20+ Delicious Recipes To Make in Your Dutch Oven

Greg DuPree

Nothing kicks a dull day to the curb like a hearty Dutch oven meal. Warm up with these comforting Dutch oven recipes, like cozy beef stew, hearty chili, one-pot pastas, and braised chicken, or take things up a notch and cook Dutch oven biscuits or chocolate cake. A Dutch oven is truly a workhorse in the kitchen, and these recipes highlight the cast-iron pot’s versatility.

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Creamy Cheddar-Potato Soup with Bacon

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Creamy Cheddar-Potato Soup with Bacon Recipe

Warm up with this rich and indulgent soup. Our Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon feeds a crowd, freezes well, and it comes together in a single Dutch oven. Melted yellow Cheddar makes a great finishing touch. If you prefer to buy only one type of cheese, then add extra white Cheddar.

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The Ultimate Classic Collards

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

The Ultimate Classic Collards Recipe

Tangy vinegar brightens the earthy flavors, and a touch of honey rounds out the smoke from the ham hock.

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Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Easy Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Give your traditional chicken casserole a break and serve this bright and lively chicken spaghetti. You only need a Dutch oven and a 9-x-13 baking dish to create this delicious meal, meaning there is less clean-up afterwards. Cook and shred your chicken in advance to save time.

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Beef and Guinness Stew

Photo: Victor Prostasio

Beef and Guinness Stew Recipe

This hearty beef stew is made with lean boneless chuck that's cooked with carrots, parsnips and turnips and flavored with dark beer. Simmering it in a Dutch oven for about 2 hours makes the meat and vegetables fork tender and delicious.

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Mark Klever's Dutch Oven Biscuits

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Mark Klever's Dutch Oven Biscuits Recipe

Mark Klever, the general manager at Belcampo Farms near Mt. Shasta, California, learned to make these biscuits from his grandmother. He renders his own lard from Belcampo's free-range pigs, and he bakes up a batch for his family nearly every week, just like his family used to do. You'll need to pack a 2 1/2-in. biscuit cutter; or use a small glass and cut around it with a knife.

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Hearty Chicken Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Hearty Chicken Soup Recipe

It makes sense that a classic like chicken soup would be best cooked in a classic Dutch oven. While we enjoyed the soup from all three cooking methods, the Dutch oven made the meat a little more tender and juicy. The broth also simmers without a lid, so it reduces and grows richer.

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Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

Jennifer Causey

Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing Recipe

This stovetop recipe would make a tasty addition to your Thanksgiving table. Both wild and brown rice reach the perfect level of tenderness (without getting mushy); the wild rice gets a bit of a head start so that everything cooks to the ideal texture at the end. You can make this a couple of days ahead; reheat either in the microwave, in a Dutch oven on the stovetop with a splash of stock, or in a casserole dish in a 350°F oven.

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Pesto Shrimp and Broccoli Fettuccine

Caitlin Bensel

Pesto Shrimp and Broccoli Fettuccine Recipe

Put your knife away—store-bought pesto and precut broccoli florets mean no chopping required. Your Dutch oven pulls triple duty in this recipe by cooking the pasta, blanching the broccoli, and bringing the whole dish together, all in one pot.

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Steak Fajita Chili

Ryan Liebe

Steak Fajita Chili Recipe

Make this staff-favorite one of your go-to dutch-oven dinners this fall. Tougher cuts of meat, like chuck-eye turn meltingly soft, root vegetables make the stew rich and hearty, and a dollop of greek yogurt adds just the right amount of tang, to cut through the rich sauce and brighten the meal.

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Citrus-Braised Chicken Thighs

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Citrus-Braised Chicken Thighs Recipe

Dishes like these are what Dutch ovens were made for. Just dump all the ingredients inside and let your stove transform chicken thighs into a juicy meal. Braising gives you tender, tasty results and a pan sauce to boot.

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Chicken and Corn Summer Chowder

Greg DuPree

Chicken and Corn Summer Chowder Recipe

Both rich and light, this one-pot meal has a fresh, bright topping of avocado, tomato, cilantro, and lime. Prep and Cook Time: 50 minutes.

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Beefy Bolognese over Penne Pasta

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Beefy Bolognese over Penne Pasta Recipe

A meaty Bolognese needs a chance to reduce just a little as it cooks to concentrate flavors, and the Dutch oven allows for that, even with the lid on. This method also lets layers of flavors come through, as bacon, ground meat, and veggies are all browned in the same pot, then deglazed with cooking liquid.

