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

Home Camping

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.

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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

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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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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

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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

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 fire? ›

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.

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How many charcoal briquettes to use for 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.

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How many briquettes for 350? ›

Achieve a cooking temperature of 350°F

For an 8-inch oven, place 11 briquettes on the lid and 5 underneath the oven. For a 14-inch oven, place 21 briquettes on the lid and 11 underneath the oven. For a 16-inch oven, place 26 briquettes on the lid and 13 underneath the oven.

Is a Dutch oven worth it for camping? ›

Keep reading for our full product review. Dutch ovens, like the Camp Chef Classic Dutch Oven, have been used for wilderness cooking for ages and are a wonderful way to cook nourishing food in the great outdoors. They retain heat and enhance the transfer of heat through the food.

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Can you bake in a Dutch oven over a campfire? ›

So, you will want to have more coals on top of the lid than you will have underneath your Dutch oven. 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.

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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.

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What is the best briquettes for a dutch oven? ›

I prefer using charcoal briquettes in many camp cooking settings when I cook in cast iron, simply for ease of use. Charcoal briquettes are excellent for aspiring outdoor chefs and a great option for those “light it and forget it” dutch oven dinners.

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How to make the best briquettes? ›

Organic material must be mixed into the paper to make briquettes. You can use saw dust, pine needles, rice husks, or chopped leaves and grass. Mix one part soaked paper with three parts of your organic material. Most organic material will already be fine enough that it should not require shredding.

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What is the mix ratio for briquettes? ›

Mix charcoal fines with the red clay soil binder at a ratio of 10:1. Add water to the mixture to make a heavy paste which is easy to mould. Compress the mixture either by hand or by use of a briquette making machine. Note: If the briquette moulds break easily upon squeezing, some water should be added.

How many briquettes for a 12 inch dutch oven? ›

The normal formula for Baking is to use twice the number of briquettes as the diameter of the oven with 3/4 of them on the lid. For a 12 inch oven, you would use 24 briquettes with 18 on top and 6 underneath.

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How many charcoal briquettes to use 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. If you spread lit coals in a thin layer, your temperature will be lower, and the heat will dissipate faster.

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How do you clean a Dutch oven after camping? ›

Scrape out all of the food and wash your Camp Dutch Oven by hand with hot water. You can use a small amount of mild detergent. Dry your Camp Dutch Oven and lid thoroughly with paper or cloth towels. While the cookware is warm, rub a very light layer of cooking oil or our seasoning spray onto the surface.

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Can you use enameled Dutch oven over fire? ›

Enameled cast–iron has a smooth, non-porous surface and can go from the stovetop, to the oven straight to the table. They should not be subjected to extremely high temperatures, so avoid using your enameled cast-iron dutch oven on a grill or in a campfire.

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Why did my Dutch oven catch on fire? ›

There should always be someone monitoring any fire. If steam is forcing its way out around the lid, the oven is too hot or you have a poorly-seated lid. Re-seat the lid and remove some coals if that doesn't fix it. If the lid is a problem, you'll probably have burned or dried out food.