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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    5/22

    Taste of Home

    Beef Noodle Soup

    This delicious soup only takes minutes—but tastes as if it simmers all day! —Margery Bryan, Moses Lake, 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.

    Can a Dutch oven be used 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 bake in a Dutch oven over coals? ›

    When you're cooking with a camp dutch oven, charcoal placement is critical. For baking we recommend a 3:1 ratio of coals on the top and bottom of your cookware. You're punching your baked goods with heat from the top, while ensuring evenness underneath. When roasting in your CDO, use a ratio of 1:1.

    How many charcoal briquettes to use for a Dutch oven? ›

    In order to guesstimate how many charcoal briquettes you'll need, take the size on the lid and multiply it by two. For example, if you have a 12-inch dutch oven-12 x 2 = 24 (charcoal briquettes.) Seems easy, right? To get an even cook you'll need to place briquettes around both the top and bottom of your dutch oven.

    What to cook in cast iron over fire? ›

    Cast Iron Recipes
    1. BBQ Bacon Burger.
    2. Steak with Tennessee Onions.
    3. Birria Egg Rolls.
    4. Steak and Shrimp Alfredo.
    5. Stuffed Shrimp.
    6. The Best Chicken Leg Recipes.
    7. Steak Bites with Mashed Potatoes.
    8. Surf and Turf Hibachi.

    Can you put a Dutch oven on a gas flame? ›

    You can use a dutch oven on the stove to simmer, sear or braise recipes, whether you have a gas or electric stovetop.

    What happens if you scratch a Dutch oven? ›

    If you leave a few, very light surface scratches on your own Dutch oven (by stirring with a metal spoon or fork, for instance), then you can continue to use it as long as the scratches don't deepen or worsen. But when dealing with a secondhand Dutch oven, it's always better to play it safe.

    What is the easiest camping food? ›

    Dinner
    • Chicken and Veggie Shish Kabobs. These shish kabobs are an easy camping meal - just roast them over a fire or a grill and you're ready to go! ...
    • Shrimp and Summer Veggie Foil Packets. ...
    • Crockpot Chicken BBQ Sandwiches. ...
    • S'mores Brownies. ...
    • No-Bake Camping Cookies. ...
    • Dirt Pudding Cups.

    What is a Dutch oven trick? ›

    In that case, we recommend the infamous Dutch oven prank. For the uninitiated, a Dutch oven involves farting in bed, then quickly pulling up the sheets to trap your significant other with the smell. It's a decades-old trick that has surely ruined countless relationships, yet many dudes still dare to try it.

    How many coals for 300 degrees? ›

    For low heat, around 250°F to 350°F, you'll want a fourth full charcoal chimney or about 25 briquettes. Maximum temperature and length of the cook depends on how you spread out your coals.

    Can you bake anything in a Dutch oven? ›

    Try Dutch oven baking, from baking breads to making cheesy pasta casseroles. Dutch ovens are great for frying, braising, simmering and stewing, but did you know you can use them for baking? These heavy-duty pans have tight-fitting lids that trap steam inside, resulting in tender bread and juicy chicken.

    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.

    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!

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