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Savory Sausage, Veggie, and Gnocchi Soup

Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Kay Clark; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Savory Sausage, Veggie, and Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Turkey sausage, sweet butternut squash, earthy mushrooms, shallots, and spinach come together to make a big bowl of delicious comfort. The colors stay intact, and the sausage is perfect for sopping up with some crusty French bread. Best of all, it’s fast and easy, and you can dress it up or down. Turkey Italian sausage has less fat, but still retains lots of flavor. Brown the shallots and mushrooms first—since the turkey sausage doesn’t have much fat, it will burn on the bottom of the pot. This soup also works well as leftovers, especially with crusty bread.

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One-Pot Chicken with Farro

Photo: Jennifer Causey

One-Pot Chicken with Farro Recipe

This easy dish is perfect for a casual get-together with friends. Inspired by arroz con pollo, it is hearty with satisfying complexity. Cumin, saffron, and oregano season rich chicken thighs and nutty farro as the dish simmers. If using saffron, deploy it sparingly; those tiny threads bring subtle flavor and a little color to the dish, but too much will yield a medicinal taste. Serve with a side salad to complete the meal.

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Dutch Oven Double Chocolate Cake

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Dutch Oven Double Chocolate Cake Recipe

Use charcoal briquets instead of wood to more precisely control the fire's heat.

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Chicken and Mushroom Stew

Elizabeth Laseter

Chicken and Mushroom Stew Recipe

Making this creamy chicken and mushroom stew is one of Cooking Light Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis' favorite autumn rituals, along with Saturday morning pancakes, visiting pumpkin patches, and sunset bonfires. Celebrate fall by tossing this into your cast-iron pot and letting it bubble on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

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One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes

Jennifer Causey

One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes Recipe

This pasta dinner is a game changer: You use just enough liquid to cook the pasta--no colander needed. Recipe adapted from our sister publication Southern Living. Cost for 4: $8.43

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Irish Beef Stew

Photo: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Irish Beef Stew Recipe

Slow simmered with Guinness and finished with a bit of Dijon mustard for depth, this rich and hearty beef stew is comfort food at its finest. Although we’re all for breaking out the Dutch oven for a Sunday supper, if you’re looking to whip this recipe up in a hurry, we’ve included instructions for achieving the same intensely savory Irish beef stew in the Instant Pot. Either way, you’re guaranteed tender beef and the perfect reason to pick up a loaf of fresh, crusty bread.

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Mussels with Buttery Turmeric Broth

Caitlin Bensel

Mussels with Buttery Turmeric Broth Recipe

Cooking at home doesn't have to be difficult, expensive, or time-consuming. Mussels are surprisingly affordable and quick and easy to cook. They're also a standout sustainable star, a great option for those looking to make better seafood choices. A Dutch oven is key here; the roomy pot with a tight lid steams the mussels to perfection.

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Pomegranate Molasses-Glazed Chicken and Carrots

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Pomegranate Molasses-Glazed Chicken and Carrots Recipe

Pomegranate molasses, a staple ingredient in the Eastern Mediterranean, gives this one-pot dish a delectable tang.

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Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Pasta Primavera with Shrimp Recipe

Many healthy eaters are quick to cut pasta out of their diets, but dishes like this have plenty of good-for-you benefits. This Pasta Primavera is filled with colorful veggies and light shrimp, and the homemade sauce isn’t heavy like its jarred or cream-filled counterparts. To make this dinner vegetarian, simply nix the shrimp and use water or vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. You might not believe that you can prepare a wholesome family meal in 30 minutes and one pot, but trust us. The key to this one-pot dish is cooking the shrimp, vegetables, and pasta in stages. When combined, all of the ingredients will be perfectly al dente and coated in a tasty sauce that is slightly thickened by the starch in the pasta. Add more spring flavor by stirring in a tablespoon of chopped soft herbs such as parsley, dill, or basil into the pasta along with the cooked shrimp.

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Beef Stew

Greg DuPree

Beef Stew Recipe

Originally, this recipe called for the stew to be cooked in a wok, which was trendy at the time. We prefer using a Dutch oven because it provides a large, flat surface to properly brown the meat.

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20+ Delicious Recipes To Make in Your Dutch Oven

1 of 22

Creamy Cheddar-Potato Soup with Bacon

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2 of 22

The Ultimate Classic Collards

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Easy Chicken Spaghetti

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Beef and Guinness Stew

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Mark Klever's Dutch Oven Biscuits

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Hearty Chicken Soup

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Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

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Pesto Shrimp and Broccoli Fettuccine

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Steak Fajita Chili

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Citrus-Braised Chicken Thighs

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Chicken and Corn Summer Chowder

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Beefy Bolognese over Penne Pasta

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Savory Sausage, Veggie, and Gnocchi Soup

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One-Pot Chicken with Farro

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Dutch Oven Double Chocolate Cake

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Chicken and Mushroom Stew

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One-Pot Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes

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Irish Beef Stew

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Mussels with Buttery Turmeric Broth

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Pomegranate Molasses-Glazed Chicken and Carrots

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Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

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Beef Stew

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