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The warmer weather days have us all planning to get ready for more adventures, relaxing days by the lake, and my personal favorite, delicious meals cooked over a campfire! There are countless different campfire cooking methods and techniques to master, but none quite as simple (and tasty) as cooking with a pie iron over a campfire! From sweet cherry pies to delicious hearty sandwiches, the pie iron will be your go-to tool for all your future camping trips. I’m convinced that once you try food cooked over a campfire, you are forever hooked.
What is a Campfire Pie Iron?
The original pie iron design consists of two concave cast iron pans at the end of a long steel rod. Each pan is about the size of a slice of bread with a hinge at the top allowing them to close to completely to cover the contents.
While pie irons have been used for decades, they are an underrated camping tool which is why I wanted to tell you about them. You can use a pie iron to make sandwiches, hand pies, casseroles, biscuits, and, really, anything that fits in it.
Today, you’ll find many variations of this original design including burger grillers, the panini press, XL sizes, and hot dog cookers. I personally LOVE using the Rome pie irons.
Steps to Using a Pie Iron
The process is quite straightforward and ingenious. I do not doubt that cooking with a pie iron will soon become your family’s favorite campfire tradition. Below you’ll find the simple steps to cooking with a pie iron. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Step 1: Preparing Your Fire for Cooking
Although you can use your pie iron on a gas or charcoal grill, it’s much more fun to use over an open flame. If you are new to campfire cooking, I have a guide to cooking on an open fire to check out.
After finding a safe place to build your fire (in a designated fire pit or away from low-hanging branches and bushes), you can collect tinder, kindling, and wood. Tinder consists of small twigs, dry leaves, or paper while kindling is typically sticks that are smaller than 1 inch in diameter.
Make sure all your materials are dry and they are collected legally. Check with your campground for rules or questions.
Then, build your fire base in the center with the tinder and kindling. Light the base and slowly add the larger pieces of wood. For cooking with a pie iron, I like to build my fires as a teepee as this allows for great airflow.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the crackle of the fire for a bit. You want there to be a mix of flames and hot coals. This is a great time to move on to step 2!
Step 2: Preparing your Recipe
First and foremost, be sure you coat both sides of the pie iron with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Then, place your ingredients—be it bread, pastry dough, or other bases—along with your choice of fillings between the two plates.
Step 3: Cooking
After your ingredients are added, close the iron, and then hold it over a campfire or place it in hot coals.
The metal plates evenly distribute the heat, cooking the contents inside to create a crispy exterior and a warm, gooey interior. The time spent over the open fire will differ depending on the contents of your pie iron, however, most recipes take around five to ten minutes.
And, just like that you are ready to indulge in a delicious meal!
What Can You Cook with a Pie Iron?
The options are truly endless with this cast iron cooking tool! From gooey cinnamon rolls to hearty dinner recipes to warm apple pies, the pie iron will add a level of excitement (and deliciousness) to your next camping trip.
Cooking With a Pie Iron FAQ’s
Each recipe will differ slightly based on the ingredients inside, however, most recipes take less than 10 minutes. You can easily rotate the pie iron during this time and open it to check for completion.
This is a personal preference! Some people like to preheat their pie iron for 1 minute per side before filling it with ingredients. I have found it works great with or without preheating.
Yes, pie irons can be used on a gas stove! However, I would recommend buying a pie iron with a short handle if you are going to use this method.
Yep! Pie irons are versatile and can be used on both gas and charcoal grills.
Yes, seasoning helps the cast iron pan last longer by preventing rust and the food from sticking to the pan. To season your pie iron, all you have to do is apply a thin layer of oil to both sides of the cast iron plates before adding the ingredients. You can spread the oil around with a paper towel or brush.
The original pie iron has been around since 1964. Countless families have created traditions around cooking in the great outdoors with these beloved camp cookers. As with most family traditions, there are sure to be some nicknames created along the way. You may hear the Pie Iron referred to as Pudgy Pies (or Pudgie Pies), a Campfire Sandwich Iron, Mountain Pies, Hobo Pies, Sandwich Cookers, Camp Cookers, and Pie Shams.
You can purchase pie irons online and also at most outdoor specialty stores. If you are feeding a hungry crowd, you may want to invest in a few! I personally love using the Rome pie irons.
As you can see, cooking with a pie iron over a fire is pretty straightforward. You will love this awesome camp cooking tool and I can guarantee it will become a part of your essential camping gear list on all your future trips.
Have you cooked with a pie iron before? Do you have any yummy recipes add to this campfire cooking list?
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
