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Campfire Spaghetti Bake

Campfire spaghetti bake with a Dutch oven method for cheesy baked pasta and a golden, bubbly cheese top. Ground beef and spaghetti are layered with marinara, then baked over coals until the mozzarella melts and bubbles.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 760
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Campfire spaghetti bake
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can (24 oz) spaghetti sauce
  • 1 lb spaghetti, cooked
  • 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Cooking spray

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef
  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over campfire until cooked through, then drain excess fat. Look for no pink and a lightly browned surface.
Assemble the bake
  1. Mix the cooked spaghetti, browned beef, spaghetti sauce, half the mozzarella, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until evenly coated. The mixture should look glossy and well combined.
  2. Spray the Dutch oven with cooking spray, then add the spaghetti mixture. Spread it in an even layer so it bakes uniformly.
  3. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Aim for an even, full coverage layer so the top turns golden.
Bake over coals
  1. Cover the Dutch oven and place it on campfire coals with coals on top of the lid. Cook for 30-35 minutes until the cheese is melted and visibly bubbly.
Rest and serve
  1. Let the campfire spaghetti bake cool for 5 minutes before serving. The bubbling should calm slightly and the cheese should set just enough to scoop.

Notes

Pro tip: For the most even melting, keep the coals consistent—add extra coals on the lid only if the cheese top isn’t browning after about 20 minutes. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days; reheat until hot throughout. Freezing is yes—freeze in portions up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. For a lighter option, use ground turkey instead of ground beef.