These Vegan Dutch Oven Recipes will show you how versatile and easy to use a cast-iron Dutch oven can be! From soups, stews, curries, and even bread baking, you can make delicious one-pot meals for the whole family.
What is the best kitchen tool you can have in your kitchen? Some would say that it's an Instant pot, but I would argue that it's a Dutch oven. Why? Because you can use it for literally anything.
It can replace several kitchen tools including your slow cooker, pasta pot, deep fryer, stockpot, and even your bread maker.
A Dutch oven is a great gift you can buy someone when the holidays are approaching. Thankfully, these vegan dutch oven recipes are easy to make and perfect for people who are beginners at using Dutch ovens.
And if you're looking to buy one but don't know where to start, check out the end of the post where I've summed up my favorite brands.
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What is a Dutch Oven?
"A Dutch oven is a thick-walled cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens are usually made of seasoned cast iron. However, some Dutch ovens are instead made of cast aluminum or ceramic. Some metal varieties are enameled rather than seasoned, and these are sometimes called French ovens." (source)
Tips for Using a Dutch Oven
- Handle carefully while cooking! Both the handles and the lid can get really hot, so make sure to use heat-proof pot holders.
- Let the pot cool before washing. Pouring cold water over a hot Dutch oven can cause it to crack in half. Always cool your pot before washing!
- Use enough oil. A Dutch oven doesn't have a non-stick coating, so make sure to use enough oil (1-2 tablespoons at least).
- If you burn food on the bottom, use this trick. To the pot, add water, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and stir. Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the burned food starts to peel off.
- Try cooking outside. The dutch oven is a great thing to pack with you on a camping trip because you can cook on an open fire by placing it directly on hot coals. Check out this article on how to cook with a dutch oven over a campfire.
FAQ
The Dutch oven is my number one kitchen tool because you can make almost anything in it. Things like braised meats, stews, soups, curries, bread, and even desserts like cake, cobbler, and cinnamon rolls.
Dutch ovens are excellent at retaining heat and moisture. That's why using medium-high or high heat is actually too hot and can make your food stick and burn. Try using lower heat than what you're used to when cooking with stainless-steel pots.
Yes! Dutch ovens are oven-safe which makes them ideal for baking bread or braising meat or vegetables.
Yes, and even more so than regular pots and pans. I've found that cooking vegetable stews and soups in a Dutch oven gives them the best texture and flavor.
It depends. If you're using a dutch oven with enamel coating, you don't need to season it. But if your dutch oven is made from cast iron, you'll need to season it to make the most out of it. See this article on how to season cast-iron cookware.
Basic Dutch Oven Recipes
If you don't know where to start, I recommend trying one of these basic vegan Dutch oven recipes first. They're all great staples that you can make time and time again, and use in other dishes as well.
Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread
Dutch Oven Bread Recipe (No Knead)
Black Beans From Scratch
Fluffy Coconut Basmati Rice
The Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes
Soup Recipes
On a cold night, whip up one of these vegan soups for the ultimate cozy vibes! They're easy to make, use simple ingredients, and are packed with vegetables.
Dairy-free Potato Leek Soup Recipe
Broccoli Pea Soup Recipe
Sweet Potato Soup Recipe
Wild Rice Mushroom Soup Recipe
Vegan Lasagna Soup
Creamy White Bean Soup with Kale
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Vegan Zuppa Toscana (Tuscan Kale Soup)
Curries, Stews, and Chilis
This section has one of the best vegan dutch oven recipes. My personal favorites are the kimchi jjigae and the garam masala curry.
Dutch Oven Chili
Vegetarian Kimchi Jjigae
Garam Masala Curry Recipe
Spicy Roasted Tomato White Bean Stew
Eggplant Lentil Curry Recipe
Hearty Vegetable Stew with Green Beans
Pasta and Risotto
These pasta recipes are great for a busy night when you need to put something on the table fast. They're versatile and customizable and you can use your favorite type of pasta including whole wheat pasta or gluten-free pasta.
Ravioli Pomodoro Recipe
Saucy Kimchi Pasta
Baked Vegan Mac and Cheese
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Risotto
Best Dutch Oven Brands
Okay, you've picked which recipes you want to try, but which Dutch Oven is best to buy?
Here are some of my favorites that I've tried over the years, and some which were recommended by friends.
- Staub - This is one of the best brands for purchasing cast-iron pots and pans. I have several products from them and they're all super durable, aesthetic, and last a lifetime. The only thing you should keep in mind is the price. They're definitely on the pricier side, but I've found it to be so worth it.
- Le Creuset - Similar to Staub, Le Creuset pots are an investment, but they will stand the test of time. Since they’re enamel-coated, you can clean them up easily with just soap and water. The only downside here is that you can’t use metal utensils, as they will scratch the enamel coating.
- Lodge - If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, this is definitely the way to go. This pot is sturdy and will last you for a long time. The only downside is that since it's not enamel-coated it will require seasoning and proper care, but after some time you get used to it, so it's definitely worth it. I haven't personally tried their Dutch ovens, but I have a cast-iron skillet that I absolutely love and use every day.
- Amazon Basics - This is the first Dutch Oven that I ever bought and it was pretty good quality, considering the price. It doesn't require seasoning and it comes in a beautiful white/creme color.
Let me know which one of these vegan dutch oven recipes you're going to try first!
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