59 Dutch Oven Recipes You'll Want To Make Every Week

Whether its one of those trendy, colorful, Instagram-worthy ones or your traditional cast-iron version, a Dutch oven is one article of kitchenware that every cook should have in their arsenal. They're sturdy, sizable, and very versatile, as they can be used not only for soups and stews but also for pasta dishes, roast meats, sauces, and even bread! Some Dutch ovens can even be used over an open fire, so they find their way into many a camping kit.

The best thing about Dutch ovens is that, unlike more fragile cookware, they tend to be pretty forgiving. Even if you do get distracted and wind up with a burnt mess in your pan, while your dinner may be ruined but your Dutch oven will probably be just fine after a good scrubbing (and maybe a re-seasoning if you favor the cast iron kind). If you own a Dutch oven but you're not sure what to do with it, you're in luck! There are enough recipes here to give it a good workout and allow you to experience just how versatile this cooking vessel can be.

While there's nothing like a nice soup and salad for lunch, it can be more than a little disappointing to order this combo and be served what looks like a thimbleful of soup and a tiny plate with three small lettuce leaves and a few shreds of cheese. Olive Garden, however, would never do you wrong like that. If you order their unlimited soup and salad combo you can graze on all the greens your plant-loving heart desires, but you'll probably want to save even more room for all their delicious soups.

Don't want to leave the house? No problem! With this copycat recipe, you can make your very own version of OG's ever-popular chicken and gnocchi soup (it was voted as the chain's best soup!) to enjoy from the comfort of your own couch. This recipe makes six servings, so you'll be able to eat your fill and still have some to share; and — unlike at Olive Garden — if you have any leftovers, you can put them in the fridge to enjoy tomorrow.

Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

A delicious dish with murky origins, penne alla vodka (despite its boozy name) will not actually get you schnockered off a bowl of pasta. Yes, the sauce does contain a generous amount of liquor, but most of the alcohol will be simmered away as it cooks. What the vodka does impart is a slightly bitter note that cuts through the richness of this creamy tomato sauce. While penne is traditional, this sauce goes well with any type of chunky pasta that will allow it to cling.

Recipe: Best Penne Alla Vodka

If you've ever been through the southwestern United States (or even as far north as Denver in late summer), chances are you've seen, or at least smelled, the glory that is fresh-roasted chilis. If you can get hold of some — or the unroasted ones, if you're brave enough to roast your own — by all means put them to good use in this amazing chicken stew. A bright, spicy upgrade from your regular old canned chicken noodle, and almost as easy to make, you won't want to skip this dish. Even if you can't get fresh-roasted chilis, you can always use the canned variety and salsa verde for an authentic taste of the Southwest wherever you may be.

Recipe: Green Chili Chicken Stew

If you remember your high school French, you'll know that the phrase "coq au vin" translates simply to "rooster in wine," and that's pretty much what you're getting here. While coq au vin is French, it's not what we'd call haute cuisine. Instead, it's a dish you can find in many a small bistro prepared by the loving hands of maman et papa.

Even if you're no Julia Child, this is one French dish you won't have too much trouble with. Simmer chicken, bacon, veggies, and herbs in a red wine sauce, then serve the stew with the remaining bottle of wine — et voilà! You, too, have mastered the art of French cooking! (Or you've at least made a pretty good start.)

Recipe: Easy Coq Au Vin

Though it may surprise you to hear, fall flavors aren't only about pumpkin spice. While PSLs may get all the press, restaurants specializing in foods other than coffee quietly get about the business of rolling out their own autumnal lineup year after year. One of our favorites is the Autumn Squash Soup from Panera, but sometimes we find ourselves craving it when fall is long over and it's gone from the menu.

Well, there's no need to wait for this scrumptious soup. Our copycat recipe is made with roast butternut squash and flavored with chopped apple and a hint of curry powder, all simmered in a base of heavy cream. To be honest, we think it could be even yummier than Panera's!

Recipe: Panera Bread Autumn Squash Soup Copycat Recipe

When we see the word "spicy" we automatically think of something peppery and eye-wateringly hot, but hot peppers aren't the only way to spice something up, and most spices don't actually pack that much heat. While this spicy chicken and veggie soup does have a little bit of a kick thanks to its chopped jalapeño and a little bit of ancho powder, it's really spiced in the flavorful way more than it is blow-the-top-of-your-head-off hot. If you prefer extreme heat, though, you can always amp up the amounts of these ingredients, swap that ancho for cayenne, or even toss in a ghost pepper or two.

