Made by Camp Chef: See the Camp Chef Cast Iron Set on campchef.com
The Camp Chef 6-Piece Cast Iron Set is a pre-seasoned kit with a 4 qt legless Dutch oven, a 10 inch skillet, a deep 12 inch skillet, two lids and a trivet. It suits anglers who cook full meals at a truck or river camp and want one box of cookware. FFIP score: 9.0/10.
Overall: 9.0/10 | Badge: FFIP Top Pick
Verdict: Camp Chef makes great ironwear. Take decent care of the set and it should fit your needs; just stay away from the aluminum knockoffs that claim to be the same but lighter.
Best For: Camp cooks who want to stock a whole camp kitchen in one purchase, with a Dutch oven for stews and bread and skillets for breakfast and searing.
Not For: Anglers who cook simple one-pan meals, or anyone limited on weight; the product data lists the box at 33.1 lb.
Price: MSRP at time of writing: $169.99 (per maker site)
- Six pieces cover skillet, Dutch oven and lid cooking in one purchase
- Lids are designed to do double duty: the 12 inch lid doubles as a skillet and the 10 inch lid fits both the Dutch oven and a skillet
- Pre-seasoned with Camp Chef's True Seasoned Finish, with a trivet included
- Heavy; the maker product data lists 33.1 lb for the set
- You pay for pieces you may not use if you only need one pan
- Cast iron needs drying and oiling after washing to keep its seasoning
The FFIP Scorecard
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | 35 | 10 | Right sizes and good heat distribution; I usually bring one or two skillets, plus a pot for a larger group. |
| Build quality | 20 | 10 | Thickness and quality are right where I need them, backed by the Camp Chef warranty. |
| Ease of setup/use | 20 | 10 | The kit includes a setup guide, and Camp Chef's own care guidance covers seasoning step by step. |
| Portability/packability | 10 | 3 | Cast iron is not built for packing, but in a car there is no non-stick coating to scratch and cleanup is quick. |
| Value | 15 | 8 | Prices run about the same across brands; the warranty and easy replacement of a lost or warped piece add real value. |
| Overall (weighted) | 100 | 9.0 |
What Is in the Camp Chef 6-Piece Cast Iron Set? How Each Piece Works
What the maker says is in the box
Camp Chef describes the 6-Piece Cast Iron Set as a legless Dutch oven with a trivet, a 10 inch skillet and a deep skillet with a matching lid that doubles as another skillet. Its spec list reads: a 4 qt legless Dutch oven, a 10 inch skillet, a 10 inch lid that fits the Dutch oven and the skillet, a deep 12 inch skillet, a 12 inch lid that doubles as a skillet, and a Dutch oven trivet. All pieces are True Seasoned Finish cast iron. Camp Chef lists the set at $169.99.
Legless Dutch oven: a stove-friendly pot
A camp Dutch oven traditionally has three short legs so it can sit above coals, and a flat lid with a lip so coals can sit on top. A legless Dutch oven has a flat bottom instead, which makes it stable on a camp stove grate, a grill or an oven rack. Thick walls and a heavy lid hold heat and trap steam, so food cooks gently from all sides. That is the right design for stews, chili, braised meat and bread at camp.
The trivet
The trivet is a simple raised iron rack. Set under the Dutch oven, it lifts the pot off the grate or bottom so the direct flame is not scorching one spot, or it can serve as a rest for a hot pan on a table. It is a small piece with a big job: preventing scorched food and burned tabletops.
Two skillets and lids that do double duty
The 10 inch skillet is the everyday pan. The deep 12 inch skillet has taller walls, which lets you simmer sauces, fry and braise without splatter. Camp Chef says the 12 inch lid doubles as a skillet, which means you can griddle flatbread or eggs on the lid while the deep pan cooks. The 10 inch lid fits both the Dutch oven and the 10 inch skillet, so you can trap heat in either one. A flat lid that works as a pan is a classic way to get two cooking surfaces from one set.
Thermal mass and seasoning, briefly
Every piece benefits from the same physics: heavy iron stores heat so food does not crash the temperature of the pan. Seasoning is polymerized oil, a thin hardened layer formed when oil is heated and its molecules link together on the iron surface; this layer protects the metal and helps food release. For more on how that works, read our maintenance guide and the companion trip planning article for how it fits into a first camp kit.
Which set is this?
Camp Chef sells several cast iron pieces and bundles. I own Camp Chef skillets, pans and pots, and I usually bring one or two skillets, plus a pot for a bigger group. The 6-Piece Cast Iron Set listed here bundles a Dutch oven, two skillets, lids and a trivet in one box, so you can start with the full kit or buy single pieces to match your group size.
On the Water with the Camp Chef Cast Iron Set
I took a large skillet into the mountains in Utah with two friends for a 3-day trip. One morning I was up first and took care of breakfast, and I had a surprise: I had picked wild raspberries before the guys got up. I fired up the skillet and cooked raspberry pancakes and eggs on that one skillet, then had it washed up before they were done eating. Jaws were dropping at how efficient a skillet that size is.
The skillet had little to do with the actual fishing, but our bellies were always full. I had used my iron before that trip, and I have used it ever since.
My first trip using Camp Chef iron was on the Smith River with 15 guys (a group trip, not guiding). I prepacked a lot of meals, but having iron that heated quickly, handled large portions and stayed warm was a huge advantage. With extra room in the gear boats and easy cleanup, I was never going back unless I was backpacking.
