37 Best Dutch Oven Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners
One-pot meals mean less dishes!
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Every kitchen should have a Dutch oven. Here's why: the best Dutch ovens have high sides and tight-fitting lids to trap steam and produce aromatic juices for braises, soups, and stews. The slow, even heat from the heavy cast iron allows the ingredients to meld together, creating a depth of flavor that's hard to replicate with other cookware. That means pure comfort food. So, if you have a craving for something hot, cheesy, or creamy, consider grabbing that big ol' pot for dinner.
Bonus: The Dutch oven recipes we've rounded up here are great one-pot meals, too, so you can get your dinner on the table with less dishes. They're also oven-safe—which means you can toss in all of the ingredients, pop the pot in the oven, and let it cook while you take care of more important things. It's dinner made easy for any night of the week!
You can cook family meals like beef stew, creamy goat cheese pasta, as well as good ol' chicken and dumplings. The large capacity meals you can cook a whole pot roast or juicy chicken for a crowd, batch cook soup to warm you up for the chilly week ahead, or even bake a loaf of bread. This cookware is your trusty friend no matter what you're in the mood for. So get that pot on the stove, because you've got some one-pot cooking to do!
Jambalaya
Get a taste of New Orleans without leaving home! Spicy and flavorful rice gets mixed with chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage for a filling and unforgettable meal.
Get the Jambalaya recipe.
Sweet Potato Chili
Check all of the boxes you want in a chili recipe: hearty, warm, tasty... so much so, that you won't even miss the meat. Top with anything and everything you want from cheese to sour cream.
Get the Sweet Potato Chili recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Get all the flavors of the classic comfort meal in a fraction of the time! The best part? The "dippers" you make out of store-bought pie crust that are like cheesy crackers to dunk as you eat.
Get Ree's Chicken Pot Pie Soup recipe.
Cauliflower Soup
Ree says, "Out of all the soups in my repertoire, the one that most says 'comfort food' to me is my mom's time-tested cauliflower soup." It's perfect for warming you up a chilly day!
Get Ree's Cauliflower Soup recipe.
Irish Stew
No, it doesn't have to be St. Patrick's Day to enjoy a bowl of this traditional lamb stew. And if you don't like or can't find lamb, it'll be just as tasty using beef chuck roast.
Get Ree's Irish Stew recipe.
Red Beans and Rice
Nourish your body and soul with this classic bean stew. It's packed with veggies, spices, and some salty pork for extra flavor. When mixed with rice, it will fill you right up.
Get the Red Beans and Rice recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili
Using store-bought rotisserie chicken and canned beans makes this chili much faster to make. And the secret ingredient that gives it so many body? Cream cheese!
Get Ree's Creamy Chicken and Corn Chili recipe.
Chicken and Dumplings
Ree describes this recipe as "comfort food like no one's business." If that's not the perfect description for something you'd want on a chilly night, we don't know what is!
Get Ree's Chicken and Dumplings recipe.
Lobster Bisque
Looking for something a little more special? Lobster bisque is rich and decadent soup that works for any celebration. Surprisingly, it only takes 15 minutes of prep time.
Get the Lobster Bisque recipe.
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
It's easy to see why this recipe went viral on TikTok. It's basically the best of both worlds, combining French onion soup with pasta, then topping it with cheesy bread.
Get the One-Pot French Onion Pasta recipe.
Hoppin' John
Typically served on New Year's Day for good luck, this hearty black-eyed peas dish is worth making any time of year. Add peppers and kale for added veggies, or leave as is over white or brown rice.
Get Ree's Hoppin' John recipe.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
You want easy? We'll give you easy. In less than 30 minutes, you can have this cozy soup on the table. It uses store-bought tortellini to speed up the process and only takes a few steps to jazz them up.
Get the Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.
Shrimp Étouffée
French for "smothered," étouffée is a classic Cajun dish that's hearty and comforting. Smother tasty shrimp in a flavorful gravy and serve over rice. It will be on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Get the Shrimp Étouffée recipe.
Beef and Noodles
This is a spin on beef stew that's made with a little more broth, mushrooms, and soft, chewy egg noodles. It's a cozy, warming meal to try this winter.
Get the Beef and Noodles recipe.
No-Knead Bread (Boule)
Your Dutch oven isn't just for one-pot dinners, and this crusty, rustic bread is proof! The pot gives your loaf structure so it turns out looking professional with minimal effort.
Get the No-Knead Bread recipe.
Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta
This is a go-to weeknight dinner in which melty, gooey goat cheese becomes a sauce to coat pasta and fresh tomatoes. What could be better?
Get the Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta recipe.
Dutch Oven Roast Chicken
This is one of Ree's favorite ways to cook a whole roasted chicken. As the skin gets crispy and golden, the meat stays super juicy, thanks to the Dutch oven. Veggies cook at the same time in the pot and absorb all of those delicious juices.
Get the Dutch Oven Roast Chicken recipe.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
This Dutch oven soup is all about balance: fresh broccoli and loads of cheese. It's a kid favorite, especially when you serve it in a bread bowl!
Get the Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe.
Black Bean Chili
Chili is a classic cold weather dinner, and this version is made with ground turkey, lots of beans, tomatoes, and hit of cocoa powder for a lovely layer of flavor.
Get the Black Bean Chili recipe.
Chicken Parm Soup
All of the elements of chicken parmesan, turned into a family-friendly soup? Count us in! This 30-minute meal is made with tomatoes, small pasta, and shredded rotisserie chicken.
Get the Chicken Parm Soup recipe.
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