Just because you are camping, doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on food. Once you learn how to cook in a Dutch Oven, your camp meals can gourmet!
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it wonโt cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy
We are a camping family, as well as a scouting family, so we camp A LOT. We have cooked all kinds of meals while camping using all sorts of of methods, from foil cooking to camp stoves to barbecues. But the fun really started when we learned how to cook in a cast iron Dutch oven.
Think of a Dutch oven as a mini version of your kitchen oven. You place hot coals underneath the pot as well as on top of the lid to bake in it, or you keep coals underneath to cook in it like you would with a stove top.
This isn’t your Le Creuset enamel pot. This is a cast iron pot that is made to tolerate high temperatures and the rugged environment.
How to choose one
When shopping for a cast iron Dutch oven you want to choose one with little legs on it. These legs are to lift the oven above the coals and keep the air flowing between the coals and the pot.
The lid of your pot should also have a little rim around it to keep the hot coals and ash on the lid and not let it fall into your pot when you are peeking inside. The lid should fit flat on top of the pot. It should not wiggle or jiggle. You want to keep the heat inside your oven while you cook, just like you do at home.
The size of your pot will vary on need and use. Is it just for you and your family of four? Are you cooking for a crew? How many meals are you preparing?
I like to use the 10-inch variety for desserts. The 12-inch and 14-inch sizes are great for one pot meals for 5-12 people. Yes, we own more than one Dutch oven. Everyone who camps should, too!
Because these pots are made out of cast iron, they produce more heat and heat evenly compared to the lighter aluminum versions. And like your cast iron pan, they will need to be seasoned before use.
Equipment needed for Dutch Oven cooking:
- Good quality cast iron Dutch Oven (10-inch, 12-inch and/or 14-inch diameter)
- Charcoal Briquettes
- Chimney Charcoal Starter
- Long Metal Tongs
- Lid Lifter
- Heavy Duty Grill Mitts
- Matches in weatherproof case
- Drain Pan
These are the basic necessities, other than your recipe, ingredients and cooking utensils. A charcoal chimney helps you heat up the coals. Some people like using charcoal fluid to help ignite the coals, but we just use shredded paper or dried leaves as kindling. We have also used the camp fire ring to heat up coals when we didn’t have our chimney with us.
The long metal tongs are for handling the hot coals. You have to transfer them from the chimney and place them strategically below and on top of your pot. Remember, you are working in a very hot environment, so protection is key.
Oven mitts may not be enough protection when you need to remove the lid of your Dutch Oven. A lid lifter will make things easier without getting yourself burned. The drain pan is a terrific place to heat your coals and position your pot in a small, contained spot.
How to calculate coal count
There are many theories and charts out there in determining the heat generated from coals. When you are using the Dutch oven like a stove top, you can control the heat by adding and removing coals from underneath the pot, just as you would turn the dial on your stove at home.
You want more coals (to produce more heat) when sautรฉing vegetables and browning meat, but then you need to remove coals to lower the heat for simmering or stewing.
How many do you need exactly? That varies with the weather outside, where the coals are positioned, etc..
It’s not as confusing as it may sound, especially for anyone who can cook basic meals in a kitchen. Use the tongs to scoot the coal back and forth to raise and lower the heat.
But with baking, as in a real kitchen, there are more exact measurements and quantities in determining the heat you need. I have a couple of charts and Dutch Oven cookbooks that give me charcoal briquette quantities and I usually take them with me when I go camping.
But, I recently found a simple way to measure out coals needed when you forget that chart at home.
I found this method from Scouting Magazine. Let’s say you are using the 12-inch pot. You take the diameter of your Dutch Oven (12-inches) and subtract three (so, 12-3=9). This is the number of coals you need for underneath the oven, 9 coals.
Now add three to your diameter (12+3=15) and this is the number of coals you place on the top of the lid. These measurements produce a temperature of approximately 325ยบF.
To increase the temperature by 25-degrees, place one additional coal on top and one additional coal underneath your pot.
So, let’s do a math problem, shall we? Let’s say we have a 14-inch Dutch Oven and we need to heat it to 350ยบF. How many coals do we need? Well, underneath we need 12 coals (14-3=11 then +1=12) and on top we need 18 coals (14+3=17 then +1=18). That’s a total of 30 coal briquettes. Did you get the right answer, too?
The arrangement of the briquettes is also important. You should arrange them evenly spaced for even cooking. You don’t want to clump a bunch of hot coals grouped together to produce a hot spot and burn what you are baking.
Campfire cooking
The basic process of cooking with a Dutch Oven is the same, whether you are baking, sautรฉing or simmering. Don’t forget that the lid can be used, too. It makes a great hot plate to warm up tortillas!
First, you have to light up your coals. Find a small space, clear of brush to place your chimney starter. If you have a fire ring, this would be a perfect spot, or you can use a metal drain pan. Place your chimney starter in this clear space and place some dry kindling or crumbled up paper inside the bottom of the tube.
