A collection of healthy dutch oven recipes perfect for your cast iron pot! These recipes for the dutch oven are easy, simple, and healthy!
If there’s anything I love in the winter, it’s a cozy, one-pot meal. But not all pots are created equal! Dutch ovens give you the ability to braise, boil, roast, saute, and even bake, all in one cast iron pot!
So, if you’ve been gifted a dutch oven recently, or are still contemplating buying one, here are 40 different healthy dutch oven recipes that you can try out at home! From homemade bread to chili, whole chicken, and even braised lamb, there are almost endless possibilities and uses for your cast iron dutch oven!
Is cooking in a Dutch oven healthy?
Most of the time, cooking in a dutch oven is perfectly healthy! You can make many healthy recipes in your cast iron pot! The enamel companies use is completely non-toxic and food-safe, so you don’t have to worry about that.
The only concern is that if the enamel on your pot is chipping, it is considered unsafe to use because you don’t want to end up with enamel in your food! The cast iron underneath is also suitable and food-safe and can make all of the food you cook in the cast iron pot fortified with iron.
Is it worth buying a Dutch oven?
In my opinion, a cast iron dutch oven is completely worth the money! Dutch ovens are versatile cooking vessels that provide almost endless uses!
Because both the pot and the lid are oven-safe and made of cast iron, they conduct and retain heat better than any other appliance you own. They are masters at braising and roasting, but can be used for baking, soups, slow cooking, and much more!
The enameled dutch ovens available on the market are often very beautiful and come in many different colors as well, which make them great gifts and additions to any kitchen.
What is the best Dutch oven to buy?
Personally, I own two dutch ovens, and love both equally! One is a Cuisinart 5 qt, and the other is a Martha Stewart 6 qt. One is smaller than the other, but they both cook healthy meals for my family perfectly!
Here are a few options when looking to purchase a dutch oven:
Each of these cast iron pots will do perfectly for all of these healthy dutch oven recipes!
1. Dutch Oven Chicken and Vegetables
This simple dutch oven chicken and vegetable meal comes together easily and is an entire meal all in one pot!
2. Healthy Dutch Oven Beef Stew
Using red wine and Worcestershire sauce, you can create the most flavor and rich dutch oven beef stew in less than an hour!
3. One Pot Beef Macaroni and Cheese
This recipe is so cheesy and flavorful, your family will never notice how healthy it actually is! This is a healthy dutch oven recipe that’s perfect for dinner, and can be made into a freezer meal, too!
4. Dutch Oven Pork Ribs
These ribs are incredibly easy to make and they are always a huge hit. Let your Dutch oven do all the hard work!
5. Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
Juicy chicken, crispy skin, and veggie sides all done in one pot make family dinners a breeze!
6. Braised Lamb Shanks with Balsamic
Love lamb but never sure how to cook it? These melt-in-the-mouth braised Lamb Shanks with Balsamic Vinegar are the perfect dish to try. So simple to make yet so delicious, the best thing about this slow-cooked recipe is that the oven does all the hard work.
7. Dutch Oven Corned Beef
There is no need to brine this Dutch oven corned beef, as it has plenty of seasonings and flavor. Serve with lots of vegetables roasted right alongside the corned beef, don’t forget the mustard sauce!
8. Dutch Oven Pork Tenderloin
Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic Glaze is cooked in a Dutch oven and is roasted to tender perfection. The balsamic glaze has no sugar added and is a sweet and savory sauce to brush over the pork.
9. Dutch Oven Pulled Pork Sandwiches
A tender and juicy pulled pork recipe using pork shoulder! Cooked to perfection in the dutch oven, let the oven do the work for you!
10. Ground Turkey Pasta
Guaranteed to have the whole family begging for seconds, this ground turkey pasta recipe is made in the dutch oven all on the stovetop!
11. Dutch Oven Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a classic one-pot recipe filled with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and rice. Completely irresistible, this easy recipe includes all the classic flavors of true Cajun/Creole cooking like Cajun seasoning and starts with finely diced onion, bell pepper, and celery – the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine.
12. Dutch Oven Stuffed Bell Peppers
A simple and new way to make stuffed bell peppers!
13. Easy Cornish Hens
Try this easy cornish hens recipe, well-seasoned and easy to make. Plus, it’s less hassle than making a huge turkey or whole chicken!
