Foil Packet Cook-Off

What you need

• Heavy-duty aluminum foil (two sheets per packet)
• A shared pantry of ingredients: potatoes, onion, carrots, any protein, olive oil, salt, pepper, spices
• Campfire coals (30–40 minutes of burn before you need them)
• Tongs and heat-resistant gloves for handling hot packets

How to play

1. 1.Let the fire burn down to coals. High flame burns packets; coals cook them.
2. 2.Each team gets equal access to the ingredient pile. Build one foil packet per team. Double-wrap it.
3. 3.Seal packets tightly — fold the edges over at least twice so steam doesn't escape.
4. 4.Place packets directly on coals. Cook for 20–25 minutes, flipping once at the halfway mark.
5. 5.Pull packets off with tongs. Let rest for 2 minutes before opening — steam inside is scalding.
6. 6.Judge on taste, creativity, and whether it actually cooked through.

What success looks like

Group vote on best packet — taste, creativity, and cook quality each count.

Variations

• Blind tasting: remove packets from foil into bowls before judging so no one knows who made what.
• Theme round: all ingredients must fit a theme (e.g., "Italian night," "breakfast all day").
• Solo packets: each person makes their own for a no-competition version.

Safety notes

• Use tongs, never bare hands, to move packets over coals.
• Steam released when opening a packet can burn. Tear the corner open and let it vent first.
• Keep kids away from coals during the cooking phase.