Campfire Dutch Oven Nachos Camping Recipe
Crispy tortilla chips are loaded with gooey cheese, savory taco meat, and all your favorite toppings, then cooked to melty perfection in a cast iron Dutch oven over hot coals. These are the ultimate campfire Dutch oven nachos!
If you’ve never made loaded campfire nachos before, buckle up, because this recipe is about to change the way you do camp cooking forever. These campfire nachos are so freaking delicious and make the perfect camping meal for my entire family!
After a long day of riding or hiking, they taste even better than the ones we have at the pub. This recipe makes the ultimate outdoor comfort food—no plate required!
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
Even if you aren’t heading into the great outdoors, these nachos work just as well at home on the BBQ or in the oven for a lazy weeknight dinner. Either way, expect a pile of cheesy nachos so good, you’ll be fighting over the last chip. Add this delicious recipe for cheesy nachos to your camping meal plan!
We make nachos for pretty much every occasion, so be sure to check out these air fryer nachos, tinfoil packet nachos, and skillet nachos too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe for Dutch oven nachos is a great way to feed a hungry crowd with minimal effort. Doing a little prep work ahead of time makes it a breeze to throw together at camp. I always like to have the ground beef seasoned, cooked, and stored in a large freezer bag to pack for our trip.
With layers of corn tortilla chips, melted cheese, and savory taco meat, it’s a full meal in one single pan. Plus, you can switch it up with different meat options, load it up with additional toppings, and make it as mild or spicy as you like.
This post contains affiliate links.
Tips for Camping Meal Preparation
- Prepare meals in advance at home whenever possible. Leave most of the mess at home, where running water is more accessible and cleanup is easier. Trust me on this one!
- Create “one pot” family style meals for quick dinners that don’t require a lot of thought.
- Use tinfoil packets, foil pie pans, or camp cookers. These tools help to make cleanup a breeze!
- Pack ingredients in 1-gallon freezer bags for flexible storage in small fridges and coolers.
- Plan meals that use similar ingredients to help make packing and planning easy. These cheesy vegetable campfire dip, loaded campfire cauliflower, and tinfoil packet nacho dip recipes are some of our favorites.
- Use my blank printable meal plan or camping meal plans to help organize your next trip.
Campfire Dutch Oven Nachos
Ingredients
- Ground beef, cooked and prepared at home – Prepping the meat before you leave makes your camping experience so much easier, trust me!
- Bell peppers, diced – I like to use a combination of green and red peppers for a pop of color and crunch.
- White onion, diced – Swap for red onion if you prefer.
- Jalapeno pepper, sliced – Totally optional, but if you like a little heat, these add the perfect kick.
- Nacho chips – Pick your favorite chips, but make sure they are sturdy enough to handle all those delicious toppings.
- Cheddar cheese, shredded – Go for pre-shredded cheese to save time.
- Sour cream – Because no nacho is complete without a creamy dollop on top.
- Salsa – Mild, medium, or hot, it’s up to you.
Instructions
1. Cook meat ahead of time at home with 1-2 tsp of taco seasoning. Let it cool and pack it in a large freezer bag for easy transport.
2. Line the bottom of a Dutch oven with parchment paper. This is optional, but makes cleanup a breeze!
3. Add a layer of chips, then a layer of cheese, taco meat, peppers, and onion. Repeat with a second layer or even a third if your Dutch oven allows.
4. Cook, covered, over the campfire or grill for 15-20 minutes or until all of the cheese has melted.
5. Top with sour cream, salsa, and any additional toppings you want. Dig in!
These campfire nachos are the perfect make-ahead meal for camping! I dice up all of the veggies and shred the cheese at home before we leave.
Then all I have to do is throw it all in the Dutch oven. Super quick, simple, and delicious!
Additional Toppings
- Try different kinds of cheeses, like Monterey jack, pepper jack, or a Tex Mex blend
- Refried beans
- Black beans
- Avocado slices
- Black olives
- Green chiles
- Green onions
- Pico de gallo
- Guacamole
- Fresh cilantro
Tips and Tricks
- Use tinfoil packets to make individual servings if you’re cooking for picky eaters.
- Add a little bit of liquid (like a splash of salsa) if you want a softer, gooier nacho experience.
- A lid lifter makes handling your Dutch oven over open flames way easier (and safer!).
- Layering is key—always start with a layer of chips and finish with a top layer of cheese for maximum melted cheese goodness.
- If using a camp stove, place your cast iron pan over low heat and cover with tinfoil to trap the heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these nachos in a disposable aluminum pan?
Absolutely! A disposable aluminum pan works great for this camping recipe.
What’s the easiest way to prevent soggy nachos?
Use sturdy tortilla chips, and don’t overload the layers with wet toppings, like pico de gallo, until serving.
Can I add black beans or refried beans?
Yes! Black beans or refried beans add extra protein and heartiness to these easy campfire nachos.
What’s the best cheese for nachos?
A mix of cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, and Mexican cheese blends give you the best cheese melt and flavor.
These cheesy nachos are a great option to add to your favorite camping recipes. Make them on your next camping trip and I guarantee your entire family will be thrilled!
If you love this easy recipe for campfire Dutch oven nachos, please give it a 5-star review and help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef cooked and prepared at home
- 2 bell peppers diced
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper sliced
- 1 large bag nacho chips
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- Sour cream
- Salsa
Instructions
- Prepare the ground beef at home and cook with 1-2 tsp of taco seasoning. Allow it to cool before placing into a large freezer bag for easy storage and packing.
- Line the dutch oven with parchment paper. This is optional but makes clean up a breeze!
- Layer nacho chips, beef, pepper, onion and cheese in the dutch oven. We usually have 2-3 layers of nacho ingredients.
- Cook, covered, over the campfire or grill for 15-20 minutes or until all of the cheese has melted.
Nutrition
