Campfire Pizza Breads: Your New Favorite Outdoor Pizza Night!
Hey there, Jason Griffith here! There’s something truly special about cooking over an open flame. The crackle of the fire, the smoky aroma, and the simple joy of creating delicious food in the great outdoors. If you’re a pizza lover and enjoy camping or backyard bonfires, get ready for a game-changer: Campfire Pizza Breads! These delightful creations take all the cheesy, saucy goodness of pizza and transform it into a portable, grillable (or roastable!) loaf perfect for enjoying around the glow of the fire.
Why I Love This Recipe
I’m all about making outdoor cooking fun and accessible, and these Campfire Pizza Breads are a fantastic way to do that. What I particularly love about this recipe is its sheer simplicity and versatility. Using ready-made pizza dough means less fuss, and you can customize the fillings with absolutely any pizza toppings you love. Rolling them up into a neat little bread loaf makes them easy to handle over the fire, and the aluminum foil ensures they cook up golden and gooey without a mess. It’s an interactive, delicious activity that everyone will love, and the result is a warm, cheesy bite of perfection!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create these fantastic Campfire Pizza Breads:
- 1 can pizza dough (store-bought refrigerated dough works great) or homemade dough
- 1/2 jar pizza sauce (your favorite brand)
- 1 package pepperonis or other toppings (sliced sausage, cooked ground beef, diced bell peppers, onions, olives, etc.)
- 1-2 cups mozzarella or mixed shredded cheese (a blend of mozzarella and provolone is fantastic)
- 4 tbsp butter (optional, melted, for brushing)
- 2 tbsp garlic powder (optional)
- 1 tsp oregano (optional)
- 1 tsp basil (optional)
Swaps and Notes
- Pizza Dough: Canned pizza dough is incredibly convenient. If you have a favorite homemade pizza dough recipe, that will also work beautifully!
- Toppings: This is where you can get creative! Think cooked sausage, diced ham, sliced mushrooms, black olives, spinach (wilted first), or even cooked and crumbled bacon. Ensure any meat toppings are already cooked.
- Cheese: Mozzarella is classic for its meltability. A mix of mozzarella and provolone, or even a pizza blend, would add more flavor.
- Garlic Butter Seasoning: The melted butter, garlic powder, oregano, and basil create a fantastic savory crust. You can adjust these to your taste or omit them for simplicity.
- Cooking Method: While designed for a campfire, these can also be cooked on a grill over indirect heat, or even baked in an oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway.
Directions
Making Campfire Pizza Breads is a fun, hands-on process perfect for your next outdoor adventure!
- Roll Out Dough: Roll out your pizza dough on a piece of aluminum foil. Make sure it’s nice and flat, creating a roughly rectangular shape that’s easy to work with.
- Sauce It Up: Spread a generous layer of pizza sauce all over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border around the edges. This gives it that saucy goodness we all love.
- Add Cheese & Toppings: Sprinkle plenty of shredded cheese (1 cup) on top of the sauce, then load on your favorite toppings – go wild! Evenly distribute the pepperonis or other chosen toppings over the cheese.
- Roll & Seal: Starting from one long side, carefully roll up the dough to enclose the toppings, creating a log or loaf shape. Pinch the edges and the ends tightly to seal it at the bottom, like you’re crafting a cozy little bread loaf. This is crucial to keep all the delicious fillings inside.
- Optional Garlic Butter Brush: If you’re feeling extra (who isn’t?!), in a small bowl, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon basil. Brush this savory garlic butter mixture generously over the outside of your rolled-up pizza bread for that extra kick and flavor.
- Wrap in Foil: Carefully wrap your creation tightly in aluminum foil, ensuring there are no open seams for cheese or sauce to leak out. This protects it from the direct flame and helps it cook evenly.
- Cook Over Campfire: Place the foil-wrapped pizza bread directly on a grill grate over the campfire coals (medium heat) or directly in the embers. Cook it over the campfire, turning every 5 minutes, until it’s golden brown and gooey inside. The exact cooking time will vary depending on your fire’s heat, but generally, it takes about 15-25 minutes. Carefully unwrap a small section to check for doneness; the dough should be cooked through and the cheese melted.
Enjoy your cheesy, delicious Campfire Pizza Bread around the glow of the fire!
Tips for Success
- Prep Your Fire: For best results, use glowing embers rather than direct high flames. This provides more even, consistent heat.
- Don’t Overfill: While it’s tempting to load on the toppings, don’t overfill the pizza bread, or it will be hard to roll and seal properly.
- Seal Tightly: Ensure the dough is pinched tightly closed to prevent the cheese from oozing out during cooking.
- Double Wrap (Optional): If you’re cooking directly in embers or a very hot fire, you might consider wrapping your pizza bread in two layers of foil for extra protection against burning.
- Rotate Frequently: Turning the pizza bread every 5 minutes ensures even cooking and prevents one side from burning.
- Hot for Serving: These are best enjoyed hot and fresh from the fire, but be careful as the cheese will be molten!
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
Campfire Pizza Breads are a complete meal on their own, especially perfect for an outdoor adventure. They’re great to enjoy right out of the foil! You can offer extra pizza sauce for dipping or a side of ranch dressing. For other fun and easy outdoor-friendly foods, you might love my These Campfire Cones Are My Favorite Mess-Free Way to Enjoy S’mores, or bring along ingredients for a fun, build-your-own meal like my This Walking Taco Bar Is My Favorite No-Fuss Way to Feed a Crowd.
Storage and Leftover Tips
Campfire Pizza Breads are definitely best enjoyed fresh from the fire. Leftovers can be stored, wrapped tightly, in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. To reheat, you can warm them gently in a toaster oven or even back on a very low fire/grill, but they may not be as crispy as fresh.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you loved the fun and cheesy goodness of these Campfire Pizza Breads, here are a few more fantastic savory and easy-to-make recipes that I think you’ll absolutely love:
- For another easy way to feed a crowd with cheesy goodness, check out my These Sheet Pan Quesadillas Are My Favorite Way to Feed a Crowd Fast.
- If you’re a fan of super cheesy appetizers or game day snacks, don’t miss my This Crockpot Nacho Dip Is the Reason I Never Have Leftovers.
- And for an incredibly cheesy and easy-to-make casual meal, my Easy Cheesy Chicken Sliders with Marinara Garlic Butter are always a hit!
Final Thoughts
Campfire Pizza Breads are a creative, delicious, and incredibly fun way to enjoy pizza when you’re out and about or just want a unique twist on pizza night. They bring that cozy campfire vibe right into your mealtime. Give them a try on your next outdoor adventure!
What’s your favorite food to cook over a campfire? Share your ideas and feedback in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow Chef Maniac for more delightful and inspiring recipes!
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