Banish The Cold This Winter With These Hearty Dutch Oven Recipes (2024)

Home Gear Stovetop Cookware Dutch Oven

Updated: Jun. 06, 2023

Winter is the perfect time to make hearty recipes in your Dutch oven. These wholesome recipes will keep you and your family toasty and warm even on the chilliest nights.

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Mushrooms, onions and a bottle of Guinness add excellent flavor to my pot roast. This one-dish wonder may taste even better the next day. —Madeleine Bessette, Coeur d Alene, Idaho

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Skillet Chicken Stew

It’s been 20 years now since I adapted this from a classic beef stew recipe. We like it so much that, in all that time, I have never changed any ingredients or amounts – unless it was to double them! Our home’s on a river, and my husband, our three boys and I enjoy camping and boating. — Valerie Jordan, Kingmont, West Virginia

Learn how to make a Dutch oven chicken.

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When I moved to New England, I embraced the local cuisine. My cassoulet with baked beans pays tribute to a French classic and to New England in one hearty, heartwarming dish. —Devon Delaney, Westport, Connecticut

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Cazuela

I learned to make this dish while we were living in Chile for a few months. We grow extra butternut squash in our garden just for this recipe. —Louise Schmid, Marshall, Minnesota

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Fire-Roasted Ziti with Sausage

We punch up our pasta with smoked sausage and fire-roasted tomato sauce. It’s an easy recipe to switch up—use whatever noodles and spaghetti sauce are in your pantry. —Jean Komlos, Plymouth, Michigan

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Garlic and herb cream cheese adds subtle notes of flavor to this creamy, hearty soup. On a chilly day, it’s like having a bowlful of comfort food. —Shelisa Terry, Henderson, Nevada

Still hungry? Find more cozy Dutch oven soup recipes.

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Spinach-Parm Casserole

For those who ignore Popeye and won’t eat their spinach, I find that spinach with garlicky butter and Parmesan helps change their minds. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

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Chili for a Crowd

This chili for a crowd was handed down to me by my aunt, who said she got it from a "grizzled Montana mountain man." I added some zesty ingredients to come up with the final version. Hot food is something that my husband's family isn't accustomed to, so I adjust the spices for them. In fact, with a few simple alterations to the "heat" index, I can serve this chili to anyone. —Lisa Humphreys, Wasilla, Alaska

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Chickpea Tortilla Soup

This vegan tortilla soup recipe is healthy, filling and family-friendly! We love how hearty and flavorful it is. We like to play around with the different toppings we add each time it's served. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

10/35

Hearty Italian White Bean Soup

A bowlful of this soup is so satisfying, it's hard to believe it's actually good for you, too. I crave it all the time. With lots of beans and potatoes, it's filling and even hits the spot with meat lovers. —Kristina Krummel, Elkins, Arkansas

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Lone Star Pot Roast

Pot roast becomes especially delicious with the addition of chopped green chilies and taco seasoning. —Helen Carpenter, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Grilled Chorizo and Shrimp Paella

This shrimp paella recipe is not only healthy but satisfying, too! It has vitamin C from the sweet red pepper, fiber from the rice, and lean protein from the chicken sausage. — Daniel Bartholomay, Fargo, North Dakota

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Hearty Vegetarian Chili

Rich and flavorful, this chili is absolutely packed with fun veggies like mushrooms, beans and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s so filling, you’ll fool any meat lover. —Pam Ivbuls, Omaha, Nebraska

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Land of Enchantment Posole

My family named this spicy soup after our state moniker, “New Mexico, Land of Enchantment.” We usually make it around Christmas when we have lots of family over…and we never have leftovers. —Suzanne Caldwell Artesia, New Mexico

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Rhubarbecue

This simmered sauce is a roller-coaster ride for your tongue. It's a wonderful blend of complex flavors that goes with any meat. — Rd Stendel-Freels, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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One-Pot Spaghetti Dinner

