Easy Weeknight and Healthy Dutch Oven Recipes

Basil, Broccoli and Spinach Pesto Pasta

The Round Dutch Oven is the unsung hero of this Basil, Broccoli, and Spinach Pesto Pasta recipe, transforming easy weeknight dinners into effortless culinary delights. Providing even heat distribution, the Dutch Oven ensures consistent cooking, while its ample capacity accommodates family-sized portions. Recreating this flavourful dish is as simple as combining pasta of your choice with tender broccoli and a simple, yet vibrant pesto sauce. Though the pesto requires only a few ingredients, the key to achieving the best pesto is choosing fresh, high-quality ingredients like garlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and of course, basil.

Begin by boiling the pasta and broccoli in your cast iron Dutch Oven pot, before blending spinach, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, basil, and olive oil into a vibrant pesto. If you're looking to save time while preparing the pesto, opt for a food processor instead of hand-crushing the ingredients with a mortar and pestle.This Dutch Oven recipe is a breeze, taking just 30 minutes from start to finish and generously serving four.

Leek and Potato Soup

Bring warmth to your weeknight dinners with this delicious and easy-to-prepare Leek and Potato Soup recipe. Try preparing this recipe in the unique Heart Cocotte. This enamelled cast iron pot has a lovely heart shape but still includes all of the features you know and love from the standard Le Creuset Dutch Oven. Its tight-fitting lid and thick enamelled cast iron walls make it ideal for simmering soups like this Leek and Potato Soup.

Our Heart Cocotte creates the ideal environment for this soup to come together, locking in heat and moisture thanks to its tight-fitting lid and thick, enamelled cast iron walls.

Simply combine the ingredients and set it on low-to-medium heat, and this charming cocotte will take care of the rest. Begin by sautéing leeks in butter until tender, then add potatoes, broth, thyme, and bay leaves. Next, simmer until the potatoes are soft, remove the bay leaves, and blend until completely smooth. Alternatively, you can use an immersion hand blender, saving you significant time.

Finish with a touch of cream, a pinch of nutmeg, and enjoy a comforting bowl of Leek and Potato Soup. The Dutch Oven recipe is perfect for those colder fall evenings, requiring only 45 minutes and serving up to four people at a time.

Pearl Couscous with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

This Pearl Couscous with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes recipe is a saviour for time-pressed home cooks. It offers a burst of flavour and a hardy meal all wrapped up in one simple-to-make dish.

The Round Dutch Oven brings all the rich ingredients of this dish to life, allowing them to blend effortlessly on low heat.

The enamelled cast iron Dutch Oven’s versatility is on display in this recipe, offering the ideal piece of cookware for roasting the tomatoes. Its cast iron construction provides superior heat retention and even heat distribution, until they are cooked completely through.

Preparing the dressing is the final step. Combining shallots, garlic, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, ground sumac, lemon, and a dash of olive oil, the dressing provides some much-needed flavour. This Dutch Oven recipe goes from stovetop to table in just under an hour, and serves up to six unique portions.

Pot Roast Chicken

No list of Dutch Oven recipes is complete without the traditional Pot Roast Chicken, delivering a medley of flavours in no time. The Oval Dutch Oven is the ideal piece of cookware for this recipe thanks to its elongated shape that accommodates a whole chicken perfectly. Plus, the consistent heat source provided by the Dutch Oven allows the pot roast chicken to cook evenly through and through.

Once the chicken is seasoned, sear it in the enamelled cast iron Dutch Oven, then add vegetables, herbs, and broth. Next, simmer all the ingredients together until the chicken is tender and the flavours meld beautifully. The combination of the bacon, celery, carrots, and pearl onions flavours the jus of the chicken, which not only makes mealtime easy but full of flavour!This Dutch Oven recipe does much of the work for you, exposing the chicken to a consistent heat source until it is ready to be served.

Pappardelle Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

Our Pappardelle Pasta with Bolognese Sauce is a simple, beginner-friendly Dutch Oven recipe, perfect for weeknight cooking. The Round Dutch Oven takes center stage in this dish, providing an easy one-pot recipe and ample leftovers for the next day.

