13 Easy Dutch Oven Camping Dinner Recipes

A Dutch oven is a must-have for camping enthusiasts who love cooking hearty, flavorful meals in the great outdoors. Its versatility, durability, and excellent heat retention make it the ideal tool for crafting delicious dinners over a campfire.

Whether you’re simmering savory stews, baking fresh bread, or creating one-pot wonders, a Dutch oven turns simple ingredients into gourmet meals.

This collection of 13 Delicious Dutch Oven Camping Dinner Recipes features comforting classics and adventurous dishes to elevate your camping experience. Each recipe is designed to be flavorful yet simple, letting you spend more time enjoying nature and less time cooking.

For more dinner ideas, check out our Crockpot Cube Steak Recipes for tender, effortless meals or explore our Finger Foods Appetizer Recipes for easy, bite-sized snacks perfect for any adventure.

1. Campfire Nachos

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: 4-6

Nothing says “campfire fun” like a big pot of gooey, cheesy nachos! This easy recipe is perfect for sharing.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag tortilla chips
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup black beans (canned, drained)
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• ½ cup sliced jalapeños (optional)
• ½ cup sour cream (for topping)
• ½ cup chopped cilantro (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Dutch oven by placing it over medium coals.
2. Layer half the tortilla chips on the bottom of the Dutch oven.
3. Sprinkle half the cheese, beans, and tomatoes over the chips. Add jalapeños if using.
4. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
5. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and place hot coals on top. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese melts.
6. Serve hot with sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro on top. Enjoy!

2. Chicken Marbella

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes | Serves: 4

This dish combines sweet and savory flavors for an unforgettable meal. The olives, prunes, and capers create a flavor explosion that pairs perfectly with tender chicken.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• ½ cup prunes
• ½ cup green olives
• 2 tbsp capers
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup white wine
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil and sear the chicken thighs for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden.
2. Remove the chicken and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in prunes, olives, capers, oregano, and wine. Bring to a simmer.
4. Return the chicken to the Dutch oven. Sprinkle brown sugar on top and cover with the lid.
5. Place coals on top of the lid and cook for 35-40 minutes, basting occasionally.
6. Serve with rice or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

3. Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 6-8

A classic camping dessert that’s sweet, warm, and comforting.

Ingredients:

• 6 apples, peeled and sliced
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• ½ cup butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Dutch oven over medium coals.
2. Toss the apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then layer them in the bottom of the Dutch oven.
3. Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the apples.
4. Drizzle the melted butter on top.
5. Cover the Dutch oven and cook with coals on the lid for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden and bubbly.

4. Sweet Potato Peanut Stew

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4

This hearty and flavorful stew is packed with protein and nutrients.

Ingredients:

• 2 large sweet potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat your Dutch oven over medium coals. Sauté onion and garlic until softened.
2. Add the sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and broth. Stir to combine.
3. Simmer for 20 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
4. Stir in peanut butter and smoked paprika. Cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Serve with rice or flatbread.

5. Dutch Oven Vegetable Stew

Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Serves: 6

Perfect for a chilly night, this veggie-packed stew is warm and filling.

Ingredients:

• 2 potatoes, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 cup green beans, trimmed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Dutch oven over medium coals. Sauté onion until translucent.
2. Add the potatoes, carrots, zucchini, green beans, and broth. Stir well.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper. Serve hot with crusty bread.

6. Red Beans and Rice

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour | Serves: 6

A classic Southern dish that’s simple, hearty, and full of flavor. It’s the perfect camping dinner to enjoy with friends and family.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb red beans, soaked overnight
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked rice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a little oil and sauté the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic until soft.
2. Add the soaked red beans, chicken broth, paprika, and thyme. Stir everything together.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the beans are tender and the flavors are melded together.
4. Serve the red beans over cooked rice and season with salt and pepper.

7. Dutch Oven Blueberry Cobbler

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 6

Sweet, fruity, and topped with a golden biscuit crust, this blueberry cobbler is the ultimate camping dessert.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 box biscuit mix
• 1/3 cup milk
• ¼ cup butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium coals.
2. In a bowl, toss the blueberries with sugar and lemon juice, then spread them evenly in the bottom of the Dutch oven.
3. In another bowl, mix the biscuit mix with milk to form a dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the blueberries.
4. Drizzle melted butter over the biscuit dough.
5. Cover and cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden and the blueberries are bubbling.

8. Dutch Oven Steamed Clams

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Serves: 4

Steamed clams are a fun and delicious way to enjoy seafood while camping. The Dutch oven helps cook them perfectly!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs fresh clams, scrubbed
• 1 cup white wine
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium heat. Melt butter and sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant.
2. Pour in the white wine and bring to a simmer.
3. Add the clams to the pot and cover with the lid. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the clams open up.
4. Discard any clams that don’t open. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.

9. Dutch Oven Biscuits

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 6

Light, fluffy biscuits are a camping essential, and they’re easy to make in a Dutch oven.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup butter, cold and cubed
• ¾ cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium coals.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cubed butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers.
3. Add milk to the mixture and stir until just combined.
4. Drop spoonfuls of dough into the Dutch oven. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
5. Serve with butter or jam for a delicious breakfast or side dish.

10. Dutch Oven Blondies

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 25 minutes | Serves: 8-10

Rich and sweet, these blondies are a camping dessert everyone will love!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
5. Stir in the white chocolate chips.
6. Pour the batter into the Dutch oven, cover, and cook for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let the blondies cool before cutting into squares and serving.

11. Stuffed Pork Chops

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes | Serves: 4

These juicy pork chops are stuffed with a savory filling and cooked to perfection in your Dutch oven.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless pork chops
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• ½ cup cooked spinach
• ½ cup shredded cheese
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium coals.
2. In a bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, spinach, cheese, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Cut a pocket into each pork chop and stuff with the breadcrumb mixture.
4. Heat olive oil in the Dutch oven, then sear the stuffed pork chops for 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. Cover and cook for 35-40 minutes, or until the pork is cooked through.

12. Guinness Beef Stew

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour | Serves: 6

This rich and hearty stew, made with Guinness beer, is the perfect meal for a chilly evening.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup Guinness beer
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Dutch oven over medium heat. Brown the beef stew meat in batches, then remove and set aside.
2. Add the onion, garlic, and carrots to the pot and sauté until softened.
3. Return the beef to the pot and pour in the Guinness beer and beef broth. Stir in thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, until the meat is tender and the flavors have melded.

13. Chicken and Potato Chowder

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 40 minutes | Serves: 4-6

This creamy and comforting chowder is perfect for warming up after a day of hiking or outdoor adventures.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts, diced
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your Dutch oven over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softened.
2. Add the chicken and cook until browned.
3. Stir in the potatoes, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Stir in the heavy cream and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
5. Serve warm with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Conclusion

Cooking over a campfire with a Dutch oven is one of the most rewarding ways to prepare a delicious meal in the great outdoors. Whether you’re making savory dishes like chicken Marbella and red beans and rice, or indulging in sweet treats like Dutch oven blueberry cobbler and apple cobbler, these Dutch Oven Camping Dinner Recipes are designed to bring comfort and joy to your camping experience.

The beauty of Dutch oven cooking lies in its simplicity—just combine a few fresh ingredients, let the pot work its magic, and enjoy a hot, satisfying meal by the campfire.