How to Make Delicious Dutch Oven Pizza

Dutch-oven cooking brings to mind recipes that are low and slow (think spicy chili or hearty soups), but did you know you can also use this classic kitchen tool to make pizza? We’ll show you how to make delicious Dutch oven pizza using hot coals, a cast-iron Dutch oven, and two simple recipes.

How to Cook With a Dutch Oven

The most important part of cooking with a Dutch oven is the campfire. Before you start preparing food or ingredients, build a fire. It’ll need to burn down to hot coals before you can cook over it.

Once you have hot coals, you can preheat the Dutch oven by placing it on the coals. (Not all recipes require you to preheat, but most pizza recipes do.) It’s best to use a cast-iron Dutch oven that’s specifically designed for campfire cooking. The legs on the bottom keep it raised above the coals, and the lid has a rim to keep the top coals in place.

When it’s time to cook, remove the lid and place the pizza inside. Replace the cover and scoop a few hot coals on top.

What You’ll Need

The supplies depend on the recipe, but here are some items you’ll need if you make one of the recipes below:

• Cast-iron Dutch ovens are available in several sizes, but our recipes use a 12-inch Dutch oven. A smaller size will work, you’ll just have a thicker crust that’s smaller in diameter.
• A pair of fire-safe tongs can be used to move hot coals and place them on top of the lid.
• These are useful for handling a Dutch oven and for removing and replacing the lid.
• If you don’t have fire-resistant gloves, a lid lifter may come in handy.
• Using parchment paper underneath the pizza makes it easy to put it in and take it out of the Dutch oven. It also prevents the crust from sticking and makes clean-up easier.

Recipes

If you want to make homemade pizza on your next camping trip, we have two recipe options for you: quick & easy or gourmet.

Quick & Easy Dutch Oven Pizza

This simple pizza recipe requires minimal prep time because it uses store-bought pizza dough. It’s also easily adaptable for individual tastes. Replace the standard pizza sauce with some pesto or alfredo sauce. Swap in cheddar for the mozzarella. Or use any number of pizza toppings that aren’t listed here. (Just keep in mind that the more toppings you add, the more cook time the pizza may need.)

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons cornmeal
• 1 (13.8-oz) package refrigerated pizza dough
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Optional toppings: pepperoni slices, precooked sausage, sliced mushrooms, sliced onions, diced peppers

Directions:

1. Prepare a fire and let it burn down to hot coals. (More detailed instructions above.) Place a 12-inch Dutch oven (with lid) on the hot coals so it can preheat.
2. Cut a piece of parchment paper that’s about 16×16 inches and lay it flat on a cutting board. Sprinkle cornmeal over the parchment paper. Roll out the pizza dough into a circle that’s about 12 inches in diameter. (If you don’t have a rolling pin on hand, you can use a water bottle or use your fingers to stretch the dough into a circle.) Use a fork to poke holes across the crust (to prevent bubbles as it bakes).
3. Spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border. Top the pizza with Italian seasoning, shredded mozzarella cheese, and desired toppings.
4. Place the pizza inside the hot Dutch oven by lifting the sides of the parchment paper. Replace the lid, but leave it cracked so steam can escape. (Otherwise you may end up with soggy pizza.) Place a few hot coals on top. Cook the pizza for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is baked and the cheese has melted.
5. Remove the Dutch oven from the coals and allow the pizza to cool slightly before serving.

Gourmet Margherita Dutch Oven Pizza

For a pizza that’s a bit more fancy, use made-from-scratch dough and top it with fresh mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. For simplicity’s sake, make the dough at home, then chill it in a refrigerator or cooler until it’s ready to use.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 2½ teaspoons instant yeast
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cornmeal
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced into rounds
• A handful of fresh basil leaves

Directions:

To make the pizza dough

1. In a small bowl, stir together the water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and olive oil.
3. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms. Then knead the dough a few times, adding extra flour if the dough is too sticky.
4. Form the dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. You can store the dough in the refrigerator for a couple days or keep it in the freezer until you plan to use it. (If you plan to use it on a camping trip, store it in a cooler or—if you have an RV—a refrigerator.)

To make the pizza

1. Prepare a fire and let it burn down to hot coals. (More detailed instructions above.) Place a 12-inch Dutch oven (with lid) on the hot coals so it can preheat.
2. While waiting for the coals to be ready, remove the pizza dough from the cooler or refrigerator. Unwrap the plastic wrap and place the dough on a cutting board or in a bowl. Allow it to rise for about an hour.
3. Cut a piece of parchment paper that’s about 16×16 inches. Lay the parchment on a cutting board and sprinkle the cornmeal across it. Using a rolling pin or water bottle, roll out the pizza dough into a 12-inch circle. Poke the surface of the pizza dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles from forming.
4. Spread the pizza sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1-inch border. Top the pizza with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mozzarella slices, and basil leaves.
5. Place the pizza inside the hot Dutch oven by lifting the sides of the parchment paper. Replace the lid, leaving it cracked to allow steam to escape. Place a few hot coals on the lid. Cook the pizza for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is baked and the cheese is melted.
6. Remove the Dutch oven from the coals and allow the pizza to cool slightly before serving.