These ground beef Dutch oven recipes are just what you need to get dinner on the table fast. Many of the recipes can be made in just 30 minutes, making them ideal for busy weeknights.
PinEstimated reading time: 14 minutes
The Dutch oven is one of the most underrated kitchen tools, but it's a great one to have on hand. Use it on the stovetop for soups, stews, or pasta. Put it in the oven for a casserole.
It's so versatile and the best part is that it cuts down on the number of pots and pans you need to make dinner.
Combine the convenience of a Dutch oven with the affordability and ease of cooking of ground beef, and you've got a winning dinner combination of dutch oven beef recipes.
Today we've rounded up some of our favorite Dutch oven ground beef recipes to add to your rotation.
And if you're a steak lover, you'll love these steak recipes to make in a Dutch oven too!
Can You Brown Ground Beef in a Dutch Oven?
Yes, you can brown ground beef in a Dutch oven, whether it's 100% cast iron or an enameled pot. One of the perks of using cast iron pots like this Dutch oven is that it can go directly from the stovetop to the oven without a need to change pots. However, some manufacturers warn against bringing enameled Dutch ovens to high temperatures on the stovetop.
Instead, brown your meat at medium heat or medium-high heat, and your pot should be fine.
What Should You Not Cook In a Cast Iron Dutch Oven?
PinIf you're using an enameled Dutch oven (which is the type of pot most recipes are referring to), you can cook just about anything in it. However, if you're using a 100% pure cast iron pot, be careful of the following foods, which can wear away the pot's finish or stick to its surface if it's not well seasoned:
- Acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus, and vinegar
- Delicate (flaky) fish
- Sticky sauces and foods like cheese, honey, and molasses
Your enameled Dutch oven can handle just about anything, from soups, stews, and braises to breads (try our artisan blueberry bread recipe) to desserts.
In fact, you might also like our 20 best dutch oven chicken recipes too!
Can You Put a Cold Dutch Oven in the Oven?
If you stored your leftovers in your Dutch oven and put them in the fridge, you need to allow it to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before reheating in the same dish. Then, place your Dutch oven in the oven while it preheats to bring it up to temperature slowly.
And remember to season your cast iron Dutch oven before use!
Dutch Oven Ground Beef Recipes
Ground beef is fairly affordable, and it's easy to pull a meal together fast with this ingredient. Save yourself some dishwashing later by cooking your ground beef recipes in the Dutch oven—you can go from the stovetop to the oven as needed.
Here are some of the best Dutch oven beef recipes to make for your family.
Campfire Dutch Oven Nachos
These Dutch Oven Nachos by Homemade Heather will be a real treat on your next camping trip. She prepares the meat at home to make campfire cooking easier, but you could cook it onsite if you wanted to.
Lining the large Dutch oven with parchment paper makes clean-up super easy, especially when using cheese, so it doesn't stick to the pot.
Simply pile your ingredients on tortilla chips, cook over the fire for 15-20 minutes, and you have a delicious meal to feed your family after a long day.
PinOne Pot Lasagna
When you're super busy (or just feeling lazy), skip the homemade sauce and go for the jarred stuff. It'll taste just as good in this easy One Pot Lasagna by Pinch of Yum.
Using no-boil noodles and jarred sauce cut down on cooking time as well as the number of pots used. All you're left with is a single pot of meaty, cheesy, noodle-y goodness.
PinDutch Oven Salisbury Steak
To save time and effort at your campsite, mix up the patties for this Dutch Oven Salisbury Steak by Let's Camp S'More at home. The patties, along with baby carrots, new potatoes, and mushrooms, are cooked over a campfire in a delicious mushroom gravy made with cream of mushroom soup, a packet of brown gravy, and a packet of onion soup mix.
PinUnstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Watching your carbs? Make some keto-friendly Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls by Summer Yule. This recipe is basically deconstructed cabbage rolls, so it cuts out the fuss and leaves all the delicious flavors of a classic comfort food dish.
With loads of shredded cabbage and riced cauliflower, you get a healthy dose of veggies in every bite.
PinTurkish Meatball Soup
Juicy meatballs and tender veggies in tomato broth make up this hearty Turkish Meatball Soup by Cooking Gorgeous. Called Sulu Kofte, it's a Turkish comfort food dish with lots of Mediterranean flavor.
PinDutch Oven Shepherd's Pie
It's the ultimate comfort food when you're craving a hot and hearty meal. This Dutch Oven Shepherd's Pie by Cast Iron Recipes is made up of layers of seasoned beef mixture, vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes.
While lamb is traditionally used in shepherd's pie, it is more common in North America to use ground beef instead (and is sometimes called Cottage Pie).
Putting it together is easy... brown the meat, layer in your veggies, and top with mashed potatoes. Putting it in the oven gives the mashed potatoes a golden "crust" and brings the flavors of all the ingredients together.
PinDutch Oven Goulash
When you're in need of a frugal meal to feed a crowd fast, try this Southern Goulash by Spicy Southern Kitchen. This dish is a combination of ground beef, tomato sauce, and pasta.
