Champagne Tastes®

  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipe Index
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Camping Recipes

    Camp Cooking with a Dutch Oven

    Published: Aug 20, 2022 · Modified: Mar 5, 2024 · Leave a Comment

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    A Dutch oven is perfect for camp cooking when you're enjoying the great outdoors but still want a warm meal! This guide offers recipe ideas and tips for best use.

    cast-iron dutch oven on campfire grate with graphic overlay reading "camp cooking with a dutch oven".

    On my first camping trip a few years ago, I felt like I'd entered a whole new world of vacations.

    It was all unfamiliar, but I was ready to give it a try. And the rest is history!

    We've been having outdoor adventures ever since. Like hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Backpacking in Yosemite. Conquering a scary rung and ladder trail at Acadia. And seeing the sun rise at Delicate Arch.

    But at the time, on that first trip, my main worry was the food.

    Well-fed travelers are happy travelers. At least, that's always been my experience. And I wanted it to be no different on the trail.

    Over the course of multiple trips, I started to hone my list of must-haves for being a happy glamper.

    Top of my list? A Dutch oven.

    This handy pot is ideal for campfire cooking. Its heavy weight ensures consistent temperature, making it easy to turn out great meals.

    Dutch oven on campfire grate.

    Here are some tips on what to buy, as well as some of my all-time favorite recipes for camp cooking with a Dutch oven!

    Camp Cooking with a Dutch Oven: The Gear

    You may have a type of Dutch oven pot in your kitchen at home, but campfire cooking requires some specific features.

    Cook the Stew Covered
    Covered Dutch Oven Cooking on Hot Coals

    First, the Dutch oven needs to be cast-iron.

    Second, it needs to be non-enameled (no point in getting your pretty, shiny pot messed up!).

    And, third, it's really helpful if you can actually buy a campfire Dutch oven, which has little feet to raise it slightly off the coals. It will also have a flat lid, so that if you want to bake something you can pile hot coals on top.

    Bake Enchiladas on Hot Coals.
    Baking in a Dutch Oven

    If you'll be using the lid, this Lodge lid lifter can help you keep a safe distance from the heat.

    Using a Lid Lifter with a Campfire Dutch Oven

    Long-handled cooking utensils are also a good idea, as are leather heat-resistant gloves.

    Most campsites will have a grate for cooking, but occasionally you might need your own portable campfire grate.

    Want more ideas for what to bring? Read up on my favorite camping kitchen gear.

    Dutch oven with lid on campfire coals.

    Before you head out, you'll need to decide if you want to bring a cooler or not.

    Having a way to refrigerate cheese and meat adds to the variety of your menu, but you can also manage just fine on canned and shelf-stable ingredients.

    Want to see only recipes meant for camping without a cooler? See my post on that topic!

    Let's get into some recipes for camp cooking with a Dutch oven.

    Chili, Soup + Stew

    Soups and stews are a great option because they're a one-pot meal.

    Campfire Fish Lentil Stew
    This easy campfire fish lentil stew is made with white fish (such as cod) and poached in red lentils, spinach and spices. Cook it in a Dutch oven over a fire!
    Make It
    campfire fish lentil stew in a bowl
    Campfire Bean Chili
    This spicy vegan campfire chili is made with beans, peppers, tomatoes, and a beer broth. It’s an easy cold-weather stew that’s perfect for camping!
    Make It
    Campfire chili in a dutch oven
    Beer Chili
    This spicy vegan beer chili is made with beans, peppers, tomatoes, and (of course) beer. It's an easy cold-weather stew that's perfect over a campfire!
    Make It
    vegan beer chili in a serving dish
    Campfire Red Lentil Stew
    This easy campfire red lentil stew is a hearty vegan meal that's perfect for camping. This twist on Indian dal is made in a cast iron Dutch oven over a campfire.
    Make It
    This easy vegan CAMPING Palak Dal (Red Lentils with Spinach) is cooked in a Dutch oven right on the campfire!
    Venison Chili with Beer
    This venison chili is made with ground deer meat, peppers, tomatoes, beans and beer. Make it in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or stovetop, or over a campfire!
    Make It
    venison chili in bowls.
    Campfire Taco Soup
    This campfire taco soup features seasoned onions, peppers, tomatoes and beans and your choice of toppings for a hearty outdoor meal!
    Make It
    Bowl of campfire taco soup with fresh tomatoes, avocados, cheese and chips on top.