Recipe: Spicy Chicken Soup

While for some the word goulash may conjure up elementary school nightmares of limp elbow macaroni topped with a bland mess of ground beef and green peppers, the real-deal Hungarian goulash is a far cry from that cafeteria monstrosity of your childhood.

Authentic goulash starts with beef cubes simmered in a paprika-spiced tomato sauce along with onions, potatoes, carrots, and peppers. Our version also gets some unexpected flavoring from an often-overlooked spice: caraway seeds! Their intensity and sharp flavor nicely offsets the rich stew for an unexpected taste that's absolutely delicious.

Recipe: Hungarian Goulash

When you're eating at a Thai restaurant, sometimes it can be tough to get past the first page of the menu. Who needs a main course when they're offering such incredible soups? One of our all time favorites is Thai curry soup, made with coconut milk, ginger, and red curry paste. While this flavor packed recipe is vegan, you can easily add chicken or shrimp if you desire.

Recipe: Thai Curry Soup

Having a tough time getting in those five servings of veggies a day, much less eating the rainbow? Well, there's no easier way to do that than with a big bowl of soup. Even people who aren't all that fond of vegetables on their own have been known to develop an appreciation for them when they're cooked in a tasty broth.

Our spicy veggie soup couldn't be much easier, as it starts with a base of frozen mixed veggies as well as diced potatoes. The chili pepper-spiked, tomato-filled broth is what really brings the flavor, though. This soup is even better when you top it with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese — and look at that! Dinner in under an hour.

Recipe: Spicy Vegetable Soup

What shall it be for dinner tonight, fajitas or pasta? How about both? No, we're not suggesting you make two different dishes, but a super creamy mashup. Nothing too difficult about it — simply sauté your fajita veggies, add in dry pasta along with some creamy cooking liquid, then stir in some shredded cheese, a little more cream, and pre-cooked chicken once the pasta's done.

So do you serve this dish with fresh black pepper or cilantro? Well, that's one decision you're going to have to make on your own.

Recipe: The Easy Chicken Fajita Pasta You've Been Looking For

Cooking once, cooking twice, cooking one-pot chicken with rice ... With apologies to Maurice Sendak, this one-pot comfort meal is the kind of thing you are going to want to make over and over again. (Even if it's not actually a type of soup, as in his classic children's tale.) One thing this dish does have in common with Sendak's dish, besides the hearty ingredients, is the fact that it makes for an enjoyable and comforting night in for the whole family.

Recipe: One-Pot Chicken And Rice For Busy Weeknights

When you think of all the many different ways you can use a Dutch oven, we hope you're not ignoring one of it's best uses, to bake bread. Though you may not have considered baking bread at all (Who has the energy for all that kneading?), we think this rye bread might change your mind on the subject.

With less than an hour active cooking time, this no-knead rye bread recipe is easier than you ever imagined, and it bakes up to crusty perfection in your trusty Dutch oven. Just remember to prep a day in advance, as this bread does still need time to rise.

Recipe: The Best Rye Bread You've Ever Made

Pasta puttanesca is a recipe with somewhat dubious origins, or so its name implies — as legend has it, the dish originated in the red-light district of Naples, Italy. True or false, we think the most important part of this origin story is the location, since — as is the case with most dishes from the region — pasta puttanesca is absolutely delicious. (The dish is so good, it's Rachael Ray's go-to pasta!)

The best part of this Neapolitan classic? The spicy sauce made from fresh tomatoes, olives, capers, and anchovies cooks up in mere minutes. Perfect hot or cold, our one-pot puttanesca will have you looking forward to leftovers.

Recipe: Puttanesca That Will Have Everyone Wanting Seconds

What, precisely, is a Mississippi pot roast? If you've never heard of this southern dish it's because it isn't exactly a time-honored tradition like, say, jambalaya, peach pie, or sweet tea. Instead, the dish dates back to the '90s, according to Southern Living – but don't let its relative youth fool you. Mississippi pot roast is an instant classic.

Even if it lacks the long, illustrious pedigree of many other southern staples, the dish is still worth trying for the simple reason that it's both easy and delicious. Our Mississippi pot roast is flavored with ranch seasoning and powdered gravy, and topped with sliced pepperoncini peppers.

Recipe: The Mississippi Pot Roast Your Family Will Beg For

Brunswick stew, as the story goes, was a dish once made with squirrel meat. If you're in touch with your inner Andrew Zimmern, you may prefer the über-traditional version. If, however, your local Kroger is fresh out of squirrel and you lack the predatory instincts to trap and skin your own, you can enjoy our quick and easy Brunswick stew recipe. Made with a combination of rotisserie chicken and pulled pork, this stew is a hearty, flavorful dinner that's ready in about 30 minutes.

