5 Best Dutch Ovens for Camping

Why You Should Use a Dutch Oven for Camp Cooking

Dutch ovens are one of the best ways to cook while camping. Their heat tolerance and versatility enable you to cook almost any dish right at your campsite. Dutch ovens distribute heat evenly resulting in perfect desserts and moist, tender meats. If we had to pick just one camping cookware item, it would be a Dutch oven.

Enameled Cast Iron Vs. Cast Iron Dutch Ovens for Camping

The first big question you’ll ask yourself when shopping for Dutch oven is enameled or not. Our pick for camping is to go with a regular, non-enameled Dutch oven for campfire cooking.

While enameled Dutch ovens have some advantages over regular cast iron ovens, they are not recommended for use over an open flame. Getting the enamel too hot can soften and ruin it.

Most enameled Dutch ovens are rated for use up to 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, seasoned, regular cast iron Dutch ovens are generally rated for use up to 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are using a grill over a low flame or charcoals in a way that you can maintain a lower heat, an enameled Dutch oven can be an option. Most experts recommend keeping the enameled ovens at home and using cast iron for camping. Not only can the cast iron hold up to more heat, but it is more durable.

Pre-Seasoned Vs. Unseasoned Dutch Ovens

A lot of Dutch ovens used to come unseasoned. However, we were hard-pressed to find any that didn’t come pre-seasoned. Some campers prefer to still season the pre-seasoned Dutch ovens again before use. Seasoning your Dutch oven makes it non-stick and easier to use. Check out how to season your Dutch oven here.

What Size of a Dutch Oven to Use

Dutch ovens come in a large range of sizes. The smallest are 1/4-quart in size. The largest are 15-quart. Most people find a 5-7 quart oven suitable for their needs.

A general rule of thumb is to have 1 quart per person. So if you are preparing a recipe with 6 servings, you’ll want to have at least a 6-quart oven.

If you are making a recipe from our list of Dutch oven meals or desserts, a 6-7 quart size is usually what is called for in the recipe.

Other Considerations When Choosing a Dutch Oven Size

Another consideration when choosing a size is how much weight you can carry. Dutch ovens are already pretty heavy, weighing in around the 15 pound mark. Add your meal ingredients to that and you can end up with a pretty heavy oven! If you are going to use the Dutch oven at home in your oven as well as for camping, you should make sure that the one you purchase will fit inside your oven and on your stovetop.

The Best Dutch Ovens for Camping

Now that we have covered the main aspects of choosing a Dutch oven, let’s look at which are the best for camping. We have researched specs and reviews on tons of Dutch ovens to bring you this list of the best to choose from.

Gooutdoorscamping.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Our Top 5 Dutch Oven Picks for Camping

This table shows our top picks for camping Dutch ovens. Read more about each of them below the table. Click on any picture or link to shop.

1. Uno Casa Cast Iron Camping Dutch Oven

The Uno Casa cast iron Dutch oven is our top pick for a lot of reason. This oven was made specifically for camping so, it has everything we could ask for.

The legs were made for campfire cooking and are extra long and can sit right over your campfire while avoiding extreme heat. The lid doubles as a separate skillet giving you an extra cooking surface. When you aren’t using it as a skillet, the lid perfectly holds your hot coals for cooking.

The size is perfect for virtually anything you’d need to use your Dutch oven for. It is a 6-quart oven that measures 12 inches in diameter. This oven weighs in at a sturdy 17 pounds. It comes with your basic accessories: a tote bag, steel lid lifter, and a downloadable recipe e-book.

This Dutch oven has rave reviews from hundreds of our fellow campers. It cooks perfectly, is easy to upkeep, and is built to last. We think this is a great deal with the oven and accessories coming in under $75.

2. Overmont Camp Dutch Oven

The Overmont Dutch oven comes in at a close second to the Uno Casa for us. You have three sizing options for this particular Dutch oven. Choose from 4.4, 6, or 6.6-quart sizes. Like the Uno Casa, this oven features sturdy legs that are great for cooking over coals.

The lid doubles as a skillet and is flat on top which enables it to hold hot coals when using it as a lid. The built-in handle is made for campfire cooking and allows you to hang the oven over your open campfire with ease. Fellow campers have had really great experiences using this Dutch oven at camp and also at home on the stove. The price for the 6-quart option comes in just under $70.

3. Stansport Cast Iron Dutch Oven

This lightweight option is only 5.5 pounds making it practical for hiking or trail camping. This is our top pick if you are cooking for 1-2 people, making a small dessert, or need to carry your oven a long distance. At just under $25, this is a budget-friendly option that will last for years if taken care of.

4. Legend Cast Iron Dutch Oven

This is a slightly smaller option of Dutch oven that is a great camping cooker. The oven is 5-quart in size and weighs in at 12 pounds. The two things we don’t love about this oven are that it does not come with legs and there is no handle access on the top of the lid for a lifter. However, the absence of legs makes it easier to place on top of a grate or grill.

Another plus is the shape of the lid on this oven. It is more rounded and can be used either as a skillet or flipped over and used as frying pan. This Dutch oven is a great buy coming in under $50.

5. Bruntmor 7-Piece Cast Iron Dutch Oven Camping Cooking Set 

This cast iron cooking set is our favorite pick for beginners who need more than just a Dutch oven to get started cooking while camping. The set comes with a cast iron skillet, 4.5-quart Dutch oven, a saucepot, griddle plus a lid lifter and trivet. This is a great gift option or purchase for those who need more cooking space for larger groups or meal options.

The Dutch oven does not have legs but does have a wire hanger to use over a campfire. This whole set with a storage box comes in under $160.

Dutch Oven Care

Cast iron can be intimidating to use. However, once you learn how to clean and care for it properly, it really is easy.

You’ll want to clean your Dutch oven after use. Disposable liners and aluminum can help keep your cleanup to a minimum. You can use a mild soap when cleaning if needed.

After cleaning, while the Dutch oven is still warm from cooking, coat it with a thin layer of oil. Peanut and canola oil are popular options to season a Dutch oven with due to their high smoke points.

Check out these Dutch oven meal recipes to get started.