The Ultimate Campfire Food: Mountain Pies

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There’s nothing like the crackling sound of a campfire and the smell of wood smoke to elevate your camping experience. And what better way to take it up a notch than with the ultimate campfire food: mountain pies. Whether sweet or savory, these portable, easy-to-make treats are perfect for any outdoor adventure … even in your own backyard! 

cherry mountain pies stacked on cutting board.

Making mountain pies is a simple and fun activity that can be enjoyed by anyone. All you need is a pie iron, some bread, and your choice of fillings. The possibilities are endless, from classic combinations like peanut butter and jelly to more adventurous options like mac and cheese or even s’mores.

These pies are essentially grilled sandwiches, which makes them a great option for camping trips, picnics, or any outdoor activity where you need to bring your own food. Simply fill your pie iron with your desired ingredients, close it up, and hold it over the fire until it’s cooked to perfection. 

I’ve shared a few detailed posts with three of my favorite mountains pies. (Pizza Mountain Pie, Cherry Mountain Pie, and Nutella Strawberry Mountain.) Many of you wanted more, so I decided to provide you with this list of 16 unique and delicious mountain pie recipes. Before we get into those, you might be wondering….

What Are Mountain Pies?

Mountain pies have a rich history that goes back to the early 20th century. They were originally called “hobo pies” and were popular among hobos who traveled the rails in search of work during the Great Depression. The pies were made by filling two slices of bread with whatever ingredients were available, such as canned fruit, cheese, or meat, and then cooking them over an open fire. 

Over time, the name changed to “campfire pies” and eventually to “mountain pies” as they gained popularity as a camping food. Today, mountain pies are a beloved campfire tradition, bringing people together to enjoy delicious food and create memories around the fire.

pizza mountain pies stacked on board.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

  • There is an almost endless opportunity for filling possibilities. It’s easy to get creative and whip up a unique combination of ingredients that suit your taste buds. 
  • They provide a unique, delicious. and satisfying and filling meal.
  • They are kid-friendly. Children can enjoy picking out their own fillings and personalizing their pies, making it a fun activity for the whole family.
  • The versatility of mountain pies also means you can easily accommodate for any dietary restrictions or preferences, making them a great option for a group meal or outdoor gathering.,
  • Making mountain pies is a fun, easy, and tasty activity that’s a must for any campfire gathering.
moutain pie maker in fire.

The Best Mountain Pie Make / Pie Iron

Before we begin you’re going to need a pie iron. (Or as I call them: a mountain pie maker.) 

This one here is the one I own and my personal favorite. I highly recommend that you go with cast iron. It cooks the best and will withstand the heat of the fire for many years to come. The square is the traditional style but you can also find them in a circle shape. You can even get double sandwich irons

Preparing Your Mountain Pie Maker

To ensure that your mountain pies cook evenly and don’t stick to the maker, it’s important to prepare your mountain pie maker properly.

Start by cleaning the maker thoroughly with soap and water before your first use, and make sure it’s completely dry before you begin. 

Next, lightly coat the inside of the maker with cooking spray or butter. This will prevent the dough from sticking to the sides and make for easier removal once the pie is cooked. 

Before adding your pie filling, it’s a good idea to preheat your mountain pie maker over a low flame for a few minutes. This will help the crust brown evenly and prevent any raw dough in the middle. 

mountain pie marker on rock.

16+  Must-Try Recipes

The next time you go camping, consider adding mountain pies to your menu. Below are some recipe ideas that you can try.

No matter which recipe you choose, the process is simple: butter two slices of bread, add your desired fillings to one slice, top with the other slice, and then place in the mountain pie maker. Cook over the campfire until golden brown and enjoy! Mountain pies are a fun, customizable, and delicious addition to any camping trip.

Let’s get into the recipes! 

stacked Strawberry Nutella Mountain Pies.

Appetizer Recipes

1. Buffalo Chicken Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Cooked and shredded chicken
  • Buffalo sauce
  • Blue cheese crumbles
  • Diced celery

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and diced celery. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

2. Jalapeño Popper with Cream Cheese

Ingredients: 

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Cream cheese, softened
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Diced jalapenos 

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spreading cream cheese on a slice of bread, then top with diced jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Savory Recipes

3. Pepperoni Pizza Mountain Pies

Ingredients: 

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Pizza sauce
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Sliced pepperoni

How to Make:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spread pizza sauce on the bread. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and sliced pepperoni. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Want more? I have an entire post dedicated to my pizza mountain pie recipe.

board of pizza mountain pies.

