Camping Corn Bread Dutch Oven ~ Easy Cornbread Recipe for Outdoors

Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Alice Benny

Making camping corn bread Dutch oven is easy to make when camping with a group. You can also make it outside at home around a firepit or fire. It relies on using corn bread mixes so it’s quick to prep. Cornbread is simple, moist and dense comfort food. 

Dutch ovens, known for even heat distribution, help create cornbread with a crispy, golden crust. A staple in American southern cuisine, you can enjoy cornbread as a side dish or as a light breakfast or snack with butter and jam. It’s delicious any time of day. 

What Type of Dutch Oven Is Best for Outdoors

When cooking outdoors over a fire, a camping Dutch oven is what you need. This is different than a home Dutch oven you would use in your oven in your kitchen.

Camping Dutch ovens are made entirely with cast iron and have support legs on the base. They also have a flat lid equipped with a flange. They can handle the high heat and intensity of charcoal and an open flame.

This cornbread recipe is based on a 12-inch Dutch oven with a 6-quart capacity. A shallow Dutch oven works better than a deeper one. Shallow Dutch ovens are ideal for baking breads and to me are more versatile if you are buying just one. However, if you have a deep one, feel free to use it; the recipe will still turn out well. It just may not have the browned top.

Be sure to keep fire safety when cooking outdoors.

Camping Corn Bread Dutch Oven Recipe

Making cornbread outdoors in a Dutch oven is a memorable and fun activity to enjoy with a scout troop or a group of friends. My kids made this in scouts while they were on a camping trip. Two boys worked on making the cornbread while others in patrol cut fruit, made chili, and made dessert.

You can also use these ingredients to make this in your kitchen oven in an indoor Dutch oven but here I focus on making it outside over a fire. This recipe takes you through the steps of making cornbread outdoors using a Dutch oven.

The result is a perfectly balanced sweet and savory loaf. It’s great with hearty chili or on its own. Whether you’re a pro cook or a beginner, you’ll find this recipe easy to follow. This serves 6 – 8 people when served as a side dish. 

Ingredients

• 4 packages Betty Crocker Corn Bread Mix
• 8 eggs
• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 15 oz can sweet cream corn, not drained
• Butter or vegetable oil to grease Dutch oven

Optional add-in ideas:

• 1/4 cup drained, sliced jalapenos or green chilies
• Or add 1 cup fresh berries

Equipment

• Medium bowl
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• 12-inch camping Dutch oven – shallow preferred but deep will work
• 8 briquettes
• 17 coals
• Lid lifter or oven glove

How to Make Corn Bread in Dutch Oven Outdoors

1. Set 17 – 20 coals on the lid and 8 – 10 briquettes under the oven.
2. Grease bottom and lower sides of Dutch oven.
3. Set on heat source to heat it up while you are combining ingredients. 
4. Crack and whisk eggs in medium bowl. 
5. Add sweetened condensed milk and full can of cream corn (do not drain).
6. Add corn bread mix and combine.
7. Pour in prepared Dutch oven. Cover.
8. Bake for 45 minutes.
9. When top of bread turns golden brown, test for doneness with fork.
10. Carefully remove Dutch oven from fire.
11. Scoop out and serve.

Serving Suggestions

Cornbread is versatile. You can serve it with many outdoor-friendly dishes. One of the most typical is a hearty chili which is also easy to prepare over a campfire. Other campfire stews or soups, such as chicken noodle or vegetable soup, also go well with cornbread.

Beyond soups and stews, you can also enjoy cornbread with barbecued or grilled foods. Campfire-cooked beans, with their earthy, sweet and savory flavors, make them a perfect partner for cornbread as well.

For a no-cook option, you can serve cornbread with a salad. Serve it alongside fruit with some butter and/or jam or preserves for breakfast. 

Tips for Making Camping Corn Bread in Dutch Oven

Here are some tips to ensure a successful baking experience:

Season the Dutch oven:

I think it’s best to preseason it at home instead of using time while camping but either will work. A well-seasoned Dutch oven is essential for even heating and non-stick cooking. If your oven isn’t pre-seasoned, you can season it yourself by coating it with a layer of oil and heating it over the campfire.

Monitor heat source:

Whether you’re using charcoal or wood embers, maintaining a consistent heat is key to a well-cooked cornbread. Monitor and adjust the heat source as needed, and remember that it’s better to cook slowly and evenly rather than rushing with high heat. This cornbread takes around 45 minutes to bake through.

Use a lid lifter:

A lid lifter will help you safely check on the cornbread without disturbing the heat source. It will help help the coals on the lid as you remove it as well. 

Rotate:

I wouldn’t recommend having kids or scouts do this because it will come out great regardless but if adults are cooking, you can rotate the Dutch oven mid-way through baking. It will help you bake a uniform crust.  

Check for doneness:

Cornbread is done when it starts to pull away from the sides of the Dutch oven. Insert a skewer, fork, or toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, it’s done, and you can remove it from the heat.

Carry necessary utensils:

You may already have everything you need in your chuck box. Be sure to bring a can opener, a good pair of heat-resistant gloves, a sturdy spatula for serving, and a cleaning tool for the Dutch oven. Having the basics will make baking and clean up easier. 

Plan ahead:

When I go camping with my family, we each rotate what meals we are in charge of. We prep as much as we can at home. When we go with Boy Scouts, each patrol makes a grocery list, and someone is in charge of buying the food. You hope everyone will bring what they are supposed to. 

What I like about making cornbread at camp is you can easily pack extra boxes of cornbread for just in case. We always bring lots of eggs for protein so it’s a good recipe in a pinch. If you make cornbread from scratch, you can measure the dry ingredients at home and put them in a Ziploc bag. 

Respect the environment:

Whether cooking for fun in your backyard or out at a campsite, follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Make sure your fire is fully extinguished. Clean up all cooking and food scraps. Also check in advance for fire bans.

FAQs

Should I preheat my cast iron for cornbread?

Yes, you can preheat your cast iron skillet while the oven is warming up. This will help ensure the skillet has evenly distributed heat when you add the batter.

Can you bake in a Dutch oven over a campfire?

Yes, if you use a camping Dutch oven, you can bake in a Dutch oven over a campfire. It should be made entirely of cast iron and have feet at the bottom. Do not use a home Dutch oven which is not suitable. You can suspend the oven over the fire with a tripod, place it on a campfire grate, or even put it directly on the embers.

Can you put a cast iron Dutch oven directly in a fire?

Yes, you can put a cast iron Dutch oven directly in a fire if it designed for camping. Camping Dutch ovens are designed to handle direct fire but indoor, household Dutch ovens are often coated with enamel to make cleaning easy. They can’t be placed in a fire.

Making Dutch Oven Corn Bread Over a Fire

There are many things you can cook outdoors in a Dutch oven. It’s fun to make with a scout troop or your family for a fun backyard outing. Just like roasting marshmallows is a fun activity, so is making foods outdoors. 

While making cornbread from scratch is certainly doable, I like using Betty Crocker Corn Bread Mix. It’s inexpensive and readily available as well as delicious.

Check out my other recipes:

• Au-gratin-potatoes
• Turnip greens
• White cheddar and red-onion dip

Featured camping cornbread Dutch oven image credit: sheri silver on Unsplash