optional screen reader
Don’t own a Dutch oven? And don’t think you needa Dutch oven? Well, we’re about to convince you otherwise. Because this versatile cookware can be used in a variety of ways: for marinating, for braising, for searing, for simmering, for boiling, for baking, for deep-frying, as a slow-cooker, for serving — you name it.
Now, what makes the Dutch oven so special — and such an ideal piece of cookware — is it’s weight. Because it’s so heavy, it helps retain and distribute heat evenly. So, for recipes that call for searing meat at high temps, the Dutch oven will do the trick. And the same goes for soups and stews that require a low boil: Use a Dutch oven.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a Dutch oven, either. One of the most popular, most affordable Dutch ovens is the Lodge Dutch oven, which is currently on sale on Amazon for less than $100.
Image: Amazon.
Lodge Enameled Dutch Oven
$94.51
on Amazon.com
Buy now
Now, let’s get cooking.
We’ve compiled a list of recipes you must make in your Dutch oven, from braised briskets to deep-fried chicken.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
For tender, fall-apart, finger-licking-delicious braised short ribs, this is the recipe for you. After generously seasoning the meat with salt and pepper, browning the ribs, cook in the Dutch oven for about three hours until the ribs are tender.
Get the recipe at Veronika’s Kitchen.
Garlic Rosemary Bread
According to the Bewitchin’ Kitchen, the Dutch oven is the key to making this delicious garlic rosemary bread. “The dutch oven helps the bread bake with steam,” they write.
Get the recipe at the Bewitchin’ Kitchen.
Best Chili Recipe
This chili, brought to you by Grandbaby Cakes, has it all: a variety of veggies, from bell peppers and jalapeños to onions and tomatoes; a handful of different spices and seasonings, including onion powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, allspice, and many others; and, of course ground beef (though, you can sub it for ground chicken or ground turkey). But the most important element? The Dutch oven.
Get the recipe at Grandbaby Cakes.
New England Clam Chowder
For this hearty New England Clam Chowder, you’ll use the Dutch oven for every step of the process, from frying the bacon to cooking and softening the veggies before pouring in the clam juice and stirring in the rest of the ingredients.
Get the recipe at Jo Cooks.
Hearty Dutch Oven Beef Stew
It’s hearty, it’s healthy, and it smells damn good. But the best part of this meat- and veggie-packed stew is it’s cooked low and slow, leaving you with fall-off-the-bone short ribs.
Get the recipe at Garden in the Kitchen.
Dutch Oven Pizza
That’s right, you can bake a motherf**king pizza in your Dutch Oven. It’s easy, too, if you follow Kitchen Confidante’s recipe. Simply, lightly brush the dough with olive oil, top with a thin layer of sauce, followed by your preferred toppings and cheese, slide into the Dutch oven, and bake.
Get the recipe at Kitchen Confidante.
Easy One-Pot Lasagna
A big benefit to cooking with a Dutch oven? You can easily transfer it from the stove top to the oven; and for this one-pot lasagna recipe, you’ll need to do just that.
“The lasagna is cooked on the stove top and then finished in the oven to get the cheese all bubbly and brown,” Fox and Briar writes.
Get the recipe at Fox and Briar.
One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
For this one-pot chicken parmesan pasta dish, simply toss the chicken and your seasonings into the Dutch oven, cook, add onion and garlic paste; and then add in the sauce, broth, and pasta. Simmer for less than 15 minutes.
Get the recipe at Princess Pinky Girl.
Dutch Oven Fried Chicken
For crunchy, perfectly golden fried chicken, use a Dutch oven — and follow Whisk It Real Gud’s fried chicken recipe. Take note of her tips, too, including her tip for choosing the best oil (one with a very high smoke point!).
Get the recipe at Whisk It Real Gud.
Baked Cheddar Mac & Cheese
We can’t think of a more comforting dish than mac ‘n’ cheese, and to make Chisel & Fork’s baked cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese recipe, you’ll need the Dutch oven to make arguably the most important part of the dish: the creamy sauce.
Get the recipe at Chisel & Fork.
Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie is so appealing because it’s an easy one-pot meal. But Delicious Made Easy’s genius shortcuts to make chicken pot pie even easier to make? “Use shredded rotisserie chicken, frozen vegetables, and soup for the base, then top it off with puff pastry,” they write.
Get the recipe at Delicious Made Easy.
One-Pot Chicken & Cilantro Lime Rice
First, sear chicken thighs in the Dutch oven. Then, simmer and steam the rice — yep, in the same Dutch oven. Finish it off with some fresh lie juice and chopped fresh cilantro, and dinner’s served.
Get the recipe at Kitchen Swagger.
Dutch Oven Fresh Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler screams comfort food, and we can’t wait to devour this one-pot dessert with a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream.
Get the recipe at Cast Iron Recipes.
optional screen reader
Leave a Comment
More Stories from Food & Recipes
The 9 Best Store-Bought Pizza Doughs That Are Foolproof, Even forBeginners
by Kaila Stein, Kristine Solomon
Food News
by Olivia Harvey
Recipes
Katie Lee Biegel’s Roasted Garlic Guacamole Is a ‘Next Level’ Take on a ClassicAppetizer
by Olivia Harvey
Recipes
by Sydni Ellis
Food News
by Sydni Ellis
