20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire (2024)

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20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire (1)Lisa KaminskiUpdated: Jan. 30, 2024

    Camping out? Try these easy Dutch oven camping recipes. They're super satisfying and perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.

    20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire (2)GMVozd/iStock/Getty Images Plus

    Hot dogs, gorp and s’mores are great, but if you’re looking for stuff that’ll stick to your ribs, put these recipes on your camping meal plan and a Dutch oven on your camping checklist.

    All you need to make these recipes are some easy-to-tote ingredients and a roaring fire (and your camping Dutch oven, of course). Then get ready for compliments—these soups, stews and one-pot dinners for groups are bound to become everybody’s favorite camping meals. (Be sure to save room for campsite desserts!)

    1/22

    Ham and Lentil Soup

    This tasty Dutch oven soup recipe is a combination of two soup recipes I came across and adapted. It will keep your family filled up on a cool night of camping. —Andi Haug, Hendrum, Minnesota

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    2/22

    Quicker Chicken and Dumplings

    Ready in 30 minutes, this easy chicken and dumplings recipe takes advantage of convenience items and uses time-saving, drop-style dumplings. —Willie DeWaard, Coralville, Iowa

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    Still hungry? Try our favorite quick Dutch oven recipes.

    3/22

    Taste of Home

    Grilled Seasoned Bratwurst

    Cook these bratwurst in your Dutch oven first. Then you can quickly brown them on the grill. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    4/22

    One-Pot Spaghetti Dinner

    Mamma mia! What’s the secret to this one-pot spaghetti? A homemade jar sauce and a one-pot cooking method makes this an easy camping recipe. —Carol Benzel-Schmidt, Stanwood, Washington

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    6/22

    Homemade Cheesy Potato Soup

    It doesn’t take long to put bowls of this comforting cheesy potato soup recipe on the table. Convenience items, such as canned soup and processed cheese, simplify the prep and make it easy to cook at a campsite. —Tammy Condit, League City, Texas

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    7/22

    Easy Moroccan Chickpea Stew

    Before you leave for your camping trip, prep the veggies and make the spice blend. Then this hearty Moroccan chickpea stew is basically a dump Dutch oven dinner! —Heather Demeritte, Scottsdale, Arizona

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    8/22

    Sausage and Kale Soup

    This is my family’s absolute favorite soup, and I can have it on the table in less than 45 minutes. —Dawn Rohn, Riverton, Wyoming

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    9/22

    Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

    My whole family enjoys this sweet potato black bean chili, but my daughter especially loves it. I like to make it because it's so easy and very flavorful. —Joy Pendley, Ortonville, Michigan

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    For more meat-free meals, check out these vegetarian Dutch oven recipes.

    10/22

    Italian Beef and Shells

    A veggie and pasta combo makes a hearty entree that comes together easily. Pack a carton of wine, rather than a bottle, to make the ingredients even more camping friendly. —Mike Tchou, Pepper Pike, Ohio

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    11/22

    Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup

    This is my favorite soup recipe. It's quick to fix on a busy night and full of healthy, tasty ingredients. It originally called for spicy sausage links, but I've found that turkey sausage, or even ground turkey breast, is just as good. —Tracy Fasnacht, Irwin, Pennsylvania

    12/22

    Taste of Home

    Italian Sausage and Bean Soup

    Made in a Dutch oven, the surprising blend of sausage, beans and coleslaw warms your soul, making this the perfect camping comfort food. —Stacey Bennett, Locust Grove, Virginia

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    13/22

    Spiced-Up Healthy Soup

    This Dutch oven dinner has been a hit with family and friends. It’s spicy, low-fat and filled with good-for-you ingredients. —Diane Tayman, Dixon, Illinois

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    14/22

    Taste of Home

    Hearty Penne Beef

    This hearty penne beef recipe is comfort food at its finest! The best of everything is found here—it’s tasty, easy and a smart way to sneak in some spinach for extra nutrition. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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    15/22

    Italian Chicken Stew

    My husband enjoys preparing this satisfying stew because it’s so easy to make. With warm Italian bread, it’s a winner on a cooler day. —Jo Calizzi, Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

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    16/22

    Taste of Home

    Sloppy Joe Stew

    This old-fashioned stew has a slightly sweet taste from the addition of canned corn. Your camping neighbors will smell this simmering and come over to check it out! —Clair Long, Destrehan, Louisiana

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    17/22

    Cashew Rice Pilaf

    On a camping trip, this hearty Dutch oven dinner will be a nice change of pace from beef jerky and trail mix. —Tina Coburn, Tucson, Arizona

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    18/22

    Taste of Home

    Spicy Potato Soup

    This easy family recipe is a cinch to make at a campground. Feel free to increase the hot pepper sauce or add your favorite herbs if you want more kick. — Audrey Wall, Industry, Pennsylvania

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    19/22

    Friendship Soup Mix

    Pack a jar of soup fixin’s plus ground beef and a can of tomatoes, and you’ll have an easy and delicious camping dinner ready to go. —Wendy Taylor, Mason City, Iowa

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    20/22

    Pumpkin Chili

    This uniquely spiced chili is loaded with pantry ingredients, making it a terrific camping recipe. —Betty Butler, Greencastle, Indiana

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    21/22

    Green Pepper Casserole

    I always prepare this family favorite when peppers and onions are in season.—Ellen Lloyd, Greenfield, Wisconsin

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    22/22

    Taste of Home

    Venison Stew

    I had no choice but to learn to cook many years ago while my wife recuperated from surgery. But I found I really enjoyed trying different recipes and adapting them to my own taste—that's how my now-famous venison stew recipe came to be! —Gene Pitts, Wilsonville, Alabama

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    Originally Published: January 08, 2020

    20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire (24)

    Lisa Kaminski

    Lisa is a formerTaste of Home editor and passionate baker. During her tenure, she poured her love of all things sweet (and sometimes savory) into Bakeable, Taste of Home's baking club. Lisa also dedicated her career here to finding and testing the best ingredients, kitchen gear and home products for our Test Kitchen-Preferred program. At home, you'll find her working on embroidery and other crafts.

