I’ve always loved camping, and one of my favorite parts is the outdoor cooking experience. Food cooked over a campfire is something you just can’t replicate at home in your kitchen.
A lot of times, you will see what I call traditional camping food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, various salads (prepared before the trip) and an array of chips. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with traditional camping foods. I love a good burger cooked over an open flame.
However, I want to share some down-home hearty meals that can be made right at the campsite. These recipes will require a cast iron Dutch oven. But before we move onto the recipes, I’d like to discuss the amazing Dutch oven.
Dutch Ovens: A Quick Note
There are numerous Dutch ovens available but in my opinion, the Lodge brand of cast iron equipment is some of the best. Dutch ovens come in quart sizes and usually, a 4-quart or 6-quart Dutch oven is the way to go. If you’re camping trip consists of hiking trails to get to your site, I suggest choosing a smaller and lighter Dutch oven because they can get heavy.
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You can also opt for a Dutch oven that sits on a tripod. The tripod is great for things you don’t want to cook straight on coals. They’re ideal for both slow-cooked meals and reheating food that’s already been cooked. One of my favorite Lodge Dutch ovens has legs that are perfect for raising the Dutch oven slightly above the coals.
So without further ado, check out some of my favorite Dutch oven camping recipes to try on your next trip into the wilderness.
1. Cast Iron Dutch Oven Chili
I love this recipe so much! Warm chili on a cool night is extremely satisfying. You can use your personal favorite chili recipe and simply follow the cooking directions provided.
2. Cabela’s Dutch Oven Pizza
Who says you can’t have fresh homemade pizza on a camping trip? This is a quick and easy recipe that uses par-baked pizza dough. I like to make my own par-baked pizza dough the night before the camping trip.
3. 10-Minute Dutch Oven S’mores Cake
OMG! This is the traditional s’mores elevated to the next level. I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I have a feeling the angel food cake combined with the s’mores ingredients makes it super tasty. This 10-minute recipe serves eight people.
4. Breakfast Casserole
The idea of not having to stand over the hot grill or campfire to cook first thing in the morning sounds pretty nice.
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You can cook your sausage the night before and everything else just gets tossed in the oven and left to bake. Enjoy your morning coffee and the scenery while the hot coals do the rest of the work.
5. Cake And Berry Campfire Cobbler
Homemade dessert isn’t something you usually see cooking on the campfire. This cake cobbler is delicious and there’s room to substitute the berries for your fruit of choice.
6. Dutch Oven Salmon And Asparagus
This salmon and asparagus Dutch oven recipe is super healthy and filling. It takes few ingredients and only a little bit of work. Next time you’re out salmon fishing, remember this delicious recipe. There are really just five ingredients!
7. Stuffed French Toast
This is another quick and easy recipe that the whole family is sure to enjoy. It all goes into the Dutch oven and the rest is history. No standing and dipping bread into eggs. Just toss it all in!
8. Huckleberry Peach Cobbler
This cobbler recipe is amazing because the fruit combination is delicious. It’s a dessert I would eat for breakfast … don’t judge!
9. Campfire Popcorn
Before fancy Jiffy Pop popcorn tins, there was old school campfire popcorn. It is a fun and delicious snack. Not to mention, it’s cheap and easy to make. Add your favorite seasonings and enjoy!
10. Twice-Baked Potatoes
Easy, cheap, and delicious. Need I say more? There’s work involved wrapping the potatoes in foil and sticking them into the coal bed, but it’s worth it. Top your potatoes with cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and bacon bits, or keep it simple with a sliver of butter!
11. Campfire Dutch Oven Bread
This is a delicious bread recipe for home, and it tastes even better when it’s made right on your campfire.
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How many times can you say you’ve had fresh homemade bread cooked over a fire?
12. Baked Beans
I love that this recipe calls for dried beans. It makes the baked beans entirely homemade. That being said, you can use canned beans just as well. The combination of the pinto beans and great northern beans gives it a unique taste, but it still holds with traditional baked beans flavor!
13. Breakfast Pizza
Pizza for breakfast? Oh yeah! This breakfast pizza uses crescent rolls, sausage, eggs, cheese, and veggies. Consider this Dutch oven deliciousness! You can add the toppings of your choice but the meat and veggie combination sounds good to me.
14. Beer Braised Rabbit
I am in love with this recipe. Rabbit stew is another great meal on a cool night of camping or during a hunting trip. The ingredients are basic and there’s not a whole lot of work involved. This recipe is a little spicy due to the chili pepper, but it can always be adjusted to taste.
15. Campfire Nachos
This nachos recipe is vegetarian and delicious. You can add all of your favorite toppings, and there are tips included that tell you how to avoid soggy chips. If you’re not a vegetarian, add some of your favorite meat and enjoy!
16. Chicken And Vegetables
This recipe calls for boneless thigh meat because it’s juicier and more flavorful, but you can use any part of the chicken you prefer. It’s customizable, so feel free to add all of your favorite veggies.
17. Venison Pot Pie
Oh, my, my, my: Venison pot pie! This recipe is incredible and calls for a homemade pie crust. You can substitute a premade pie crust and it will still be delicious.
18. Vegetarian Chili And Cornbread
I know there’s already a chili recipe on this list but this chili is for all the veggie heads out there. I enjoy camping in September and October and this recipe makes a hearty warm meal. Cook it all in one pot and enjoy.
19. Dutch Oven Dutch Baby
A Dutch baby is also known as the German pancake. This light and fluffy dish is delicious. Some people top it with syrup or honey but this recipe has the right idea of using berries and powdered sugar. Set up to cook, relax, and then enjoy.
20. Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a dish you rarely ever see around the campfire. This recipe uses elbow noodles and is similar to a goulash.
Dutch oven cooking can be a little tricky if you’re not familiar with it, but all of these recipes include campfire cooking instructions. Once you get the hang of cooking over the fire with a Dutch oven, I’m pretty sure you’ll be hooked. The great thing about a Dutch oven is you can use it on your stove top, in the oven, and over the fire.
I hope you enjoy these recipes. Let us know in the comments below which ones are your favorites! Happy Camping!
One menu no one ever talks about is dutch oven liver and onions with mash potatoes and gravy a fresh irish soda bread