Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (2024)

Cast iron Dutch oven recipes, along with a cast iron Dutch oven, are essentials to have on hand should the power go off.

They're also useful if you're moving toward an off-the-grid lifestyle, or if you are simply looking for ways to keep your house cooler in the summer.

These are turbulent days we are living in, and it's wise to be prepared. While we may not be struck by an EMP, the collapse of the dollar very well may happen, and although we should not live in fear, preparing for an emergency can avoid needless suffering and trauma and provide you with peace of mind.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (1)

So learning to cook outdoors is not only a great idea, it's essential for self-sufficient living.And there is no group out there who are greater masters of outdoorcooking than the Boy Scouts. Their motto is "Be Prepared", and they arecertainly prepared when it comes to outdoor cooking and cast iron Dutchoven recipes.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (2)

Camp Dutch Oven Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (3)

Unlike cooking with a solar oven, which takes a lot of time and practice, cooking outdoors with cast iron cookware is much easier and faster. And the food was amazing. I have never made such moist cornbread, and the soup cooked up really quickly.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (4)

Good Resource for
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes

My favorite collection of cast iron Dutch oven recipes is The Scout's Outdoor Cookbook by Christine and Tim Conners.

Not only does it have a lot of great recipes, but it also has essentialinformation on how many charcoal briquettes you need to reach a certaincooking temperature as well as ratings on recipes from easy to moderateto more difficult.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (5)

My favorite Dutch Oven cookbook.

What You Need

Obviously cast iron cookware and especially a camp Dutch oven is anexcellent choice for preparing your cast iron Dutch oven recipes. Lodgehas a very good, reasonably priced Dutch oven.

You can also use a cast iron combo cooker such as this one, although you will also need a lid stand (you can see one here) to lift the cookware up so you can set coals underneath. A Dutch oven lid lifter (see one here) is also very handy to have.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (6)

Lodge has a very good, reasonably priced Dutch Oven. Find one here.

You will also need charcoal briquettes. While you can use wood coals, briquettes are easier to light and make for more accurate cooking. Plus they're inexpensive especially if you buy them in bulk, so consider adding two or three bags of these to your disaster preparedness list.

Plus, a charcoal briquette starter is essential. (You can see one here). They don't cost much and they are very easy to use and eliminate the need for toxic charcoal fluid lighter. Just pack crumpled paper in the bottom of the starter and place the charcoal briquettes on top. Light the paper, and the briquettes will be going in less than 10 minutes.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes

Ready to start cooking? This recipe is easy to make and like all the recipes in this book is very, very good.

Scout Camp Carnitas
(from the Scout's Outdoor Cookbook)

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds boneless shoulder pork
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1 tablespoon of powdered chili pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground oregano
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup of lard
  • 24 tortillas
  • Refried beans
  • Salsa
  • Sour Cream

Cut the pork into 1-inch cubes. Then blend the flour, chili pepper, salt, oregano and garlic powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the pork to the flour mix and coat well.

Place 15 briquettes under your Dutch oven and melt the lard. Add the floured meat mixture and fry it, stirring occasionally until the pork is cooked through and tender, about 30-40 minutes depending on how hot your coals are. Don't let a hard crust form over the carnitas. This recipe serves 10-12 people.

Serve with tortillas refried beans, salsa and sour cream.

Want to Make Bread?

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (7)

Yes, breads can also be a part of your cast iron Dutch oven recipes. Here's my cornbread recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of flour
  • 3/4 cup of cornmeal

OR...

  • 3/4 cup of whole wheat berries and 1/2 cup of popcorn, ground together in your grain mill

ALONG WITH...

  • 1 tablespoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1/3 cup of oil

Grease the bottom and sides of your Dutch oven. Mix together the dry ingredients and then in a large measuring cup, mix together the milk, egg and oil. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and pour into your greased Dutch oven.

Place the Dutch oven on 17 lit coals and then cover with an additional eight coals. Bake for about 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. This recipe serves six to eight people.

Learn More About Frugal Cooking

Learn More About Being Prepared

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Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is good to cook in a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

From classic Beef Bourguignon and beef stew to braised short ribs, these are the essential beef recipes to cook in your Dutch oven.
  • 1 / 14. Beef Bourguignon. ...
  • 2 / 14. Guinness Beef Stew. ...
  • 3 / 14. Beef Tips. ...
  • 4 / 14. Beef Barley Soup. ...
  • 5 / 14. Beef Ragù ...
  • 6 / 14. Cabbage Roll Soup. ...
  • 7 / 14. Kentucky Burgoo. ...
  • 8 / 14.

