23 Dutch Oven Recipes That Make Delicious One-Pot Dinners (2024)

If you're not already a fan, these Dutch oven recipes will make you fall in love with this trusty piece of cookware. It's reliable and versatile, goes from the stovetop to the oven, and looks good on the table, too. Plus, the thick, heavy walls of a Dutch oven retain heat and keep temperatures steady, making them especially great for low-and-slow dishes like stews, chili, and braised meats.

Whether you're building your own collection of enameled cast iron or you own a piece that's been passed down for generations, these one-pot recipes for the Dutch oven are sure to become your new favorite back-pocket meals.

35 Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes, From One-Pot Dinners and Desserts to Brunch Favorites

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Vegetarian Chili With Avocado Cream

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Not your usual veggie chili, this extra-hearty version features black beans, black-eyed peas, and brown lentils—and the recipe makes 10 servings. Don't skimp on the avocado cream; it's a gorgeous finishing touch that we can't believe we didn't try before.

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02of 23

Irish Beef and Stout Stew

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Make this on a cold St. Patrick's Day, and no one will be asking about corned beef. The two-step recipe starts with cubed beef, potatoes, and onions; broth and a rich Irish stout make up the liquid. Then, it just cooks in the oven for a few hours, and dinner is served.

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03of 23

Test Kitchen's Favorite Mac and Cheese

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Why choose one cheese when you can have three (American, cheddar, and Parmesan)? To make this decadent mac and cheese, you boil the elbow macaroni in the same pot you make the cheesy sauce in—and for this recipe, we use a Dutch oven.

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04of 23

Vinegar-and-Garlic-Braised Chicken

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A total showstopper, this flavorful chicken dish features a duo of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks. You marinate them in a combination of rice vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, bay leaves, and garlic, then simmer everything together in a Dutch oven.

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05of 23

Easy Chile Verde

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Many people like cooking chili in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, but a Dutch oven is definitely up for the job. Along with pork shoulder, this chili includes sliced onions, diced green chiles, and store-bought green salsa.

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Summer Smoked-Salmon Chowder

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Our favorite kinds of weeknight dinners are those that take less than one hour to prepare and can be cooked all in one pot. This 45-minute chowder hits all the marks and features summer vegetables, including zucchini, baby potatoes, and fresh corn.

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07of 23

One-Pot Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Bacon

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Bacon doesn't just shine in pasta carbonara. It's also a powerhouse in this one-pot pasta dish that incorporates broccoli rabe, walnuts, and garlic.

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08of 23

Easy Beef Chili

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Two things make this all-beef chili spectacular: a couple of tablespoons of Dutch-processed cocoa powder and a Dutch oven, of course. It gets plenty of heat from chili powder, jalapeño peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes.

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09of 23

Wine-Braised Chicken

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Also known as coq au vin, this delicious chicken stew manages to be both humble and refined. Bacon and fresh thyme add wonderful depth, and it's one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day.

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10of 23

Pulled BBQ-Chicken Sandwiches

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Instead of the usual slow-cooker pulled pork, try this leaner, faster version, which you can make in a Dutch oven. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cook together with ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and lager beer for about an hour until the meat is tender and can be shredded.

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Classic Beef Stew

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On a chilly winter night, there is nothing like digging into a classic beef stew, arguably the ultimate one-pot meal. Our recipe is complete with carrots, Yukon Gold potatoes, peas, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and pearl onions.

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Baked Beans with Bacon

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Skip the canned variety and make your own rich, smoky baked beans at home. Small white beans cook in a Dutch oven with Dijon mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and chicken broth for about 70 minutes until the liquid has thickened and the beans are fork-tender. It's the perfect one-pot meal for summer.

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13of 23

Italian Pulled Pork

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Instead of traditional barbecue-style pulled pork, this one-pot dish is flavored with a variety of earthy spices such as fennel, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and garlic. While this recipe calls for toasting the fennel seeds, feel free to do it right in the Dutch oven so that you don't need to dirty another pan.

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14of 23

Korean Beef Chuck Roast

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Some of our favorite Asian ingredients—minced ginger, sake, mirin, and gochujang (Korean pepper paste)—flavor four pounds of beef chuck in this one-pot meal. You add carrots and shiitake mushrooms during the cooking process to complete the dish.

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Wine-Braised Brisket

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Brisket is a staple on Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah, and this version is a snap to prepare. Choose the "first cut" of beef brisket and cook it in a Dutch oven with grainy mustard, lemon zest, thyme, and garlic.

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16of 23

Normandy-Style Chicken and Leeks with Creme Fraiche

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There's a secret ingredient in this French chicken dish that you'd never expect: hard apple cider. The sweet, carbonated beverage helps to keep the meat tender and adds fall flavor.

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Chicken Fricassee

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It's the original French comfort food: simmered chicken with hearty vegetables in a rich, silky sauce. A fricassee is halfway between a sauté and a stew. A true classic, this recipe relies on humble ingredients and just one pot.

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Beef Bourguignon

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This French classic is both haute and humble. When you want a hearty meal that will feed a crowd (and make your house smell amazing), you can't go wrong with this beef-and-wine stew.

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Arroz Con Pollo

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Our take on the traditional Latin American dish is made with chicken thighs, short-grain rice, and pimiento-stuffed green olives. This one-pot meal comes together in less than an hour, so you can enjoy it any night of the week.

