Camp Chili & Cornbread

August 25, 2014
Food,Recipes

Although it rarely happens nowadays, I love getting into the great outdoors. Nothing is more satisfying than coming back to a big camp fire after a long day of hiking and making a hearty meal. Last weekend a few friends and I went camping in Yosemite and we went a little overboard with the food, spending more time cooking and eating than doing anything else. I made this dutch oven chili and cornbread and it was a hit! The spicy and smokey chili soaks into the bottom of the sweet cornbread. Everything goes into one big pot and the only item that needs to be kept on ice is the beef and egg and milk for the cornbread. I used an 8-quart dutch oven for this meal, but if you have a smaller one, you can just cut down the ingredients. The whole point of this dish is for it to be easy. Also, I recommend seeking out chipotle powder if you can. It gives the chili a smokey flavor and a kick of heat!

Cast iron chili with corn bread

This is the only time you’ll ever see me condoning the use of boxed cornbread. But really, Jiffy boxed cornbread makes for pretty amazing camp grub.

Ingredients

Start by heating the coals and make a layer of hot coals in the pit. You’ll need a lot of hot coals for this because you want your pot to be very hot to sear the beef. Reserve about 20-25 hot coals on the side for the top of the dutch oven later.

Coals

Cook the ground beef until browned, breaking up the meat with a spatula. Add the bell peppers, onions and garlic and cook until the vegetables are softened. Then, add the chili powder, chipotle powder, cumin, oregano, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. The chipotle powder is spicy so if you don’t like heat, omit the chipotle powder.

Chili making

Add the can of beer (or water) and beans and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the chili starts to simmer again. Season the chili with salt and black pepper to taste.

Stirring chili

While the chili is simmering, make the cornbread in a bowl according to the package instructions. I used two packages of Jiffy cornbread mix here but you could use one. Even though it may not look like a lot of cornbread, the cornbread expands a lot so a little goes a long way. I wanted to have a thick layer of cornbread so I made more, but you could use less. Ladle the cornbread batter over the chili.

Corn bread over chili

Close the lid and place about 20 hot coals on top of the lid.

Top coals

After about 10 minutes check on to see if the cornbread is done by sticking a skewer through the batter. If it comes out clean, the chili is ready.

Corn bread

Remove the pot from the hot coals and serve by scooping a large spoonful of cornbread and chili into a bowl.

Cornbread scoop

This recipe will serve enough for 8 to 10 very hungry campers!

Camp chili with corn bread

Cast iron camp fire chili with corn bread | HonestlyYUM

CAMP CHILI & CORNBREAD

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds of ground beef
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 8 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1 28-oz can of diced tomatoes
  • 1 6-oz tomato paste
  • 1 16-oz can of kidney beans or black beans
  • 5 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons of ground chipotle powder
  • 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
  • 1 can of beer (or water)
  • 2 8.5-oz boxes of Jiffy cornbread (or any other corn bread mix you like)
  • (eggs and milk for the Jiffy cornbread mix)
  • Salt and black pepper

Directions:

  • Make a layer of hot coals on the ground.
  • Place the dutch oven over the coals and allow the dutch oven to get hot.
  • Cook the ground beef until it starts to brown, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
  • Add the onions, garlic, and bell pepper and continue to cook until the vegetables are softened
  • Add the chili powder, chipotle powder, cumin, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste.
  • Add the can of beer and beans and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Make the cornbread mix in a bowl and pour over the top of the chili.
  • Place the lid on top of the dutch oven and place about 20 hot coals over the top of the lid.
  • Cook for about 10 minutes and check to see if the cornbread is done cooking by lifting the lid and poking a skewer through the cornbread. If it comes out clean the chili is done.

(images by HonestlyYUM)

Conversation

Hi Karen, just leaving you a note. As you can see above, I made this 8 years ago and won a scout competition.

Just wanted to let you know, it’s still my favorite and go to chili recipes. Still wins hearts of anyone who eats it.

Hooray! A dutch oven recipe that actually provides campfire cooking info. 90% of the recipes I’ve seen are for stovetop only, and give absolutely no cooking time/briquette guidance. Good for you!

I have been making a similar recipe for years using 2 boxes of the Jiffy cornbread. Instead of milk for the cornbread try a can of creamed corn. Its a great addition with the kernels of corn in the bread and adds just enough liquid along with the eggs to make it how it should…Enjoy..

If I make the chili ahead of time and assemble at camp (basically reheating the chili), how many coals would you use on bottom?

Followed directions exactly and it turned out WONDERFUL! Adding to the all time hits list!

Just made this at the camp site…. cooked the chili on the camping stove and then the cornbread portion in the wood fire for 15 minutes.
AAAAHHHHHHMAZING!!!! Even my 5 and 7 year old ate it over the option of hot dogs!!!! Thank you for this delightful recipe!!!!

Hi Erik! We are going camping next week and I am wondering what you put the cornbread mix into to cook it over the wood fire? Thank you! 🙂

Hi! How would you suggest making this over a wood fire without coals? This sounds delicious!!

