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.