Thanksgiving dinners offer families the perfect occasion to gather around a hearty meal and celebrate this age-old tradition along with the people that matter most. Deciding on a menu and finding new recipes can often be a challenge but is the first step to planning the perfect Thanksgiving celebration.
From the classic roast Turkey and stuffing, to delicious sides and desserts, the French or Dutch Oven is the ideal piece of cookware to help you prepare a complete Thanksgiving feast. This iconic piece of cookware is extremely versatile and can be used to tackle a number of different cooking techniques, from slow-cooking a stew to baking a decadent dessert.
We got you covered with a full set of Thanksgiving classics, ranging from main courses, to side dishes and desserts. Here are 10 Thanksgiving Recipes that you can prepare in a French or Dutch Oven that the the whole family to enjoy.
Dutch Oven vs. French Oven
Dutch and French Ovens are often used interchangeably as both pieces of cookware share many of the same characteristics. The French Oven, however, refined the original Dutch Oven design from the 18th century, replacing the pure cast iron with enamelled cast iron. This improves heat retention, cooks food evenly, and ensures this piece of cookware is built to last.
Main Courses
The main courses at Thanksgiving dinners typically double as a centerpiece for the table, headlining the menu. These recipes serve the entire family and can easily be prepared in a Dutch Oven. Let’s take a closer look at four of our favourite main course dishes.
Classic Roast Turkey and Stuffing
Is it really Thanksgiving without a Classic Roast Turkey and Stuffing? We didn’t think so. The stuffing is designed to compliment the roast Turkey without necessarily overpowering the dish. It features a variety of delicious spices, including dried sage, rosemary, and thyme, as well as finely chopped parsley for a quintessential savoury flavour.
While the turkey is roasted in an oval baker, it can easily be replaced with a French or Dutch Oven, helping it slow-cook to perfection. This iconic piece of cookware offers the turkey an ideal environment to cook evenly, locking in all the rich flavours of the dish due to its thick walls and tight-fitting lid.
Indeed, the oval French Oven is perfectly shaped to contain the poultry, and even comes in a variety of sizes, accommodating both bigger and smaller groups. Our classic roast turkey recipe may take over two hours to prepare, but it is well worth the wait and serves between eight and 10 people.
Trussed Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables
Our Trussed Beef Pot Roast with Vegetables recipe is yet another Thanksgiving staple, feeding the whole family with ease. This recipe has everything you want in a main course, including a classic beef roast and a number of tender vegetables surrounding it, including carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes.
The French or Dutch Oven simplifies the cooking process, ensuring you can spend quality time with your loved ones as it cooks rather than slaving over a hot stove. This recipe takes over two hours to prepare and truly embodies the set-it-and-forget-it nature of French Oven cooking. Our trussed beef pot roast serves up to six people, but if you are expecting more guests, simply adjust the proportions, and voilà – dinner is served!
Classic Lasagna
The holidays are as good an excuse as any to prepare a delicious, homemade lasagna. This classic dish takes comfort food to another level with layers of cheese and perfectly-simmered meat sauce and is relatively easy to make. If Thanksgiving catches you at an awkward time, you can even prepare it in advance and freeze it until your gathering.
This French or Dutch Oven is great for simmering the meat sauce, exposing the ground beef and Italian sausages to a consistent heat source. The meat sauce can easily be replaced, offering your guests a vegetarian option.
Alternatively, the Mushroom Zucchini Lentil Ragu Lasagna is a great main dish for any vegans in the family. Our classic lasagna can serve between eight and 10 people and takes just over one hour to make.
Pot Roast Chicken
This list would not be complete without a Pot Roast Chicken. While turkey tends to steal the show on Thanksgiving, chicken represents a hearty alternative for the whole family. This dish cooks to perfection atop a bed of delicious root vegetables, including pearl onions and carrots, while the spices compliment the chicken wonderfully.
The secret ingredient of the pot roast chickens, however, is the bacon, adding another layer of flavor to the dish. The oval French Oven ties this dish together, ensuring the chicken bastes in the juices of the vegetables and the bacon as it slow-cooks. This recipe takes just under two hours to prepare, and serves up to six people.
Side Dishes
Impress your guests this Thanksgiving with carefully selected side dishes designed to perfectly compliment the main course. From butternut mac and cheese to French Oven bread, we got you covered.
Butternut Mac and Cheese
Our Butternut Mac and Cheese recipe offers a unique, vegan twist on a traditional recipe. This makes for a hearty meal, with the butternut purée serving as a great alternative to cheese. The purée itself is made by combining chickpeas, garlic, nutritional yeast, and – you guessed it – butternut squash.
