12 Dutch Oven Meals That Are Perfect for Camping

After a long day of hiking and wilderness, you need a meal that's both hearty and delicious — but doesn't weigh you down with supplies. That's where these Dutch oven recipes come in. All cooked in one pot, they can easily be made right over the campfire for a satisfying meal in the great outdoors. Plus, many of them are dishes designed for camping, with simple ingredients that are designed to keep in a backpack or cooler. While we've included everything from vegetarian curries to creamy oatmeal, we also have homey classics, like this lasagna. It's easy to make right on the campfire — and the smoke lends a little something extra to the familiar flavors. No-boil lasagna noodles are key here, as they majorly cut down on time and effort.

We packed this simple camping meal with hearty ingredients and lots of vegetables and designed it specifically for easy firepit cooking. Focusing on easy-to-find shelf-stable ingredients makes it ideal for preparing away from home. Even the vegetables, if left whole, don’t require refrigeration. Unlike your stove at home, cooking over a live fire is variable — keep an eye on the pot and move the coals and pot around when needed to keep the stew simmering evenly.

Forget about boiling up a big pot of salted water. In this ultra-creamy recipe, the pasta cooks directly in the milk, creating a rich thick base for the sauce. Three kinds of cheese, plus fresh chives and dill give it the familiar fresh tang of our favorite ranch dressing. It'll really hit the spot after a day of hiking or swimming!

Ellie Krieger’s jambalaya with shrimp and ham is a delicious one-pot wonder that’s perfect for a camping trip. Just sauté, simmer and serve for a hearty, flavorful meal with minimal cleanup. It’s easy to customize with whatever meats or veggies you have on hand, making it both flexible and fuss-free.

Beans are really the ideal ingredient for camping dinners! They're full of fiber and protein, are easy to cook, and aren't too heavy in a backpack or bag. Here, Marcela cooks pinto beans with bacon, garlic, and onion for a meal that's low on effort but yields a significant payoff.

When we go camping, we love a hearty one-pot meal that needs little prep time, minimal cook time and big payoff when it comes to flavor. With all this in mind, we set out to create a dump-and-stir chili that could be made with ingredients you'd find at even the remotest general store. To reduce the number of items you need to pack in your cooler, we kept this vegetarian, but we wouldn't be unhappy if some broken-up sausage found its way into the pot, too.

There are few things to look forward to more than a hearty breakfast cooked over a campfire. This baked oatmeal is lightly sweet, packed with walnuts and apple and is quick and easy to put together. You can mix together all the dry ingredients in a container before you hit the road to make this even faster to get going in the morning. A cast-iron camping Dutch oven holds the heat well; you’ll just need to keep an eye on the pot and move it occasionally to ensure an even bake.

Budae jjigae, or army stew, is a quintessential camping food in Korea. The dish's varied ingredients can be held in coolers or at room temperature for extended periods of time, making them easy to bring along. This recipe skips the broth-making step but calls for assembling a budae jjigae sauce ahead of time, if desired. When ready to cook, all you need to do is layer the toppings (which can also be done ahead) with the sauce in the pot, pour water over the ingredients and cook over a fire. It's topped off with ramen and rice cakes at the end, for a hearty finish.

Turkey soup with egg noodles and vegetables is always a win, especially on a crisp fall camping trip. Its savory broth, tender turkey and hearty noodles feel like a warm hug in a bowl. Easy to prep ahead and customize, it's the perfect cozy meal to cook over a camp stove or coals.

Bobby's Milwaukee-style beer brats are perfect for camping! The sausages are simmered in beer, onions and butter — and that's it! If you have access to a grill, toss these on for a few minutes to get a crispy exterior. Fear not if you don't have a grill, though — the brats will cook completely in the Dutch oven, so the grill is purely for extra flavor and texture.

Our campfire riff on pasta fagioli will keep everyone toasty on a chilly night. It calls for easy-to-pack non-perishables and it’s simple to make on grill grates set over a fire pit, but it tastes like it’s been simmering on the stove all day. We used orzo here, but you can substitute any small shape you prefer, such as ditalini.