10 Delicious Dutch Oven Dinner Recipes for Camping (2024)

Who said you couldn’t cook yummy food at the campsite? Say goodbye to boring camping meals with my delicious dutch oven recipes. Dutch oven meals are my favorite, and a campfire isn’t even necessary. These camping dutch oven recipes are so simple I could have called this post easy dutch oven dinner recipes!

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Table of Contents

Dutch Oven Cooking Tips

Dutch oven cooking is pretty easy. One pot meals usually are, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Getting your dutch oven at the proper temperature can be a little tricky. The good thing about dutch oven cooking – the temperatures don’t have to be exact to prepare a successful meal.

Sure, you can cook over a fire or just place the dutch oven over some coals and add several on top of the lid. But someone (I have no clue who or how this was actually tested!) came up with the amount of coals and their placement to achieve various cooking methods and temperatures. Check out this handy dutch oven cooking magnetic cheat sheet!

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Do you need a dutch oven to try these recipes on your next camping trip? Find one in The Best Dutch Ovens for Camping or just grab my top pick. Check out the post regardless – it has several accessories that make dutch oven cooking even easier!

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1. Lemon Pepper Chicken

This lemon pepper chicken and veggie recipe is super quick and easy. It is pretty healthy and tastes great – moist and tangy. Several years ago, my son won his scout troop’s Golden Spoon cook off with this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

4 Boneless chicken breasts

4 carrots, peeled and sliced

3 – 4 red, new potatoes, sliced

1 small onion, peeled and quartered

3 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning

1/2 cup of lemon juice OR

Omit lemon pepper seasoning and lemon juice and use 1/2 cup lemon pepper marinade like Lawry’s.

To make this recipe extra easy, you can use canned carrots and potatoes – just be sure to drain the liquid from the cans before adding veggies.

DIRECTIONS

Place chicken breasts in dutch oven. Add carrots, onions, and potatoes. Mix lemon pepper seasoning and lemon juice – pour over meat and veggies.(Or use lemon pepper marinade) Cover and bake at 350 with approximately 17 coals on top and 8 coals on the bottom of the dutch oven for about 1 hour or until veggies are tender and meat is done.

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2. Santa Fe Roast

I took a family favorite, crock pot recipe and tried it in the dutch oven. A yummy alternative to a traditional roast.

INGREDIENTS

3 pound roast

1 tsp taco seasoning or approximately half envelope/package

1 – 4.5 oz can chopped green chilies

1 – 6 oz can tomato sauce

1 onion, peeled and sliced

1 – 2 bell peppers, sliced

DIRECTIONS

Mix tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Put roast in dutch oven, pour tomato sauce mix over roast, add green chilies, onion, and bell pepper. Cover and roast at 300 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Divide approximately 23 coals between the top and bottom of the dutch oven evenly.

Can be served with corn on the cob – roast corn on a grill or wrap in foil and cook in hot coals. Sante Fe Roast is great in tortillas.

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3. BBQ Pork

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This is great on sandwiches and served with chips for another easy meal at the campsite. Pick up some deli slaw and potato salad if you want more fixins.

INGREDIENTS

3 -4 pound pork shoulder roast

1 3/4 cup apple juice

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

BBQ seasoning/rub

BBQ sauce

You can make your own BBQ rub and sauce or buy them. I usually buy a rub and sauce when I am going camping. My family loves Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, but if I want a sauce that has no high fructose corn syrup, I get Stubb’s.

DIRECTIONS

Sprinkle BBQ rub of your choice over the pork roast and rub/press it in the meat. Pour the apple juice and apple cider vinegar in the dutch oven. Place the roast in the dutch oven and cover. Cook at 325 degrees evenly dividing approximately 23 coals between the top and bottom of the dutch oven for about 4 hours until meat is done and tender. Check the roast periodically and spoon liquid over the meat. Shred meat and top with BBQ sauce.

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4. Hawaiian Ham

With just three ingredients, this Hawaiian Ham dutch oven recipe is so easy. Go “tropical” on your next beach camping trip!

INGREDIENTS

3 pound boneless Ham

1 – 15 oz. can crushed pineapple

2 cups brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

Place ham in the dutch oven. (This deep dutch oven is perfect for hams and roasts). Sprinkle half the brown sugar over the ham. Add the can of crushed pineapple, then sprinkle the brown sugar over the ham and pineapple. Bake at 325 degrees with 16 coals on top and 7 coals on the bottom of the dutch oven for approximately 1 – 1/2 hours.

