Camping Quesadilla Recipes

Three simple and delicious camping quesadilla recipes.

I read recently that scientific studies have shown cheese is addictive, which makes sense. I've yet to meet  lactose-intolerant people who didn't start salivating at the sight of a long string of melted mozzarella stretching between a slice of pizza and the rest of the pie.

Cheese is a great option for taking camping. It melts and binds, creating simple and tasty meals that can serve a few people or a whole group.

There's little simpler than a quesadilla. At its most basic, it's two tortillas and some shredded cheese. I can't think of any other meal that's so good, but involves only two ingredients. Prep work is a breeze, the components are all extremely portable (keeping cheese cool is easy to do), and the actual cooking doesn't require anything fancy or elaborate.

Of course, you're not limited to cheese and cheese alone, either. Think of the quesadilla as a template, an empty frame on which to build something personalized and filling. I saw a database listing more than 1,770 cheeses, and the literally countless number of fillings ensures that you'll never run out of flavor combinations. Plus, there are dipping sauces and salsas, guacamoles and 'yes' more cheeses.

All quesadillas should start with your favorite tortilla: corn, flour, whole wheat, etc. Each of the recipes listed below also calls for a cooking spray to keep the goods from sticking where they shouldn't.

Try some of these for your next dinner around the campfire, then experiment with combinations of your own. Leave suggestions for creative ingredients in the comments.

THE CLASSIC

Ingredients:

• your favorite type of tortilla: corn, flour, whole wheat, etc.
• cheddar or jack cheese
• black beans
• fresh jalapeños
• ground beef or shredded chicken
• salsa for dipping

PIZZA-DILLA

Ingredients:

• your favorite type of tortilla: corn, flour, whole wheat, etc.
• mozzarella cheese
• pepperoni
• mushrooms
• marinara sauce for dipping

THE GOURMET

Ingredients:

• your favorite type of tortilla: corn, flour, whole wheat, etc.
• goat cheese
• shredded chicken or prosciutto
• dried figs
• jalapeño jelly or fig jam for dipping

Tools:

• Dutch over
• foil

Method:
Spray a long piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil with cooking spray. Place a tortilla in the center. Top tortilla with a thin layer of your favorite ingredients. Place a second tortilla over those toppings, creating your first quesadilla. Spray the new top tortilla lightly with cooking spray. Add another tortilla and repeat the process. You can make each quesadilla the same or change it up with each layer.

Create a stack of three or four filled quesadillas. Wrap the stack tightly in foil, sealing the edges. If you are preparing the quesadillas well before your meal preparation, place the packet in a sealable bag and put it in an ice chest. You can prepare as many stacks of quesadillas in advance as are needed to feed your camp.

When it's time to cook the quesadillas, place an empty Dutch oven with a lid over hot coals. Place a few coals on the lid. Allow this set-up to pre-heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Using proper protective gear, remove the lid of the Dutch oven, place one or two foil packets of quesadillas inside, and replace the lid. Allow the packets to heat long enough to melt the cheese. This can take five to 10 minutes, but the timing will vary greatly depending on the temperature of your coals and how much cheese you use, so check frequently.  You can flip the packets for even heating if necessary.

When cheese is melted, carefully take the foil packets out of the Dutch oven and serve with your favorite dipping sauce. And a glass of camping sangria.