Champagne Tastes®

  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipe Index
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Camping Recipes

    Campfire Nachos

    Published: Sep 25, 2020 · Modified: Oct 24, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    These easy vegetarian campfire nachos are made with tortilla chips, cheese, beans, and a quick garlic sauce, and then cooked in a pan over a fire. Perfect for camping and cookouts!

    Campfire nachos Topped with Hot Sauce, Salsa + Garlic Sauce.

    Who else loves cooking over a campfire?

    I love the subtle smoky flavor in the food, plus eating outdoors is pretty fabulous.

    This summer, we built a campfire ring in our backyard, and I've been cooking outside as often as possible!

    My favorite campfire meals include campfire chili, campfire pizza, campfire lasagna, campfire red lentil stew and (of course) these campfire nachos.

    I love these nachos because they're an easy, quick meal that's perfect for camping or backyard cookouts.

    Looking for more camping recipes? Try these camp stove burritos, canned green bean salad, camp stove fish curry, and camp stove chickpea curry.

    What Equipment Do I Need?

    You need access to a campfire ring.

    If your campfire ring does not include a grate, you'll need to use a portable campfire grate.

    You'll also need a large campfire-safe pan, such as a cast-iron pan or a carbon steel pan. I use this Lodge 12" carbon steel skillet, and prefer it over cast iron because it's lighter.

    It's helpful to have a table nearby (like a picnic table) to help prepare the ingredients.

    You'll also need aluminum foil, a cutting board, a knife, and an oven mitt.

    What Tortilla Chips are Best for Campfire Nachos?

    I recommend buying sturdy tortilla chips, not thin delicate ones, because the thin ones will break under the weight of the toppings. In my experience, organic chips marked yellow corn or blue corn tend to be the sturdiest.

    We like Trader Joe's organic tortilla chips (pictured).

    Can I Use Pre-Shredded Cheese?

    You can, but if at all possible, don't.

    I recommend buying a block of cheese and shredding it right before you make the nachos.

    Why?

    Freshly shredded cheese melts faster than pre-shredded cheese. Really, almost twice as fast!

    That said, I have successfully made campfire nachos with store-bought pre-shredded cheese. It took longer but worked.

    How to Make Vegetarian Nachos Hearty

    Instead of ground beef, this nachos recipe calls for canned beans.

    I think it's a delightful swap.

    The beans add some heft to the meal, meaning you won't be left hungry after dinner.

    How to Make Campfire Nachos

    Start by making a campfire, or have someone else do it while you prepare the food! You'll want to cook over smoldering embers, not large flames.

    While the fire is heating up, start making the nachos.

    Layer the pan with chips, and then spread the cheese across your chips.

    Add Chips + Cheese to a Pan.
    Add Chips + Cheese to a Pan

    Next, start adding more ingredients.

    I used beans, black olives, diced tomatoes, avocado, pickled jalapeños, and diced green onion.

    Add Beans + Olives.
    Add Beans + Olives
    Add Remaining Toppings.
    Add Remaining Toppings

    Next, cover the pan with foil. Avoid using an actual lid, because it will create steam and make your chips soggy.

    Set the pan on the campfire grate.

    Campfire nachos Cooking in Covered pan Until Cheese Melts.
    Cook Covered Until Cheese Melts

    Cook the nachos for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

    While the nachos cook, whisk together the garlic sauce. You'll use garlic, plain yogurt, salt, and a little lemon juice.

    If you want to skip the garlic sauce, use sour cream instead.

    When the cheese is melted, drizzle the garlic sauce on top, along with a little hot sauce and salsa.

    Campfire nachos Topped with Hot Sauce, Salsa + Garlic Sauce.
    Top with Hot Sauce, Salsa + Garlic Sauce

    Remove the nachos from the fire. If you don't have a trivet or hot pad, you can set the pan on a wooden picnic table or the edge of a stone campfire ring.

    Scoop the nachos onto plates, and dig in!

    campfire nachos on a plate.
    Campfire Nachos in a pan
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 3 votes

    Campfire Nachos

    These easy vegetarian campfire nachos are made with tortilla chips, cheese, beans, and a quick garlic sauce, and then cooked in a pan over a fire. Perfect for camping and cookouts!
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 679kcal
    Freezer Friendly?
    No
    Will It Keep?
    No
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • campfire grate
    • charcoal briquettes (or firewood)
    • cast iron pan (or carbon steel pan)
    • cutting board
    • knife (for dicing veggies)
    • spatula
    • plates

    Ingredients

    Nachos:

    • 8 ounces tortilla chips (Half of a 16oz bag)
    • 6 ounces pepperjack or Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated Use more if desired
    • 14 ounces can black or pinto beans, drained
    • 2 ounces sliced black olives (Half of a 4oz can)
    • 1 tomato, diced (optional) Skip if out of season
    • 1 avocado, diced
    • ⅛ cup pickled jalapeños
    • 2 green onions, finely diced (green tops only)

    Garlic Sauce (Optional):

    • 1 cup plain yogurt
    • 2 garlic cloves, diced
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ lemon, juiced

    Extra Toppings (Optional):

    • hot sauce
    • salsa
    • cilantro

    Instructions

    • Prepare campfire:
      Heat coals until they are very hot, or let a campfire burn down until the wood is smoldering but without active flames. If using a portable campfire grate, add it to the campfire ring.
      Prepare nachos:
      Add chips to a cast-iron or carbon steel pan. Top with the cheese.
      Add Chips + Cheese to a Pan
    • Add the remaining nacho toppings. (Don't add the yogurt sauce, hot sauce, or salsa yet.)
      Add Remaining Toppings
    • Cover the nachos with foil and place onto the campfire grate.
      Cook nachos for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
      If you're using pre-grated cheese, it will take longer to melt (about 15 minutes).
      Cook Covered Until Cheese Melts
    • Uncover the nachos. Add the garlic sauce and any additional toppings, and serve immediately.
      Campfire Nachos in a pan

    Notes

    Serves 4 (small portions) or 2 (larger portions).
    This recipe can easily be adapted to include your favorite nacho toppings (or exclude ones you don't like).  The only essential ingredients are the chips and cheese.  If adding meat, make sure to cook the meat before adding it to the nachos.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 679kcal (34%) | Carbohydrates: 65g (22%) | Protein: 25g (50%) | Fat: 38g (58%) | Saturated Fat: 12g (75%) | Cholesterol: 46mg (15%) | Sodium: 1465mg (64%) | Potassium: 909mg (26%) | Fiber: 15g (63%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 905IU (18%) | Vitamin C: 21mg (25%) | Calcium: 552mg (55%) | Iron: 4mg (22%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

    More Camping Recipes

    • Two cups of mulled apple cider.
      Mulled Cider (Small Batch)
    • Two campfire hot dogs and sauerkraut inside brioche buns topped with swirls of mustard.
      Campfire Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
    • Campfire chili in Dutch oven sitting on picnic table.
      Campfire Chili with Beer
    • Coffee at Charlies Bunion
      How to Make Coffee While Camping

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • langostino lobster rolls on a serving tray.
      Langostino Lobster Rolls
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2025 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.