I’ve never tried making this over wood so sorry I won’t be of any help! Sorry!

Thanks for the great recipe. I’ve made it twice and everyone loves it. I also won best chili at a Boy Scout Dutch oven cook off with it.

I am most interested in trying your awesome-sounding recipe BUT prior to doing so, I have a couple of relevant questions.

The basis for my questions is…”one’s chili recipe will either be a bit moist or a bit dry.”

If using a dutch oven campfire-style (with briquets) and moist chili, (and using the 1/3rd bottom/2/3rd’s top concept), and a moist chili, the chili will a) steam a good bit and as it is b) under the cornbread layer, it will c) inhibit the firming of the bottom of the cornbread…which is already extra moist from the chili, resulting in d) a mushy layer between the cornbread and the chili. Not good…..

Conversely, if using a fairly dry chili recipe, and again the same dutch oven campfire-style (with briquets) and using the 1/3rd bottom/2/3rd’s top concept, the bottom of the chili layer will dry-up and/or burn the chili to the bottom of the dutch oven by the time the cornbread layer is cooked. In this case, the merging of the liquids where the chili and cornbread batter meet will be OK but the chili will burn or stick to the bottom of the DO. Not good……

As an moderately experienced dutch oven chef, I simply do not grasp haw to make this dish….at a campfire…without at least two or three trial attempts in order to gain sufficient experience with a) number of briquets on top/bottom, b) cooking time, c) chili moisture content, and d) batter moisture…so as to avoid either the bottom burning and/or the overly mushy consistency at the center between the two layers.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or modifications to this thought process would be most appreciated, as I am enthralled with the concept and want to use it Friday evening for a group of 10 folks…BUT I am reluctant to go-with-it without several test-runs.

Thanks in advance…..BillH

BILL, As a Dutch oven newbie this recipe was perfect. I even used my 12 ct. Not sure where your hangup is but her recipe was great. If you think you’re experienced then this should be very easy. I used a different size dish and added more beans and tomatoes. If your experienced with cooking you should always adapt a recipe to be your own. If it’s to watery sounding dont add more liquid. Easy.

With a 12″ you’re going to need 4 box’s of corn bread

A 12-inch dutch oven is an 8-quart deep. The recipe calls for 2 boxes for 8-quarts. 4 boxes would make a lot of cornbread! For my tamale pie (a very similar dish) in an 12-inch cast iron skillet, I use 1 box of Jiffy cornbread mix.

I made this when my family and I went camping with friends a few weekends ago. It was such a huge hit my 8 year old even went back for seconds. Thanks for a great recipe!

Is this spicy? I’m wondering if the kids will eat it. What can I do to make it less spicy and to add flavor for the adults?
Thanks

It is spicy, I would swap out using the chipotle powder and just use chili powder!

I want to make this so bad! But I don’t have a lid for my cast iron and it would be over a wood fire… Any chance it would turn out ok?

You could try covering tightly with double layer of foil. Hope it turns out!

I won first place in the Camp Scoutmaster Chili cook off with this. Thanks!!

I really came out just like the pics 😉

Can you simmer the chili a bit longer to develop flavors before baking the cornbread on top or is that not recommended because it would dry out?

About how many coals on the bottom? or is there a certain temp it should reach?? Just want to make sure I’m able to get it hot enough to cook the corn bread. Thank you. so excited to try this!

I do an even layer of coals. It’ll depend on how big your pot is. If it doesn’t get hot enough you can always lift the pot and add more to the bottom. Have fun!

Wow…this is beautiful ! …Cooking such a wonderful dish on a campfire is amazing ! Can’t wait for my next holidays ! Thank you so much for this idea !

What if I want to make this at home and NOT at a campsite?
How would I cook it? Like, what temp and for how long?
Looks good 🙂
Thanks

To make it at home I would just cook the chili according to the directions over med/high heat on your stove and then bake the chili with the cornbread over the chili in the oven according to the box directions and temperature. Hope you enjoy!

Do you have instructions for using the oven at home? YUM!

To make it at home I would just cook the chili according to the directions over med/high heat on your stove and then bake the chili with the cornbread over the chili in the oven according to the box directions and temperature. Hope you enjoy!

I love this idea!! What a dream of a recipe- one pot cooking, camping style. This is definitely going to come in handy this long weekend. 🙂

This looks SO good!!! I might even go camping just to have an excuse to making it…

Oh my goodness, you had me at “smokey chili” and “sweet cornbread.” As a native Southerner, I dig anything that you can dip delicious cornbread into. Smart use of a campfire! 🙂

If this is what camping looks like, I’m camping from now on. YUM.

You cook the cornbread on top of the chili? Oh my god, that’s amazing. Also, do you ever put maple syrup on your cornbread? It’s the best combination of flavors

oh man this seems like so much fun! Invite me next time? I’ll bring dessert. x

This is so fun! My husband’s been talking about camping after he gets back from Afghanistan and I won’t lie, I’ve been less than excited. But if I can make this, I’ll definitely go!

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