    Baking + Boiling

    This second set of recipes is a mix of pasta, casseroles, and fish-and-veggie entrées. Oh – and pizza!

    A couple of these recipes work with either a Dutch oven or a cast-iron skillet! (In fact, you probably need both for the fajitas.)

    Campfire Pesto Pasta
    This pesto penne is an easy camping pasta recipe cooked on a campfire or camp stove! It's a one-pot Dutch oven meal made with tomatoes, artichoke hearts and (optionally) smoked salmon.
    Make It
    Camping Pasta recipe in a Dutch oven.
    Campfire Pasta Marinara
    This campfire pasta marinara is a one-pot Dutch oven camping meal made with veggies, sauce, broth, and short-grain pasta.
    Make It
    Campfire pasta marinara in bowl.
    Campfire Shrimp Boil
    This campfire shrimp boil features mussels, shrimp, corn, and potatoes cooked with beer in a Dutch oven! It’s a fancy outdoor meal ready in less than 30 minutes.
    Make It
    Mussel, shrimp, corn, and potato mixture cooked in Dutch oven.
    Campfire Salmon Couscous Bake
    This campfire salmon couscous bake uses fresh tomatoes, green beans, and lemon slices. Cook it in a Dutch oven over hot coals for a 20-minute meal!
    Make It
    Campfire salmon couscous bake.
    Campfire Pasta with Vodka Cream Sauce
    This Dutch oven pasta with vodka cream sauce is easy to cook on a campfire or camp stove! It's a one-pot meal made with veggies, marinara, and cheese.
    Make It
    Campfire pasta with vodka cream sauce in a bowl.
    Campfire Enchiladas
    These campfire enchiladas are made in a cast iron Dutch oven and filled with veggies, beans and (optionally) canned crab. Perfect for camping!
    Make It
    Campfire Enchiladas after baking.
    Campfire Fajitas
    These vegetarian campfire fajitas are an easy camping dinner made with seasoned onions and peppers, black beans and warm tortillas.
    Make It
    Campfire Fajitas on a plate.
    Campfire Lasagna (Vegetarian)
    This vegetarian spinach campfire lasagna is cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven, and is perfect for camping meals and cookouts.
    Make It
    Campfire Lasagna in a Dutch Oven After Baking
    Campfire Pizza with Veggies
    This easy Campfire Pizza with Veggies is cooked in a cast iron pan over a fire, and is an easy and delicious vegetarian pizza that's perfect for camping, cookouts, and bonfires. 
    Make It
    Cook until the cheese melts + the veggies soften

    I've gotten a lot of inspiration from The New Camp Cookbook. It's by Linda Ly, creator of Garden Betty, and I highly recommend it if you want to dig deeper into camping recipes.

    Got some of your own favorite recipes and ideas for Dutch oven camp cooking? Let me know in the comments below!

    More Camping Recipes

    • Pan-seared campfire fish fillets on plate with salad.
      Campfire Pan-Seared Fish
    • Two cups of mulled apple cider.
      Mulled Cider (Small Batch)
    • Two campfire hot dogs and sauerkraut inside brioche buns topped with swirls of mustard.
      Campfire Hot Dogs and Sauerkraut
    • Campfire chili in Dutch oven sitting on picnic table.
      Campfire Chili with Beer

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • langostino lobster rolls on a serving tray.
      Langostino Lobster Rolls
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2025 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.