Campfire Stew

Campfire stew is a comfort food at its best, whether you're out in the great outdoors building a campfire or cooking indoors on the stovetop with a Dutch oven. The combination of beef and vegetables along with herbs and spices make this one-pot dish an easy way to feed your campers.

Why You'll Love Campfire Stew

Campfire stew on the stovetop is a great way to whip up a cozy meal for any occasion. With its blend of savory ingredients and hearty flavors, this dish will become a staple in your kitchen. And you can customize it to your liking, adding more vegetables or adjusting the spices to make it right for you. Since you’re making campfire stew on the stovetop instead of an open flame, there is no need to worry about safety or mess. And this stew's vibrant colors will impress even picky eaters.

Is this Recipe Healthy?

Yes, this campfire stew recipe is a healthy option. It uses beef chuck as the main protein source, which is a lean cut of beef. You can reduce the fat even more by trimming off the visible fat before cooking it and skimming off the hard fat that accumulates at the top of the stew after refrigeration.

The olive oil provides heart-healthy fats while the fresh vegetables add fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Potatoes are rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, and potassium. Carrots are high in vitamin A, and flat green beans are a good source of vitamin C and vitamin K.

Herbs like rosemary and thyme provide antioxidants to help protect your body against disease-causing free radicals. All in all, this dish is a great way to enjoy a flavorful meal that will provide you with plenty of nutrition.

How to Make Campfire Stew

Prep the veggies and beef:

1. Peel and dice or slice the onion, carrots, and celery.
2. Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
3. Peel and cube the potatoes.
4. Cut off the ends of the flat beans and cut the beans into small pieces.
5. Cut the beef chuck into bite-sized pieces. You can also ask the butcher to cut it for you.

Prepare the stew:

1. Heat some olive oil in the Dutch oven. Add the beef pieces and season with salt and pepper. Cook for a couple of minutes until the beef pieces are browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
2. Heat more olive oil in the Dutch oven and add the carrots, onion, garlic, and celery. Cook until golden and fragrant (around 10 to 15 minutes).
3. Add the seared beef back to the Dutch oven. Add the rosemary, thyme, tomato paste, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.
4. Add the beef stock and flat beans. Cook for 1 hour on low heat.
5. Add the cubed potatoes and cook until the potatoes are soft.

Tips & Variations for Campfire Stew

When making campfire stew, there are several tips that can help create the best possible result.

• Cook the stew with the lid on so the liquids don’t evaporate too much. You want to have enough liquid to cook the potatoes in the end.
• Don’t add the potatoes in the beginning or they will disintegrate. They don't need to cook as long as the other vegetables.
• Cut the Worcestershire if you can't find it, but the addition of this classic sauce to your pantry will maximize the flavor of stews and many other dishes. 
• Try using cubed chicken or pork in the stew instead of beef.
• Try a variety of vegetables in the stew, such as mushrooms, zucchini, diced tomatoes, or bell peppers.
• Add different types of beans, such as black beans or kidney beans.
• For added flavor and spice, incorporate chili powder and/or cumin into the mix.

More Soup and Stew Recipes

• Ginger Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Soup
• Instant Pot Mexican Black Bean Soup
• Classic Beef Stew in Beer Sauce
• Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Campfire Stew FAQs

Bottom Line

Campfire stew is a comfort food that you can enjoy either by the campfire or on the stovetop. It is a mix of hearty beef, healthy vegetables and herbs, and flavorful sauces. Make sure to try some of the variations suggested to make this dish your own.

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