14. Gluten Free No-Knead Bread
A beautiful gluten-free artisan bread that is crazy easy to make, with no kneading required at all! This gorgeous no-knead bread recipe is totally gluten-free and dairy-free too, but no one would care!
15. Guinness Beef Stew
This is a whole meal in a pot! Big chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and turnips are the perfect comfort food on a cold night. If you’re not a beer drinker, you may still love cooking with it!
16. Beef Short Ribs
These Beef Short Ribs in Red Wine are cooked low and slow in a rich deep sauce, right in your Dutch oven Your family is sure to enjoy this!
17. Smokey Dutch Oven Chili
This smokey dutch oven beer-braised chili is easy, flavorful, and hearty, and may be the best chili recipe you will ever make!
18. Braised Beef Shank Pasta
This Dutch oven pasta is perfect for fall and winter days and it loads you up with delicious, really healthy fat and protein-packed comfort food. You can even eat the bone marrow afterward.
19. Chicken Dum Biryani
Chicken dum biryani is made by layering fragrant basmati rice over chicken marinated in a rich, delicious mix of spices and yogurt.
20. Old Fashioned Goulash
This goulash recipe is simple, and made with healthy ingredients, all right in the Dutch oven!
21. Dutch Oven Taco Soup
With adobo spiced turkey, black beans, tomatoes, and corn, in a delicious zesty broth, this Homemade Turkey Taco Soup is an easy healthy dutch oven recipe!
22. Chicken and Vegetable Soup
This hearty soup is an easy and healthy dutch oven dinner that you can make in less than an hour. It is packed with vegetables, chicken and cooked in a tomato-flavored chicken broth.
23. Jackfruit Stew in the Dutch Oven
Jackfruit is a great alternative to beef and other meats, making this healthy dutch oven dinner recipe perfect when you need a warm and steamy bowl of delicious vegan comfort food.
24. Hungarian Mushroom Soup
One of the best soups to make on a cold winter day! This dutch oven version makes it simple and easy to whip up a big batch of cozy mushroom soup!
25. Dutch Oven Beef Barbacoa
Shredded beef barbacoa is a healthy dutch oven recipe that is great for tacos, salads, and even burritos!
26. Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo
A New Orleans classic that takes about 30 minutes and is full of flavors infused right in your dutch oven!
27. Dutch Oven Carnitas
With lots of citrus tones and authentic flavors, this Mexican pulled pork makes the best tacos, burritos, bowls, and more. Plus it’s an amazing make-ahead or freezer meal!
28. Italian Wedding Soup
A delicious and filling dutch oven soup recipe made with homemade meatballs and lots of vegetables!
29. Dutch Oven Apple Crisp
The perfect fall dessert with corn flakes and oats, all made right in the dutch oven!
30. Beanless Dutch Oven Chili
A cozy and thick chili for those of you who absolutely hate beans!
31. Sweet Potato & Chickpea Curry
A plant-based, vegan dutch oven curry recipe that’s both savory and quick to make!
32. Dutch Oven Pot Roast
This Dutch Oven Pot Roast is made on the stove-top with beef chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, and thyme in a rich beef broth with Dijon, balsamic and brown sugar.
33. Dutch Oven Tri Tip
This moist dutch oven tri-tip with vegetables is incredible in the oven. Tender protein with very little prep work on your part may become your family’s favorite new meal.
34. Lentil and Kale Soup
A hearty and healthy dutch oven recipe with tons of flavor!
35. Mushroom Ramen Bowls
Use brown rice ramen or instant ramen packets for this shortcut ramen recipe in the dutch oven!
36. Rustic Braised Chicken and Vegetables
An easy braised chicken recipe to make in your dutch oven this winter!
37. Cheesy Everything But the Bagel Bread
If you’ve ever considered trying your hand at baking bread but considered the task too intimidating or you have a fear of working with yeast, this recipe for Dutch Oven Bread with Cheddar and Everything Bagel Seasoning is for you.
38. Dutch Oven Chili Con Carne
This chili recipe is cooked slowly in a dutch oven and best served with mini naan bread and a few slices of avocado. Who doesn’t like a good tender meat stew?
39. Dutch Oven Lasagna
An incredibly fast and simple way to make layered lasagna in the dutch oven!
40. Bolognese Sauce
A versatile sauce that can be used for pasta, lasagna, baked potatoes, and even stuffed zucchini boats!
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xoxo Megan
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