Campfire Hot Dog Stew

With this Campfire Hot Dog Stew, you can serve up a fun and tasty camping meal or a hearty meal to serve a crowd without breaking the bank. This budget-friendly recipe combines the convenience of hot dogs with a medley of vegetables, pasta, and savory broth. And you don’t need an actual campfire for this. You can make this stew in a Dutch oven over a campfire or camp stove, or in a pot on your indoor stove. {And if you like one-pot campfire recipes, be sure to check out my recipe for Pumpkin Turkey Chili.}

This Campfire Hot Dog Stew is inspired by the Depression Era recipe known as Hoover Stew. Just like its predecessor, this dish makes the most of simple, readily available ingredients to create a filling and flavorful meal. In my updated version, however, this basic stew is kicked up a notch with additional vegetables, herbs, spices, and cheese.

What I love about this hot dog stew is that the ingredients are basic and customizable. You can swap out ingredients and seasonings to suit your taste. Plus, these are all ingredients that are easy to pack and take with you should you decide to make this recipe for a camping trip.

The ingredient list for Campfire Hot Dog Stew is simple.

Hot Dogs – Hot dogs give a smoky, meaty flavor to this stew. I prefer all-beef hot dogs but use any type of hot dog you prefer. You can even swap out the hot dogs for smoked sausage like kielbasa. For a vegetarian option, replace the hot dogs with 1-2 cans of kidney beans.

Onion – Onions help to give this stew great flavor. I like to use sweet onion, but any onion will work in this recipe.

Garlic – I like to use freshly minced garlic, but garlic powder or granulated garlic will work in a pinch.

Carrots – Carrots give a pop of color and a subtle sweetness to balance the savory flavors of the stew. Fresh carrots work best, but you can also use canned or frozen. 

Potatoes – Potatoes are an inexpensive ingredient that helps to bulk up the stew and make it hearty and filling. Use any type of potato that you prefer.

Pasta – Just like potatoes, pasta adds starch and acts as a filler. I like to use short pasta like elbow macaroni or rotini rather than long strands of spaghetti.

Canned Diced Tomatoes – Diced tomatoes add savory flavor and acidity to the stew, balancing its richness. You can use any canned diced tomatoes that you like. For extra flavor, try using diced tomatoes with added herbs and spices, like chili-ready tomatoes, or fire-roasted tomatoes.

Corn Kernels – Sweet and crunchy, corn kernels add a pop of sweetness and texture to the stew. Fresh, frozen, or canned corn will all work. If you prefer, you can use beans in place of the corn. You can also use a mix of beans and corn.

Beef Broth – Beef broth forms the flavorful base of the stew, infusing it with depth and richness. Since hot dogs tend to be salty, I like to use reduced sodium broth for the best results. You can always add salt to the finished stew if needed.

Shredded Cheese -This is an optional ingredient, but let’s be honest, a little cheese makes everything better. Use whatever cheese you like, but I prefer sharp shredded cheddar cheese.

Seasonings – I typically use a combination of seasonings. I like to use an all-purpose blend like Morton Nature’s Seasons or Lawry’s, along with chili powder, and a bay leaf. 

Tips for making Campfire Hot Dog Stew:

• This recipe is a basic roadmap to making an inexpensive stew for camping or to feed your family. Feel free to adjust the ingredients and seasonings according to what you like and what you have on hand. Add vegetables or beans, or leave out ingredients you don’t like. 
• If you are experienced at cooking in a Dutch oven over a campfire or hot coals, this is a great recipe for that. Otherwise, you can go ahead and prepare it in a pot over a camp stove, or, if cooking at home, make it on the cooktop. 
• For the best and tastiest results, fry the vegetables and hot dogs for a few minutes in butter before adding the rest of the stew ingredients. 
• Store any leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days. 

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If you try this recipe for Campfire Hot Dog Stew (aka Hoover Stew), I hope you love it. And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram so you don’t miss a post. 

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