Mamma mia! What’s the secret to this one-pot spaghetti? A homemade jar sauce and a one-pot cooking method makes this family favorite recipe quick and delicious. —Carol Benzel-Schmidt, Stanwood, Washington

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Vegan Jambalaya

This flavorful entree uses convenient canned beans in place of the meat—and this food never leaves you hungry. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

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Slow-Simmered Burgundy Beef Stew

My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me many 25 years ago. Ever since then, it’s been a go-to whenever I need good food without a lot of fussing. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona

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With chicken, pasta and a bold tomato broth, this hearty and inviting soup is like a big comforting hug in a bowl! —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida

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Black Bean 'n' Pumpkin Chili

My family is crazy about this slow cooker chili because it uses ingredients you don’t usually find in chili. Believe it or not, I discovered that pumpkin is what makes the dish so special. Cook up a big batch and freeze your soup for later; it tastes even better reheated. —Deborah Vliet, Holland, Michigan

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Short Rib Cobbler

This recipe was inspired by my family’s love of two things—beef stew and biscuits. After years of making the two separately, I put the biscuits on top of the stew like a cobbler. This supper’s as down-home as it gets. —Janine Talley, Orlando, Florida

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Spicy Chicken Stew

When you’re craving cozy Mexican flavors, try this spicy chicken and chickpea stew. It couldn’t be easier to make—just round out the meal with a fresh tossed salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Empanada Beef Chili

While I lived in Mexico in the 1960s, a friend’s mother gave me her grandmother’s empanadas recipe. I’ve made it over the years and passed it down to my grandchildren. To shed some carbs, I converted the recipe into a chili. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking for more recipes? Here’s our collection of low-carb dinner recipes.

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Hearty Sausage Minestrone

As a teacher, I appreciate quick and easy recipes. If I make this for just my husband and me, we have leftovers for easy lunches. But when there are more people at the table, every bit is eaten. —Tami Stoudt, Evans, Colorado

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Bavarian Pot Roast

Since all of my grandparents were German, it’s no wonder that so many Bavarian recipes have been handed down to me. Because the Midwest has such a large German population, I feel this recipe represents the area well. —Susan Robertson, Hamilton, Ohio

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Firehouse Chili

As one of the cooks at the firehouse, I used to prepare meals for 10 men. This firehouse chili recipe was among their favorites. —Richard Clements, San Dimas, California

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Chicken and Dumplings

Perfect food for chilly winter nights, this main course is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas

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Lamb Stew

My grandmother used to make this stew as a special Sunday meal. It’s an unforgettable Irish meal. —Vickie Desourdy, Washington, North Carolina

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To give our mac and cheese a Sicilian touch, we mix sausage, basil and fennel with three cheeses for an incredibly comforting casserole. —Michael Cohen, Los Angeles, California

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Turkey White Chili

Growing up in a Pennsylvania Dutch area, I was surrounded by excellent cooks and wonderful foods. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes like this change-of-pace chili. —Kaye Whiteman, Charleston, West Virginia

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Chicken and Andouille Gumbo

Gumbo goes back to 1700s Louisiana; today’s version is just as hearty using andouille sausage. Serve with cornbread or crusty French bread. —Billy Hensley, Mount Carmel, Tennessee

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Simple Italian Sausage Soup

“This is definitely a meal on its own. It smells so good while cooking. The men are always glad to walk in the door after work and see this on the stove.” —Joan Oakland, Troy, Montana

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Hearty Hunter's Stew

Moist, tender meat and thick, rich gravy are the hallmarks of this classic, slow-simmered cast-iron pot recipe. —Joyce Worsech, Catawba, Wisconsin

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I created this meal when trying to use up a large head of broccoli. My family requests it at least once a week, which is handy because we always have the ingredients. —Lisa Montgomery, Elmira, Ontario

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Quinoa Turkey Chili

This heart-healthy turkey quinoa chili is not only tasty, it's a vitamin and protein powerhouse! —Sharon Giljum, San Diego, California

Originally Published: October 16, 2019