44 Pudgy Pie Ideas (the Ultimate List of Pie Iron Recipes!)

Cooking pudgy pies over a campfire is so fun! Pudgy pies–also known as mountain pies–are cooked in a pie iron, which is a cast-iron cooking tool that closes, clamshell style, over sandwiches and other stuffed bread. Then, you stick it in your campfire coals or into the flames, until your ingredients have transformed into gloriously hot and toasty hand pies that are as delicious to eat as they were fun to make.

A sandwich filled with beans and cheese cut diagonally in half, resting on a open pie iron

The nice thing about pudgy pies is that you don’t really need an exact recipe or measurements, but these pie iron recipes are a great starting point and are sure to spark several ideas for your next camping menu.

Toast up grilled cheeses, gourmet toasted sandwiches, and everything in between. Or cook piping-hot quesadillas, stuffed hashbrowns, and even pancakes! Stuff buttered white bread with pie filling, and you’ll be amazed how it transforms into the most amazing handheld pies. The sky really is the limit when you’re cooking pudgy pies in a pie iron!

Tips for Cooking Pie Iron Recipes

Like all cast iron, your pie iron will need to be seasoned! Even if it’s sold as pre-seasoned, pie irons can always benefit from a little extra seasoning when you’re first using it. Here’s a great video that will walk you through it.
Be generous with butter so that your sandwich or pie doesn’t stick to your pie iron– or use a non-stick cooking spray
If there’s extra bread or dough hanging out of the iron after closing it, trim it down so it doesn’t catch fire. We just drag a butter knife around the edges to trim it.
Hold your pie iron flat when cooking (so the seam is parallel to the ground) and flip it occasionally. This will help it cook evenly and prevent the filling from seeping out.
Pie irons will be very hot coming out of the fire, so take extra care if you’re making multiple sandwiches. Use a double pie iron or have one for each person if possible.
We like to use heat-resistant gloves when using our pie irons to protect our hands.

A pie iron pizza cut in half and stacked on a plate

Pie Iron Pizza Pockets

Melty cheese and your favorite toppings surrounded by piping-hot, golden pizza crust? Yes, please! These pizza pockets are one of those pie iron recipes that everyone will love. Make your own pizza dough or grab a ball of dough from the store, personalize the toppings to individual tastes, and then cook over flames or embers for personal pizza perfection!

Grilled cheese sandwiches in a pie iron. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

Ham & Jack Pudgy Pies

This pie-iron twist on grilled cheese brings the heat! Sourdough bread stuffed with salty sliced ham, tender mushrooms, spicy pepper jack cheese, and salsa makes a spicy sandwich everyone will love. Although, this one’s easy to customize for kids and others with a little less heat tolerance, too.

Pastrami & Swiss Pudgy Pies

Butter up some slices of rye bread and pile on the pastrami, Swiss cheese, and mustard. Place them in your pie iron and toast it up for a delicious hot pastrami and Swiss sandwich. Add pickles and sauerkraut if you like, too!

Square pancakes topped with banana slices on a camping plate. — Photo credit: Food Network

Pie Iron Chocolate and Banana Stuffed Pancakes

Yes, you can cook pancakes in a pie iron, too! Spoon pancake batter into the pie iron and add bananas and chocolate. Cook your pudgy pie pancake over the fire until puffy and perfect. Top with syrup and eat it while the next one cooks!

Cheddar & Apple Grilled Cheese

Go with the sweet and salty combo of sharp cheddar and sliced apples on bread along with whole grain mustard and some crispy bacon if you like. Toast until golden and melty-perfect!

Pudgy pies filled with chocolate and cherries in a metal serving dish. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

Cherry Chocolate Pudgy Pie

With melted chocolate, juicy cherry pie filling, and crunchy chopped almonds, this pudgy pie is perfect for cherry-chocolate lovers! Place the fillings inside buttered white bread and toast until golden and deliciously ooey-gooey.

Waffles made in a pie iron on a blue camping plate. — Photo credit: Refresh Camping

Pie Iron Stuffed Waffles

The easiest breakfast ever! Frozen waffles are stuffed with peanut butter or Nutella and bananas, then smeared with butter and toasted until warmed through and golden-delicious. Fresh strawberries or raspberries are also great in place of the bananas!

Slices of bread topped with fruit in pie irons. — Photo credit: Andrea’s Recipes

Seasonal Fruit Campfire Pies

This pudgy pie recipe is more of a guide, transforming whatever fruit is in season into a glorious campfire dessert. Take two slices of buttery bread and stuff them with sweet cherries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and apple slices. You can also use your favorite jam, jelly, or canned pie filling. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and cook in the pie iron until bubbling inside and golden outside.

