Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes

Name: Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 5 russet potatoes; 2 tbsp olive oil (+/- as needed); 2 tbsp coarse salt (+/- as needed)

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Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes are the perfect side dish for so many meals, even when camping or having a camp out using cast iron. A camp oven or Dutch oven makes perfectly tender potatoes every time.

You know what goes great with these baked potatoes, our Cast Iron Steak. Or along with all the traditional fixings, our Pulled Pork would be fantastic as well, making it a complete meal.

Baked potatoes in a camp oven. One is split open and topped with butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, and green onions.

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Why make baked potatoes in a Dutch Oven
Recipe ingredients:
How to make baked potatoes in a Dutch oven
How to serve:
Recipe FAQs
Other Related Camp Recipes
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Why make baked potatoes in a Dutch Oven

We know there's endless ways to make a baked potato ranging from tossing one in the microwave, to roasting in the oven. But when you're camping or simply having an outdoor cookout, neither option is available to you. Making them in a camp or Dutch oven is the way to go.

Recipe ingredients:

Ingredients for the recipe: russet potatoes, salt, and olive oil, which isn't pictured, and the optional toppings of butter, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Potatoes — russet potatoes make the best classic version of baked potatoes. They're also known as bakers and Idahos. If you're in the UK, they're called jacket potatoes.
Olive oil — the oil lends flavor to the skin but also allows the salt to adhere to the outside of the potato.
Salt — you can use kosher salt or basic table salt.
Optional Toppings — The possibilities are endless, but our favorites are butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, bacon, cheddar cheese, and green onions.

How to make baked potatoes in a Dutch oven

Preparing the coals

Heat coals in a charcoal chimney. Once they're hot, place approximately 12 coals on bottom (camp table, fire pit, etc). Then nestle the Dutch oven or camp oven on top of the coals.

Steps one through three for preparing the potatoes in collage form.

Step 1 — Apply a thin layer of oil all over the potato surface.

Step 2 — Liberally salt the entire potato. Repeat steps one and two for all the potatoes

Step 3 — Place the potatoes in the camp oven/dutch oven.

Pro Tip: Did you know it is not necessary to poke your potatoes with a fork before cooking them? We've all heard to prevent the potato from exploding we need to pierce it with a fork. Exploding potatoes are more a food urban legend than anything.

The exception to this is if you microwave them or if you've taken a super cold potato from the refrigerator and toss it right in a hot oven. Even the Idaho Potato Commission agrees.

Camp oven resting on coals on a camp table and topped with more coals.

Step 4 — Cover with the camp oven lid. Place heated coals over the entire lid. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Use a lid lifter when done.

Pro Tip: The size of your potatoes will determine how long they actually cook. Elongated but thinner potatoes will take about 45 minutes. Fatter and stouter potatoes could take as long as 75 minutes. They will be fork tender with no resistance when done.

Step 5 — Allow the potatoes to cool for several minutes before cutting and dressing them, as the steam will be incredibly hot.

How to serve:

All the standard toppings listed above
Top with your favorite chili, like our Dutch Oven Awesome Chili and cheese.
Your favorite BBQ meats like Smoked Boston Butt, smoked brisket, chopped beef, and more.
Stir in creamy Hot Pimento Cheese Dip or Skillet Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip.
Head south of the border with taco meat, chili verde, and other favorites.
Go lighter with diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and sliced avocado with some Greek yogurt.
If you end up with any extra baked potatoes or even want to make a few extra, you can always make these Potato Skins with Bacon & Cheddar Cheese.

A baked potato on a black plate with the camp oven, more cooked potatoes, butter, green onions, cheese, sour cream, and green onions around the table.

Recipe FAQs

Can this recipe be made in an oven?

Yes. While we were focusing on outdoor cooking, you can easily make this in your oven heated to 400°F and cook for the same amount of time as listed in the recipe.

Can I eat the potato skins?

Absolutely, that's where a lot of the vitamin and minerals are. We love them with a little butter. For taste preferences, you can omit the oil and salt on the outside of the skin before cooking.

How to store leftover baked potatoes?

Once they have completely cooled, wrap them in plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or in an air tight container for 3 to 5 days.

What's the best way to reheat already baked potatoes.

You can reheat them in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, but pierce them first. You can toss them in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. Or pop them in an air fryer for on 390°F for 3-5 minutes.

Baked potatoes ready to be served, one full dressed on a black plate.

If you tried these Dutch Oven Baked Potatoes or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

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5 from 8 votes