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Dutch Oven Chili for Campfire Easy Hearty Outdoor Dinner Recipe

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A rich, hearty, and easy-to-make chili perfect for campfire or backyard cooking, delivering deep smoky flavors with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) canned diced tomatoes, no-salt-added preferred
  • 1 can (15 oz) canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup beef broth (240 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prep and assemble your ingredients: dice onion, mince garlic, drain and rinse kidney beans, measure spices, and have canned tomatoes and broth ready.
  2. Heat the Dutch oven over medium heat on a camp stove or fire tripod. Add olive oil and warm until shimmering.
  3. Add diced onion and sauté until softened and sweet, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Brown the beef until caramelized but not dried out, about 7 minutes. Spoon out excess fat if necessary.
  5. Stir in canned diced tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
  6. Cover and simmer the chili over low heat for 30–40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent sticking. Arrange coals evenly if cooking over a campfire.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or chili powder. If too thick, add broth or water; if too thin, simmer uncovered to reduce.
  8. Serve directly from the Dutch oven with optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions.

Notes

[‘Take your time browning the ground beef to develop deep flavor.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and quality chili powder for best taste.’, ‘Keep heat low during simmer to avoid burning.’, ‘Add salt gradually and taste as you go.’, ‘If chili is watery, simmer uncovered to reduce or add tomato paste to thicken.’, ‘Leftovers taste better the next day; reheat gently with added broth if needed.’, ‘This recipe is naturally gluten-free; verify broth and spices to avoid hidden gluten.’, ‘For dairy-free, omit cheese and sour cream or use alternatives.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Dutch oven chili, campfire chili, outdoor dinner, hearty chili, easy chili recipe, camping food, backyard fire pit meal

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/dutch-oven-chili-for-campfire-easy-hearty-outdoor-dinner-recipe/