    20 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire (2024)

    FAQs

    What to cook in a Dutch oven over a campfire? ›

    Think: simmering soups, steaming rice, boiling water for pasta, etc. Sear, pan-fry, sautee: A camping Dutch oven is also a great stand-in for a cast-iron skillet. Anything that can be cooked in a cast-iron skillet can be done in a Dutch oven too, like searing steaks, browning chicken thighs, sauteing vegetables, etc.

    What is the difference between a Dutch oven and a camping Dutch oven? ›

    The indoor Dutch oven has no legs. You can easily use it on a stove top or in a standard household oven. Now look at the outdoor Dutch oven. It has legs that are designed to keep it just above coals, preventing direct contact with the heat and permitting oxygen to get to the coals.

    Can you put a Dutch oven over a fire? ›

    You can also use a Dutch oven as a heavy-duty, fire-resistant pot and place it over a campfire. Since it's made entirely from cast iron, there's nothing that can melt or warp. You can even use it on a camp stove like a regular pot, provided that legs fit through the grate.

    How do you cook in a Dutch oven in a fire pit? ›

    With a gloved hand and long tongs, arrange 12-15 hot briquettes on the lid of your filled dutch-oven. Use the tongs to make a circle between your three rocks in the fire pit and then place your dutch-oven with its feet resting on the larger rocks. This method seems to work to heat the dutch oven to about 350 F.

    Is a Dutch oven worth it for camping? ›

    The answer is simple – whatever is cooked in it tastes fantastic, and it cooks just about everything. The Dutch oven is also called a camp oven, outdoor oven, kitchen oven, and bean pot. The bean pot and kitchen oven are basically the same design, equipped with a rounded lid, flat bottom, and no legs.

    Why is a Dutch oven fart called a Dutch oven? ›

    Dutch oven is a slang term for farting in bed and pulling the covers over your partner's head, sealing in the stench of your gas. This gassy gag is named after an actual cooking device called a Dutch oven: a large metal pot that traps heat (and smells) under its lid.

    Why is a Dutch oven so special? ›

    What makes cast iron Dutch ovens unique is that they are made in one piece by pouring molten iron into a mold, usually made of sand. The technique was invented in China as early as 800 BCE, and by the 1600s, The Netherlands had developed a reputation in Europe for their cast-metal cookware.

    Is there anything you shouldn't cook in a Dutch oven? ›

    Be Mindful When Cooking Acidic Foods

    In an enamel-coated Dutch oven, prolonged cooking with acidic ingredients may discolor the interior coating but doesn't erode it.

    How many briquettes to use for a Dutch oven? ›

    Take your oven's diameter in inches and double it. This is the number of high-quality, standard-size charcoal briquettes you will need to heat your oven to 325 degrees every time. For a 10-inch oven, you need 20 briquettes. For a 12-incher, you need 24 briquettes, and so on.

    Why do you put coals on top of Dutch oven? ›

    Baking, Roasting

    More heat from top so bottom does not burn. Place 3/4 coals on top and 1/4 underneath. This provides a uniform heat to the contents.

    How to cook with cast iron over a campfire? ›

    Add large, single pieces of wood to the edges of the fire to prevent flair ups and hot spots in the main fire. Cast Iron cooking is my favorite style and works perfectly on an open fire pit. Whether the pan is placed on the grill, open fire, or stove top, cast iron gives any dish a delightful rustic flavor.

    Can I boil water in a Dutch oven? ›

    Simmer, boil, steam: On a basic level, a Dutch oven is just a heavy-duty pot with a lid. So any cooking method that can be performed in a typical pot, can be done in a Dutch oven as well. Think simmering soups, steaming rice, boiling water for pasta, etc.

    What is the difference between a camp oven and a Dutch oven? ›

    What is the difference between a "Dutch oven" and a "camp oven"? Both are cast iron “heavy pots” but have different design. A camp oven has three short legs to perch it over coals or charcoal briquettes, and it also has a flat lid with a rim around it to hold more coals or briquettes.

    What else can I cook in a Dutch oven? ›

    No matter the style or size, any Dutch oven will open up endless recipe opportunities. Create beautifully braised meat, pot roasts, hearty beef stew, healing chicken soup, or the creamiest mac and cheese. Use it like a slow cooker, a bread cloche, or a pot for frying.

    What foods can you roast over a campfire? ›

    Try mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, peppers, even mini red potatoes! Meat skewers. Chicken, bacon, pork, steak, shrimp, meatballs- you can roast anything! Just bring along a meat thermometer so you can make sure it's cooked thoroughly!

    What can you bake on a campfire? ›

    You can really bake a variety of baked goods over a campfire. Basically, anything that you can bake in your oven, you can do outside over your fire. That includes cakes, bread, cupcakes, or even more hearty dinner fare, like a quiche or chicken pot pie.

    References

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