Bread, a pineapple ring, and a cherry in a pie iron. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

Pie Iron Upside Down Cakes

This is one of the most brilliant pie-iron recipes we’ve seen! Small, round store-bought sponge cakes are placed in the pie iron with a pineapple ring and a maraschino cherry. Then, they’re sprinkled generously with brown sugar and cooked over the fire until the brown sugar transforms into a glorious caramel sauce. Serve it up with some ice cream in a bag!

Caprese Pudgy Pie

For a pudgy pie with Italian roots, go with a caprese theme! Toast slices of bread stuffed with low-moisture mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil or prepared pesto. Drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a finishing touch. You can even add prosciutto slices for some added salty flavor and protein!

Hash browns cooked in a square pie iron on plates. — Photo credit: Food Network

Pie Iron Breakfast

A pudgy pie that’s a full breakfast! Frozen hashbrowns are filled with bacon, cheddar, and eggs and cooked in the pie iron until you have buttery golden breakfast goodness in the palm of your hand.

Turkey Pesto Pudgy Pie

With melty mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, and deli turkey, this turkey pesto combo is perfect for lunch or dinner. Toast in the pie iron over flames or in coals until warm, cheesy, and delicious.

Croissant in a pie iron layered with meat, tomatoes, and greens. — Photo credit: Homemade Heather

Pie Iron Croissant

This savory pie iron recipe features warm crescent rolls stuffed with sliced roasted chicken breast, tangy goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes for a satisfying sandwich. You can substitute with the bread or wrap of your choice.

Waffles made from cinnamon rolls with icing in a serving dish. — Photo credit: Dirty Gourmet

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

Waffle-shaped cinnamon rolls? We’re on board! This one uses a waffle pie iron for cinnamon rolls that are full of tender, cinnamon-sugar bliss! Don’t forget the cream cheese glaze. Make the dough ahead of time, and it can rise on the way to camp; then just assemble your cinnamon rolls and bake up your waffles! Great for breakfasts and desserts.

Pie iron with fillings ready to go next to a plate with a cooked pudgy pie. — Photo credit: Food Network

Pie Iron Hawaiian Pizza

This is one of those easy pie iron recipes that’s practically effortless to make! Take refrigerated pizza dough and fill it with deli ham, pineapple, pizza sauce, and a generous layer of mozzarella. Cook in the pie iron until golden–and dinner’s ready in under 10 minutes!

Pulled Pork Pudgy Pie

Toss leftover pulled pork in barbecue sauce and spoon it in between two slices of buttered bread with a slice of jack or cheddar cheese, sliced red onion, and coleslaw if you have it. This pulled pork pie iron recipe is so good for lunch or dinner!

A square pancake topped with pears on a plate. — Photo credit: Cool of the Wild

Pie Iron Pancakes

Pancake pudgy pies? Yes! Pour the batter into your pie iron and cook over the fire for perfect pie iron pancakes! Top with fresh fruit, nuts, and syrup for a campfire breakfast everyone will love.

Bread stuffed with apple pie filling. — Photo credit: Vibrantly Gluten Free

Pie Iron Apple Pie

This one’s perfect for gluten-free campers! Gluten-free bread is spread with coconut oil or butter and filled with diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest, then cooked over the fire until bubbly, golden, and delicious. This one’s a fancier pudgy pie option that everyone will love!

Apple Brie Grilled Cheese

Typical grilled cheese sandwich recipes are designed for a frying pan or griddle, but they cook up perfectly in a pie iron, too! This Apple & Brie Grilled Cheese is so good, with sliced apples, creamy brie, tangy mustard, and fresh baby greens.

Mozzarella sticks on a plate with a small dish of red sauce. — Photo credit: Food Network

Pie Iron Mozzarella Sticks

This ingenious appetizer uses a hot dog or sausage pie iron for kid-friendly cheese sticks. String cheese is wrapped in crescent dough and sprinkled with herbs and Parmesan, then cooked until golden and melty. Delicious!

A grilled Reuben sandwich in a pie iron on a grill. — Photo credit: Dine Dream Discover

Campfire Reuben Sandwich

Reuben sandwiches aren’t just for St. Patrick’s Day! They make a great pie iron recipe all camping season long, with corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing, all on toasted rye bread. This one’s a big sandwich made on a large pie iron, so bring your appetite!

Pie Iron Tuna Melt

Bring along some tuna salad to layer into sourdough or rye bread along with a slice of cheddar, thinly sliced tomatoes, and a slathering of mayo. Cook in the pie iron for a pudgy pie tuna melt situation that is so good!

French toast with berries on a camping plate. — Photo credit: Food Network

Pie Iron Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast

If you’re looking for hearty pie iron recipes for breakfast, this one’s sure to stop your scroll! It’s a hybrid of golden French toast and PB&J for a satiating and delicious breakfast. Battered bread is stuffed with creamy peanut butter and your favorite jam or jelly, then cooked over the fire until perfect. Top with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar for the ultimate pie iron breakfast!

