Last Updated: May 4, 2021
Best Dutch Oven Recipes For Camping
Not sure what to cook on your next camping trip? If you have a Dutch oven, you can make any one of these 25 recipes! They’re all delicious, easy to make, and perfect for Dutch ovens!
I’ve included both savory and sweet recipes, so there’s everything from breakfast to lava cake. Read on to see our favorite Dutch oven camping recipes, and start preparing for your next camping trip!
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Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast
Mountain Man Breakfast is a favorite among frequent campers. It’s easy to make in a Dutch oven and it’s quite filling. The best recipe we found is simple and only takes about half an hour to make, but feel free to put your own twist on this classic breakfast of campers.
Dutch Oven Pizza
There’s never a bad time or place for pizza! You can easily make one in a Dutch oven, but it will take a bit longer for it to cook. You will need some parchment paper though, so that the dough doesn’t stick to the pot. You can check out the recipe here, but you can just make your favorite pizza.
Dutch Oven Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a great dish for camping. The main ingredients are rice and meat, and you can add any vegetables you want – here’s a recipe popular for camping. This is great dish for camping because it’s versatile, easy to make, and full of flavor. You’ll want to sear the meat first and then add all the veggies, rice, some water, and let it cook for a while. Check on the Jambalaya from time to time to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.
Dutch Oven Lasagna
If you don’t mind going the extra mile, you can easily make lasagna in a Dutch oven. You’ll need to prepare a few things at home, but it’s worth it for a delicious meal like lasagna. You can make any type of lasagna you want – including vegetarian – but here’s our favorite Dutch oven recipe for camping.
Dutch Oven Goulash
If you want to make something filling that can feed a large group of people, you can’t go wrong with a classic goulash. Follow this recipe to make a delicious meal with sausage, macaroni, and veggies – not a traditional goulash, but a delicious one nonetheless!
Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler
What’s a camping trip without dessert? You can make a delicious apple cobbler in a Dutch oven, and it takes less than an hour. Check out our favorite recipe here, but keep in mind that you can make this with any fruit you want, in case you’re not a big fan of apples.
Dutch Oven Garlic Bread
Who can resist garlic bread? It’s absolutely delicious, and it’s very easy to make it in a Dutch oven. Just slice into the bread, add all those tasty toppings and spices, and leave it in the Dutch oven long enough for all the flavors to combine. Here’s a recipe for awesome pull-apart garlic bread, which is perfect for camping trips!
Dutch Oven Banana Bread
Banana Bread is an easy bread to make and it turns out great in a Dutch oven. Pre-mix the dry ingredients at home, combine them with the wet ingredients at the campsite, and fire up the oven! Cook it for about 30 minutes, let it rest for some 10 extra minutes, and it’s ready for serving. Here’s an easy recipe for Dutch oven banana bread.
Dutch Oven Nachos
Nachos are a great dish for camping and it’s super easy to make them in a Dutch oven. Cut up the corn tortillas at home, pack a lot of different cheeses and all the other toppings you like in your nachos. Our favorite recipe features beans and avocado, but you can add whatever you want!
Dutch Oven Quiche
Quiche is another great dish to make in a Dutch oven. You can reduce prep time if you cut up all the veggies at home, and then you just need to assemble it and let it cook at the campsite. You can make any type of quiche you want – chicken, vegetarian, cheesy, etc. – but here’s one recipe we loved, if you need ideas.
Dutch Oven Roasted Chicken
You can roast a whole chicken in your Dutch oven, and it will taste better than you can imagine! Line the bottom with some potatoes (or whatever veggies you want), place the seasoned chicken on top, and let it roast for a couple of hours. Follow this recipe to make delicious roasted chicken with baby potatoes.
Dutch Oven Spaghetti
One-pot spaghetti is one of those amazing dishes that is done quickly and easily but tastes like you put hours of work into it. This is our favorite recipe, but you can go with any one-pot spaghetti recipe you like. Cook the sauce first, add the veggies, and finally, add the dried spaghetti. Make sure they’re entirely covered with the sauce so they can cook properly.
Dutch Oven Chili
The Dutch Oven Chili is one of those easy recipes that require minimal effort from you. Just throw the ingredients in the Dutch oven, and let it cook for a while. And you can make it in a lot of different ways, with any ingredients you like – the only staple is beans! The recipe we love has meat, but you can skip it if you want vegetarian chili!
Dutch Oven Pot Roast
Why not make something classic like a pot roast? It’s a dish you can’t go wrong with, and it’s super easy to make in a Dutch oven. Sear the meat, add the broth, and let it cook for about an hour before you add the veggies. This recipe uses chuck roast, but you can go with any cut of meat you prefer.
Dutch Oven Chicken Curry
If you like curry, you’ll be glad to know you can easily make it in a Dutch oven. It’s one of those recipes that’s easy to make and really hard to mess up, which makes it perfect for camping. The only caveat is that you’ll have to cook the rice separately, so you should pack an extra pot for that. Here’s a recipe for chicken curry, but you can switch it up if you want.
Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls
If you actually enjoy cooking outdoors, this recipe is for you. Dutch oven cinnamon rolls are absolutely delicious, but they’re quite tricky to make. Rolling the dough outside is a challenge, so I would only recommend it to people who have already made cinnamon rolls at least once before. It’s worth the effort though, especially if you have a sweet tooth!
Dutch Oven Paella
If you’re craving a Spanish dish, paella is the best thing you can make in a Dutch oven! Use whatever recipe you want (we like this one), just make sure to sear all the meats first before you start cooking the veggies and adding the water and rice. Paella is awesome for camping because it’s so tasty and easy to make, plus it’s very hard to mess it up!
Dutch Oven Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes are a comfort meal that’s easy and quick to make, especially when camping. Put all the ingredients in the Dutch oven, let it cook until it’s done, and then just scoop the meat onto the buns. Here’s a recipe we really liked, but feel free to adapt it however you want.
Dutch Oven Stew
Stew is a classic camping dish that you can make in some 30 minutes, and it works on an open fire and with burning coal. Our favorite recipe features only four ingredients, but you can use whatever veggies you have handy. If you cut up the vegetables at home, you will drastically reduce prep time at the campsite.
Dutch Oven Mac And Cheese
Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? You can make it in a Dutch oven in about 20 minutes, and you only need a few ingredients! The heat from the pot helps steam the pasta instead of boiling it, so you don’t have to worry about straining the macaroni – the little water that’s leftover helps make the sauce creamier and cheesier!
Dutch Oven (No-Knead) Bread
There’s nothing quite like crispy bread fresh out of the oven. This recipe for Dutch oven bread uses only four ingredients – flour, yeast, salt, and water – and requires no kneading, so it’s great for camping. Make the dough the day before and let it rise overnight for the best result!
Dutch Oven Chicken Marbella
Chicken Marbella is the perfect dish to make if you enjoy sweet and savory combinations. The classic recipe combines chicken, prunes, and olives to create a unique but compelling flavor. Sear the meat first to get that crispy chicken skin, add all the other ingredients, and just let it cook for about half an hour.
Dutch Oven Chicken BBQ & Potatoes
Chicken and potatoes are a simple dish that is as easy to make at a campsite as it is at home. It’s familiar, comforting, and delicious, especially when you add some bacon and barbecue sauce to the pot as our favorite recipe does!
Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie is a simple but delicious meal that is quick and easy to make even at a campsite. This recipe uses canned biscuits for the crust for ultimate convenience, but if you have the extra time you can easily make them from scratch.
Dutch Oven Cherry Chocolate Lava Cake
Here’s another dessert that’s easy to make in a Dutch oven. This recipe uses only four ingredients, for a delicious cherry chocolate cake that everyone will love. You’ll need cherry pie filling, chocolate cake mix, lemon-lime soda, a bag of chocolate chips, and some parchment paper to make sure your lava cake doesn’t stick to the pot.
Tips For Cooking In A Dutch Oven
I will give you a few quick tips for cooking in a Dutch oven, but you shouldn’t rely only on them. Here’s a very detailed guide to cooking in these pots at campsites, and I highly recommend you check it out, especially if it’s your first time cooking in a Dutch oven outdoors.
Cooking The Food Evenly
For the food to cook evenly, you’ll need to make sure that the heat is distributed around the entire Dutch oven. That’s why it’s better to use coal instead of an open fire. To really get that oven effect, you will need to place coal on the top lid as well. Most recipes tell you exactly how many coals you need to place on your pot, but that does depend on the size of the Dutch oven.
If you’re cooking over an open fire, you might want to stick to stews, soups, and similar recipes that are usually made on the stovetop.
Handling The Pot
You will need metal prongs and heat-resistant gloves for safe cooking. The prongs are to handle the hot burning coal and the gloves are for your benefit. The Dutch oven will get very hot, and classic oven mitts are just not heat-resistant enough to protect you from that heat. A good pair of grill gloves should do the trick.
Cleaning The Dutch Oven
Dutch ovens are usually made from cast iron, and just like all other cast iron pans, the longer you cook in them the better they get. They soak up flavor and seasoning to give each dish that special kick. You should never use soap to clean the Dutch oven – instead, just wash it with water. If there are pieces of food stuck to the pot, try boiling water in it.
Get A Chimney Starter
Forget about lighter fluid – it’s an unnecessary fire hazard that is just more trouble than it’s worth. A chimney starter is safer and easier, plus you can get a collapsible option that is absolutely perfect for camping trips.
Pack A Camping Tripod
Get a camping tripod and you will be able to adjust the height of your Dutch oven. This is great for recipes that require simmering on lower heat, and it’s just perfect for cooking over open campfires.
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