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Chicken Breast Poached in Buttermilk

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While you may associate this combination of ingredients with buttermilk fried chicken, we're taking it in a whole new direction with this one-pot poaching technique. The chicken is dressed with a sharp sauce made from yogurt, shallots, cornichons, capers, and lemon.

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21of 23

Chili Verde With Pork Shoulder

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This super-simple pork shoulder dish is made with just three other ingredients—yellow onion, green tomatillo salsa, and chicken broth—plus lime wedges and cilantro for serving. It's a fabulous one-pot option for game-day entertaining.

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Spiced Beef Stew with Carrots and Chickpeas

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The smell of braised beef chuck mixed with berbere seasoning—an Ethiopian spice blend—red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste will be absolutely irresistible. This stew simmers in a Dutch oven for about two and a half hours until the meat is tender and the dish releases its aromatic flavor.

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One-Pot Chicken and Rice With Swiss Chard

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The perfect one-pot weeknight meal, this elevated chicken and rice dish comes together in less than one hour and will feed a family of four. It's also a great excuse to try cooking chicken legs, a more economical cut than breasts or thighs.

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23 Dutch Oven Recipes That Make Delicious One-Pot Dinners (2024)

FAQs

What cooks best 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.

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.

Does a Dutch oven make food taste better? ›

The real benefit of using a Dutch Oven (here are our favorites) as opposed to a slow cooker is its ability to create layers of flavors. Resist the urge to toss the meat and vegetables in at the same time as the liquid component.

Can you cook everything in a Dutch oven? ›

You can use a Dutch oven to cook delicious meals in a wide variety of cooking methods: Dutch ovens can sauté, simmer, braise, sear, fry, and even bake food. Not only are Dutch ovens heavy-duty; they are virtually all-purpose.

What is the difference between a Dutch oven and a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

Raw cast iron needs to be seasoned to make it nonstick and rust-resistant, while enameled Dutch ovens are somewhat nonstick and protected out of the box. High-quality enamel coatings are expensive, which is why enameled Dutch ovens cost more than their standard cast iron counterparts.

What cannot be cooked in enameled cast iron? ›

Acidic foods (unless you make it snappy)

Acidic foods (like tomato sauce, wine-braised meats, etc.) enter the red zone when they spend too much time cooking in the skillet. It's particularly important to not marinate anything in a cast-iron pan, as many marinades are quite acidic in order to tenderize the meat.

What not to cook in a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron:
  1. Smelly foods. Garlic, peppers, some fish, stinky cheeses and more tend to leave aromatic memories with your cast-iron pan that will turn up in the next couple of things you cook in it. ...
  2. Eggs and other sticky things (for a while) ...
  3. Delicate fish. ...
  4. Acidic things—maybe.
Mar 24, 2020

Why does everything stick to my Dutch oven? ›

Excessive heat can cause your dish to stick and deteriorate its taste qualities. Additionally, dry cooking should be avoided. If medium heat is needed for searing, feel free to reduce it to low heat afterward. This will help achieve the best flavors and prevent any sticking.

Do chefs use Dutch ovens? ›

And while there are plenty of sizes to choose from, like oval Dutch ovens, or shallow Dutch ovens, Cimarusti prefers the classic Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven. “The attention to detail is just great,” he says. If a Michelin-starred chef uses one everyday, it's worth adding to your kitchen.

Do you put a lid on a Dutch oven in the oven? ›

You may need to take the lid off part way through the cooking process. However, some recipes may call for the lid to be off from the beginning, so consult your recipe. If the lid is not oven-safe, you'll need to leave it off no matter what. Tip: Most Dutch ovens come with oven-safe lids, but not all do.

Why is food sticking to my enamel Dutch oven? ›

Cooking with enameled cast iron

To get the best performance out of your enameled cast iron, you have to follow a few rules. No matter what the inside of your enameled cast iron cookware looks or feels like, food will stick to it if you don't allow it to fully preheat. Five or six minutes usually does the trick.

Can I brown meat in a Dutch oven? ›

But one of the wonderful things about a Dutch oven is that because it's cast iron, you can get it smoking hot on the stovetop and brown your meat directly in it, then add your liquid (after draining off any excess fat) and other ingredients, cover it, lower the heat and continue braising at a low temperature.

Can you cook rice in a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven is a good choice for cooking rice since it has a nice sturdy base that conducts heat well and a tight-fitting lid. You can also use a shallow baking dish or pan with a lid, as long as both pot and lid are safe for both stovetop and oven.

Can I use my Dutch oven as a casserole dish? ›

Similarities between Casserole Dishes and Dutch Ovens

That said, you can use a casserole dish in place of a Dutch oven, but you cannot use a Dutch oven in place of a casserole because of its physical construction.

What is the point of a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

What is so special about Dutch ovens? ›

What makes Dutch ovens (also sometimes called French ovens) so enduring is their versatility. The sturdy build helps store and maintain heat, the heavy lid traps condensation and allows for more efficient heating, and the single-piece construction means Dutch ovens move easily between the cooktop and the oven.

When should you use a Dutch oven? ›

The tight-fitting lid of a dutch oven doesn't allow steam to escape the pot, so it's ideal for dishes like crusted breads, stews, soups, braises and roasts that require a moist-heat cooking method.

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.

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