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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Camp Oven Recipes

    Dutch Oven Lasagna

    Published: Sep 20, 2019 ยท Modified: Jun 29, 2021 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 34 Comments

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    Dutch Oven Lasagna has all the flavor of your favorite lasagna but is made in your cast iron Dutch oven or camp oven over coals.

    Can't get enough camping recipes? Then try our Mountain Man Breakfast or Sausage Peppers and Rice.

    The lid being raised off the camp oven with the charcoal on top revealing the cooked lasagna.
    Jump to:
    • What is Lasagna
    • Campfire Lasagna
    • What's the difference between a Dutch Oven and a camp oven?
    • How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna
    • Cast Iron Italian Recipes
    • Our favorite tools to make Camp Oven Lasagna!
    • Other Camping Dutch Oven Recipes
    • Get the Recipe

    This is one of my all time favorite recipes and is a very good "starter recipe" to begin cooking with a Dutch oven and can be done in a liner or no liner.

    What is Lasagna

    Lasagna is one of the oldest types of pasta dishes from Italy. Lasagna is actually the singular form of the pasta, meaning one individual flat sheet of pasta. The actual dish in Italy is called lasagne. However, the English name for the dish, lasagna, has now infiltrated internationally and in many parts of Italy, you'll see it called lasagna on the menu.

    A slice of camp oven lasagna on a spatula ready to be plated.

    Campfire Lasagna

    Maybe the Boy Scouts made it famous, but this camping lasagna recipe is very popular. It's hearty and filling after a long day of outdoor activities and is ready to eat in an hour.

    What's the difference between a Dutch Oven and a camp oven?

    Both cooking vessels are made out of cast iron. Some Dutch ovens are enameled both on the inside and outside and are also referred to as French ovens. Camp ovens are cast iron but have feet for sitting on the ground or nestled into a bed of coals or in a fire.

    Both the non-enameled Dutch ovens and camp ovens are perfect for any outdoor cooking. However, you won't want to use a camp oven indoors on the stove or in the oven.

    Dutch Oven Lasagna ready to be served.

    How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna

    Before you begin, read through the recipe card in its entirety. I have provided directions for making this in the traditional Dutch oven or using the cast iron camp oven with coals.

    The process is similar but there are some prep to make the construction a bit easier if cooking out doors.

    Ground beef being cooked in the dutch oven with onions and seasonings.

    Brown the meat, onions, and seasonings in your cast iron, draining off all the renderings.

    The cooked and drained ground beef and onions has been transferred to a stainless steel bowl.

    Remove the ground beef and onions from your cast iron and put into a large oven. We're going to construct the lasagna in the same dutch oven used to brown the meat. You can use a skillet to brown the meat, but why dirty another item.

    Pasta sauce has been added and mixed into the seasoned ground beef.

    Add the pasta sauce to your seasoned ground beef. I recommend between 22 and 24 ounces of sauce, which is your standard jarred size, but if using homemade, you'll want to measure it out. You don't want too much or your lasagna will be too saucy and not hold up well. Unless you're a saucy person, then add your desired amount. Set this aside and let's get cheesy.

    Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese,  mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning has been added to a green bowl.

    Add the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and Italian seasoning to a bowl. Remember we've divided our seasoning and our cheeses for various layers, so take note when adding.

    The cheeses and herbs have been smoothed together inside a green bowl.

    Smooth the cheeses and herbs together to make the cheesy filling.

    How to Construct a Lasagna

    Dried/uncooked lasagna noodles have been placed in the bottom of the camp oven, some are broken to fit the roundness of the vessel.

    Now we're going to begin the construction of our camp oven lasagna. Layer the bottom of the vessel with lasagna noodles, placing the whole long pieces in first then breaking other noodles to fill in the spaces.

    This is the one time you don't have to handle that box of dried noodles like it's precious cargo because you're going to need broken pieces.

    The meat sauce has been spooned evenly over the bottom or first layer of lasagna noodles.

    Spread about a third of meat mixture evenly over the noodles. It's not a work of art, but you really don't want any holes.

    Dollops of the cheese filling is being spooned over the meat mixture.

