Pie Iron Campfire Tacos
Cook delicious tacos over the campfire by using a pie iron!
These camping tacos are wrapped up into one edible pocket and can be individually customized with fillings depending on each person’s preferences.
On every camping trip we take, I always incorporate at least one, if not more, pie iron recipes into the meal plan for the trip.
This recipe is a fun twist on tacos that brings them to a whole new level while camping!
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There are so many different names for meals cooked in a cast iron camp cooker! It’d be much more simple to just call these campfire tacos, but I suppose you could also call these hobo pie tacos, pie iron tacos, or even pudgy pie tacos.
These campfire nachos will feed your entire camping crew at once! Everything can add their own toppings to create a nacho platter they’ll love.
Camping PIe Iron Taco Ingredients
- Tortillas: You can use flour or corn tortillas in pie irons.
- Butter: Butter helps to toast up the crust of the tortillas, but it’s not needed. Simply using cooking spray works as well.
- Meat: Ground beef or chicken are my family’s favorite. I recommend pre-cooking the meat before your trip to make these campfire tacos faster and easier.
- Beans: Refried beans or black beans are both great options for inside the tacos.
- Additional Toppings: I’d recommend waiting to add ingredients like salsa or tomatoes until after cooking. They release a lot of liquid that can make the tacos more difficult to eat.
a note from Jenny
I’ll admit, these campfire tacos require a little more work than something like one pan campfire nachos or walking tacos. I will say, however, that pie iron tacos are our favorite way to make tacos while camping because everyone can make their own version of a perfect taco.
I prefer to cook the meat (whether chicken, beef or both) before the camping trip because it makes dinner time at the campsite so much easier.
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Equipment To Make Pie Iron Tacos
Cast Iron Pie Iron (Camp Cooker): Pie irons are made of aluminum or cast iron, but I highly recommend using cast iron as they withstand much higher temperatures for longer periods of time. However, aluminum pie irons do not require seasoning and can be cleaned like all other dishes, so there are benefits to using them as well.
If you do not have a pie iron, you can also make these in a skillet over a propane stove, like you would a quesadilla. (See notes on this cooking method below.)
- Round cast iron camp cooker
- Square cast iron camp cooker
- Double cast iron camp cooker – allows you to make twice as many sandwiches with half the work prepping and cleaning!
- Aluminum pie iron camp cooker – although I don’t like the way they cook as much, they are easier to use because they don’t need to be seasoned and can be cleaned like all your other dishes.
Portable Over the Fire Cooking Grate: While cooking in hot coals or embers is ideal for cast iron pie irons, you can also cook over a fire by using a fire grill grate. It’s perfect for a wide variety of campfire pits and can easily be adapted to work at your site. It’s also great if you just started your fire and want to get cooking right away! Simply place your pie irons on the grate and turn halfway through cooking.
How to Make Campfire Tacos
In this section you’ll find a step by step tutorial of how to make this recipe with photos. The full recipe with exact measurements, steps and a printable card can be found at the bottom of the post.
Scroll to see the step by step photos ->
1. Add tortilla to camp cooker
Spray the inside of the pie iron with cooking spray. Lay one tortilla into the bottom of the cast iron cooker. (For a crispier crust, you can also spread butter on the outside of the tortilla before placing in the pie iron.) It’s okay if some of the tortilla hangs over the edge for now.
2. Assemble the taco
Place filling inside of the taco including meat, cheese and beans. Close the pie iron over the ingredients and trim off excess tortilla.
3. Cook over campfire
There are two options when cooking with a pie iron: in the coals or over the flame. I find that cooking in the coals is faster, but sometimes can result in over cooking/burning more easily. Cooking on a grate over the fire is usually a few minutes slower, but you have a bit more control over the temperature.
- Hot coals: Place pie iron directly in the hot coals and embers from your fire. If your fire has been going for awhile, simply pull a pile of coals a bit to the side and place the camp cooker on those hot coals.
- Over the flame: Use a grill grate to create a flat cooking surface over the fire. Place the camp cooker on the grate and let it cook.
Don’t have a cast iron camp cooker? You could also melt up these tacos in a skillet over a propane stove as well. They will end up more like quesadillas but they will be just as delicious!
4. Enjoy!
Remove the taco from the pie iron and top with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo – any and all of your favorite taco toppings!
Pie Iron Tacos
Ingredients
- 8 tortillas, flour or corn
- 1 lb. ground beef, cooked and fat drained
- 4 oz. shredded, cheddar cheese
- additional fillings: black beans, refried beans, peppers, onions
- toppings: lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, guacamole
Instructions
- Spray the inside of pie irons with cooking spray.
- Place tortilla in the center of the bottom pie iron. Add cooked ground beef, cheese, and any additional fillings.
- Place the second tortilla on top and close the pie iron. Use a knife to cut off any excess tortilla.
- Place pie iron on hot coals or next to heat source. Cook for approximately 5 minutes to heat through, flipping halfway through cooktime.
Video
Nutrition