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 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.

    Can you use a Dutch oven over a fire pit? ›

    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. If you need it hotter, you'll need to use more briquettes or adjust your cooking time.

    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 briquettes 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.

    What food to take camping for 3 days? ›

    Example 3-day menu plan using these recipes
    DayBreakfastDinner
    1Peanut butter oatmealHot dogs or veggie dogs
    2Breakfast burrito in a bagCampfire nachos
    3Homemade granola with oat milkGrain bowl
    Sep 16, 2021

    What food to bring camping for 2 days? ›

    The Weekend Camping Grocery List
    • Fruit, such as apples, bananas, oranges, nectarines, grapes.
    • Vegetables for snacking, such as carrots, cucumbers, peas, celery, bell peppers.
    • Bagged salad mix.
    • Lettuce or spinach.
    • Potatoes.
    • Onions.
    • Corn on the cob or other seasonal vegetables.
    Aug 26, 2022

    How do you cook in a Dutch oven over an open fire? ›

    If you need to sear or sautee, place your Dutch oven on a squat little pile of coals and let it heat up. This direct heat is too hot for low-and-slow braising, but it works well for browning meat or turning onions translucent. Once you're done with this step, though, you'll want to chill things out a bit.

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

    But when you add coals to the top of a Dutch oven, you're introducing heat from the top and bottom. It reduces cook time, and keeps the bottom of the dish from getting burned. It also helps bread products brown more evenly.

    Can you use enamel Dutch oven over a 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.

    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 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.

    Can I use Le Creuset on open fire? ›

    A first for Le Creuset, the Alpine Outdoor Collection is an invitation to bring our sophistication and quality outdoors. Specifically designed for cooking over an open flame, the collection enhances the open-air cooking experience with exceptional performance and thoughtful details.

    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.

    Can you use a Dutch oven on top of a wood burning stove? ›

    Baking on a Woodstove

    I do this by placing a cast iron dutch oven upsidedown on the surface of the woodstove.

    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.

    Can I cook anything in my Dutch oven? ›

    Definitely. You can do just about anything in a dutch oven, from a roast chicken to soups to baked beans to desserts. One thing it's good for is baking bread in your home oven.

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