Cooking over an open fire is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable experiences you can have in the great outdoors. And one of the best things to make over a campfire is chili.

On a recent trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, we discovered that it gets pretty cold in mid-September, but that didn’t stop me from cooking up a storm.

Join us on the adventure in this video and then check out the detailed recipe below:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef

• 1 can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 can of tomato sauce

• 1 onion, diced

• teaspoon of chili powder

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 habanero chili pepper, diced

• 2 dried red chili peppers, diced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

Instructions:

1. Heat a cast iron dutch oven over the campfire. Add the olive oil.

2. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot. Cook until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the chili powder, diced habanero chili pepper and dried red chili peppers to the pot, along with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well. (Not a fan of spicy food? Skip the habanero chili pepper.)

5. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans and tomato sauce to the pot. Stir well.

6. Cover the pot with a lid and place hot coals on top of the lid to create an oven-like environment. Cook for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the chili has thickened and the flavors have melded together.

7. Toast some bread over the fire so you can sop up all that chili goodness.

8. Serve the chili hot, topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and diced jalapeño peppers, if desired.

If you're planning a camping trip soon, give this chili recipe a try. It's easy to make, and absolutely delicious. Don't forget to pack your cast iron dutch oven and some charcoal!

BONUS: Learn about Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is located in the state of Maine, on the eastern coast of the United States. It encompasses over 49,000 acres of land, including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut, and a number of smaller islands along the Maine coast. The park is home to a diverse range of habitats, including forests, wetlands, lakes, ponds, and coastal shorelines.

Acadia National Park is known for its stunning natural beauty, and it offers visitors a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, such as hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The park is also home to a number of historic sites and landmarks, including the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, the Jordan Pond House, and the Rockefeller Carriage Roads.

The park was established in 1916, and it is the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River. It attracts over 3 million visitors each year, making it one of the most popular national parks in the country. If you're planning a trip to Maine, be sure to add Acadia National Park to your itinerary. It's an unforgettable experience that you won't want to miss!

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