish.
• Candied Jalapeños if you’re looking for something sweet and spicy to top your nachos.

Save This Recipe For Later

📌 Save this recipe to your Pinterest camping board so you can come back to it any time.

And let me know in the comments how yours turned out. Did you add meat or keep it vegetarian? Did you go extra spicy or keep it mild?

I love hearing how others make these recipes their own. Questions are welcome too — let’s help each other cook smarter.

Explore beautifully curated, easy-to-make camping recipes on Nina Dishes on Pinterest and discover your next campfire favorite!

Conclusion

Easy campfire nachos bring people together with their irresistible combination of smoky, cheesy, crunchy, and fresh. With just a few simple ingredients and a campfire, you can create a memorable dish that everyone will rave about. Try this recipe on your next outdoor adventure and make your camping meals a little more delicious.

Print

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?