4. Chili Cheese Dog Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Canned chili
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Cooked hot dogs, sliced

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spoon canned chili onto the bread.Add shredded cheddar cheese and sliced hot dogs. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

5. Reuben Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of rye bread
  • Sliced corned beef
  • Sauerkraut
  • Thousand Island dressing
  • Swiss cheese

Instructions:

Place a slice of rye bread on the mountain pie maker. Layer sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and Swiss cheese. Top with the second slice of rye bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

6. BBQ Chicken Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Shredded chicken
  • BBQ sauce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Diced red onion

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced red onion. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and

7. BBQ Pulled Pork Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Cooked and shredded pork
  • BBQ sauce
  • Coleslaw
  • Sliced pickles

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add shredded pork, BBQ sauce, coleslaw, and sliced pickles. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

8. Mushroom and Swiss

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Sauteed mushrooms
  • Swiss cheese
  • Dijon mustard

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spread Dijon mustard on one side of the bread. Add a slice of Swiss cheese on top. Add the mushrooms on top of the cheese. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

9. Philly Cheesesteak Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Thinly sliced steak, cookied
  • Thinly sliced onion and green bell pepper
  • Provolone cheese

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add thinly sliced steak, onion, green bell pepper, and provolone cheese. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

10. Caprese Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Sliced tomato
  • Sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Balsamic glaze

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Layer sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil leaves. Drizzle balsamic glaze on top. Top with the second slice of bread.Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

11. Taco Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Seasoned ground beef
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salsa
  • Sour cream

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, and salsa. Top with a dollop of sour cream. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Sweet Recipes

12. S’mores Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Chocolate chips or a chocolate bar
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Graham cracker crumbs

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Sprinkle chocolate chips or break up a chocolate bar onto the bread. Add mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the chocolate is melted.

13. Apple Pie Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Apple pie filling*
  • Cinnamon sugar

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spoon apple pie filling onto the bread.Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the filling is heated through.

*This recipe works with any pie filling. Think cherry, apple, peach, etc. You can use homemade or store-bought.

Want more? I have an entire post dedicated to my pizza mountain pie recipe.

cherry mountain pies stacked on cutting board.

14. Nutella and Banana

Ingredients: 

  • 2 slices of bread
  • nutella
  • Banana (or strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, etc.)

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Spread Nutella on one side of the bread. Add thinly sliced bananas on top. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted.

Want more? I have an entire post dedicated to my strawberry nutella mountain pie if you’d like to dig a little deeper.

Breakfast Recipes

15. Breakfast Sandwich Mountain Pies

Ingredients: 

  • 2 slices of bread
  • Cooked bacon or sausage
  • Scrambled eggs, cooked
  • Shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

Place a slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add cooked bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs, and shredded cheddar cheese. Top with the second slice of bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

16. French Toast Mountain Pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of bread
  • French toast batter (eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract)
  • Cream cheese
  • Strawberry preserves

Instructions:

Dip each slice of bread in the French toast batter, making sure both sides are coated. Place one slice of bread on the mountain pie maker. Add a dollop of cream cheese and a spoonful of strawberry preserves. Top with the second slice of French toast bread. Close the mountain pie maker and cook over a campfire until the bread is toasted and the filling is heated through.

making a pizza mountain pie.

Even More Recipes

Want more? You’ve got it! The options are virtual endless. Here are a few more mountain pie varieties you may want to try. 

  • Piña Colada Mountain Pie: with chunks of pineapple and shredded coconut.
  • Roasted Vegetable Mountain Pie: with roasted peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms, and hummus or vegan cream cheese
  • Brie and Apple Mountain Pie: with apple, brie, and honey.
  • Mediterranean Mountain Pie: with roasted vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and tomato sauce .
  • Thanksgiving Dinner Mountain Pie: with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy.
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Mountain Pie: with peanut butter and your favorite fruit jelly.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

With so many possibilities for delicious fillings, it can be easy to get carried away when making mountain pies. However, there are a few common mistakes that can lead to a less-than-perfect pie.