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5. Dutch Oven Chili

Chili in the dutch oven is a campers’ favorite, especially in the fall. Serve with crackers or Fritos, or my family’s go to side – peanut butter sandwiches. You can also use it to top hot dogs cooked over the fire.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground beef

2 cans chili beans

1 – 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 – 6 oz can tomato sauce

3 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

Note: Add more chili powder to taste. If you like spicy chili, add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.

DIRECTIONS

Pre heat dutch oven to 325 degrees by placing coals on the bottom. Brown ground beef. Drain excess fat with a spoon. Add all ingredients and stir. Add water if needed to make the consistency you prefer. Cover and cook approximately 1 hour with approximately 16 coals on the bottom and 7 coals on top of the dutch oven.

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6. Dutch Oven Jambalaya

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I love the spicy flavor of jambalaya. Although it has more ingredients than some of the other recipes, it is still an easy camping dutch oven meal.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon oil – I use coconut oil

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 pound smoked sausage, sliced

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 teaspoon oregano

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 cups chicken broth (about 1 can)

1 – 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 cup long grain rice

2 teaspoons creole/cajun seasoning

Optional: Shrimp, peeled and deveined.

I don’t like shrimp, so I don’t put it in my jambalaya. I know some people think jambalaya isn’t jambalaya without shrimp!

DIRECTIONS

Heat dutch oven over about 19 hot coals. Add oil and let it heat. Saute onions and peppers. Add chicken and cook several minutes until it starts to lightly brown. Stir in sausage, oregano, garlic powder, and tomato paste.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes, rice, and creole seasoning. Stir and cover with dutch oven lid and add about 8 – 10 coals to top. Cook about 20 – 30 minutes, until rice is done and liquid is absorbed.

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7. Venison Stew

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My son loves to hunt so we often have venison in the freezer. It is a healthy, delicious alternative to beef. This hearty stew hits the spot after a day of exploring. Beef can be used in this recipe if you prefer.

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds venison, cubed

2 onions, chopped

4 carrots, peeled and sliced or can use a bag of baby carrots

4 – 5 potatoes, peeled and quartered

1 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper – I don’t measure

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

1 can beef broth

1 – 28 oz can tomatoes

1/4 cup flour

DIRECTIONS

Add all ingredients and gently stir. Cover and cook at 325 degrees for approximately 3 to 4 hours with about 16 coals on the bottom and 7 coals on the top of the dutch oven. Stir occasionally – may need to add water if stew is thicker than you prefer.

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8. Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

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INGREDIENTS

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half

1 1/2 cup Instant/minute rice

1 – 8 oz can pineapple chucks (don’t discard the juice)

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

Teriyaki sauce/glaze (choose a thick brand like Panda Express)

Optional: Diced red bell pepper and crushed red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS

Add rice, pineapple and juice, chicken broth, and optional red pepper. Stir. Place chicken breasts on top of rice mixture. Spoon teriyaki sauce/glaze over each piece of chicken. Cover with dutch oven lid and cook at 350 degrees with about 17 coals on the top and 8 coals on the bottom of the dutch oven for about 30 – 40 minutes.

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9. Cheatin’ Chicken and Dumplings

I love the ease of this recipe with the canned biscuits and cream of chicken soup. My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me years ago, and I knew it would be great for the dutch oven when camping.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon of butter or oil

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in pieces

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can chicken broth

1 can biscuits

DIRECTIONS

Cook chicken pieces in hot oil or butter over 17 coals for several minutes until golden. Add cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, stir. Heat this mixture to simmering.

Pinch off pieces of canned biscuits and drop in liquid. Gently stir to lightly cover the biscuit pieces. Put lid on dutch oven, add 8 hot coals to lid, and cook for about 20 minutes. Gently stir once or twice to be sure it isn’t sticking to bottom of dutch oven.

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10. Cheesy Italian Chicken

Did you know you can cook pasta in your dutch oven? Yep! It’s so easy you may want to cook this at home too!

