You can cook everything in one pot, the food never gets burned, you can move it from the stove top to the oven, it has a self basting lid, you can cook pasta directly in the sauce, and it’s amazing for soups and stews!
Once you have a Dutch oven, all you need is a cookbook for it, and that’s exactly where this article comes in - we’ve got a round-up of the best Dutch oven cookbooks on the market, and they all come from female chefs.
We’re also throwing in a brief guide to choosing a Dutch oven cookbook, and following that up with a section where we answer your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it! Got those taste buds ready? Here we go!
What could be more convenient when grocery shopping than only having to source 5 main ingredients?
You may even already have some of the ingredients at home just waiting to be used!
Here, Lisa has provided 101 5-ingredient Dutch oven recipes, split into the following sections: breakfast & brunch, snacks, apps & side, meat dishes, chicken and turkey, fish, vegetarian mains, breads and desserts, and staples and sauces.
There are handy labels for each recipe, including nut-free, vegan, gluten-free, quick prep, and so on.
We would argue that this is THE cookbook for anyone who wants to use their Dutch oven the way a professional chef would.
This is a book for true foodies who love all the flavors and aromas, and who want to treat their loved ones to the kind of delicious recipes that often require the mastering of expert techniques for full effect. Olivia has done an amazing job with this book.
There are almost 100 recipes including breakfasts, brunch, soups, stews, mains, sides, and better yet, lots of dessert dishes, too.
The highlights for us were the Moroccan tagine and the pineapple upside down cake!
Pros
This is THE Dutch oven cookbook for true foodies
Almost 100 carefully selected Dutch oven recipes to enjoy
Cons
There’s no nutritional breakdown for any of the recipes
If perhaps you’re specifically looking for a Dutch oven cookbook when you’re in the great outdoors, then this is the book for you…
It’s packed with 86 different campfire recipes, and better yet, they all only need 5 ingredients or less. And they all happen to be ingredients that are easy to get hold of at your local grocery store.
It walks you through easy cooking techniques, and it even has a handy section on food packing hacks.
And if all that’s not enough, it also happens to be small enough to stash inside your Dutch oven as you make your way to the campsite.
What’s more, not only does it have meat recipes but also gluten-free, soy free, nut free, vegan, and vegetarian recipes as well.
The highlights for us were the butternut squash and white bean stew and the crusty no-knead French bread!
Pros
Perfect for Dutch oven campfire recipes
86 easy to follow and delicious recipes to try out
Suitable even for campers with particular dietary requirements
This book is a prominent bestseller in the category of Dutch oven recipe books. And we can certainly see why!
Together Sharon and Julie have put together 70 different recipes across the categories of soups, chilies and chowders, sides and appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.
The recipes are delicious and easy to follow and prepare. There are full color photos throughout and the book is very reasonably priced.
The highlights for us were the maple-glazed roasted root vegetables, and the sticky toffee dessert!
Pros
Packed with tasty, mouth watering recipes
Many (not all) of the recipes with ingredients you can pick up at your local grocery store
Cons
There’s no nutritional breakdown for any of the recipes
Although this isn’t one of the most talked about Dutch oven cookbooks, it is one that comes highly recommended by those who’ve tried it out, and we certainly deemed it worthy of a spot on our shortlist.
There are 50 recipes in the book in total, and they are divided into various sections, including breakfast, breads, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.
It covers recipes for both home cooks and campfire cooks, so it’s a great all-in-one. And it also includes a section on how to season your Dutch oven and how to care for it.
The highlights for us were the Hawaiian chicken and the nutty hot fudge cake!
Pros
It covers recipes for both home cooks and campfire cooks
Great for taking camping because you don’t need a lot of fresh ingredients
Cons
It uses a lot of canned goods, rather than explaining how to make everything from scratch
This is self-explanatory. If you’re a beginner, look for cookbooks with easy recipes.
If you consider yourself to be more advanced, however, then why not consider something with a little more technical know-how, so you can become a more skilled cook?
Where Are You Cooking?
Some campers like to take a Dutch oven camping. If this sounds like you, there are cookbooks especially for that (scroll back up if you missed it). As well as some that cover both home and outdoor cooking, rather than one or the other alone.
I'm Barbara Hunt, the founder of WomenChefs.org. Being a mom of two, I understand the challenges of meal planning and the monotony it can bring.
That's why I created WomenChefs.org, a platform dedicated to showcasing the skills and delicious dishes crafted by amazing women. My goal is to provide a space where women can find delectable recipes that tantalize their taste buds and ignite their senses.
I hope you'll join me in exploring WomenChefs.org and discovering your next favorite recipe. Let's embrace culinary diversity and try something new together!