Place the charcoal briquettes you need for cooking inside the chimney. Light the kindling. Make sure the flames reach the coals since you want the briquettes to catch flame. The coals are ready to use after about 10-15 minutes, when they stop smoking and are glowing red.
Position your Dutch Oven in a fire-safe, flat area. This can be a campsite barbecue, your fire ring or the metal drain pan. Using your tongs, transfer the hot coals needed and position them evenly underneath your Dutch Oven, making sure not to smother the coals.
You can also stack the ovens on top of each other with largest on the bottom. This way, the coals in between the two ovens will heat up BOTH ovens.
Cook as you would at home, or add cake batter or whatever it is you are going to cook. If you are baking, place the lid on top of your Dutch Oven securely and place your charcoal briquettes evenly spaced over the lid.
Remember to use your lid lifter to carefully remove the hot lid. You can also use oven mitts, but remember the lid will be very hot.
Campfire Recipes
What can you cook in a Dutch Oven? The list is shorter for what you CAN’T cook. You can cook and bake most anything in this thing.
Soups, stews and chili are some obvious choices, but why not try something different? One camping trip, I made Dutch oven chili with cornbread baked on top (pictured above). I then added the lid and baked until the cornbread was done. A real treat after white water rafting!
You could also make a traditional beef stew or go gourmet with Beef Bourguinon. I made Dutch oven osso bucco on another camping trip. Now do you see what I mean about going gourmet while camping?
Don’t do boring spaghetti. How about Dutch Oven Chicken Cacciatore? Or Lasagna? Even Pizza?!!!
All of these are possible!
And for dessert? This is even more fun. Dutch oven berry cobblers (pictured at the top of this post) and Dutch oven peach crisp are scrumptious for a camping treat. Cakes and brownies are easy, too. I even baked a giant chocolate chip cookie in this thing.
Easy Peasy.
How to Clean Your Dutch Oven
You can take some preventative measures before cooking so that clean up is quick and easy. This is super important when camping. It’s not fun cleaning a bunch of pots and pans in the dark when you’re exhausted.
If you are baking, line the bottom of your oven with parchment paper. When cooking, you can line the whole oven with heavy duty aluminum foil. Then after the meal, all you do is toss the foil and wipe down the pot.
But, if you don’t line your Dutch Oven, heat up some water inside the pot and scrub the food off with a soft scrubber or sponge. You do not want to use soap, as this will remove the protective seasoning. Sometimes, wiping down with a wet paper towel is all your Dutch Oven needs.
After everything is clean, make sure you completely dry them. Remember this is cast iron and any residual water will cause rust. Coat the inside of your pot with a thin layer of oil to protect the seasoning and have your oven ready until the next gourmet meal.
Final Thoughts:
My husband got us hooked on Dutch Oven cooking after he took a class through our local scouting group. That’s what happens when you’re the Cub Master! He learned the basics like Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake and chili.
We took what he learned and kicked it up a few crazy notches. Our friends and fellow scout families have enjoyed our camping experiments – especially the kids. Their faces really do light up when they realize that can make good food, even on a camping trip.
If you haven’t tried cooking with a Dutch Oven, I hope you give it a try. Once you learn how to cook in one, you’ll find yourself cooking EVERYTHING in it.
When we go camping, my husband and I like to challenge ourselves and create fabulous, gourmet meals in the great outdoors. It’s equally fun to cook right in your backyard.
Some of these recipes and information is also featured in my new cookbook, The Camp & Cabin Cookbook (Countryman Press 2018). I have 100 recipes that are all prepared outdoors and over fire using multiple techniques, including the beloved Dutch oven. Learn more about my camp cookbook!
Campfire Dutch Oven Recipes
Just because you are camping, doesnโt mean you have to scrimp on food. These Dutch oven recipes make it easy to eat well with very little effort.
Dutch Oven Cornbread Chili
Whether you are camping or at home, make something special like this Dutch Oven Cornbread Chili and bake the cornbread in the same pot as your chili!
Dutch Oven Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Cacciatore is a very healthy and easy meal to make, full of exotic mushrooms, bell peppers and kalamata olives. It makes a hearty camping meal in the Dutch Oven, too.
Dutch Oven Roast Turkey with Garlic Sage Butter
This Dutch Oven Roast Turkey is smothered in garlic sage butter and will turn your outdoor Thanksgiving into a fragrant traditional feast. It can be cooked on the campfire or grill or even indoors in a regular oven.
Dutch Oven Osso Buco with Beer, Olives, and Gremolata
Camping doesn't mean you can't eat a gourmet meal. This Campfire Dutch Oven Osso Buco with Beer, Olives, and Gremolata is easy to prepare in the kitchen or outdoors over hot coals.
Campfire Dutch Oven Italian Stuffed Peppers
Whether you are camping or need a family friendly dinner, these campfire Dutch oven Italian Stuffed Peppers include ground beef, Italian sausage, quinoa and tomatoes and topped with cheesy goodness all served in a sweet bell pepper.
