Well fall is definitely underway here in Colorado.  In fact it seems to have hit with a vengeance this year like it was mad summer even tried to show up.  But honestly this is a great time to camp. The mornings and nights get chilly sure but there’s not much better than waking up to a hot breakfast outside and I particularly like cooking with my cast iron dutch oven.  In fact I would say there is nothing better than breakfast period…and I am willing to argue that with you if need be. Regardless the following is a recipe I learned in scouts for a breakfast cooked in a cast iron dutch oven called Mountain Man Breakfast and you are about to learn exactly how to make it.  

First you will need a cast iron dutch oven.  I personally recommend this Barebones 12 inch cast iron because it is simply the highest quality dutch oven I have ever used but any dutch oven will do.  

You will also want a charcoal starter because it will make your life 10x easier when cooking in a dutch oven while camping.  But, let’s get to how to make this amazing masterpiece of a breakfast.

Breakfast Sausage

Your first ingredient is breakfast sausage.  I like a natural nitrate free version but just a normal tube of Jimmy Dean will work.  You want to put that into your dutch oven which is sitting over about 10 hot coals and let it cook down until you don’t see any pink.  

Hash Browns

Second ingredient is shredded potatoes which should go down on top of the sausage.  Again let these cook a bit to get some caramelization going, I’d say 10 mins. I like to shred sweet potatoes before I head out to camp but a bag of simple potato hash browns will work great.  

Onions and Green Chilis

Third and fourth ingredients are onions and green chilis.  We like to get our green chilis straight from Hatch NM through some people we know but again canned chilis work great and will still give you the flavor you are looking for.

Eggs

Fifth comes the eggs.  I typically put in a whole dozen and crack them in one at a time careful to not break the yolks but you could potentially just scramble them if you aren’t into yolks.  If you don’t break the yolks be ready for amazing just perfectly done yolks that you can mop up with hash browns and the 7th ingredient.

Cheese

The sixth ingredient is cheese, shredded cheese, way more than you think.  The more the better. You want a lot of cheese. Did I cover this well enough?  I think you get the point…cheese.

Biscuits

The final and seventh ingredient is biscuits.  I typically just use canned biscuits because they are easy to take camping but if you wanted to be fancy you could go homemade.  Either way you won’t be disappointed, trust me.

Once you have all of the ingredients layered up you put the lid on the dutch oven and put about 15 coals on top and let it cook for 20 or so minutes.  I suggest some coffee in your whiskey while you wait but really whatever floats your boat. And once its done you should have golden brown biscuits, gooey cheese, oozing eggs, spicy and flavorful onions and green chilies, all on top of hashbrowns and sausage.  I have never fed this to anyone and heard one complaint…even vegetarians, yup.

This is a great way to start a day of camping with a belly of warm food and if you are the one cheffing this up be prepared to be the camp hero.  Keep in mind you will need at least 4 people to finish this off and really double that is ideal. Many people call it quits on camping after labor day but there is still a ton of great camping to be had.  With a warm breakfast, a good fire and a great winter sleeping bag you can camp quite comfortably into fall and even winter if you so please. Be on the lookout for an upcoming post on how to select and buy a great winter sleeping bag.  

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Martin Upton

Martin is just an adventure loving guy, any adventure really, but he particularly loves the outdoors in Colorado.  Having grown up in Colorado for most of his life he has been camping since before he could walk.  When he isn’t out in the Colorado wilderness, camera in hand,  camping, hiking 14ers, rock climbing, snowboarding, or brewing beer he is a Marketing and Business Development Coordinator.  Martin has a personal motto that states “Don’t Die on the Couch” and he does his best to live up to it by getting out on an adventure every chance he gets. You can visit his blog at www.adventureactual.com and his photography site at www.southwestsunsetmedia.com  or follow along with his instagram @martysmash