Camping trips are a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy nature. One of the best ways to make your camping trip even more enjoyable is by cooking delicious meals over an open fire. Dutch ovens are a versatile and essential tool for cooking while camping. They are perfect for cooking stews, casseroles, chili, and even desserts. Here are some of the best dutch oven recipes for camping that will satisfy your hunger and make your camping trip even more memorable.

Introduction

Before we dive into the best Dutch oven recipes for camping, let’s take a moment to understand what a Dutch oven is and how it is used for camping. A Dutch oven is a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid that can be used on both stovetops and in ovens. When it comes to camping, Dutch ovens are great because they can be used directly over a campfire or with charcoal briquettes. Dutch ovens are perfect for camping because they distribute heat evenly, making them ideal for cooking hearty meals.

Dutch Oven Basics

Before we discuss the best Dutch oven recipes for camping, let’s go over some Dutch oven basics. First, it’s important to choose the right Dutch oven for your camping needs. Dutch ovens come in different sizes, and you want to make sure you choose one that is appropriate for the number of people you will be cooking for. A 10-inch Dutch oven is perfect for 2-3 people, while a 12-inch Dutch oven is ideal for 4-6 people.

Once you have chosen your Dutch oven, it’s important to season it properly. Seasoning your Dutch oven will help prevent food from sticking, and it will also prolong the life of your Dutch oven. To season your Dutch oven, preheat your oven to 350°F, rub a thin layer of vegetable oil all over the Dutch oven, and bake it in the oven for an hour. Repeat this process once a year or as needed.

Now that you know the basics of Dutch ovens let’s dive into some of the best Dutch oven recipes for camping.

Breakfast Recipes

A delicious breakfast is a great way to start the day while camping. Here are two of the best Dutch oven breakfast recipes that are sure to satisfy your hunger.

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 pound breakfast sausage
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups frozen hash browns
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until browned.
2. Add the onion, red and green bell peppers, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour over the sausage mixture.
4. Add the frozen hash browns and stir until combined.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top.
6. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and cook over medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are set.

Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

• 1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

1. Grease the Dutch oven with cooking spray.
2. Open the can of cinnamon rolls and place them in the Dutch oven.
3. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top of the cinnamon rolls.
4. Mix the melted butter and honey together in a small bowl and drizzle over the cinnamon rolls.
5. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and place over the campfire.
6. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the cinnamon rolls are golden brown and cooked through.

Lunch Recipes

After a morning of hiking and exploring, a hearty lunch is essential to keep your energy up. Here are two of the best Dutch oven lunch recipes that are perfect for camping.

Dutch Oven Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned.
2. Add the onion and red bell pepper and cook until the vegetables are tender.
3. Add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir until combined.
4. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and cook over medium heat for 30-40 minutes or until the chili is heated through.

Dutch Oven Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, and egg.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
4. Grease the Dutch oven with cooking spray and pour the batter into the Dutch oven.
5. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and place it over the campfire.
6. Cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and cooked through.

Dinner Recipes

Recipe for Dutch Oven Beef Stew

Beef stew is the perfect hearty meal for a chilly evening while camping. To make this delicious beef stew, you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 lbs. of beef stew meat
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 medium potatoes, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp. dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

To make the beef stew, start by heating up your Dutch oven over the campfire. Add the beef stew meat and cook until browned. Then, add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent. Next, add the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and let the stew simmer for about 2 hours. Add the chopped potatoes, carrots, and celery and cook for an additional hour or until the vegetables are tender. Serve hot and enjoy!

Recipe for Dutch Oven Lasagna

Who doesn’t love lasagna? This delicious Italian dish is perfect for camping, and it’s easy to make in a Dutch oven. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 jar of pasta sauce
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup of ricotta cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

To make the lasagna, start by browning the ground beef in your Dutch oven. Once the beef is cooked, add the pasta sauce, salt, and pepper. Add the lasagna noodles, breaking them as needed to fit into the Dutch oven. Make sure the noodles are covered in the sauce. Add the water and cover the Dutch oven with the lid. Let the lasagna cook for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, add the shredded mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese on top of the lasagna noodles. Cover the Dutch oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!

Dessert Recipes

Recipe for Dutch Oven Apple Crisp

No camping trip is complete without a delicious dessert, and apple crisp is the perfect dessert for camping. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 6 cups of sliced apples
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tsp. of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of butter, melted

To make the apple crisp, start by layering the sliced apples in the bottom of your Dutch oven. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Spread the mixture over the apples. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and bake over the campfire for about 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Serve hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Recipe for Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is another classic dessert that is perfect for camping. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 6 cups of sliced peaches
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp. of baking powder
• 1 tsp. of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup of butter, melted

To make the peach cobbler, start by layering the sliced peaches in the bottom of your Dutch oven. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, and melted butter. Pour the mixture over the peaches. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and bake over the campfire for about 45 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the peaches are tender. Serve hot with a dollop of whipped cream.