  • One of the biggest mistakes is overfilling the pie iron. Be sure to leave enough room for the bread to expand and the filling to heat up without overflowing.
  • Another mistake is not greasing the pie iron well enough, which can make it difficult to remove the cooked pie and lead to burnt or unevenly cooked bread.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is the type of bread used. Thin, soft bread like white sandwich bread may be easier to use, but it can also become soggy quickly. Opt for sturdier bread like sourdough or brioche for a crispier crust that holds up well to filling.
  • Finally, cooking time can be a delicate balance. Cooking the pie for too long can result in burnt bread, while not cooking it long enough can leave the filling cold. Keep an eye on the pie and check it frequently to ensure it’s cooking evenly and to your desired level of doneness.
making a cherry mountain pie in mountain pie maker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean my mountain pie maker?

To clean your mountain pie maker, allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the inside and outside of the maker. If you need to remove any stubborn residues, use a non-abrasive cleaner and rinse thoroughly with water. Remember to dry the maker completely before storage.

Can I use any type of bread for making mountain pies?

A: Yes, you can use any bread you prefer, such as white bread, whole wheat bread, or even sourdough. Just keep in mind that thicker bread slices will hold up better to the pressure of the pie iron.

Do I need to preheat the pie iron?

A: Yes, it’s essential to preheat the pie iron before placing the bread and filling inside. This will help the bread cook evenly and prevent it from sticking to the iron.

Can I make mountain pies ahead of time?

A: Yes, you can make mountain pies ahead of time, either by assembling them and storing them in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them or by cooking them and reheating them later. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

Can I make these recipes without a mountain pie maker?

While a mountain pie maker is the easiest way to get that classic, crispy crust, you can still make these recipes without one. Simply use a panini press, a waffle iron, or even a regular frying pan. Just be sure to flip the sandwich halfway through cooking to ensure even browning on both sides.

Strawberry Nutella Mountain Pies

Wrap Up

Wow. That was a lot of information. My goal was to give you all the tools and ideas you need. I hope it was more inspiring than it was overwhelming.

In conclusion, ditch those boring camping meals and spice up your next outdoor adventure with these mouth-watering mountain pies. From classic pepperoni and cheese to sweet Nutella and banana, there’s a recipe for everyone to enjoy. 

Not only are these pies delicious, but they’re also easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends and family. So what are you waiting for? Gather around the campfire, try out these recipes, and make some unforgettable memories with the people you love.

mountain pie maker in fire.

More Camping Recipes You May Enjoy

I hope you’ll try one of these delicious mountain pie recipes ideas! If you do, please leave a comment below. I’d love to know which one you liked the best! 

Want more from Inspired by Charm? Follow along on Instagram and TikTok for daily updates and behind-the-scenes looks at my processes. There’s even more inspiration on Facebook and Pinterest

cherry mountain pies stacked on cutting board.

Classic Mountain Pie

Whether sweet or savory, mountain pies are easy-to-make treats are perfect for any outdoor adventure … even in your own backyard.
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: campfire, campfire pie, mountain pie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 272kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread
  • desired fillings
  • butter or cooking spray

Instructions

  • Spray your pie iron with cooking spray. (Alternatively, your bread can be buttered. I just find the spray to be a bit easier.)
  • Place one piece of bread on one side of the pie iron. Top with your desired fillings.
  • Add the second bread slice to the other side of your pie iron and close.
  • Cook over a hot campfire until golden brown and hot inside: about 5-7 minutes. Flip the iron while it is in the fire so the mountain pie cooks evenly. Be sure to check on your mountain pie throughout the cooking process to avoid burning.
  • .Remove the cooked mountain pie from the iron and let it cool for a few minutes before enjoying.

Notes

Please note that the nutritional information is just a general estimate. Amounts will vary greatly depending on your selected fillings.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 2mg

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5 Comments

  1. I am going out hiking soon so I tried the pepperoni pizza one before I went and it was great, I will definitely be making this on my hiking trip.

  2. I’m not near any mountains, but I have a backyard fire pit that will work just fine! These look delicious – I’m going to try a sweet & savory.

  3. I have been meaning to make these since you shared a recipe last year. I can’t wait to try them. It’s definitely happening this summer!