The French or Dutch Oven is ideal for this recipe and serves two crucial purposes. Firstly, this iconic piece of cookware will ensure the butternut squash is roasted until it is slightly caramelized. Finally, preparing al dente’ pasta for the whole family has never been easier thanks to the French Oven, gently cooking it on a low boil.
Once the Butternut mac and cheese is ready, finish by sprinkling the crumb topping atop of it and bake it for an additional 30 minutes. This will give your dish a much-needed crunch and some added texture.
No-Knead French Oven Bread
Why go to the bakery when you have a French Oven? Welcome your guests this Thanksgiving with the aroma of freshly-baked No-Knead French Oven Bread lingering in your kitchen. This recipe is extremely easy to make and features four simple ingredients, including salt, yeast, flour, and water. This French Oven bread will quickly become a staple in your household well after the holiday season.
As easy as it is to make, the texture of the dough could make or break this recipe. Begin by combining the salt, yeast, and flour in a mixing bowl until it is completely blended and forms a shaggy and sticky texture. Once it has rested overnight, the French or Dutch Oven will take care of the rest and ensure the bread's exterior is perfectly browned and crusty, all while the inside stays soft and delicious.
Pommes Frites
Pommes Frites make for a great side dish in any setting, let alone Thanksgiving and are yet another easy dish to prepare before your family arrives. This recipe includes three carefully curated sauces, including sriracha honey-lime mayo, pesto cream, and chive and lemon aioli, offering your guests a wide selection.
It is recommended to use a French or Dutch Oven for this recipe as this iconic piece of cookware is an exceptional retainer of heat. This is the case as pommes frites are typically prepared in small batches, ensuring they achieve a crisp and golden brown texture. This recipe is equally suited to Thanksgiving as it is to a regular, weeknight meal and takes just over one hour to prepare.
Brussel Sprouts with Chanterelle Mushrooms
Sticking with the theme of simplicity, our Brussel Sprouts with Chanterelle Mushrooms recipe could easily feature at your upcoming Thanksgiving feast. This recipe is easy to put together, taking under 30 minutes to prepare and can quickly be adjusted for bigger servings.
The strips of thick-cut bacon are sure to make this side-dish a family favourite. Once the bacon is crispy, introduce the chanterelle mushrooms and shallots and cook for another five minutes. Finish by introducing the brussel sprouts and bringing the French or Dutch Oven to a boil for an additional 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and your brussel sprouts are good to go!
Desserts
Desserts offer a much-needed sweet ending to the meal. Guests are sure to save some appetite for these delicious fall treats. The French or Dutch Oven is extremely versatile and has regularly been used to bake decadent desserts, including home-made cinnamon buns, cookies, and more.
Cinnamon Buns
Are you looking to showcase your baking skills this Thanksgiving? Look no further than our French Oven cinnamon buns. This recipe features ingredients that are commonly found in the pantry, including cake flour, salt, sugar, yeast, and cinnamon. Much like with the no-knead French Oven bread, the tricky part of this dish is getting the dough right.
The dough may start off sticky when you just get started, but keep kneading it until it is perfectly soft. This will ensure rolling it into spirals is a breeze before brushing it with maple syrup. Finish by baking the cinnamon rolls for 30 minutes until they are golden brown and completely cooked through. The French or Dutch Oven will expose this dessert to a regular heat source and help maintain its soft interior and crunchy exterior.
Mini-Cocotte Cookies with Ice Cream
Our Mini-Cocotte Cookies with Ice Cream recipe takes its name from the dish it is prepared in and is equally aesthetic as it is delicious. This recipe accommodates for a variety of flavours, and includes four different toppings to choose from, including vanilla bean and raspberry, lemon shortbread, blueberry and white chocolate, and mint chocolate. These toppings are all served individually, offering a wide selection.
Simply beat the butter, brown sugar, and cast sugar until it is fluffy and mix well with the egg and vanilla extract. Once you have decided on your toppings, press it all together in your mini-cocotte and serve hot with ice cream or whip cream.
A Thanksgiving to Remember
Give your loved ones a Thanksgiving to remember this holiday season and prepare a complete meal straight out of your French or Dutch Oven. From the classic roast turkey and stuffing to mini-cocotte cookies and no-knead French Oven bread, these recipes are a great way to explore your creative side in the kitchen with one of your most reliable pieces of cookware.
These recipes highlight the French or Dutch Oven’s versatility and demonstrate that it can be used for a variety of cooking techniques, including slow-cooking, roasting, baking, sautéing, and more.
These were just 10 of our favourite Thanksgiving recipes that can be prepared in a French or Dutch Oven. For more inspiration, visit our featured recipes and step up your cooking game this Thanksgiving with some of our favourite meals.