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon oil

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces

16 oz pasta like elbows or rigatoni

1 – 24 oz jar of marinara/spaghetti sauce OR alfredo sauce

3 cups of water

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

Pour oil in hot dutch oven. Add chicken and cook about 5 – 7 minutes over 17 coals. Add marinara sauce and water – stir. Heat to a slow boil, add pasta, and cover. Add 7 coals to the top of the dutch oven and cook about 15 minutes until pasta is done. Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese and all the parmesan cheese. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top, cover, and cook a few minutes until cheese is melted. Optional: garnish with Italian seasoning.

Camping Dutch Oven Dinner Recipes

You’ll be the camping chef on your next trip with these dutch oven recipes for camping. Be sure to let me know if you like them and about any changes or variations you made!

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10 Delicious Dutch Oven Dinner Recipes for Camping (17)

Don’t miss this related camping post: The Big List of Camping Tips

Related Camping Food Post: 54 Camping Food Ideas That Require No Refrigeration

10 Delicious Dutch Oven Dinner Recipes for Camping (2024)

FAQs

What can you cook in a Dutch oven camping? ›

Think simmering soups, steaming rice, boiling water for pasta, etc. Sear, pan-fry, sautee: A camping Dutch oven is also a great stand-in for a cast-iron skillet. Anything that can be cooked in a cast-iron skillet can be done in a Dutch oven too, like searing steaks, browning chicken thighs, sauteing vegetables, etc.

What is the best thing to cook in a Dutch oven? ›

No matter the style or size, any Dutch oven will open up endless recipe opportunities. Create beautifully braised meat, pot roasts, hearty beef stew, healing chicken soup, or the creamiest mac and cheese. Use it like a slow cooker, a bread cloche, or a pot for frying.

Is a Dutch oven worth it for camping? ›

Dutch ovens, like the Camp Chef Classic Dutch Oven, have been used for wilderness cooking for ages and are a wonderful way to cook nourishing food in the great outdoors. They retain heat and enhance the transfer of heat through the food.

Is there anything you shouldn't cook in a Dutch oven? ›

In an enamel-coated Dutch oven, prolonged cooking with acidic ingredients may discolor the interior coating but doesn't erode it. The bottom line is, if using a seasoned cast iron Dutch oven with highly acidic foods, ensure the pot is well seasoned and limit cooking to short periods.

How do you cook in a Dutch oven over a campfire? ›

For this dish, place your Dutch oven over a fire on a metal grate or rack, which will be hotter for sauteeing. If you don't have a grate, let the fire burn down, and then bury the oven well into the coals so there's plenty of heat.

What's better Dutch oven or casserole? ›

If you cook frequently and for large groups of people, then Casserole pot will be more convenient and versatile for you. It can handle large quantities of food and different cooking methods. If you cook occasionally and you don't care about the weight, you can go with the Dutch oven.

What's the point of a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

What food should I bring for 3 days camping? ›

A good assortment of salamis, crackers, cheese, berries, apples, jam/honey, nuts and dried fruit are sure to make everyone happy. Cost Plus World Market is my favorite place for picking up packaged meats and cheeses that don't have to be refrigerated.

How do you clean a Dutch oven after camping? ›

Scrape out all of the food and wash your Camp Dutch Oven by hand with hot water. You can use a small amount of mild detergent. Dry your Camp Dutch Oven and lid thoroughly with paper or cloth towels. While the cookware is warm, rub a very light layer of cooking oil or our seasoning spray onto the surface.

Why do camp Dutch ovens have legs? ›

If you're going to be cooking with coals, the lid is the critical part, not the feet. ). The DO feet are important when cooking with coals. The feet support the DO slightly above the coals or briquettes. Without feet, the coals are smothered by the DO, especially when cooking on soft surfaces (sand).

Why are Dutch ovens so expensive? ›

Why Are Dutch Ovens So Expensive? A cast iron Dutch oven is a hefty piece of equipment, and all that iron comes at a cost: a lot of material goes into constructing this multi-purpose pot.

Can you cook everything in a Dutch oven? ›

Definitely. You can do just about anything in a dutch oven, from a roast chicken to soups to baked beans to desserts. One thing it's good for is baking bread in your home oven.

Can you use a camping Dutch oven in a regular oven? ›

You can easily use it on a stove top or in a standard household oven.

Can you cook normally in a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven gets hot and stays hot, meaning it can accommodate a wide range of cooking techniques. Of these techniques, the most common are braising, stewing, browning, frying, and baking.

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