Recipe: Brunswick Stew That's Perfect To Warm Up Your Weekday

Cabbage soup is a food that has a somewhat-deserved bad rep as being the namesake (as well as the staple dish of) the notorious cabbage soup diet. If you've ever tried this diet, chances are you may never want to face another bowl of the stuff again.

That would be too bad, since this cabbage soup recipe is incredibly tasty, even for the non-cabbage lovers among us. The cabbage itself adds some bulk and nutrition to a tomato-based broth that is packed with other flavorful veggies to make for a hearty, but healthy lunch.

Recipe: This Cabbage Soup Is The Perfect Comfort Food

Corned beef and cabbage has long been considered the one must-serve food for St. Patrick's Day, and for that reason, many people assume it's a traditional Irish dish; but in fact, corned beef and cabbage as we know it was actually born in the great American melting pot, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Corned beef, as it so happens, isn't strictly an Irish thing at all, but was instead a product that Irish immigrants purchased from Jewish butchers in their new homeland to serve alongside the universal low-budget vegetable, cabbage. We salute the earliest example of Irish/Jewish fusion cuisine and feel this comforting dish shouldn't be restricted to just the one holiday, but enjoyed year round.

If you're able to resist eating the whole pot, the leftover corned beef from our easy recipe makes for a perfect sandwich.

Recipe: The Corned Beef And Cabbage You'll Love This St. Patty's Day

Remember when the whole sourdough baking trend blew up during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns? Seldom has one particular food been so associated with a specific time period. Well, the hashtag may no longer be trending on social media, but the bread's popularity remains, and it's still a challenge that any aspiring baker worth their pink Himalayan salt may wish to tackle.

While sourdough bread is undoubtedly time-consuming, it will be time well spent. Our recipe takes several days from start to finish, but it makes use of a secret weapon to ensure that the finished product turns out just right: a Dutch oven, of course! Baking the bread loaf in this lidded vessel concentrates the heat where it belongs to help ensure a perfectly crispy crust and chewy interior. Your friends and family will hardly believe it didn't come from a bakery.

Recipe: Rustic Sourdough Bread

When we talk of chowder — or "chowdah," in New England-ese — the first kind that comes to mind for many is the kind made with clams. The term chowder, however, simply refers to a type of rich, thick soup, and it doesn't necessarily need to be made with seafood. Corn chowder, in fact, is so hearty and satisfying that you may not even register the fact that it's meat-free.

While our corn chowder recipe does include dairy products, you could always use plant-based substitutes to make a vegan version without sacrificing any of its flavor. You could also go in the opposite direction by tossing in some chopped chicken to make it a one-bowl meal complete with meat and veggies. Either way, we're sure you'll be satisfied with the creamy, filling results.

Recipe: This Easy Corn Chowder Is Comfort In A Bowl

When you serve a ham (be it for a special occasion like Easter or just a large Sunday dinner) you're bound to have plenty of leftovers, since hams tend to come in just three sizes: large, really large, and half the darn pig. Once you've finally carved that ham down to the bone, though, what do you do with it? No, not the meat, but the bone itself? Don't just throw it in the trash! Your grandparents would be shocked and ashamed by such flagrant waste.

You'll be pretty upset with yourself, too, for tossing all those past bones once you taste this incredible ham and bean soup. In fact, you'll probably find yourself planning your next ham dinner just so you'll have another delicious soup bone as a lagniappe. Make sure to leave some meat on the bone, as you'll want your soup to have pieces of ham in addition to the meaty flavor.

Recipe: The Ham And Bean Soup Everyone Will Eat Up

While chicken tikka masala is an Indian dish (and one of the most popular ones at Indian restaurants in the U.K., says the South China Morning Post), it's maybe not considered the most authentic option on the menu. Well, no matter how genuine it may or may not be, there's a good reason why chicken tikka masala is so beloved: spicy tomato and cream-sauced chicken tastes pretty awesome!

And unlike some Indian dishes that require a tandoor to prepare, chicken tikka masala isn't even a meal you need to get from a restaurant to enjoy. Our chicken tikka masala recipe can be made in your own kitchen, out of ingredients that shouldn't be too hard to come by in any supermarket.

Recipe: Simple Chicken Tikka Masala Is Easier Than You Think

For many, tomato soup is synonymous with Campbell's flagship product. The iconic brand even holds a place in the annals of art history, having been immortalized in what is perhaps some of Andy Warhol's best-known work. The problem with Campbell's tomato soup is that, iconic as it may be, it's just okay. This is a real shame, since many are only familiar with the red and white canned version. Homemade tomato soup is an entirely different thing — and, needless to say, a vast improvement over the canned variety.