For how a camp kitchen fits into the rest of a trip, see our trip organization guide and our solo backcountry fishing article, which covers what to leave behind when weight matters.
How Does the Camp Chef Cast Iron Set Score, Criterion by Criterion?
Performance (Score: 10/10)
A multi-piece set earns its score on range. The legless Dutch oven with lid handles braises, stews, chili and baking, while the 10 inch and deep 12 inch skillets handle searing, eggs and pancakes. Thick iron holds heat evenly in all of them, and the lids trap steam and heat from above. The photos in this review show the skillet side of the kit on a camp stove. Camp Chef makes great ironwear, and the sizes are right. I typically take one or maybe two skillets, and a pot for a larger group. Getting a new set that distributes heat well can sometimes be tough, and that is where this set earns its score.
Build quality (Score: 10/10)
Camp Chef lists the set as True Seasoned Finish cast iron, so the pieces arrive with a baked-on oil layer. Every piece is a single casting with simple handles, which means there are no rivets or coatings to fail. Look for even casting thickness, flat bases and a lid that sits snugly on the Dutch oven. I have been very satisfied; the thickness and quality are right where I need them. The set is also backed by the Camp Chef warranty.
Ease of setup/use (Score: 10/10)
The set arrives ready to cook, and Camp Chef positions it as a way to start a cast iron collection. The trivet lifts the Dutch oven or a hot pan off a table, and the lid combinations mean you do not have to remember which lid fits which pan. Care is the same as any cast iron: wash, dry and oil lightly. The kit comes with a setup guide, and seasoning is described as critical. I am not fully sold that it is as make-or-break as advertised, but it costs little to follow, so for the detailed steps use Camp Chef's own care guidance.
Portability/packability (Score: 3/10)
Weight is the penalty for completeness. The product data lists the set at 33.1 lb, and the pieces are bulky even before you add a stove and propane. Packing all six pieces in a single milk crate or bin protects the rest of the kit from soot and spreads the load. Cast iron is not made for portability, but a few things help: packing in a car, you are not worried about scratching a non-stick coating, and you can wash and go easily. For a raft, count it against your weight budget before loading.
Value (Score: 8/10)
At $169.99 per the maker site, the set is a mid-priced way to buy a Dutch oven, two skillets, lids and a trivet together. For comparison, Camp Chef lists the 12 inch skillet alone at $34.99 and the 10 inch at $24.99. If you will use the Dutch oven and both skillets, the set is a straightforward bundle; if you will use only a skillet, buy just the skillet. Prices are right around the same across brands, so the value comes from the warranty, the ease of delivery, and knowing I can get a replacement if I lose or warp a piece.
Who Should Buy the Camp Chef Cast Iron Set (and Who Should Skip It)?
Buy the set if you cook for a group at camp, run a multi-day river trip from a truck or raft, or are building a camp kitchen from scratch. A Dutch oven opens up bread, stews and chili that a skillet alone cannot match, and the lids and trivet cover details you would otherwise buy separately.
Skip it if you cook one-pan meals, travel light, or already own a good skillet. In that case, buy the single skillet and add a Dutch oven later. Our separate Camp Chef Cast Iron Skillet review covers that route.
How Does the Set Compare to Buying Pieces Separately?
These figures come from Camp Chef's pages at the time of writing.
| Option | What you get | Price (per maker) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-Piece Cast Iron Set | 4 qt legless Dutch oven, 10 inch skillet, deep 12 inch skillet, two lids, trivet | $169.99 |
| 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet | One pre-seasoned skillet with dual pour spouts | $34.99 |
| 10 inch Cast Iron Skillet | One pre-seasoned skillet with dual pour spouts | $24.99 |
The set makes sense when you want the Dutch oven and the lids. For skillet-only cooks, single pans cost far less. My take: I usually bring one or two skillets and add a pot for a bigger group, so buy to match your group size.
Our Pick in the FFIP Shop
Shop offroad, overlanding and car camping gear in the FFIP Shop. We do not carry cast iron cookware, so this collection is the closest match: truck and camp gear that supports a camp kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What comes in the Camp Chef 6-Piece Cast Iron Set?
Camp Chef lists a 4 qt legless Dutch oven with a trivet, a 10 inch skillet, a deep 12 inch skillet, a 10 inch lid that fits the Dutch oven and the skillet, and a 12 inch lid that doubles as a skillet.
Is the Camp Chef cast iron set pre-seasoned?
Yes. Camp Chef says the set has its True Seasoned Finish, so you can cook right away.
What is a legless Dutch oven?
A legless Dutch oven has a flat bottom instead of three legs. It sits stably on a camp stove grate, grill or oven rack, rather than over a bed of coals.
How much does the Camp Chef 6-Piece Cast Iron Set cost?
Camp Chef lists it at $169.99 at the time of writing.
Can you use a cast iron Dutch oven on a camp stove?
Yes, if it has a flat base. Preheat it slowly, and use a trivet if you want to lift it slightly off the grate to avoid scorching.
Final Verdict
Reviewing cast iron is tough, because it is kitchenware, I get it. But if you car camp, there is no other way. I bring one skillet these days; they are durable, you can clean up in seconds, and I have cooked everything you can imagine in one. Just stay away from the aluminum knockoffs that claim to be the same but lighter.
Christian's Pro Tip: Bring olive oil; it works better than non-stick. Want to surprise a friend? Bake a cake in a Dutch oven.
Tight lines, everyone!
