Campfire Dutch Oven Lasagna: A Cozy Twist on Classic Comfort Food
Craving a hearty, comforting meal while camping? Campfire Dutch Oven Lasagna is the perfect solution. We made this recently and it was perfect to warm us up on a cold evening. We love how this classic Italian dish transforms into an outdoor adventure favorite.
With layers of gooey cheese, savory meat sauce, and tender noodles, this recipe brings the taste of home to your campsite.
Making lasagna in a Dutch oven over a campfire might sound tricky, but it’s easier than you think. The key is layering your ingredients just right and managing your heat source.
The images in this blog post are from a vegeterian lasagna however we’ll show you how to brown the sausage and build delicious layers for a crowd-pleasing meal if you’re a carnivore.
Get ready to impress your fellow campers with this mouthwatering dish. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor cook or trying Dutch oven cooking for the first time, our tips will help you create a memorable meal under the stars.
Just get to the recipe already! 😀 We get it, here’s our perfected recipe if you don’t want to sift through all the variations. If you do, scroll on! There area so many ways to make this dish depending on your dietary preferences or restrictions.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar of pasta sauce
- 1 (15 oz) container of ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 9 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the meat is cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the pasta sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, basil, and oregano.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the Dutch oven.
- Arrange 3 noodles over the sauce, breaking them to fit if necessary.
- Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by half of the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the sauce.
- Repeat layers (noodles, ricotta, sauce, mozzarella).
- Top with the remaining 3 noodles and meat sauce.
- Cover the Dutch oven and place it on a ring of coals, with additional coals on the lid.
- Bake for 30 minutes, rotating the oven and lid halfway through for even cooking.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top, cover, and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the lasagna cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Don’t have a Dutch Oven? This is a great option!
Don’t forget a lid lifter. This is the safest way to get your Dutch Oven out of the hot coals without burning yourself!
Getting Started with Dutch Oven Cooking
Dutch oven cooking has become my favorite way to cook at camp when it’s cold. We’ll cover the basics to help you get started on your campfire cooking adventure.
Choosing the Right Dutch Oven
When picking a Dutch oven for campfire cooking, we recommend going with a cast-iron model. These pots are durable and distribute heat evenly.
Look for one with legs and a flanged lid. The legs keep it stable over coals, while the lid holds coals on top for all-around cooking.
Size matters too. A 12-inch oven works well for most families. It’s big enough for hearty meals but not too heavy to lug around camp.
Don’t forget to season your Dutch oven before use. This creates a non-stick surface and prevents rust. We love how a well-seasoned pot develops character over time!
Essential Tools and Accessories
To make the most of our Dutch oven cooking, we’ve found a few key tools indispensable:
- Charcoal chimney: Gets coals hot fast without lighter fluid
- Long-handled tongs: For safely moving hot coals
- Heavy-duty gloves: Protect our hands when handling the hot oven
- Lid lifter: Helps us peek at our food without burns
Dutch oven liners are a game-changer for easy cleanup. Or you can just use aluminum foil, that’s what we do. Just pop in a liner or cover the dutch oven with foil before cooking, and cleanup is a breeze!
A sturdy table or flat surface near the fire is super helpful for prep work. We also bring along a meat thermometer to ensure our dishes are cooked just right.
Safety and Precautions
Safety first when cooking with fire! We always keep a bucket of water nearby just in case.
It’s also smart to clear the area around our cooking spot of any flammable materials.
When using charcoal briquettes, we’re careful to place them properly. For baking, we put some under the oven and some on the lid for even heat.
We never leave our Dutch oven unattended. Kids and pets need to be kept at a safe distance too. Burns from a hot Dutch oven are no joke!
Lastly, we make sure our oven is completely cool before cleaning or packing it away. A still-warm oven can be a nasty surprise when we’re breaking camp.
