33 Recipes To Make You Fall In Love With Dutch Ovens
This kitchen workhorse can do it all.
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 stovetop mac & cheese 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?
Braised Chicken Thighs
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.
French Fries
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.
Beef Stew
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.
Sourdough Bread
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.
Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese
This is the creamiest, dreamiest stovetop mac & cheese. It's uncomplicated, comforting, and will bring back childhood memories.
Get the Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese recipe.
Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake
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.
Baked Risotto
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.
Smoky Pinto Beans
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.
Coq Au Vin
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.
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.
Shrimp & Rice
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 Shrimp & Rice recipe.
Broccoli Cheddar Pasta
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.
Deep Fried Oreos
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.
Ratatouille
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.
Seafood Gumbo
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.
Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash
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.
One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
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.
Chicken Cacciatore
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.
Korean Fried Chicken
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.
Homemade Beef Chili
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.
