Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe: Vegetarian Lasagna

Name: Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe: Vegetarian Lasagna
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 people
Ingredients: 1 package no-boil lasagna noodles; 15 oz of full-fat ricotta cheese; 2 cups shredded mozzarella (fresh preferred), divided; 1 15oz can spinach, drained (reserve liquid); 1 28oz jar pasta sauce; 1 tsp salt; ~2 TB dried herbs (use Italian blend, or a mixture of dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary).; access to a campfire ring or campfire area; 1 small bag campfire coals; 1 cast iron dutch oven (not enameled); tongs (for moving coals); pot holders; mixing bowl; mixing spoon; measuring cup; knife (for cutting lasagna); can opener (if can isn't pop-top)

Original Post: July 27, 2016 Updated: August 24, 2018 By Sarah 23 Comments

This Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe is a Vegetarian Dutch Oven Lasagna! It’s cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven over a fire, and is perfect for camping, “glamping,” and campfire dinners at home!

Camping trips can leave you full of dilemmas– You’re starving, you’ve been hiking all day, and yet just as you want one of the biggest, most filling meals ever, you find yourself without electricity, refrigeration, or even an oven. What’s a hungry hiker to do?!?!

I’ll tell you what you’re going to do– you’re going to eat!!! With a little planning and preparation– you can find yourself chowing down on Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe! This Dutch oven lasagna is vegetarian, simple to prepare, and delicious.

It’s also a fantastic way to eat a few more carbs than normal, especially before or after a big hike. We devoured this tasty campfire lasagna the night before our hike into the Grand Canyon, and managed to eat the entire batch all by ourselves.

Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe: How to Use a Dutch Oven

Did you know that you can use a cast iron dutch oven as an actual oven? I didn’t. Not until the husband started talking about how his mom used to bake bread on their camping trips, using the same dutch oven she passed on to me. I was amazed.

Quick Tip: You’ll want to use a regular, non-enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

To use your dutch oven as an oven, and not just a soup pan, set the pot on campfire coals with the lid upside down, and then pile some coals on top. As I was scouring the internet for campfire cooking ideas, I found this lasagna recipe from Fresh Off the Grid. Their recipe looked delicious, used the same campfire dutch oven trick, and was pretty similar to the vegetarian spinach lasagna recipe I already use at home.

I knew, however, that I probably wouldn’t have much access to fresh ingredients while on my camping trip to the national parks.

Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe: Gathering Ingredients

You’ll need cheese for this recipe, which you can store in a cooler, or swing by a market after hiking to buy some. Everything else in this recipe is shelf-stable, and will be fine waiting on you in your car while you explore nature.

I’ve used no-boil noodles here instead of standard noodles, because I didn’t want to deal with boiling noodles while camping. If you have access to fresh pasta (I didn’t), or want to pre-boil your noodles– go for it. The no-boil noodles worked very well for me in this recipe, however, and they’re easier. Just remember to add the extra liquid after putting the lasagna layers together.

Making Vegetarian Campfire Lasagna in a Dutch Oven

To cook this Campfire Dutch Oven Recipe, start by getting a campfire ready using coals. Get them very hot. Using tongs, move a few coals aside (we used about 15).

Prepare your lasagna in the dutch oven, place the lid on UPSIDE DOWN, and then move it over to the fire. Set the dutch oven on the main batch of coals, and then use tongs to set the reserved coals on top.

Let your lasagna bake for about 25 minutes, and then carefully remove the lid. Let it cook uncovered a few more minutes, until the excess liquid has boiled down. Remove the lasagna from the heat, and let it cool down for a few minutes. Dig in, and enjoy your camping trip.

Need more help? Check out these Camping Recipes for a Happy Glamper for tips on making campground cooking easier and more recipe ideas!