The Basics of Assembling Lasagna
When it comes to making lasagna in a Dutch oven over a campfire, getting the layers right is key. We’ll show you our favorite tricks for perfect layers, noodle options, and a creamy cheese blend that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Layering Tips
Let’s start with the foundation. We always begin with a thin layer of sauce at the bottom of our Dutch oven. This prevents sticking and adds flavor to every bite.
Next, we lay down our noodles. Don’t worry if they overlap a bit – they’ll meld together as they cook. We like to use oven ready noodles as they cook faster and we’ve never ran into cruncy noodles issues. 🙂
For the filling, we alternate between our meat sauce and cheese mixture. We like to use a spoon to spread each layer evenly.
We’ve found that thinner layers often taste better than thick ones so we keep each layer pretty skinny.
We finish with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella on top. It’ll get all gooey and golden – yum!
No-Boil Vs. Traditional Lasagna Noodles
Choosing the right noodles can make or break your campfire lasagna. We’re big fans of oven-ready lasagna noodles for outdoor cooking. They’re a real time-saver and work great in a Dutch oven.
Traditional noodles need pre-boiling, which can be a hassle at a campsite. No-boil noodles soak up liquid as they cook, making them perfect for our one-pot meal.
If you do use regular noodles, don’t worry! Just give them a quick soak in hot water before layering. They’ll finish cooking in the sauce.
Making the Perfect Cheese Mixture
The cheese is what makes lasagna so irresistible. We start with ricotta as our base. It’s creamy and mild, perfect for balancing out the tangy tomato sauce.
We mix in an egg to help bind everything together. Then we add a good handful of grated Parmesan for a salty kick.
A sprinkle of dried herbs like basil or oregano gives it that classic Italian flavor.
For extra creaminess, we sometimes throw in some cottage cheese. It might sound odd, but trust us – it’s delicious! Just make sure to drain it well first so it’s not runny.
Remember to taste as you go. Everyone’s palate is different, so adjust the seasoning until it’s just right for you.
Building Your Flavor Base
The secret to amazing campfire lasagna is starting with a flavorful base. We’ll show you how to choose tasty proteins and whip up a delicious sauce that will make your Dutch oven lasagna unforgettable.
Choosing Your Proteins
For our campfire lasagna, we love using a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage. The beef gives a hearty texture, while the sausage adds a punch of flavor. We usually go for a 50/50 mix.
If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, Impossible Sausage works great too! It crumbles just like regular sausage and soaks up all those yummy flavors. Or skip it all together. We’ve made just cheese lasagna several times and it’s still really good, our carnivore friends even liked it!
To prep the meat, brown it over the campfire in the Dutch oven. This step is key for developing rich, deep flavors. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks.
Don’t forget to season! We sprinkle in some Italian seasoning blend for an extra flavor boost.
Preparing the Perfect Sauce
A great sauce is the heart of any lasagna. For our campfire version, we like to keep things simple but tasty.
We start with a good quality marinara or pasta sauce as the base. It saves time and still tastes amazing.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can doctor it up with some extra herbs or a splash of red wine.
To make our sauce extra special, we mix in some of the cooked meat. This infuses the sauce with all those delicious browned bits and spices from the protein.
We also add a bit more Italian seasoning to the sauce. It really ties all the flavors together and gives that classic lasagna taste we all love.
Cooking Lasagna Over a Campfire
Making lasagna over a campfire is fun and delicious! We’ll show you how to prep your coals and keep an eye on cooking times to get that perfect campfire lasagna.
Prepping the Coals
To start, we need to get our coals just right.
We usually start our campfire early so there are plenty of hot coals when it’s time for dinner. You can also use charcoal briquettes for even, consistent heat.
Light about 25-30 briquettes in a chimney starter. This gives us enough for both under and over our Dutch oven.
Once the coals are glowing red and covered with ash, we’re ready to go. This applies to charcoal or a regular wood campfire.
We place 8-10 hot coals in a circle where we’ll set our Dutch oven. Then, we put 16-20 coals on top of the lid. This setup creates an oven-like environment, perfect for baking our lasagna.
