33 Recipes To Make You Fall In Love With Dutch Ovens (2024)

33 Recipes To Make You Fall In Love With Dutch Ovens (1)

Have a tiny apartment kitchen? Tired of owning too many pots and pans, and want just one that can do it all? Look no further than a Dutch oven. Dutch ovens are cast-iron pots with lids that can go from the stovetop to the oven with ease, making them great for a variety of dishes. Whether you go classic cast iron (we've got tips for cleaning!) or a colorful enamel one (beloved by the Delish Test Kitchen), these pots really can’t be beat. Check out our 33 Dutch oven recipes to see how truly versatile they are.

Why is it called a Dutch oven? According to the marketing director at Le Creuset (a brand known for their colorful cookware), the Dutch were the first to invent the method by which Dutch ovens came to be made (in molds made of sand rather than clay). Though they’ve come a long way since then, that’s the name that caught on. The more you know!

What can you use it for? Almost everything. These pots are admittedly quite heavy, but that means they can really take a beating, whether you’re using them to make soup, like our classic chicken noodle or our copycat Olive Garden minestrone; hearty slow-cooked dishes like our braised chicken thighs or our French coq au vin; cheesy pastas like our or our broccoli cheddar pasta; or to deep-fry French fries, our Korean fried chicken, or our deep-fried Oreos. You can even use them to bake the best, most perfectly round sourdough bread ever. Have we convinced you yet?

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1

Braised Chicken Thighs

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Here, chicken thighs are braised in a luxurious bath of ginger, garlic, shallots, white wine (or sake), and soy sauce, before being gussied up with sesame oil, sesame seeds, and green onions. Voilà! Dinner is served, all in your Dutch oven.

Get the Braised Chicken Thighs recipe.

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2

French Fries

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Recipes that require frying are often super-specific. The temperature of the oil must be just so. Not with this method. Turns out you can put *unsoaked* potatoes in a Dutch oven, pour cold oil on top until they’re just covered, then bring the whole thing to a boil. 😋

Get the French Fries recipe.

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3

Beef Stew

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Beef stew is a cold weather essential. It's a perfect meal all on its own, but we also love beef stew served over some al dente egg noodles. Want something a little heartier? Try ladling a bit of stew over some garlic mash.

Get the Beef Stew recipe.

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4

Sourdough Bread

33 Recipes To Make You Fall In Love With Dutch Ovens (9)

Baking a loaf of sourdough bread is pure therapy: food for the body and food for the soul. Not only will it fill your kitchen with delish smells of yeasty goodness, you’ll walk away with a handful of life lessons along with a piece of unbelievably fulfilling bread, made possible in your Dutch oven.

Get the Sourdough Bread recipe.

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5

Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese

This is the creamiest, dreamiest stovetop . It's uncomplicated, comforting, and will bring back childhood memories.

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6

Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake

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This is one side dish that will make everyone freak out (and run for seconds). If you have vegetarian guests, feel free to skip the bacon! We're usually all about the smoky flavor, but for this dish, it's all about the CHEESE.

Get the Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake recipe.

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7

Baked Risotto

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If you’ve never made risotto because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time by cooking it in your oven rather than your stovetop. Did we mention that it all comes together in one pot? 😍

Get the Baked Risotto recipe.

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8

Smoky Pinto Beans

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We're here to say: Give pintos a chance! They're ultra-creamy, a little smoky, and super-versatile. This bacon-infused recipe works wonders on both canned and dried beans, so you can make them in under 30 minutes in your Dutch oven if you're short on time.

Get the Smoky Pinto Beans recipe.

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9

Coq Au Vin

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Coq au vin, or rooster with wine, is a classic French dish that isn't as complicated as it sounds. Chicken is braised in a silky wine sauce, then paired with bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions that give this dish so much flavor. It's one of our favorite chicken dinners to serve to guests—it always impresses.

Get the Coq Au Vin recipe.

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10

Thai Red Curry Coconut Noodles

These 100% vegan noodles are perfect for super-hungry nights when you’re short on time. Feel free to swap in your favorite quick-cooking vegetables and adjust the amount of curry paste to your spice preference. Make sure to keep stirring once your noodles are added, since they tend to stick to the bottom of the pot if left in one spot for too long.

Get the Thai Red Curry Coconut Noodles recipe.

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11

Shrimp & Rice

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This easy shrimp and rice recipe is packed with smart cooking know-how. Rather than just topping plain rice with sautéed shrimp, you'll instead build flavor in your Dutch oven before steaming the rice.

Get the .

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12

Broccoli Cheddar Pasta

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The broccoli here is a great way to sneak in an extra serving of greens before going trick or treating. Even the pickiest of eaters will eat their vegetables if they are coated in cheese!

Get the Broccoli Cheddar Pasta recipe.

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13

Deep Fried Oreos

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Ahh, the classic deep-fried Oreo. It's a state-fair favorite that's worth every single calorie. Now, you can make them right at home with those lingering Oreos you have (IF that ever happens). It's the perfect treat for any occasion!

Get the Deep-Fried Oreos recipe.

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14

Ratatouille

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This colorful classic French countryside dish is chock-full of healthy vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini! Serve with crusty bread for best results.

Get the Ratatouille recipe.

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15

Seafood Gumbo

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Gumbo is a top-notch comfort stew centered around a flavorful roux and the Holy Trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers. Before cooking, make sure you follow our tips for cooking the most flavorful and filling gumbo ever.

