12 Easy Dutch Oven Recipes | Four Generations One Roof

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Love easy, hearty meals with minimal cleanup? This roundup collects 12 easy Dutch oven recipes sharing bread, chicken, chili, beef, and dessert. Also including two of our own tested weeknight dinners! If you’re picking your first Dutch oven, a 5.5 to 6-quart enameled one is the most versatile size for a family of four to six. Let’s get cooking!

Dutch Oven Bread

This bread by Girl Versus Dough has my mouth watering. It is a no-knead recipe, too!

Dutch Oven Chicken Recipes

Dutch oven on a stovetop, an easy one-pot meal for beginner cooks

Our dutch oven chicken with canned diced tomatoes and sweet potatoes is the easiest weekday recipe and takes no time at all to make.

Chicken and turkey pot pie with garlic drop biscuits recipe from Recipes for Our Daily Bread

I’d like to thank Recipes for Our Daily Bread for making me crave this dutch oven Chicken Pot Pie with Garlic Drop Biscuit bake. It looks amazing.

Creamy Dutch oven chicken and rice, a one-pot meal from Natasha's Kitchen

Natasha’s Kitchen sure knows her way with the dutch oven and this creamy chicken and rice has just made my to-make list!

Dutch oven Sprite chicken recipe from Life in the Lofthouse

I love interesting recipes and this Dutch Oven Sprite Chicken from Life in the Lofthouse sure has my curiosity elevated!

Dutch oven chicken breast recipe, an easy way to cook chicken in a Dutch oven

You may remember this yummy dutch oven chicken breast recipe by yours truly. It is good stuff, people!

Dutch Oven Chili Recipe

One-pot Dutch oven chili mac and cheese recipe from Damn Delicious

This one pot dutch oven chili recipe mac by Damn Delicious will please the entire family!

Dutch Oven Dessert Recipes

Dutch oven apple crisp dessert served with ice cream, from Eat It and Say Yum

You can even make desserts in the dutch oven like this scrumptious apple crisp by Eat it and Say Yum.

Dutch Oven Recipes Beef

One-pot Southwest pasta recipe made in a Dutch oven, from The Wholesome Dish

Spice up the flavor when you make this One Pot Wonder Southwest Pasta by The Wholesome Dish.

One-pot lasagna pasta recipe made in a Dutch oven, from Oh Sweet Basil

I’m really looking forward to trying out this one-pot lasagna by Oh Sweet Basil. I’ve never met a lasagna I didn’t like.

Dutch oven goulash recipe from Amanda's Cookin'

Have you ever wanted to try goulash? Amanda’s Cookin’ will show you how to make goulash in a dutch oven. This recipe has similar ingredients to dutch oven beef stew as well.

Fall off the Fork Short Ribs

Dutch oven braised short ribs recipe from The Pioneer Woman

Anything that is deemed heaven on a plate has my name all over it. I can’t wait to try out these dutch oven short ribs by The Pioneer Woman.

Recipe With Eggs – Breakfast

Sheepherder's breakfast skillet recipe made in a Dutch oven, from Taste of Home

Finally a great breakfast recipe for you. This Taste of Home recipe is called the Sheepherders Breakfast and it looks so good!

Related Post: 18 Easy One-Pot Dinners: Minimal Cleanup, Big Flavor. So many easy weeknight dinners on this post!

Where to buy a Dutch Oven?

My favorite Dutch Ovens:

We have this one in red (which is a great price point and comes in all colors) but if you prefer a pre seasoned one, this one has excellent reviews and is a little cheaper.

I hope that you’ve found a new passion to use that dutch oven. These recipes all look so good and you just can’t beat a one pot meal for clean up. Which one do you want to try out? It is so hard to pick!

Common FAQ’s

What size Dutch oven do I need for family meals?

A 5.5 to 6-quart Dutch oven is the most popular all-purpose size and comfortably feeds a family of four to six. Go up to 7 quarts if you’re regularly cooking for a crowd.

Should I buy an enameled or bare cast iron Dutch oven?

Enameled cast iron is the easier choice for most home cooks, no seasoning required, just wash with soap and water, and it handles acidic ingredients like tomato sauce without damage. Bare cast iron needs regular oiling and re-seasoning but tolerates higher heat, which suits bread baking or camp cooking better.

Can you cook chili and tomato-based sauces in a Dutch oven?

Yes, and enameled is actually the better choice for it. Acidic ingredients like canned tomatoes or vinegar-based braises can strip the seasoning on bare cast iron over a long simmer, while enamel isn’t affected.

Can you bake bread in a Dutch oven?

Yes, it’s one of the most popular ways to bake no-knead bread at home. The heavy lid traps steam around the dough as it bakes, which mimics a steam-injected bakery oven and gives the crust its crackly texture.

What’s a good first recipe for a beginner Dutch oven cook?

A simple one-pot chicken dish is a forgiving place to start, it uses pantry staples and only asks for one pot to clean up afterward.

Is Dutch oven cooking good for busy weeknights?

Yes, that’s the main appeal, everything cooks in one pot, so there’s less cleanup, and most Dutch oven dinners go from stovetop straight to the table.

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