Campfire Dip

Between hiking, fishing, kayaking and swimming, a camping trip can have you working up a serious appetite. Good thing camping meals are so fun—when else do you get to make food over a real, live fire? So when the day is closing out and the conversation naturally turns to dinner, it’s time to whip up this campfire dip.

Campfire dip is an easy 15-minute appetizer to whip up before the hot dogs are skewered for the fire or the burgers hit the grill. With layers of cream cheese, chili, beans and cheddar cheese, this melty dip is obsessively scoopable when paired with a bag of the best tortilla chips. Double the dip, and it’s an excellent camping dish for a crowd.

Ingredients for Campfire Dip

• Cream cheese: Soften the cream cheese so it’s easy to smooth into the pie pan. You won’t need to leave it out too long—probably 30 minutes, depending on the season.
• Chili with beans: A can of chili with beans provides a ton of protein for this easy appetizer. They normally consist of ground beef, beans, tomatoes, green chiles and spices.
• Cheddar cheese: I always shred cheese fresh from the block, but since you’re camping, go the easy route with one of the best shredded cheddar cheese brands. One less thing to wash!
• Green onions: Sliced green onions offer a much-needed pop of color and a bright, fresh flavor among the rich, salty, saucy ingredients.
• Tortilla chips: While you can totally use your go-to tortilla chip brand, we’ve found that scooped or cupped tortilla chips are best for this dip.

Directions

Step 1: Spread the cream cheese into the pie plate

Prepare the campfire or grill for medium-low heat. Spread the softened cream cheese in the bottom of a 9-inch disposable foil pie pan.

Step 2: Add the chili and cheddar cheese

Evenly spread the chili with beans on top, then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese all over.

Step 3: Heat up the dip

Place the foil pie pan on a grill grate over a campfire or on a grill until the cheddar cheese is completely melted, five to eight minutes.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re using the campfire, try not to place the entire pie pan directly over the flames, or the dip will burn. Indirect heat is key for campfire cooking.

Step 4: Serve the dip

Sprinkle the dip with sliced green onions, if desired, and serve it warm with tortilla chips.

Campfire Dip Variations

• Change the cheese: There are other melting cheeses you could use besides cheddar here, like pepper jack, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack or a Mexican blend.
• Go meat-free: To make a vegetarian dip, replace the can of chili with a can of vegetarian baked beans. Look closely at the labels; not all are vegetarian-friendly. Drain the beans before assembling the dip.
• Make it spicier: Love a little heat? Stir in chopped jalapenos, diced green chiles or red pepper flakes, or use pepper jack cheese in place of cheddar. You can also sometimes even find cans of spicy baked beans!
• Add veggies: Stir in canned vegetables like artichokes, jalapenos, corn or even mixed vegetables to bulk up your dip. Just make sure to drain them first.

How to Store Campfire Dip

Campfire dip is best eaten the day it’s made, but you can store leftovers to reheat and eat later. Allow the dip to cool to room temperature, then cover it tightly and store it in a cooler for up to a day, or a refrigerator for up to four days.

How do you reheat campfire dip?

You can reheat campfire dip right over the campfire again. Just place it near a warm spot that’s not directly over the flames—too close and the dip will burn. Heat it thoroughly, then enjoy it again!

Campfire Dip Tips

What do you serve with campfire dip?

Besides tortilla chips, serve campfire dip with sliced cucumbers, baby carrots, crackers, sliced bell peppers, pretzels, Cheez-Its or baguette slices. If you’re serving more than five or six people, I’d make a double batch of this.

Can you bake campfire dip in the oven instead?

Yes, you can bake campfire dip in an oven instead of over a campfire. Assemble the pie plate as directed in the recipe, then place the filled pie plate in a 350°F oven until the cheese is melted, 7 to 15 minutes. Top it with the sliced green onions and enjoy it!

How do you bake campfire dip without a disposable foil pie plate?

If you forgot to grab a disposable foil pie plate, no worries! You can make the dip with aluminum foil. Place two 12-inch pieces of aluminum foil on top of one another, then fold up the edges to create a pouch. The taller the sides, the better! Fold and seal the edges together tightly, then prepare the recipe as directed, using the foil box in place of the disposable plate.