What can you not cook in a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

4 Foods You Shouldn't Cook in Cast Iron
  • Acidic foods (unless you make it snappy) ...
  • Fish (particularly delicate varieties) ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Skillet brownies (if you just fried a batch of chicken last night) ...
  • A lot more (if your skillet isn't properly seasoned)
Mar 11, 2023

What are cast iron Dutch ovens best for? ›

Made from enameled cast iron, this versatile pot is meant for braising, deep-frying, baking, or roasting, and does each task perfectly.

Can you brown meat in a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

Sautéing is designed to enhance the flavours of a dish by browning the surface of ingredients. The Dutch Oven's enamelled cast iron construction makes it ideal for this cooking technique, offering superior heat retention to ensure ingredients get properly cooked.

Can you put a cast iron Dutch oven on the stove? ›

You can use a dutch oven on any kind of cooktop, including induction, as long as the dutch oven is cast-iron or another induction-compatible material. When you are using the dutch oven on a direct heat source, just make sure that the temperature does not get too hot and scorch it.

How long to season a cast iron Dutch oven in the oven? ›

Bake for 1 hour

Place the cookware in the oven upside down. Place a large baking sheet or aluminum foil on the bottom rack. Bake at 450-500 degrees F for one hour.

What foods are bad for cast iron? ›

Highly acidic ingredients like tomato sauce, wine, vinegar, and citrus should be avoided, as they can dissolve the polymerized oil that makes up the seasoning layer on cast iron.

When should you not use a Dutch oven? ›

Cooking with high heat makes it very hard to prevent burning and can damage the enamel coating and even void that generous lifetime warranty. If your Dutch oven has an enamel coating, avoid scratching it with abrasive cooking and cleaning tools. If it's not coated, don't leave it wet for prolonged periods of time.

Why not cook eggs in cast iron skillet? ›

Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.

What are 8 reasons to use a Dutch oven? ›

What Is a Dutch Oven Used For?
  • Bread. One of the easiest (and more surprising) ways to use a Dutch oven is actually for breaking bread. ...
  • Casseroles and Lasagnas. ...
  • Skillet Cookies. ...
  • Chicken Stock. ...
  • Frying. ...
  • Braised Meats. ...
  • Roasting. ...
  • Poaching Chicken.
Oct 27, 2022

What is a Dutch oven fart? ›

A Dutch oven is a slang term for lying in bed with another person and pulling the covers over the person's head while flatulating, thereby creating an unpleasant situation in an enclosed space. This is done as a prank or by accident to one's sleeping partner.

Is a cast iron Dutch oven worth it? ›

Its cast-iron walls are better at retaining heat than stainless steel, which helps keep temperatures more stable. It also redistributes that heat efficiently, so the oil can rebound quickly after temperatures drop when food is added.

Why is meat sticking to Dutch oven? ›

The most common reason food sticks to cast iron is because the pan is simply too hot.

What is the difference between cast iron and Dutch oven? ›

Raw cast iron needs to be seasoned to make it nonstick and rust-resistant, while enameled Dutch ovens are somewhat nonstick and protected out of the box. High-quality enamel coatings are expensive, which is why enameled Dutch ovens cost more than their standard cast iron counterparts.

Can you brown hamburger in cast iron? ›

If you have a cast iron skillet, that's an especially good choice as the strong, consistent heat of cast iron will help brown ground beef exceptionally well. 2. Heat the Oil: Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil or your vegetable oil of choice in the skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

What shouldn't you cook in cast iron? ›

5 Things You Shouldn't Cook in a Cast-Iron Skillet
  1. Eggs.
  2. Fish.
  3. Desserts.
  4. Acidic Foods.
  5. Potent Ingredients.
Sep 13, 2023

Do I really need a cast iron Dutch oven? ›

A cast-iron Dutch oven will give you better results than an Instant Pot any day,” says Lance Nitahara, an assistant professor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. In fact, this one pot can replace your slow cooker, stock pot, pasta pot, loaf pan, and deep fryer.

What cooks better in cast iron? ›

The Best Foods to Cook in Cast Iron Pans

Here are some dishes that turn out great when you make them in cast iron: Pan-seared veggies and proteins. Fatty foods like bacon. Burgers.

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