Simple (and Tasty) Dutch Oven Recipes

February 22, 2012, By Todd Pheifer 0 comments

Dutch ovens have been around for centuries and are a great way to cook meals even today. Usually made of cast iron, they're not really 'ovens' in the traditional sense. They are medium-depth pots in which your food cooks on a stove or in a gas or electric oven.

Today, some people still use the traditional version of the Dutch oven, either at home or when camping. It's a great way to cook a meal. If you're interested in giving it a try, here are a few simple and tasty Dutch oven recipes for the busy cook.

This recipe for beef stew from About.com is written for campfire use, but it can also be on prepared on a stove at home. For chicken lovers, this basic recipe for fried chicken wrapped in bacon from Mark’s Black Pot is great for family dinners and barbecues. You can also make some killer side dishes like this recipe for 'power potatoes' from free-camping-recipes.com

Not Just for Dinner

Of course, the Dutch oven is not just for dinner. You can use it for basically every meal. Here is a straightforward recipe for breakfast casserole from campingdude.com.

• ¼ stick butter

• 8 slices of bread
• 
2 pounds precooked pork sausage

• 1 pound cheddar cheese

• 12 eggs
• 
1 quart milk
• 
1 ½ teaspoon dry mustard

• 1 teaspoon salt

Line a 12-inch Dutch oven with heavy-duty aluminum foil (optional) and spread butter all over the foil. Tear bread and sausage in pieces. Grate cheese. In a bowl, beat eggs, then add milk, dry mustard and salt. Layer the bread, sausage, cheese and eggs into the Dutch oven. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Check and cook another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese forms a light brown crust on top of the cooked eggs. 

And Then for Dessert

Finally, there is dessert, which is another good use for a Dutch oven. This recipe for peach cobbler from the Food Network is simple and tasty. It may not be the same as preparing food in the rugged outdoors, but you may also be more content to cook in your kitchen and use traditional cookware as well as more modern appliances. If you're lucky enough to have an occasion to take it outdoors, here are some simple recipes for Dutch oven dessert classics like dump cake.

Bon appétit—or, as they say in Dutch, Eet smakelijk.