Expand your camp cooking repertoire with these delicious Dutch oven recipes! A Dutch oven is one of the most versatile pieces of camping cooking equipment you can have. Sautéing, steaming, simmering, frying and baking – if you can imagine it, you can do it in a Dutch oven.
When we first got our Dutch oven a few years ago, it opened up a whole new world of camp cooking for us. Recipes that would have been impossible to make on a camp stove, suddenly became completely feasible.
While it takes a little practice to be good at cooking in a Dutch oven over coals or embers, the whole process is a lot of fun. There’s a bit of experimentation when it comes to different heat levels, coal ratios, etc. But once you master it, a gift awaits you.
If you’re new to Dutch baked cooking, we have a brief introduction for you to get started with below. If you’re a well-experienced professional looking for some new recipes to try, you can jump into recipes.
The best Dutch ovens for camping
Certain Dutch ovens are made specifically for camping
. Unlike a homemade Dutch oven, which has a flat bottom and is sealed in enamel, a Dutch camping oven is made entirely of cast iron, has support
legs
at the bottom, and comes with a flat flanged lid. Embers or embers can be placed under and above the lid, allowing it to heat from both sides.
Dutch camping ovens also come in two different depths. Shallow Dutch ovens are the most versatile option and are best for baking, while deep Dutch ovens are best for making large quantities of soups, stews, or anything else with plenty of liquid.
↠ Lodge 10″ 4 ct: This Dutch oven has the size and dimension we have. It’s relatively inexpensive, pre-boxed, and ideal for someone just starting to cook in a Dutch oven. Ideal for 2-4 people.
↠ Lodge 12″ 6 ct (shallow): A slightly wider version, this Dutch oven is ideal for 4-6 people.
↠ Lodge 12″ 8 ct (deep): This is a deeper, wider Dutch oven that is ideal for making large quantities of soups and stews. Ideal for 6-8 people.
How
to cook in a Dutch oven
There are many different ways to cook with a Dutch oven, but here are the most common
.
For baking, you want to create a uniform ambient temperature inside the Dutch oven. (Similar to adjusting the temperature in your home oven) This is achieved by placing hot coals or embers under the Dutch oven and on top of the lid. Cast iron does a great job of radiating heat, so when heating from the top and bottom, it evenly distributes heat through the inside.
Due to the insulating properties of the soil, you will find that you need proportionally much more heat coming from the top than from the bottom. So, you’ll want to have more coals on top of the lid than you’ll have under your Dutch oven.
You can also use a Dutch oven as a fire-resistant pot and place it over a campfire. Since it is made entirely of cast iron, there is nothing that can melt or deform. You can even use it on a camping stove like a regular pot, as long as the legs fit through the rack.
As we said earlier, it’s super versatile! You can learn all about Dutch baked cuisine in this booklet.
Dutch oven accessories
↠ Chimney starter: Forget lighter liquid! A charcoal fireplace is a quick and natural way to light charcoal. This foldable version is ideal for camping because they are placed flat and come in a carrying case.
↠ Lid lifter: A lid lifter can be really useful. We own this Lodge 4-in-1 lid lift, which functions as a lid lifter, bail hook, pot holder and lid holder. It folds and fits inside our 10″ Dutch oven.
↠ Long metal tweezers: If you use charcoal briquettes, a pair of long metal tweezers will allow you to move and reposition them with ease.
↠ Heat resistant gloves: We have tried many different welding gloves, and these heat-resistant grill gloves are far superior.
↠ Tripod: If you frequently camp in areas that don’t provide grilles over the campfire, you may want to pick up a tripod to hang your Dutch oven over the fire. This will allow you to adjust the height dial in the heat for a perfect low heat.
↠ Coatings or parchment paper: One of the secrets to facilitating Dutch oven cooking is to use coatings whenever possible. You can pick up single-use pre-cut coatings, but we prefer to make them ourselves with parchment paper.
