A classic Dutch oven is a versatile tool that makes a great addition to any kitchen, and if you’re lucky enough to have one, you’ll want to save these delicious recipes! Each of these dishes contains at least 15 grams of protein per serving, a nutrient that can help with muscle repair and keep you feeling fuller longer. Options like our Chicken & Dumplings Soup and Vegan Lentil Stew are flavorful and nourishing meals that will put your Dutch oven to good use.
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Chicken & Dumplings Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This hearty and warming chicken-and-dumplings soup features whole-wheat biscuits that offer a boost of fiber while maintaining a light texture. Thyme and parsley add freshness to the traditional flavors of this crowd-pleasing soup.
One-Pot Pasta With Spinach & Tomatoe
Caitlin Bensel
This one-pot pasta dinner is simple, fresh, and healthy—what’s not to love? Cooking the pasta right in the sauce saves time and cleanup while infusing the noodles with more flavor.
Vegan Lentil Stew
Fred Hardy
This comforting vegan lentil stew is incredibly satisfying, thanks to hearty lentils and sweet potato. The leeks provide a savory allium note, while the tomato paste, miso and cumin add bold flavor.
Turkey Chili
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
In this healthy turkey chili recipe, we skip browning the turkey for two reasons—it helps save time, and the lean turkey stays tender as it gently simmers in the chili. Poblano peppers and chipotles in adobo add a nice spice and smokiness to the dish. Top with your favorite garnishes, like shredded cheese, yogurt, avocado or lime wedges.
Whole Roast Chicken
This roasted chicken recipe may be the most useful recipe you’ll ever find. It’s a meal on its own or the start of any recipe that calls for cooked chicken—perfect for meal-prepping lunches or dinners to have throughout the week.
Chicken Tagine
Shredded rotisserie chicken simmers briefly in a flavor-packed base that is rich with garlic and spices, sweetened with dates, and tangy from olives and preserved lemons. Lentils and garbanzo beans makes this a hearty one-pot supper, though you can serve it with rice, couscous or pita bread.
Vegetable and Tofu Soup
Tofu gets marinated in Italian seasoning for up to four hours, making this veggie-packed soup nourishing and full of flavor.
Moroccan-Inspired Chicken & Sweet Potato Soup
This healthy chicken soup recipe gets bold Moroccan flavor from sweet potatoes, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and a touch of fiery harissa. To get a homemade stock flavor using store-bought broth, we simmer bone-in chicken breasts in the broth before adding the rest of the soup ingredients.
Italian Wedding Soup
Jen Causey
Forget the marble-size meatballs you find in many versions of Italian Wedding Soup. In this easy recipe, they’re full-size, full-flavored and plenty filling.
Copycat Olive Garden’s Chicken & Gnocchi Soup
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop stylist: Clairen Spollen
This comforting copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup is creamy, with chewy, pillowy gnocchi to satisfy your appetite. Enjoy with a green salad and breadsticks for dipping.
Braised Brisket & Roots
This braised brisket gets a decidedly wintery feel from the earthy-sweet flavors of carrots, parsnips and rutabaga.
Potsticker & Vegetable Soup
Skip the frying pan and make a full meal out of store-bought dumplings with this quick and easy 30-minute soup. Shao Hsing (or Shaoxing) is a seasoned rice wine used in Chinese cooking. Look for it in Asian specialty markets or with other Asian ingredients in large supermarkets.
Wild Rice, Shrimp & Fennel Soup
Bold fennel and mild leeks add incredible flavor to this hearty wild rice and shrimp soup.
Spicy Coconut, Chicken & Mushroom Soup
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford
Coconut milk tames the heat and combines deliciously with shredded chicken breast in this spicy Thai-inspired coconut chicken soup.
Mushroom-Beef Noodle Soup
You don’t need much beef in this homey mushroom-beef noodle soup recipe, since mushrooms and a little Worcestershire sauce give it plenty of savory flavor.
Split Pea Soup with Ham Bone
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Emily Nabors Hall
Split pea soup gets its smokiness from a ham bone and a dash of smoked paprika. The split peas break down as they cook, picking up flavor and delivering a creamy texture to this rich and warming soup.
