There’s something truly special about Camp Oven Recipes in the great outdoors. Whether you’re camping off-grid or staying at a powered site, a camp oven is an essential piece of gear that opens up a world of possibilities. From simple damper to hearty stews and indulgent desserts, camp oven cooking brings warmth, flavour, and a touch of nostalgia to your trip.
These three easy oven recipes are perfect for any camping trip. They’re full of taste, simple to prepare, and guaranteed to bring people together around the fire. So, grab your flanged lid and pre-seasoned oven and prepare to cook something delicious on your next adventure.
1. Camp Oven Beef and Veg Stew
When it comes to comfort food, few meals beat a slow-cooked stew bubbling away in a camp oven. This recipe is full of meat, potatoes, veggies, and rich seasoning that will have the whole campsite coming over to ask what’s cooking.
Ingredients:
- 1kg beef chuck or lamb
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, cubed
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Mixed herbs (rosemary, thyme, parsley)
- Salt and pepper
Method:
Heat your pot over coals and fry the beef in batches until browned. Set aside.
Add a little oil to the pot and sauté onions and garlic until softened.
Return the meat to the oven with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, tomato paste and beef stock.
Stir to combine and season with herbs, salt and pepper.
Cover with the flanged lid and surround with coals for even heat.
Simmer gently for 2–3 hours, occasionally checking and stirring.
This warming meal is best served with rice, damper, or biscuits on the side. You can also throw in pumpkin, beans, or leftover roast chicken for extra bulk and flavour.
2. Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding
No camp menu is complete without desserts, and this chocolate pudding delivers rich flavour with minimal fuss. Made in your camp oven, it creates its own gooey sauce as it bakes — true perfection in the great outdoors.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ cup milk
- 60g melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
For the sauce:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa
- 1½ cups boiling water
Method:
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in milk, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour into your camp oven.
Mix the sauce ingredients and gently pour over the batter (do not stir).
Cover with the lid and place coals on top and bottom.
Bake for 35–40 minutes or until the top is firm and the sauce bubbles below.
Serve hot with a scoop of ice cream or sliced apples if available. It’s a fantastic way to end any meal around the fire.
1. Campfire Breakfast Skillet - Start Your Day Right​
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Nothing beats waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon and eggs cooking over the campfire. This hearty brekkie skillet combines all your morning favourites in one pan, making it perfect for feeding hungry campers before a day of adventure.
Ingredients:
- 4-6 rashers of bacon, chopped
- 2 large potatoes, diced into small cubes
- 1 brown onion, diced
- 1 capsicum (red or green), diced
- 4-6 eggs
- 100g tasty cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs (parsley or chives), chopped
- Optional: baked beans, mushrooms, or leftover snags
Method:
Prep your fire: Get a good bed of coals going – you want steady, medium heat rather than roaring flames.
Start the potatoes: Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-based pan. Add diced potatoes and cook for about 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally until they’re golden and nearly tender.
Add the bacon: Chuck in the chopped bacon and cook for 3–4 minutes until it starts to crisp up and render its fat.
Vegetables in: Add the onion and capsicum. Cook for another 5–6 minutes until the veggies are softened, and the potatoes are properly golden.
Season: Give everything a good season with salt and pepper.
Create wells: Use a spoon to make little wells in the mixture for your eggs.
Crack the eggs: Carefully crack each egg into a well. Cover the pan with a lid or foil and cook for 5–8 minutes until the egg whites are set, but yolks are still a bit runny (or longer if you prefer them firmer).
Cheese and herbs: Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and add your fresh herbs.
Rest and serve: Let it sit for a minute to let the cheese melt, then serve straight from the pan with buttered toast or damper.
Top tip: If your fire’s a bit too hot, move the pan to the edge of the coals or prop it up on a camp grill to control the temperature. The key is low and slow for the best results!
Serves 4-6 hungry campers. Perfect with a billy of tea!
Tips for Camp Oven Cooking Success
Cooking with a camp oven is simple once you get the hang of it. Here are a few tips to help you create perfect meals every time:
- Always preheat your oven before adding food.
- Use bottom heat and place more coals on top for baking and roasting.
- Turn the pot occasionally for even heat distribution.
- Use a trivet or line the base with sliced onions or vegetables to avoid burning.
- Keep the lid closed as much as possible to trap steam and heat.
- A flanged lid allows coals to sit securely on top, which is great for casseroles and desserts.
Not sure what gear to pack? Check out our camping equipment essentials for everything you need to make these recipes a success.
More Than Just a Meal
Camp oven recipes aren’t just about food — they’re about sharing, slowing down, and enjoying what the great outdoors has to offer. Whether it’s bacon and eggs sizzling in the morning or a roast with fresh veggies for dinner, these meals create memories that last long after the trip ends.
Cooking outdoors encourages creativity, too. You can stuff veggies with cheese, fry leftover damper as toasties, or create tasty stews using whatever fresh ingredients you’ve packed. Experimenting with new flavours and ingredients makes every meal an adventure.
And remember, food tastes better when it’s cooked over fire, served outdoors, and shared with friends or family.
Start Planning Your Flavour-Packed Getaway
With these three delicious recipes and a few simple ingredients, your next camping trip will be filled with warmth, taste, and unforgettable meals. Whether you’re after soups, casseroles, or desserts, a camp oven allows you to create just about anything — with nothing more than coals, a pot, and your imagination.
Find your local holiday park here and start your next adventure with amazing meals cooked right at your campsite.