Other than those common ingredients, the way goulash is made seems to vary widely from place to place and from one family to the next. Some add cheese while others don't. Some add veggies like the corn used in this recipe, while others use different veggies, such as bell peppers.
Try the basic recipe for yourself and adjust to your family's preferences and whatever veggies you have on hand to add to it.
PinCowboy Baked Beans
Learn how to make these Cowboy Baked Beans by Frugal Mom Eh in the Dutch oven or over a fire. They're tasty, hearty, and the perfect meal after a long day of working or hiking. Everything is made from scratch—no canned beans here.
The beans and beef are cooked in a delicious sauce made with molasses, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, and a few other simple ingredients to enhance the flavor. And did we mention there's bacon? Good stuff!
PinTraditional Bolognese Sauce
If you've never made homemade pasta sauce before, it's worth a try at least once.
This Traditional Bolognese Sauce by The Heirloom Pantry is a great place to start. Italian tomatoes, ground beef, and wine come together in a rich and flavorful sauce to pour over thick, wide noodles. Yes, you have to let the sauce simmer for three hours, but it's well worth it when you take that first delicious bite.
PinOne Pot Beef Stroganoff
Looking for an easy weeknight meal? Try this One Pot Beef Stroganoff by The Crumby Kitchen. But ditch the canned soup.
You don't need it for this easy recipe made with lean ground beef, fresh mushrooms, sour cream, egg noodles, and a few simple ingredients. It's rich, flavorful, and way better than the boxed stuff. Despite being made with unprocessed ingredients, it's still ready in just 30 minutes.
PinTurkish Cabbage Stew
Cabbage, onions, and ground beef are a few of the fresh ingredients in this hearty and delicious Turkish Cabbage Stew by Cooking Gorgeous. It's a terrific cold weather meal and will warm you right up in no time.
It's also frugal and great for busy nights. Top it with a little bit of garlic yogurt sauce for a creamy finish to this tasty dish.
PinDutch Oven Chili Recipe
Taco Tuesdays are a lot more interesting with this yummy Dutch Oven Taco Chili by Cast Iron Recipes. It's chock full of tasty black beans, crunchy corn, fire roasted tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and ground beef. The soup-like sauce is a combination of pasta sauce and enchilada sauce for a rich flavor that can't be beat.
Serve with cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and some tortilla chips or cornbread on the side. This recipe is flavorful enough that you can easily sub ground turkey instead of beef if you'd like. It's perfect for colder months.
PinEasy Hamburger Stew With Potatoes
Enjoy a family-friendly Hamburger Stew With Potatoes on even the busiest of weeknights. This recipe by Small Town Woman is super satisfying on cold days, but it's great year-round, too.
Serve with biscuits, cornbread or dinner rolls. It's already full of veggies, but if you'd like to add something extra, a green salad or some green beans would be amazing as side dishes.
PinHomemade Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper is a childhood classic. It made dinnertime so quick and easy, but it's full of processed ingredients. Did you know you can make your own Homemade Hamburger Helper that tastes way better but is just as fast?
Try this version by Sugar and Soul. The cheesy, creamy meat-filled pasta is ready in half an hour and is sure to be a hit with your picky eaters.
PinCheesy Taco Pasta
How does a meaty dish full of lean ground beef, corn, bell peppers, and melty cheddar cheese all on a bed of pasta sound? This One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta by Bowl of Delicious needs to be on your upcoming meal plan. It's another super simple one-pot meal that picky kids will love.
Use a homemade taco seasoning or a packet of your favorite blend. It works well either way!
PinGround Beef and Potatoes
Although the ingredients list is basic, this Ground Beef and Potatoes recipe by Well Plated is anything but. It's a classic meat and potatoes dish that's hot, hearty, and cooked with just enough spices to make it flavorful and interesting.
Simple fried potatoes are cooked up with lean ground meat, bell peppers, onions, and spices, for an easy and quick meal that'll become a regular in your meal rotation.
PinHamburger Stew With Rice
Here's another take on hamburger stew, this time served with rice. Make this Hamburger Stew With Rice recipe by Valerie's Kitchen for a meal that easily stretches to feed a big crowd.
In fact, this delicious recipe serves 10, so it's perfect for the whole family or for enjoying leftovers for several days after you make it. It's a great recipe that also freezes well in an airtight container if you'd like to put some up for another time.
PinDutch Oven Chili Con Carne
Kidney beans, beef, onions, celery, tomatoes, onions, chili powder, and spices are simmered together in this Dutch Oven Chili Con Carne recipe by The Healthy Foodie. The hearty chili is thick and rich and needs nothing but some shredded cheese or sour creamy for a tasty finish.
Another option for dutch oven chili is our big batch three bean chili recipe!
PinOne Pot Shells and Beef
Cooked in a delish tomato cream sauce, this One Pot Shells and Beef recipe by Meatloaf and Melodrama will be a family favorite. It's easy, cheesy, and drool-worthy.
It's also perfect when you have limited time to make dinner, which is pretty much all the time for busy families. This dish is a fun variation on the usual pasta with red sauce. Top with parmesan cheese and parsley for extra flavor and color.
PinWe hope you've enjoyed this list of easy Dutch oven recipes. Pin it to come back to later when you're ready to get cooking!
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