Life tends to get in the way, and as much as we’d love a home-cooked meal every night, sometimes it’s frozen dinners to the rescue. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if there was a simple appliance that could adhere to your schedule and make great food? Say hello to the dutch oven—and 20 recipes to try with it!
1. Classic Chili
Nothing beats a classic bowl of chili, and the only way to do it right is with a dutch oven. Chili is also whatever you make, allowing you to experiment with online recipes and ingredients. Best of all is chili doesn’t even take that long to make in a dutch oven, so you get that delicious meal sooner than you think.
2. Beef Stew
Beef stew is perfect for anyone in need of a hearty meal—and especially for those with jam-packed schedules. Carrots, potatoes, peas, and beef are classic ingredients, but you can always toss in some fresh herbs or a handful of mushrooms.
Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash
3. Roast Chicken
If you’ve got a family dinner scheduled, roast chicken is a fuss-free option. You can really bring out the flavor with fresh rosemary or lemon juice, and the whole dish only takes about an hour or two before it’s done.
Photo by Cisco Lin on Unsplash
4. Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread is at least a day-long commitment, but the end result is more than worth your time. The good news is that the ingredient list is sparse, often only requiring flour, sourdough starter, and water.
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5. Pulled Pork
Look no further than pulled pork for a versatile dish loaded with flavor. Experiment by tossing in some oregano, salt and pepper, or paprika—you can also add a pinch of chili powder for more intensity. You’re left with a delicious meal that’s easy to make and perfect for sandwiches, tacos, and wraps.
Photo by Kuiyibo Campos on Pexels
6. Tomato Soup
Why settle for the canned stuff when you can make your own at home? Not only does homemade tomato soup take only an hour or so to make, but it also doesn’t need many ingredients. Next time you make a batch, try some honey to tone down the tomatoes’ acidity!
Photo by Julia Kicova on Unsplash
7. Goulash
Goulash brings the best of two worlds together: pasta and beef stew. All you need to bring this recipe to life is a few hours of your time and everyday ingredients like beef, garlic, cheese, and onion (among others, of course).
Valeva1010 on Wikimedia Commons
8. Lamb Shanks
Dutch oven lamb shanks can take anywhere from 3-5 hours to make, but the result is nothing short of divine. Round up your seasoning and make sure you have plenty of merlot on hand because fall-off-the-bone shanks deserve the right ingredients.
Photo by Odiseo Castrejon on Unsplash
9. Seafood Chowder
Seafood lovers can’t wait to sink their spoons into a bowl of chowder, and you won’t have to wait with your own recipe! Potatoes, celery, and onion pair beautifully with fresh seafood, so don’t forget to pick them up beforehand.
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10. Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings are classic, comforting, and one of our go-to dutch oven meals. To make this dish happen, you luckily only need about an hour and a handful of ingredients like carrots, chicken, flour, and various seasonings.
Photo by charlesdeluvio on Unsplash
11. Mac and Cheese
Ditch Kraft dinner because dutch oven mac and cheese is far better! This creamy, kid-friendly dish needs about 45 minutes and less than 10 ingredients, making it one of the easiest dinners to whip up.
Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash
12. Ziti with Sausage
Baked ziti with sausage doesn’t take much time or many ingredients to bring to life. In about 40 minutes you’ll have delectable pasta in a tomato sauce full of cheese, seasoning, and Italian sausage.
Andrew Malone on Wikimedia Commons
13. Chicken Soup
We love a good chicken soup when we’re ill, but why wait until the flu comes calling? Dutch oven chicken noodle soup consists of the same stovetop ingredients you know and love, making it an adaptable recipe. However, avoid leaving your soup for too long…unless you want dry chicken.
Photo by Biel Heinrich on Pexels
14. Pot Roast
Pot roast takes several hours until completion, but it’s well worth the time for tender meat packed with flavor. 3-4 hours is often all it takes for a juicy roast you can serve to the whole family.
Photo by José Ignacio Pompé on Unsplash
15. Chicken Curry
For those who aren’t afraid of a little spice, try your hand at dutch oven chicken curry! (Though, chicken curry can be as mild as you make it.) Don’t be afraid to throw coconut into the mix either, especially if you’re after a more authentic dish.
Photo by amirali mirhashemian on Unsplash
16. Sloppy Joes
It’s back to school with sloppy joes, a simple sandwich full of all the beef and Worcestershire sauce one could ask for. What’s great about this recipe is that it doesn’t even take an hour to make.
Photo by Jessica Tan on Unsplash
17. Chicken Cacciatore
If you have about an hour to spare and a heart for Italian food, chicken cacciatore is exactly what you need. Bell peppers, garlic, chicken broth, and mushrooms help tie this classic dish together—and it’s a meal anyone with a dutch oven can make!
TheCulinaryGeek on Wikimedia Commons
18. Italian Wedding Soup
Allow us to gush over Italian food a bit longer because we just couldn’t leave out this soup. Mini meatballs, spinach, and pasta bring this recipe to life along with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of cheese. It’s everything we want in one bowl.
19. Mashed Potatoes
Whip up some mashed potatoes if you need a hearty, simple side dish. They only take about half an hour to make and your potatoes won’t need more than a little garlic, milk, and fresh chives. The result is creamy taters packed with flavor.
20. Chicken Thighs
There are so many ways to make chicken thighs your own! You can douse thighs in sauce or use a lemon and herb rub—whatever you choose, they’re the perfect dutch oven meal because you can toss some veggies in too and make it a one-pot dinner.
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