Dutch Oven Kalamata Olive and Sundried Tomato Pot Roast
This Kalamata Olive and Sun Dried Tomato Pot Roast is a great Italian twist to the classic family pot roast that can easily be made at home or in a Dutch oven over a campfire. Recipe adapted from Scouting Magazine, March-April 2010
Campfire Baked Apples
These Campfire Baked Apples are easy to make while on a camping trip. Wrap them in foil and cook in the campfire, bake in a Dutch oven, or bake them at home in your own kitchen!
Lemon Blueberry Clafoutis
Traditionally made with cherries, this Lemon Blueberry Clafoutis is a delicious twist on this classic French dessert and it can easily be made outdoors in Dutch oven. Recipe from my newest cookbook: The Camp & Cabin Cookbook.
Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Thisย Campfire Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake bakes beautiful over campfire coals and makes a delicious dessert alternative to the usual campfire s'mores.
Campfire Dutch Oven Berry Cobbler
Forget the burgers and dogs on your next camping trip. Make dinner special with these Dutch Oven Recipes that are perfect for the great outdoors, including this Campfire Dutch Oven Berry Cobbler.
Campfire Dutch Oven Peach Crisp with Almonds
Whether you are out camping or have a hankering for peach crisp at home, this Campfire Dutch Oven Peach Crisp with Almonds is easy to whip up indoors or out with plenty of the crunchy crisp topping everyone loves.
PSย If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a reviewย in the comment sectionย further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.
You can also follow me onย Pinterest,ย Facebookย orย Instagram.ย Sign up for my eMail list, too!
I just purchased a 12 quart cast iron dutch oven. I’m very familiar with cast iron cookware but not with anything this size. I’ve not done a lot of outdoor cooking other than the basics. These were excellent tips and a all around good read to acclimate me to it. I’m so excited to use it. Thank you so much for this wonderful article.
Best of luck with your Dutch Oven adventures!
THANKS FOR YOUR RECIPES. JUST STARTING TO USE MY DUTCH OVENS OUT OF DOORS THIS SUMMER. HAVE ALWAY COOKED SERLON TIP ROST IN THE KITCHEN OVEN IN THE DUTCH OVEN.
Oh yes, you have to take it outdoors! That’s when the crazy fun really begins! Enjoy!
Grandma would buy a pork roast for her cooking day on the family camp week. Of course, I had to cook it. I would bake a pie in the morning and do the roast (with vegetables) in the afternoon. The best carbon-cutter I found for cleaning the ashes and smoke from the outside was Scrubbing Bubbles. It used to be the bathroom cleaner made by DowBrands. You don’t want to get it on the inside, of course, because it attacks the seasoning patina. After wiping it down, I’d give it a coat of mineral oil. That doesn’t go rancid like… Read more »
an informative read..since im a mom who tries challenging stuff to cook food. Dutch oven is quite challenging for those who doesnt have power supply and no options but to do in conventional way. If theres no penny to buy the stand form oven, you can try find big rocks and stand them firmly to form a wall enough to surround the pot, firing the coal is another challenging task—using kerosene to fire up and add plastic on it to sustain the fire… Place the pot in the center of the rockwall and start putting the coal– its the same… Read more »
If you live cooking in your Dutch oven try doing a bean pit. Same concept except you dig a hole, build a fire in it then bury the oven with the coals. Remember a steel pipe for a vent. We set it up and go play while dinner cooks. So much fun.
Oh, yes! My husband has done this with his Boy Scout troop on a few campouts. Super easy!
The only Dutch Oven I knew about was the enamel Le Creuset variety. Mind blown here!
This would be such a hit camping! I totally need to get one of these now.
This is a fantastic resource for anyone new to dutch oven cooking! Can’t wait to make the Campfire Berry Cobbler – yum!!
Fun!! I was in the Boy Scouts growing up, and I remember cooking frequently with dutch ovens. But I haven’t done so in many, many years. You’ve inspired me to revisit!
This is my kind of campfire cooking!! Love it!!
This is absolutely amazing! I never knew a Dutch oven was so versatile…I honestly never brought it outside for cooking, but I need to now! That berry cobbler looks wonderful!
Wow, great inspiration! I use my Dutch oven inside all the time, never thought to try it outside. All the dishes you made look so good!
I love my dutch oven, but I confess, i’m not much of a camperโฆYou make cooking outdoors look so easy!
This is great! I hadn’t thought to make things like cobbler in a dutch oven, I need to get some more ideas and use my dutch oven more!
Very informative! I am planning a family camping trip and this really helped me with new ideas. Thank You
I used my Dutch oven for dinner tonight…I love it! Never thought to bring it camping, though. Great recipes!
We love our Lodge dutch oven for camping! Lodge makes such great products. I’m going to have to try that skillet cookie, looks fun.
You almost, almost, made me want to go camping. Maybe if you were cooking for me. This is a great post for camping people. For me, too much math! ๐ Will share with my camping friends.
ha ha! I may not sleep well on a camping trip, but I certainly make sure I eat well!
That’s what it’s all about. Food just seems to bring people closer together.
I love all these ideas! I’m inspired to buy a dutch oven. And inspired to go camping.
We even cook with it in our backyard. But then again, my husband is a Dutch Oven enthusiast!