12 Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes Camping for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Camping brings people closer to nature. Cooking outdoors adds joy to the experience. A cast iron Dutch oven makes this easy. This tool cooks food well over a campfire.

Outdoor enthusiasts love its versatility. This blog post shares 12 recipes for a cast iron Dutch oven. Each recipe suits camping trips. Readers find clear ingredients and simple steps.

The recipes mix flavor with practicality. Campers can enjoy tasty meals without hassle. Fire up the coals and try these dishes. Every bite enhances the adventure.

1. Campfire Chili

About:
Campfire chili warms the body after a long day outdoors. Ground beef mixes with beans and spices. The Dutch oven locks in heat and flavor. This dish feeds a group easily. Campers enjoy its rich taste. Prep stays simple with canned goods. The recipe suits cold nights. Everyone gathers around the fire for seconds.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans (15 oz)
• 1 can black beans (15 oz)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup water

Steps:

1. Place Dutch oven over campfire coals.
2. Add ground beef. Cook until brown. Stir often.
3. Toss in chopped onion. Cook 5 minutes.
4. Pour in kidney beans, black beans, and tomatoes.
5. Sprinkle chili powder, salt, and pepper.
6. Add water. Stir everything together.
7. Cover with lid. Let simmer 30 minutes.
8. Check coals. Add more if heat drops.
9. Serve hot in bowls.

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2. Dutch Oven Cornbread

About:
Dutch oven cornbread pairs with any camping meal. Cornmeal creates a golden crust. The cast iron cooks it evenly. This recipe needs few ingredients. Campers love its warm texture. Butter adds extra flavor. It bakes fast over coals. Share it fresh from the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Mix cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
3. Add milk and egg. Stir until smooth.
4. Melt butter in Dutch oven.
5. Pour batter into hot oven.
6. Cover with lid. Place coals on top.
7. Bake 20 minutes. Check for golden top.
8. Remove from heat. Cut and serve.

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3. Chicken and Veggie Stew

About:
Chicken and veggie stew fills hungry campers. Chicken thighs cook tender in the Dutch oven. Carrots and potatoes add bulk. Herbs bring out flavor. This one-pot meal saves time. The fire does the work. Everyone gets a hearty portion.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Steps:

1. Set Dutch oven on campfire coals.
2. Add chicken thighs. Brown both sides.
3. Toss in carrots, potatoes, and onion.
4. Pour chicken broth over everything.
5. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and thyme.
6. Stir once. Cover with lid.
7. Cook 45 minutes. Check chicken for doneness.
8. Serve warm in bowls.

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4. Breakfast Hash

About:
Breakfast hash starts the day right. Potatoes crisp up in the Dutch oven. Sausage adds protein. Eggs cook on top. This dish fuels morning hikes. Campers enjoy its bold taste. Cleanup stays easy with one pot.

Ingredients:

• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 pound sausage
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons oil

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Pour in oil. Add potatoes.
3. Cook potatoes 10 minutes. Stir often.
4. Add sausage and onion. Cook until browned.
5. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
6. Crack eggs over mixture.
7. Cover with lid. Cook 5 minutes.
8. Serve hot from oven.

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5. Dutch Oven Pizza

About:
Dutch oven pizza surprises campers with fresh taste. Dough bakes over coals. Cheese melts perfectly. Pepperoni adds kick. This recipe brings fun to the fire. Kids and adults love it. Make it your own with toppings.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pizza dough
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
• 1 tablespoon oil

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Spread oil inside oven.
3. Press dough into bottom.
4. Spoon sauce over dough.
5. Sprinkle cheese and add pepperoni.
6. Cover with lid. Place coals on top.
7. Bake 20 minutes. Check crust.
8. Slice and serve warm.

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6. Beef and Potato Casserole

About:
Beef and potato casserole feeds a crowd. Ground beef pairs with sliced potatoes. Cheese melts on top. The Dutch oven keeps it hot. This dish comforts tired campers. Prep stays quick and easy.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 4 potatoes, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup beef broth

Steps:

1. Place Dutch oven over coals.
2. Cook ground beef until brown.
3. Add onion. Cook 5 minutes.
4. Layer potatoes over beef.
5. Pour broth in. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
6. Cover with lid. Cook 30 minutes.
7. Add cheese on top. Cook 5 more minutes.
8. Serve hot.

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7. Peach Cobbler

About:
Peach cobbler ends meals sweetly. Canned peaches work well at camp. Batter bakes golden in the Dutch oven. Cinnamon adds warmth. Campers scoop it up fast. This dessert feels like home.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans peaches (15 oz each)
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Melt butter inside oven.
3. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl.
4. Add milk. Stir until smooth.
5. Pour batter into oven.
6. Add peaches with juice.
7. Cover with lid. Place coals on top.
8. Bake 30 minutes. Serve warm.

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8. Sausage and Bean Soup

About:
Sausage and bean soup warms chilly nights. Smoked sausage blends with beans. Broth simmers in the Dutch oven. This recipe fills bellies fast. Campers enjoy its smoky taste. One pot means less cleanup.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 can white beans (15 oz)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

1. Set Dutch oven over coals.
2. Add sausage. Cook 5 minutes.
3. Toss in onion. Cook until soft.
4. Pour in beans and broth.
5. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
6. Stir well. Cover with lid.
7. Simmer 25 minutes.
8. Serve hot in bowls.

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9. Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese

About:
Dutch oven mac and cheese pleases everyone. Pasta cooks soft. Cheese melts creamy. The cast iron holds heat well. This dish comforts campers. Kids ask for more. It’s simple to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups elbow pasta
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Boil water in oven. Add pasta.
3. Cook pasta 10 minutes. Drain water.
4. Add butter, milk, and cheese.
5. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
6. Stir until cheese melts.
7. Cover with lid. Cook 5 minutes.
8. Serve warm.

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10. Apple Crisp

About:
Apple crisp brings fall flavor to camp. Apples soften in the Dutch oven. Oats crunch on top. Cinnamon adds spice. This dessert satisfies sweet cravings. Campers love its warm texture.

Ingredients:

• 4 apples, sliced
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Place apples inside oven.
3. Mix oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
4. Cut butter into mixture.
5. Sprinkle over apples.
6. Cover with lid. Place coals on top.
7. Bake 30 minutes.
8. Serve hot.

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11. Pork and Rice Skillet

About:
Pork and rice skillet fills campers up. Pork chops cook juicy. Rice soaks up flavor. The Dutch oven simplifies it. This meal saves time. Everyone enjoys its hearty taste.

Ingredients:

• 4 pork chops
• 1 cup rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Pour in oil. Add pork chops.
3. Brown chops 5 minutes each side.
4. Add onion. Cook 5 minutes.
5. Stir in rice, broth, salt, and pepper.
6. Cover with lid. Cook 20 minutes.
7. Check rice. Add water if dry.
8. Serve hot.

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12. Biscuits and Gravy

About:
Biscuits and gravy kick off mornings. Biscuits bake fluffy in the Dutch oven. Sausage gravy simmers thick. This combo fuels campers. It’s a classic made easy outdoors.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 pound sausage
• 2 cups milk (for gravy)
• 2 tablespoons flour (for gravy)

Steps:

1. Heat Dutch oven over coals.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Add 1/2 cup milk. Stir into dough.
4. Shape dough into biscuits. Place in oven.
5. Cover with lid. Bake 15 minutes.
6. Cook sausage in oven. Break it up.
7. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour and 2 cups milk.
8. Simmer gravy 5 minutes. Pour over biscuits.