A fun recipe to make while camping, this method of making Popcorn over a Bonfire is simple and quick – and a healthier alternative to roasting marshmallows all weekend.

Campfire Popcorn Recipe

Does your family love to camp?

Camping was always one of my favorite family traditions growing up and I’m so excited that Ella loves it as much as I did. We spend at least a week every summer canoeing, hiking, swimming and watching the stars around a bonfire. We sometimes splurge and rent a yurt or cabin, but for the most part it’s just a tent and sleeping bags.

I secretly loved all of the MRE (Meals Ready-to-Eat) packs my dad would bring with us camping each year. It wasn’t so much the taste (I’m pretty sure they were awful) but it was how much fun I had cooking them over a bonfire.

I now try to make healthier options to bring camping with us, but I love being able to share unique camp-only recipes with Ella for her to make her own special memories of, like orange cakes, campfire strawberries, and this easy campfire popcorn recipe.

While there are special campfire popcorn poppers you can buy, I get a kick out of MacGyver-ing my own popping packet out of a bit of tinfoil and string. (Plus it’s one less thing to clean at the campsite.)

This super easy method of making popcorn over fire is quick and can be customized to include a variety of different popcorn flavors.

More Easy Camping Recipes:

Honey-Glazed Peach and Chicken Kebabs
Jalapeño Crunch Burgers
Campfire Baked Bananas from Everyday Maven
Campfire Grilled Nachos from Let’s Camp More
Greek Beef Kebabs
Campfire Mac n’Cheese from Lauren’s Latest
Skillet Santa Fe Steak

Campfire Popcorn Ingredients

Popcorn Kernels
Vegetable Oil <– can use coconut oil

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: add your favorite popcorn seasonings to this recipe to make it your own.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Measuring cups and spoons
Heavy duty aluminum foil <– don’t use the lightweight kind or it will burn
Cooking string
Camping Roasting Stick

How to Make Popcorn over a Bonfire

Take a large 2 foot piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and shape it into a boat or bowl shape, so that the sides are pulled up but a well exists in the middle.

Add your popcorn kernals and then pour over the oil. If you are adding a seasoning, you can add it now or after the popcorn has popped.

Crimp the edges of the tinfoil to seal the packet completely and then twist the ends.

Tie the string to the twisted tinfoil ends and then tie to the ends of the roasting stick. (Alternatively, you can skewer the packet directly with the roasting stick.)

Place about 1 foot over the fire and shake gently until you hear the popcorn start to pop. Continue for two minutes, until the popcorn starts going about 10 seconds between pops.

Remove from heat and wait until the foil has cooled slightly before opening.

Pin this Easy Campfire Popcorn Recipe:

Grab your free printable for our easy campfire popcorn recipe:

Yield: 2 cups popcorn

How to Make Campfire Popcorn

Name: How to Make Campfire Popcorn
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 6 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Popcorn Kernels; 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil; Popcorn seasoning, optional

A simple method for making popcorn over a bonfire without using gimmicky devices like popcorn poppers. Just foil, string and a BBQ skewer!

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 6 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Popcorn Kernels
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
Popcorn seasoning, optional

Instructions

Take a large 2 foot piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and shape it into a boat or bowl shape, so that the sides are pulled up but a well exists in the middle.
Add your popcorn kernals and then pour over the oil. If you are adding a seasoning, you can add it now or after the popcorn has popped.
Crimp the edges of the tinfoil to seal the packet completely and then twist the ends.
Tie the string to the twisted tinfoil ends and then tie to the ends of the roasting stick. (Alternatively, you can skewer the packet directly with the roasting stick.)
Place about 1 foot over the fire and shake gently until you hear the popcorn start to pop. Continue for two minutes, until the popcorn starts going about 10 seconds between pops.
Remove from heat and wait until the foil has cooled slightly before opening.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 73Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 112mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

I hope your family has fun making this easy popcorn recipe on your next camping trip! (Or even make it on a bonfire in the backyard.)

For more delicious popcorn recipes, check out our Homemade Caramel Corn (with Video) or our Cookies and Cream Popcorn recipe.

How to Make Campfire Popcorn