15 Dutch Oven Camping Recipes to Make Over the Fire

These are the best beans and ham you'll ever taste—bar none! Friends rave about this hearty soup that I serve hot off the grill. For easy cleanup, consider covering the outside of your Dutch oven with heavy-duty foil first. —Tom Greaves, Carrollton, Illinois

This warm cobbler is one of our favorite ways to end a busy day of fishing, hiking, swimming or rafting. It's yummy with ice cream—and so easy to make! —June Dress, Boise, Idaho

Any time Mom had the gang over for dinner, she made these pinto beans. Once, she made a batch for my cousin’s birthday, and he ate the entire thing. —Joan Hallford, Fort Worth, Texas

Mom’s easy Dutch-oven version of the popular campout treat is so good and gooey. The hardest part is waiting for this to cool so you can devour it. Yum! —June Dress, Meridian, Idaho

Here’s a slow-cooked version of an old campfire classic. Pioneers and cowboys would cook this kind of meal over a milk can on an open fire, letting the flavors and textures blend together beautifully. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska

It's been 20 years now since I adapted this from a recipe for beef stew. We like it so much that, in all that time, I have never changed any ingredients or amounts - unless it was to double them! Our home's on a river, and my husband, our three boys and I enjoy camping and boating. — Valerie Jordan, Kingmont, West Virginia

Peach cobbler has been a family classic for 60 years. We prefer peaches, but fresh cherries and berries are fun, too. Almost any fruit would work. Mix and match! —Jackie Wilson, Wellsville, Utah

For campouts, my sister and I escape on horseback into the woods. We make bacon and eggs the first morning, then love the leftovers for the rest of the trip. —Mary Burris, Okeechobee, Florida

Everybody in the family will love the zesty, fun flavor of this simple staple. Try it spooned over warmed cornbread if you don’t have buns. —Karen Anderson, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

There are so many different ways to top a hot dog, but this tasty sloppy joe version beats them all. ‐Kimberly Wallace, Dennison, Ohio

Grab your stockpot for my meal-in-one chili and spaghetti. I’ve got a large family, and this hearty pasta takes care of everybody. —Jennifer Trenhaile, Emerson, Nebraska

Moist, tender meat and thick, rich gravy are the hallmarks of this classic recipe slow-simmered in a cast-iron pot. —Joyce Worsech, Catawba, Wisconsin

They’ll be standing in line for this saucy bean recipe, full of campfire flavor. A variation on colorful calico beans, it makes a great side dish with all your cookout favorites. —Lynne German, Cumming, Georgia

This simmered sauce is a roller-coaster ride for your tongue. It's a wonderful blend of complex flavors that goes with any meat. — R.D. Stendel-Freels, Albuquerque, New Mexico