Start by browning the meats in the Dutch Oven, including the ground beef, veal, and pork, before sautéing the aromatic vegetables. Its enamelled cast iron construction ensures an even cook, providing superior heat retention. Finish by simmering all the ingredients together in your enamelled cast iron Dutch Oven along with tomatoes, wine, and milk. The end result is a flavourful Bolognese sauce that pairs perfectly with pappardelle pasta for a comforting, home-cooked meal.

While this Dutch Oven recipe takes just over three total, sauce and all, this iconic piece of cookware does much of the work. Simply let the Dutch Oven simmer the sauce on medium-low heat for 2 hours. When dinner time is approaching, incorporate a few ladles of bolognese sauce with the cooked pappardelle pasta, and enjoy! The best part, the leftover sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to four days for a simple next-day lunch or dinner option. It even freezes well for up to 3 months, so you can have quick and easy dinners on standby when you need them most.

Thai Green Curry

Our Thai Green Curry recipe is a a great way to shake up your typical weeknight meals

by incorporating a number of exciting flavours and fresh ingredients. The Chef’s Dutch Oven, arguably the most unique in shape of all of Le Creuset’s enamelled cast iron Dutch Ovens, is perfect for this recipe, offering the ideal piece of cookware for stovetop simmering. Featuring sloped sides, the Chef’s Dutch Oven promotes continuous movement.

Start by sautéing the chicken and curry paste in the Dutch Oven, then add coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar. Next, simmer until the chicken is tender, and finish with bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and Thai basil leaves for a fragrant and flavourful Thai Green Curry. This easy weeknight Dutch Oven recipe can be prepared in just under an hour, making up to four portions.

Lemon Coconut Salmon Curry with Glazed Bacon

Our Lemon Coconut Salmon Curry with Glazed Bacon recipe offers a nutritious and easy-to-prepare meal that is sure to satisfy. This dish can be prepared in an enamelled cast iron Braiser or a Round Dutch Oven. Both pieces of cookware offer a consistent distribution thanks to their thick enamelled cast iron walls and tight-fitting lids. This makes for the perfect environment for the Salmon Curry to evenly cook.

Equally delicious as it is easy to prepare, this recipe can quickly emerge as a weeknight go-to, combining a fresh coconut salmon curry and glazed bacon to perfection. This Dutch Oven recipe takes just under an hour to cook from start to finish, serving up to four portions.

Cream of Mushroom

Our Cream of Mushroom recipe is an undisputed fall staple, offering a hearty soup filled with rich flavour and textures. The Round Dutch Oven is perfect for slowly-simmered soups, ensuring all the ingredients come together effortlessly in no time.

This recipe is ideal for sharpening your cooking skills in the kitchen all while making the most of the fall harvest. Begin by sautéing mushrooms, onions, garlic, and thyme in butter, before creating a roux. Next, add the leeks and mushrooms in the enam cast iron Dutch Oven and cook until softened.

Finish by puréeing the soup with an immersion hand blender directly in your Dutch Oven

until very smooth and enjoy! This Dutch Oven recipe has all the makings to establish itself as an instant classic in your household, serving up to eight people in under an hour. It makes great leftovers too!

Butter Chicken

Discover our take on the beloved Indian classic with this Butter Chicken recipe. The Dutch Oven or Stainless Steel Rondeau can be used for this dish, providing superior heat retention and even heat distribution until the chicken is completely tender and cooked through.

Butter chicken recipes are traditionally slow-cooked in a mixture of spicy tomato, butter, and cream sauce, and this dish is no different. Featuring a spice mix of cumin, garam masala, turmeric, and fresh ginger, this recipe is sure to add a much-needed kick to your weeknight meal plan.

Taking just over two hours to prepare, this Dutch Oven recipe serves up to four people with the minimum of fuss. Experiment with Indian cuisine this week with this easy, set-it-and-forget it butter chicken recipe.