Peanut Butter Banana Pudgy Pie

Buttery cinnamon raisin bread spread with peanut butter, layered with bananas, and drizzled with honey is phenomenal when toasted in the pie iron!

Grilled pudgy pies filled with melted chocolate on a plate. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

S’mores Pudgy Pie

If you’re looking for a fun twist on standard s’mores, add this pudgy pie to your camping menu. This one has Nutella and marshmallows scattered with golden graham cracker crumbs and warmed inside two buttery pieces of bread until melty and golden. Yum!

Nutella and raspberries on bread inside a pie iron. — Photo credit: The Sweetest Occasion

Raspberry Nutella Mountain Pies

Buttery bread stuffed with Nutella and fresh raspberries, then cooked until golden and melty. We love this flavor combination!

Pudgy pie filled with marshmallows and chocolate on a blue and white checkered napkin. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

Milky Way Pudgy Pie

Chocolate and caramel fiends will love this one, and it’s super fun for the kids, too. Buttered bread is filled with chopped Milky Way candy bars, marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbs for a Milky Way-s’mores hybrid situation. They’ll want s’more, for sure!

Sloppy Joes Pudgy Pies

Spoon sloppy joe filling inside two slices of white bread and place it in your pie iron. Warm over the fire until the bread is toasted and the filling is piping hot. Sloppy joes, pudgy-pie style!

Steak, vegetables, and melted cheese inside grilled bread. — Photo credit: Homemade Heather

Camp Cooker Philly Cheesesteak

These pie iron Philly cheesesteaks are great for making ahead of time! Cook the steak and veggie filling at home, then pack in an airtight container in the cooler. When it’s about time to eat, build your campfire and fill your pie iron with buttery bread, the cooked steak and veggies, and a slice of provolone cheese. Cook until golden, melty, and perfect!

A camp cooker sandwich stuffed with pot pie filling. — Photo credit: Refresh Camping

Pie Iron Chicken Pot Pies

Bring the comfort food to your campsite with chicken pot pie cooked right in the pie iron! This is an easy one that starts with a refrigerated pie crust, which gets stuffed with cooked chicken, a dollop of cream of chicken soup, mixed veggies, and seasonings. Pot pie is even better when it’s handheld, after all!

Pie Iron Monte Cristo

Based on: https://shewearsmanyhats.com/monte-cristo/

Slices of bread are dunked into a beaten egg batter, then stuffed with ham, cheese, mustard, and mayo. Place in the pie iron and cook until golden brown and piping hot.

Toasted bread with apples on a wooden surface. — Photo credit: Taste of Home

Apple Cinnamon Pudgy Pie

The simplest apple pie you’ll ever make! This pudgy pie recipe might be super easy, but it’s still absolutely delicious, with thinly sliced apples plus cinnamon and sugar layered in between two slices of buttered bread. Cook it in the pie iron and open up to pure apple pie bliss!

Jalapeno Popper Pudgy Pie

Get spicy with this popular appetizer turned pie iron recipe! With cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos, crispy bacon, and cheddar and jack cheeses, this savory pudgy pie brings the heat.

Browned hash browns. — Photo credit: Dirty Gourmet

Stuffed Hash Browns

What’s better than hash browns? Hash Browns stuffed with tomato slices, avocado, and cheddar! These crispy stuffed hash browns come together quickly in your pie iron for an easy breakfast recipe that’s fun to make.

Turkey and Spinach Artichoke Pudgy Pie

Repurpose spinach artichoke dip into an excellent savory pudgy pie sandwich with this pie iron sandwich recipe! Spread dip on bread and add deli-sliced turkey, cheese, tomato slices or sun-dried tomatoes, and baby greens for a drool-worthy campfire sandwich.

Pie Iron Cornbread

When you’re craving cornbread, this pie iron cornbread should fit the bill just fine! It’s so easy to make, too. Simply pour cornbread mix into your pie iron and fill it with pulled pork, green chiles, and pepper jack cheese.

Pie Iron Carnitas Quesadillas

Leftover carnitas and cheese layered inside flour tortillas and grilled until golden and delicious. So good! Serve them up with fresh cilantro and a scoop of guacamole.

Bread stuffed with fajita ingredients. — Photo credit: Homemade Heather

Camp Cooker Fajitas

Tortillas are stuffed with tender strips of steak, bell peppers, onion and Tex-Mex cheese, then folded and cooked in the pie iron until warmed through. Pass with sour cream and salsa for a delicious savory pudgy pie recipe!

Pie Iron Pita Grilled Cheese

Delicious pita bread stuffed with feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and pesto, then placed in the pie iron and warmed until perfect. Inspired by this pita grilled cheese, this pie iron sandwich would be a perfect camping lunch.