Monitoring Cooking Times and Temperature
Cooking times for our campfire lasagna can vary based on conditions, but we usually aim for about 45 minutes to an hour.
We check it every 15 minutes or so, rotating the Dutch oven a quarter turn each time. This helps ensure even cooking.
To test if it’s done, we carefully lift the lid and poke the pasta with a fork. If the noodles are tender and the cheese is bubbly, we’re good to go! If not, we add a few more minutes of cooking time.
We always keep extra coals handy. If our lasagna needs more time, we might need to add fresh, hot coals to maintain the temperature.
With a bit of practice, we’ll get a feel for just the right heat and timing for perfect campfire lasagna every time.
Creative Variations and Substitutions
Campfire Dutch oven lasagna is a versatile dish that can be adapted to suit different tastes and dietary needs. We love experimenting with new ingredients and flavors to keep things exciting on our camping trips.
Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Options
For our gluten-free friends, we’ve found that gluten-free lasagna noodles work wonderfully in this recipe. They hold up well during cooking and provide the same satisfying texture as regular noodles.
We’ve tried using a mix of vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers to create a hearty vegetarian lasagna and it came out amazing!
To replace the meat, we’ve had great success with lentils or crumbled tofu. These alternatives absorb the flavors of the sauce beautifully.
For a creamy layer, we sometimes swap ricotta for cottage cheese. It’s lower in fat and adds a nice tangy flavor.
Experimenting with Different Fillings
We love getting creative with our lasagna fillings. One of our favorite additions is spinach. It adds a pop of color and boosts the nutritional value.
We also like to toss in some fresh basil for an aromatic touch.
For a twist on the classic meat mixture, you could also use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. It’s a leaner option that still packs plenty of flavor.
We’ve even tried a seafood version with shrimp and crab – it’s a real treat!
Don’t be afraid to get creative and mix things up. Each camping trip is a chance to try something new and exciting with your Dutch oven lasagna.
Serving and Storing Your Lasagna
After all the hard work of cooking our lasagna over the campfire, it’s time to enjoy our creation and handle any leftovers. Let’s look at how to serve it hot and keep it fresh for later.
Best Practices for Serving Hot
We love digging into a piping hot lasagna right from the Dutch oven. To serve it safely, we use long-handled tongs or a sturdy spatula. We’re careful not to burn ourselves on the hot metal.
We sprinkle extra shredded mozzarella cheese on top just before serving. It melts beautifully over the hot layers. A dash of Parmesan cheese adds a nice touch too.
We always have hot water ready to clean up after. It makes washing dishes at the campsite much easier. And since we lined our Dutch oven with tin foil in advance clean up is super easy! Just peel it out and voila, done.
Storage for Leftovers
If we’re lucky enough to have leftovers, we store them properly to enjoy later. We let the lasagna cool for about 30 minutes before packing it away.
We use airtight containers to keep our lasagna fresh. If we’re still camping, we put these in a cooler with ice. At home, they go in the fridge. Our lasagna stays good for 3-4 days when stored correctly.
To reheat, we add a splash of water to keep it moist. Then we warm it in a pan over the campfire or in the microwave if we’re home. It’s almost as good as fresh!
Additional Tips for Dutch Oven Care
Taking good care of our cast-iron Dutch oven will help it last for generations. We’ve found a few key tricks that make maintenance easy and keep our Dutch oven in top shape for all our campfire cooking adventures.
Cleaning and Seasoning Your Dutch Oven
We always let our Dutch oven cool completely before cleaning.
A quick rinse with hot water and a gentle scrub is usually enough. For tougher bits, we use coarse salt as a natural abrasive. Don’t ever use soap on your Dutch Oven!
After cleaning, we dry our Dutch oven thoroughly. Then, we rub it with a thin layer of oil.