    Spread half of the cheese mixture over the meat sauce. Adding it by the spoonful or in dollops is easier for smoothing it out without mixing it into the meat layer.

    The cheese layer has been smoothed out over the meat sauce.

    The cheese layer has been smoothed out over the meat sauce, again, it's not the prettiest, but we're only after the tastiest in this Dutch oven lasagna. And if you're making this a campfire lasagna, no one is ever after pretty, only hearty and delicious.

    Another layer of dried/uncooked lasagna noodles have been added to the dutch oven.

    Layer another five or so uncooked noodles over the cheese layer, breaking some to make them fit.

    The final portion of meat sauce has been layered over the top layer of dried lasagna.

    From here you'll "lather, rinse, repeat" with another third of the meat, the remaining cheese mixture, more noodles, and finally the last third of the meat.

    Pramesan and mozzarella cheeses have been added to the top layer of the now contructed lasagna.

    Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the now fully layered lasagna.

    Water has been added to the lasagna and is just visible at the surface of the pasta.

    Pour the water. It will not fully cover the lasagna but it will be visible at the surface of the cheese.

    Camp oven with lid sitting on a bed of coals on the camp table with coals on the lid.

    Place the lid on the Dutch oven and cover with hot coals. Cook for an hour.

    Cooked camp oven lasagna resting on the camp table.

    Carefully remove the coals and lid; allow the lasagna to rest for at least 10 minutes off heat before serving. Garnish, serve, and enjoy.

    Freshly cooked Dutch oven lasagna garnished with fresh basil.

    Cast Iron Italian Recipes

    Looking for other delicious Italian inspired recipes to make in your cast iron, you'll love these:

    Balsamic glazed chicken thighs, olives, artichokes, and tomatoes in a cast iron skillet
    • Mediterranean Chicken from The Complete Savorist
    • Dutch Oven Pizza Pasta
    • Sausage Stuffed Peppers
    • Manicotti Pasta Bake
    • Dutch Oven Baked Ziti
    • Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs
    • Skillet Chicken Cacciatore from The Complete Savorist
    A slice of Dutch oven pizza pasta that looks like a slice of pepperoni pizza.

    Our favorite tools to make Camp Oven Lasagna!

    Image of 12" Lodge Camp Oven - 6 Quart

    12" Lodge Camp Oven - 6 Quart

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    Buy Now →

    Other Camping Dutch Oven Recipes

    • Cola Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake has cooled, garnished with fresh cherries and mint, and is ready to be served.
      Cola Chocolate Cherry Cake
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      Caramel Apple Dump Cake
    • Speared chicken, carrot, and potato wedge covered in gravy on a fork.
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    • Peach Dump Cake in the cast iron camp oven.
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    If you tried this Dutch Oven Lasagna 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!

    Get the Recipe

    The camp oven lasagna has cooked, rested, and been garnished with fresh basil and is ready to serve.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 17 votes

    Camp Oven Lasagna

    Dutch Oven Lasagna has all the flavor of your favorite lasagna but is made in your cast iron Dutch oven or camp oven over coals.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Resting Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 774kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Cost: $26
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 12" camp oven OR 6 qt. Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs ground beef lean 93%
    • 2 cups onion finely diced, 1 large usually
    • 2½ tablespoon Italian seasoning blend divided
    • 1½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt to taste
    • ½ black pepper to taste
    • 23 oz spaghetti sauce 2 jars
    • 12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese divided
    • 2¼ cups ricotta cheese
    • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 13 lasagna noodles uncooked
    • 1¼ cups hot water
    • 1 tablespoon fresh basil or parsley chopped (optional)
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    Outdoor Camp Oven

    • Heat coals in a charcoal chimney.
    • Once hot, place 12 coals on bottom (camp table, fire pit, etc).
    • Nestle camp oven on top of the coals.
    • Lasagna Construction (see below)
    • Cover with the camp oven lid.
    • Place heated coals over the entire lid.
    • Check for doneness by using a lid lifter, if not done, cook up to an additional 15 minutes.
    • When done, remove from coals and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.

