5 All-Star Meat Dishes To Make In Your Dutch Oven

As winter cools the world, it’s time to heat up your Dutch oven. The unsung hero of the kitchen, a Dutch oven’s thick walls and tight-fitting lid create the perfect cocoon for slow-cooking, infusing warmth and flavor into every dish. Your Dutch oven is more than just a cooking vessel—it’s a winter essential that transforms simple ingredients into hearty, soul-soothing meals. Nowhere is this clearer than cooking meat. 

Cooking meat in a Dutch oven is a culinary game-changer. The shape and design of the pot evenly distributes heat and retains moisture, which makes it ideal for braising, roasting, and slow-cooking meats to perfection. The result? Tender, succulent roasts; stews worthy of the history books; and main dishes that the whole family will love to gather around. Here are 5 all-star ideas for making the most delicious meat dishes in your Dutch oven.

Pot Roast

A classic pot roast, simmered to perfection in your Dutch oven, is the epitome of winter comfort. Forget the rubbery pot roasts of days yore, a slow-but-steady simmer on your stove or in the oven will render the meat fork-tender and juicy. You’re looking for a big piece of chuck roast or chuck-eye , which will nestle alongside onions, carrots, potatoes, and any other vegetables of choice. Serve it with crusty sourdough bread (and a generous swipe of butter, why not) or over buttered noodles. We love this recipe from Food and Wine for a Classic Pot Roast.

Beef Stew

Whether you’re going for a French Boeuf Bourguignon or its humbler American rendition, you’re going to want to make it in a Dutch oven. When you need a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal, this is the place to go. Serve it with mashed potatoes, noodles, or even a bracing dark green salad. Beef stew gets better with time, though if you’re getting sick of leftovers, why not repurpose them? Shred leftover meat and blend the remaining stew to toss with noodles. To get started, try Delish’s version of beef stew, which amps up the broth with a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Whole Chicken

Yes! You can roast a whole chicken in the Dutch oven—also known as chicken en cocotte, if you want to get French about it—which effortlessly transforms the chicken into a succulent, golden-brown masterpiece. The even heat distribution crisps the skin to perfection, while still keeping the meat juicy, thanks to the steam trapped by the lid. To make it, you’ll roast the chicken inside a dry Dutch oven in a low-temperature oven. Serve the chicken drizzled with any pan juices, plus crispy potatoes, arugula or endive salad, and a dollop of mustard. Try it yourself with All Recipes’ version of chicken en cocotte. Of course, if you’d rather get that same, perfectly juicy chicken without the work of carving a whole bird, why not try cooking chicken thighs in your Dutch oven, instead? Taste of Home’s Dutch oven chicken thighs are sure to please.

Pulled Pork

Achieving the perfect pulled pork requires steady heat and time, and the Dutch oven is up to the task. When slow-cooked, the pork becomes meltingly tender, absorbing the flavors of your favorite rub or sauce. Serve your pulled pork on a bun with coleslaw for a comforting sandwich that brings the taste of summer barbecues to your winter kitchen. Serious Eats makes the case for why cooking pulled pork in a Dutch oven is the best home method, and includes a killer Easy Oven-Cooked Pulled Pork recipe, to boot.

Short Ribs

Dutch oven-braised short ribs are a culinary indulgence perfect for warming the soul during wintertime. Because the pot is designed to maintain a consistent temperature, the resulting meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. The savory juices meld with red wine and aromatic herbs, creating a luxurious sauce that’s perfect for drizzling over the meat. It’s the perfect centerpiece for an intimate winter gathering. We recommend serving your Dutch oven short ribs with mashed potatoes and something green to cut through the rich sauce like kale, broccolini, or green beans. Why not try The Kitchn’s melt-in-your-mouth guide and recipe for How To Braise Beef Short Ribs in a Dutch Oven? We’ll be right over…

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our article The 4 Dishes You Should Make In A Dutch Oven.