Our tomato soup recipe is so easy to put together, it won't require much more effort than wielding a can opener. In fact, aside from chopping some onions, opening a few cans is probably the hardest thing you'll have to do to enjoy a tomato soup that tastes far better than you could ever imagine.

Recipe: The Tomato Soup Recipe You'll Make All The Time

Chicken and dumplings may seem like the ultimate Southern grandma food, but you know what? Grandma was on to a good thing here. Our chicken and dumplings recipe makes for a hearty, filling meal that can feed a whole family on the tightest of budgets — it's even made with chicken thighs, a cut that tends to be cheaper than breasts.

Should you be dining solo, you can easily save the leftovers for later, since nothing's better than comfort food that only needs a few minutes in the microwave to be as good as new.

Recipe: Chicken And Dumplings Your Whole Family Will Devour

While butter chicken may not sound like the name of a particularly exciting dish, it's actually a staple on Indian restaurant menus. While it's not the most traditional of Indian dishes, having been created in the 1950s (via Menu Magazine), the dish has introduced numerous newbies to the glories of Indian cuisine.

This butter chicken recipe isn't difficult for any home cook to prepare, nor are any of the ingredients going to be hard to find. In addition to butter, the chicken is cooked with several other dairy products (namely yogurt and cream), as well as tomatoes, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and a whole lot of spices. While you may be tempted to skip any you don't already own, the flavors play together so nicely we'd seriously advise against it.

Recipe: The Easiest Butter Chicken Recipe You'll Ever Make

Who doesn't love one-pot recipes? Fewer dirty dishes in the sink is never a bad thing. Here's another recipe to add to your collection: a delicious vegetarian entrée where the spaghetti cooks right in the sauce!

If you have an abundance of produce you can make this dish with fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones, or add leftover rotisserie chicken for an extra dose of protein. This one-pot pasta is nutritious, super customizable, and done in a hurry, taking just half an hour from fridge to table.

Recipe: Easy One-Pot Pasta Recipe With Spinach And Tomatoes Your Family Will Love

Oh là là! Could there be anything more délicieux than a bowl of soupe à l'oignon gratinée, dripping with melted fromage and accompanied by a crusty baguette and a glass of Bordeaux? You don't need to be sitting at a charming little bistro on the Left Bank to enjoy such a treat. Instead, you can fulfill your Parisian food dreams chez vous by making up a batch of this not-too-difficult French onion soup.

While our recipe calls for the easy-to-obtain mozzarella cheese, feel free to substitute Gruyère for an even more authentic taste of la cuisine française. Ready in under an hour, this delightful soup is more than worth any possible onion-inspired tears.

Recipe: The French Onion Soup Recipe You Need In Your Life

Chicken noodle soup is every grandmother's go-to cure for colds and the flu. (Which one of them were you supposed to starve? Neither one, as far as Grandma's concerned.) The problem is, when you feel yourself coming down with the annual wintertime cruddies, Grandma's not always there to cook for you, and you might not have the energy to stand over the stove all day yourself.

Oh, the humanity! Must you resort to a can of Campbell's? No need, when instead you can whip up this quick, yet satisfying 20-minute chicken noodle soup using a rotisserie chicken, a package of egg noodles, some veggies, and a carton of chicken stock. If you want, you can even buy frozen, pre-chopped onions, carrots, and celery, and your soup will be done all the sooner.

Recipe: The 20-Minute Chicken Noodle Soup You Need This Winter

While the word "chili" is often followed by "con carne" — meaning with meat — it's perfectly possible to make a "chili sin carne," as well. Our vegetarian bean chili is so hearty, it doesn't even need any meat substitutes (Impossible or otherwise).

With a well-stocked pantry, you can make this recipe any time, since all you really need is four cans: tomato sauce, black beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Add some onions, spices, and salsa, and you'll have a meal that tastes so good, even carnivores may not think to ask "Where's the beef?" Top with sour cream and cheddar if desired, or leave it off for a vegan meal.

Recipe: 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili That's Perfect For Weeknights

Beef stroganoff has come down in the world a bit since the days when it once graced the tables of Russian royalty, but then, that just means that this now-democratized dish is something we can all enjoy without an army of Le Cordon Bleu cooks at our beck and call.

This stroganoff recipe is extra-easy, since the whole shebang — ground beef, mushrooms, noodles, and all — can be cooked up in just one single pot. Creamy, comforting, and filling; we can't think of a better way to live like a Czar.

Recipe: One-Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff You Need To Try