We like using flaxseed or grapeseed oil for seasoning. We heat the oiled Dutch oven in the oven or over coals to let the oil bond with the iron.
This seasoning process creates a natural non-stick surface. It also protects our Dutch oven from rust. We re-season whenever the surface looks dull or food starts to stick.
Maintenance and Storage
We never store our Dutch oven when it’s damp. Moisture leads to rust, which can ruin the seasoning.
After each use, we make sure it’s bone dry before putting it away.
For storage, we place a paper towel inside our Dutch oven. This absorbs any leftover moisture and prevents rust. We store the lid separately to allow air circulation.
Before long trips, we give our cast-iron Dutch oven a good seasoning. This extra layer of protection keeps it in great shape, even in humid conditions.
Regular use is the best maintenance. The more we cook with our Dutch oven, the better seasoned it becomes. It’s a great excuse for more camping trips!
Nutrition and Health Considerations
When we’re camping, it’s easy to forget about nutrition. Let’s be real, lasagna isn’t the healthiest option. But, there are ways we can make it healthier.
We love cheese in our lasagna! Ricotta cheese is a great source of protein and calcium. For a lighter option, we sometimes use cottage cheese instead. It has less fat but still gives that creamy texture we crave.
Shredded mozzarella adds gooey goodness to our lasagna. We can use part-skim to cut down on calories without losing flavor. Remember, a little goes a long way!
Here’s a quick nutrition breakdown for our favorite cheeses (per 100g):
| Cheese Type | Calories | Protein | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ricotta | 174 | 11g | 13g |
| Cottage | 98 | 11g | 4g |
| Mozzarella | 280 | 28g | 17g |
We can boost the nutrition by adding veggies to our lasagna. Spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers work great. They add vitamins and fiber without much prep work.
For those watching carbs, we’ve tried using zucchini slices instead of pasta sheets. It’s different but delicious!
Remember, camping is about balance. Our Dutch oven lasagna is a treat, but we make sure to include plenty of fruits and veggies in our other meals too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions we’ve gotten about this delicious dish.
How can I make a simple Dutch Oven lasagna while camping?
Making lasagna while camping is easier than you might think! We start by browning sausage in the Dutch Oven over the campfire. Then we layer noodles, meat, sauce, and cheese.
We cover the pot and place it on hot coals, with more coals on top. In about 30 minutes, we have a yummy lasagna ready to eat!
What’s a good campfire Dutch Oven lasagna recipe with cottage cheese?
We love using cottage cheese in our campfire lasagna! It adds a creamy texture and extra protein.
We mix the cottage cheese with an egg and some herbs. Then we layer it between the noodles and meat sauce. It melts beautifully and gives the lasagna a rich flavor.
Is there a way to make a vegetarian lasagna in a Dutch Oven over a campfire?
Absolutely! We make a tasty veggie version by swapping the meat for sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers.
We layer these with the noodles, sauce, and cheese. The veggies add great flavor and texture. It’s just as filling as the meat version!
Can I make lasagna in a Dutch Oven on a stovetop, and if so, how?
Yes, we can make Dutch Oven lasagna on a stovetop too! We use the same layering method as for campfire cooking.
We put the Dutch Oven on low heat and cover it. We cook it for about 45 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure it’s not burning.
It’s a great option for rainy days or indoor cooking.
What’s the trick to getting that perfect lasagna taste using a Dutch Oven outdoors?
The key is in the heat distribution. We use a Dutch Oven with legs and a flanged lid. This lets us put coals underneath and on top for even cooking.
We also make sure to use enough liquid in our sauce. This helps the noodles cook properly and keeps the lasagna from drying out.
Does anyone have a recipe for Dutch Oven lasagna similar to Joanna Gaines’?
We’ve tried a version inspired by Joanna Gaines’ recipe. We use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage for extra flavor. We also add a bit of cream cheese to the sauce for richness.
Layering is key – we do three layers of noodles, meat, sauce, and cheese. It turns out amazing every time!
