How to Make Easy Campfire Pizza

It is officially camping season and time to think about making food outside. This recipe for easy campfire pizza is perfect whether you are camping, grilling outside or cooking in your kitchen. These steps show you how to cook this delicious pizza over a campfire using a Dutch oven or large cast iron skillet. You will need a lid for the cast iron that you can place the charcoal on. Not only is this recipe tasty, it is super fun to make and your kids will love it!

Camping food does not have to be burgers and hot dogs, it can be delicious simple pizza along with a whole bunch of other delicious ideas you can find in The Culinary Camper.

1 store bought pizza dough

1 c. fresh or canned sliced mushrooms

1/2 c. sliced olives

1 c. cooked chicken sausage

1/2 to 1 c. canned or pre-made pizza sauce

1 c. mozzarella cheese shredded

Before you look at the ingredients, get your fire started so that the coals have time to glow. I usually start a wood fire and add the amount of charcoal I want to use to the outskirts of my fire. This sets them on fire and while they are cooking down, you can go prep your pizza.

A little trick here is to get your dough out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes prior to when you plan to use it. Cold dough is not as pliable and will be difficult to work with. As it warms up to room temp, the dough will be easier to work with and will stay its shape when you roll it out.

Evenly spread pizza sauce over the dough. You can use as much or as little sauce as you like, this is really personal preference.

Sprinkle about a 1/4 cup of cheese on the sauce. You don't want to spread too much cheese at this point, you only need enough cheese so that the rest of your ingredients have a good foundation to stick to. More cheese will be added as a final step.

Place the mushrooms, olives, and sausage on next. If you prefer other ingredients then use those instead. Try to spread your ingredients evenly so there are no large mounds in any spot.

At this point, you can add as much cheese as you like. Be aware though that too much cheese may make it harder for the ingredients beneath it to get hot and cook, but who am I kidding, more cheese is delicious!

Bake at 425° F for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is slightly brown. If using a Dutch oven place about 21 coals on top and 10 on the bottom for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is slightly brown. If you want to do this pizza in an oven just bake at 425° F for about 20 minutes.

Let the pizza stand for 2 to 5 minutes so that the cheese doesn't run everywhere when you cut it.

For more recipes like this one, see the Culinary Camper's website here: http://culinarycamper.com/recipe-items/easy-campfire-pizza/