Seafood isn’t just for fine dining. Instead, you can make some of the best campfire seafood recipes while on your next camping adventure.
We’ve put together some of our favorite tried and true seafood recipes to show you how to take your culinary skills to the next level, even when you’re camping under the stars.
| Recipe | Complexity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Skewers | Easy | Quick and easy to prepare, involving marinating shrimp and grilling them on skewers. |
| Campfire Seafood Stew | Moderate | Involves sautéing onions and garlic, then simmering with seafood, tomatoes, and broth. |
| Foil Packet Lemon Dill Salmon | Easy | Simple preparation of salmon in foil packets with lemon, dill, and butter or olive oil. |
| Smoky Campfire Mussels | Moderate | Requires sautéing garlic and onions, then steaming mussels with wine. |
| Campfire Paella | Complex | A one-pan dish with multiple ingredients including rice, chicken, chorizo, and seafood, cooked over a campfire. |
Grilled Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Skewers
This quick and easy campfire seafood recipe can be prepared at home before heading out on your camping trip or while sitting at a picnic table. It’s a quick and easy meal that will become a staple on your trips.
Ingredients—
- Large shrimp peeled and deveined
- Fresh lemons
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Skewers (wooden or metal)
How to make it—
- Preparation. Mix olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add the shrimp and marinate for about 30 minutes.
- Grilling. Thread the shrimp onto skewers and grill over the campfire until they turn pink and opaque, usually about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Serving. Serve with a slice of lemon and a sprinkle of fresh herbs, if available.
Campfire Seafood Stew
This is the way to go for those who love Dutch oven meals. Aside from sauteing the onions and garlic, this recipe is the easiest. You literally just toss it in a pot over the fire.
Ingredients—
- Mixed seafood (shrimps, mussels, white fish)
- Onion, diced
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Canned tomatoes
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- White wine (optional)
- Olive oil
- Salt, pepper, and herbs (like thyme or parsley)
How to make it—
- Sautéing. In a pot, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
- Simmering. Add canned tomatoes, broth, and white wine to a simmer. Add your seafood and cook until everything is cooked through.
- Finishing touches. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs. Serve hot, ideally with crusty bread toasted over a campfire.
Foil Packet Lemon Dill Salmon
If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, then you know we love foil-packet meals. They’re super easy and fun to grill over a campfire or on a grill.
By the way, feel free to replace the salmon with whatever your catch of the day is from the lake.
Ingredients—
- Fresh salmon fillets
- Lemons
- Fresh dill
- Butter or olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Aluminum foil
How to make it—
- Preparation. Place each salmon fillet on a large piece of aluminum foil. Top with slices of lemon, dill, small dollops of butter (or a drizzle of olive oil), and season with salt and pepper.
- Cooking. Fold the foil around the salmon to create a sealed packet. Cook over the campfire for about 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
- Serving. Carefully open the packets (watch for steam) and enjoy a moist, flavorful salmon.
Smoky Campfire Mussels
A cozy, rustic dish perfect for seaside camping or adding a touch of the ocean to any campfire setting. It’s simple and aromatic and pairs wonderfully with a glass of white wine under the stars.
Ingredients—
- Fresh mussels, cleaned and debearded
- White wine
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Onion, diced
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Butter
- Lemon wedges
- Salt and pepper
How to make it—
- Preparing the mussels. In a large pot, melt butter and sauté garlic and onions until they become soft and fragrant.
- Cooking. Add the mussels to the pot, pour in a splash of white wine, and cover with a lid. Let them steam over the campfire until they open up, usually about 5-7 minutes.
- Serving. Discard any mussels that haven’t opened. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, add a squeeze of lemon, and serve right from the pot for a communal, hands-on dining experience.
Campfire Paella
This dish transforms your campfire into a Spanish fiesta. It’s a one-pan wonder that’s as beautiful to look at as delicious food.
Ingredients—
- Arborio or paella rice
- Chicken stock
- Saffron threads
- Mixed seafood (shrimp, clams, squid)
- Chicken thighs, cut into pieces
- Chorizo sausage, sliced
- Onion, diced
- Red bell pepper, sliced
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Peas
- Olive oil
- Paprika, salt, and pepper
- Lemon wedges
How to make it—
- Base preparation. In a large skillet or paella pan, cook chorizo, chicken, onions, and garlic in olive oil until the chicken is browned.
- Cooking the paella. Add rice, stirring to coat it in the oils and flavors. Pour in chicken stock mixed with saffron threads. Arrange seafood, bell peppers, and peas on top.
- Simmering. Let the paella cook uncovered over the campfire, allowing the liquid to absorb and the bottom to develop a crispy layer for about 20-25 minutes.
- Serving. Let it rest for a few minutes, then serve straight from the pan, garnished with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of paprika.
What’s your favorite seafood camping meal?
Camping is not just about the great outdoors; it’s also about enjoying great food.
They go hand-in-hand.
These “Campfire Seafood Specials” recipes bring a gourmet touch to your lakeside camping, combining the freshness of seafood with the rustic charm of campfire cooking.
Whether it’s the zesty Grilled Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Skewers, the hearty Campfire Seafood Stew, or the delicate Foil Packet Lemon Dill Salmon, these dishes are sure to elevate your camping culinary experience.