Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

This easy Dutch oven chili is a campfire classic — hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd of hungry teens after a long day outdoors.

This campfire Dutch oven chili recipe is sure to become a family favorite! It’s absolutely delicious and seriously easy to make while camping.

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This Dutch oven chili recipe is a staple on all of our camping trips. We love that it feeds a crowd of hungry teenagers and it’s always a hit!

The biggest tip that we have whenever cooking over the campfire is to use the coals, not an open flame, and cook your recipe low and slow. Check out our How to Build a Campfire for Cooking post for more tips and tricks!

Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

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Ingredients

• Ground beef, cooked and drained – Hearty and filling, this is the protein-packed base that keeps hungry campers satisfied.
• Tomato paste – Thick and rich, this adds depth and flavor.
• Diced tomatoes – Juicy and flavorful, they bring brightness and texture to every spoonful.
• Baked beans – Slightly sweet and saucy, these help balance out the savory chili flavors.
• Navy beans, drained – Mild and creamy, they bulk up the chili and make it extra filling.
• Tomato soup – The secret shortcut ingredient that makes this chili cozy, smooth, and kid-approved.
• Chili seasoning mix – All the bold spices you need without measuring a thing.
• Bay leaf – A small but mighty addition that quietly boosts flavor while the chili simmers low and slow.

Tip: Whenever possible, we like to cook the ground meat at home and have it prepared for when we go camping. It makes clean up and prep work so much easier when we have limited kitchen facilities.

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, drain, cool, and place it in a large freezer bag to take camping. When ready to make the chili, place the ground beef into a seasoned 10″ Dutch oven.

2. Add the tomato soup, tomato paste, and chili seasoning to the beef and combine well.

3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

4. Cover the Dutch oven and cook over medium heat on the fire or grill for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Top with shredded parmesan cheese and serve.

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Camping Essentials for Dutch Oven Recipes

• I love using this Lodge Cast Iron Skillet for all of my sauteing.
• These silicone tongs are perfect for flipping and grasping hot food.
• This 9QT Overmont Dutch Oven is my favorite for one pot-style meals over the fire.
• These long handled wooden utensils make stirring easy and they don’t melt or get too hot!
• This cast iron scrubber set is perfect for safely cleaning your cast iron.

Of course, the chili topping options are endless and you could totally add sour cream, cheddar cheese, diced green onions, and more!

Tips for Cooking With Cast Iron

• When cooking with cast iron, be sure to season the surface first.
• Always use gloves or oven mitts while cooking, as the surface of the iron will be hot.
• Cook the recipe over an open fire using hot coals, not open flames. A fire that is too hot will burn the outside of your recipe and not cook the inside.
• Be sure to clean the cast iron with a rough vegetable scrubber, rinse and dry thoroughly before storing.

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