    Indoor Dutch Oven

    • Pre-heat oven to 350°F
    • Lasagna Construction (see below)
    • Cover with the Dutch oven lid.

    Lasagna Construction

    • Brown the ground beef, onion, 2 tablespoon Italian Seasoning Blend, garlic, salt, and pepper.
    • Remove beef and add to large mixing bowl, discard any renderings from camp oven.
    • Add the spaghetti sauce to the beef and mix well; set aside.
    • In additional large bowl, add the ricotta cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 9 oz mozzarella cheese, and remaining Italian seasoning; mix well.
    • Layer the camp/Dutch oven with four lasagna noodles so that they fit in the bottom; breaking as necessary to fit and fill holes.
    • Spread โ…“ of meat mixture evenly over the noodles. 
    • Spread ยฝ of the cheese mixture evenly over the meat mixture. 
    • Place five noodles so that they fit on top of the mixture breaking as necessary to fit and fill holes. 
    • Spread another โ…“ of the meat mixture evenly over the noodles. 
    • Spread the remaining cheese mixture evenly over the meat mixture. 
    • Layer the remaining noodles and place over the cheese mixture breaking as necessary to fit and fill holes.
    • Spread the remaining meat mixture evenly over the noodles. 
    • Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over top. 
    • Pour the hot water around the edges of the lasagna. 
    • Cook for 60 minutes.
    • Check for doneness per cooking method.
    • Allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.
    • Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.  Serve and enjoy.

    Video

    Notes

    Camp oven Notes:
    You may also use a separate 12″ cast iron skillet to cook the beef, onion, and seasonings.
    For ease during camping, I recommend precooking the beef, onion, and seasonings before trip begins.
    You can use your standard 12” Dutch oven when cooking at home.
    For ease during camping, I recommend pre-dividing and mixing the two dried cheeses.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 774kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 1076mg | Potassium: 875mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1046IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 502mg | Iron: 5mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!
    The perfect slice of camp oven lasagna on a spatula ready for plating and serving.

    This post has been updated from its original May 16, 2017 publishing with new photography, content, and clarified recipe directions.

    Camp oven lasagna has finish cooking and is resting. Original May 16, 2017 image.

    More Camping Dutch Oven Recipes

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      Baked Mexican Spaghetti

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 17 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Marie

      July 08, 2024 at 2:08 pm

      I hope you'll see this message soon; hoping to make this recipe this weekend. Clarification needed: in some places, the notes say 1 (one) jar of spaghetti sauce (24 oz), but the recipe card itself says 2 jars. Other recipes I've seen call for 2 jars, but no water. So for THIS recipe, is it 1 jar or 2? And if only 1, is the purpose of the water to compensate for less sauce? Hope this all makes sense! Excited to try this.

      Reply
      • Ned Adams

        July 08, 2024 at 2:09 pm

        This should be 2 jars. I apologize for the confusion, I will update the recipe to clarify better. Thank you for asking!

        Reply
    2. Vicky

      June 27, 2024 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      Just made this Dutch Oven Lasagna for a cozy family dinner night and it was a huge hit! The layers of flavor were perfection - definitely bringing the comfort food game to a whole new level!

      Reply
    3. Lana

      June 27, 2024 at 9:06 am

      5 stars
      Dude, words cannot express how much I loved this. Simple but delicious, definitely making it again.

      Reply
    4. Kelley

      June 27, 2024 at 8:46 am

      5 stars
      This was such a fun recipe to make over an open fire! Tasted so much better than baking in the oven!

      Reply
    5. Paula

      June 24, 2024 at 10:36 am

      5 stars
      I was so excited to try my hand at dutch oven lasagna. This tasted amazing!

      Reply
    6. kushi

      June 24, 2024 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      This dutch oven lasagna looks fantastic. Can't wait to try it this way. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    7. Beth

      June 24, 2024 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      My husband just got me a new cast-iron Dutch oven, and this is going to be the first thing I make in it. It looks delicious!

      Reply
    8. Kathleen

      June 24, 2024 at 9:04 am

      5 stars
      This looks and sounds incredible! I love that you can make this while camping. I can't wait to impress my family with this one. Yum!

      Reply
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    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

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