One-Pot Recipes: Make It in a Dutch Oven

Thanks to the kitchen tool that Martha says is “the workhorse of the kitchen," one-pot meals are easier than ever before.

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Everybody Loves Enameled Cast Iron

Yunhee Kim

Whether you're setting up a kitchen, upgrading your cookware, or looking for a practical yet beautiful gift, you’ve probably thought about a Dutch oven. Martha calls these pots “the workhorse of the kitchen” because they heat evenly and retain heat, move from stovetop to oven, and are essential for all kinds of recipes, from soups and stews to braises and other slow-cooked classics.Shop the Martha Stewart Collection Collector's Enameled Cast Iron

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Martha Knows

For her Collector’s Enameled Cast Iron at Macy’s, Martha took inspiration from old Dutch-oven cookware and had definite ideas on features: Though most pot lids have knobs, Martha knew open handles would help cooks grip the lid better, and large open handles on the pot would make it easier to hold the pot, even when wearing oven mitts. She also required condensation rings on the underside of the lid, so when moisture builds up during cooking, it gathers on the rings and drips back into the pot rather than dripping on the cook when the lid is lifted.

To showcase the versatility of enameled cast iron, we’ve collected some of our favorite recipes; from those that make a wonderful weeknight meal (and can be made ahead) to entrees for entertaining.

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A Classy Fricassee

Tara Donne

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It's the original French comfort food: simmered chicken with hearty vegetables in a rich, silky sauce. A fricassee is halfway between a saute and a stew. A true classic -- with as many variations as there are grandmothers in France -- this recipe relies on humble ingredients and just one pot -- a Dutch oven.See our step-by-step photo tutorial for making chicken fricassee.

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One-Pot Dinner

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Not everything you make in a Dutch oven simmers for hours. This one-pot complete dinner with ground lamb, gigante beans, plum tomatoes, baby spinach, and bulgur is ready in just 40 minutes.

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Quick & Meatless

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Kick off the week with this hearty veg-packed chili, or make it any night you're pressed for time -- it takes only 30 minutes.

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Chowder in a Dutch Oven

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Chunks of tilapia are added to this traditional tomato-based soup in the final minutes of simmering. The fish cooks quickly, without breaking apart.

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One-Pot Vegan Dinner

Yunhee Kim

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This slightly sweet Moroccan chickpea and lentil stew, known as harira, is brightened by spices and lemon. It tastes even better reheated the next day, so be sure to allow for leftovers.