Get the Seafood Gumbo recipe.

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16

Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash

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No matter what the centerpiece of your meal is, this cheesy butternut squash skillet is sure to steal the show. The balance of sweet, salty, and creamy is EXTREMELY delicious.

Get the Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash recipe.

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17

One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac

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Looking for a hearty weeknight dinner? Our smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in your Dutch oven, and it's SUPER-versatile. Throw in your favorite bean and pasta shape, melt in your favorite cheese, and top with whatever you like.

Get the One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac recipe.

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18

Chicken Cacciatore

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Cacciatore translates to “hunter” in Italian, and it’s thought that this dish arose in popularity during the Renaissance as a means to feed hunters who’d been away tracking for long periods of time. While we may not have been out hunting, after a long day, this dish is still particularly comforting, not in the least because it all comes together in one pot.

Get the Chicken Cacciatore recipe.

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19

Korean Fried Chicken

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Nicknamed “candy chicken,” Korean fried chicken is known for its addictively crunchy exterior and its thick sweet-and-spicy sauce. These bites pack a little capsaicin punch, so feel free to decrease the amount of dried chiles that go in.

Get the Korean Fried Chicken recipe.

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20

Homemade Beef Chili

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Lots of other recipes call for simmering for at least an hour, sometimes even more. But that’s tough when you're looking to get dinner on the table after a long workday. Ours comes together in just 40 minutes: Weeknight chili, here we come!

Get the Homemade Beef Chili recipe.

33 Recipes To Make You Fall In Love With Dutch Ovens (2024)

FAQs

Why do people love Dutch ovens? ›

The Dutch oven is a must-have for home cooks—it's something you'll use almost daily. Heavy-bottomed, with a tight-fitted lid to help retain heat and moisture for cooking flavorful and tender meals like soups and stews, it's a kitchen workhorse.

Is there anything you shouldn't cook in a Dutch oven? ›

Be Mindful When Cooking Acidic Foods

Erosion of the protective coating may also affect its non-stick capability. In an enamel-coated Dutch oven, prolonged cooking with acidic ingredients may discolor the interior coating but doesn't erode it.

What is good to cook in a Dutch oven? ›

No matter the style or size, any Dutch oven will open up endless recipe opportunities. Create beautifully braised meat, pot roasts, hearty beef stew, healing chicken soup, or the creamiest mac and cheese. Use it like a slow cooker, a bread cloche, or a pot for frying.

What is the hype with Dutch oven? ›

The Dutch oven—or as I like to call it, the analog crock pot—is a favorite among those who love cooking. The hype around Dutch ovens exists for good reason: They are highly effective, beautiful, dynamic, and durable pieces of cookware.

What does it mean to give a girl a Dutch oven? ›

But in slang, a Dutch oven is when you pass gas in bed and pull the covers over someone else's head, trapping it in like a Dutch oven traps heat.

Why is a Dutch oven so special? ›

What makes cast iron Dutch ovens unique is that they are made in one piece by pouring molten iron into a mold, usually made of sand. The technique was invented in China as early as 800 BCE, and by the 1600s, The Netherlands had developed a reputation in Europe for their cast-metal cookware.

Is it OK to preheat an empty Dutch oven? ›

Don't preheat an empty dutch oven on your stovetop—this can cause your cookware to crack or break. Some bread recipes call for preheating the dutch oven in the oven. This is perfectly safe to do since the heat will be more consistently distributed across the entire dutch oven.

Can you ruin the enamel in Le Creuset? ›

While Le Creuset's enamel is designed to be the most durable on the market, thermal shock may still occur, resulting in cracking or loss of enamel. If there are food residues, fill the pan with warm water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes before washing.

What are 8 reasons to use a Dutch oven? ›

What Is a Dutch Oven Used For?
  • Bread. One of the easiest (and more surprising) ways to use a Dutch oven is actually for breaking bread. ...
  • Casseroles and Lasagnas. ...
  • Skillet Cookies. ...
  • Chicken Stock. ...
  • Frying. ...
  • Braised Meats. ...
  • Roasting. ...
  • Poaching Chicken.
Oct 27, 2022

Why does food taste better in a Dutch oven? ›

So what is a Dutch Oven and why does food taste so delicious in them? A Dutch Oven is a a cast iron, aluminum or ceramic cooking pot with a thick bottom, thick sides, and a heavy and tightly fitted lid that locks in moisture and flavor.

Can you boil potatoes in a Dutch oven? ›

In a 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, cook potatoes, covered, in enough lightly salted boiling water to cover for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain.

What are some fun facts about Dutch ovens? ›

Westward-bound settlers took Dutch ovens with them. A Dutch oven was among the gear Lewis and Clark carried when they explored the great American Northwest between 1804 and 1806. Mormon pioneers who settled the American West also took along their Dutch ovens.

Can I brown meat in a Dutch oven? ›

From the start, a Dutch oven can facilitate a perfect golden-brown sear on meats or vegetables before you need to add any broth or other liquid for braising. It holds even heat for a long time, and it can go from stovetop to oven, and then straight to the table for a swoon-worthy and efficient way of serving a meal.

Why is a Dutch oven funny? ›

Dutch oven means a very specific kind of farting. You fart, under some blankets, then pull the blankets over someone's head, thereby trapping them and the fart in a contained space for a short time. The Dutch Oven is also a cookpot meant to be buried in hot coals for long, slow cooking.

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