You may have come across slow cookers and Instant Pots in the past — but did you know there’s another option known as the Instant Dutch Oven? The Instant Dutch Oven takes all the things you love about a traditional Dutch oven and makes them even better by adding helpful features at the touch of a button. And if you follow me on IG, you know I use this helpful appliance almost daily!

You can read my Instant Dutch Oven review for a complete rundown on how these amazing cookers work, but here’s a quick overview. With the Instant Dutch Oven, you have the option to set your cooking time and specific temperature, and there are easy one-touch settings for braising, searing, sauteing, and even slow cooking! Since the Instant Dutch Oven has with a removable cast iron insert (the Dutch oven itself) you can even pop the whole thing in your oven if you need to, or use it for serving on your table (it comes with a protective hot pad precisely the right size).

I use it for my go-to favorites, like David’s Famous Chili, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, and Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, but I’ve also gathered together a few healthy and delicious recipes that you can make using the Instant Dutch Oven, to give you an idea of the versatility of the appliance. You can even use it to proof bread! But today we are talking dinner ideas. Pick the one that looks tastiest to you so you can see how using an Instant Dutch Oven can make preparing and cooking meals super convenient and simple!

6 Instant Dutch Oven Recipes

There are a ton of Instant Dutch Oven recipes floating around online — which is no surprise since these handy kitchen gadgets offer a wide range of cooking functions that serve to get your next meal on the table quickly and easily.

Simple Sunday Roast

When you think about slow-cooked meals, a pot roast is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. Since Instant Dutch Ovens are made using cast iron, they can heat up to much higher temperatures than stainless steel pots and pans, allowing you to get a nice sear on your pot roast. After using the searing function, you can slow cook your pot roast inside your Instant Dutch Oven using a simple recipe from Instant Pot for an easy, mouth-watering meal.

• Time to Prepare: 10 minutes                   
• Cooking Time: 6 ½ hours
• Ingredients: A 3-pound chuck roast, salt and pepper, bay leaves, vegetable oil, onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, and beef stock.
• Recipe Notes: You can use any cut of beef you want with this recipe. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the roast to evenly cook both sides.
• Serving Suggestions: Allow your pot roast to rest for 10 minutes on a serving platter, alongside the veggies before you cut into the roast. This allows the juices to soak back into the meat, making it tender and juicy.

Chicken Thighs and Spinach

This one-pot wonder courtesy of Monday is Meatloaf makes use of an inexpensive cut of chicken by using chicken thighs. The crispy skin hides a tender, juicy bite of chicken that pairs perfectly with the hearty spinach and garlic featured in this recipe. You only need a handful of ingredients, and dinner will be on the table in less than a half hour. An added bonus is that your clean-up is a breeze since everything you need for this meal is cooked in your Instant Dutch Oven.

• Time to Prepare: 5 minutes                     
• Cooking Time: 25 minutes
• Ingredients: 6 skin-on chicken thighs, salt and pepper, poultry seasoning, minced garlic, and spinach.
• Recipe Notes: To allow your chicken to cook quickly, use a sharp knife to cut an inch down along the bone on both sides of your chicken thigh.
• Serving Suggestions: Although this chicken recipe can be served alone, try pairing it with your favorite potatoes, rice, or risotto recipe.

Garlic Braised Beef Short Ribs

Chef Jenn over at Cook What You Love is the mastermind behind these fall-of-the-bone Instant Dutch Oven short ribs — and I have to say she came up with a big hit here! This hearty meal is packed with rich flavors as the ribs cook in rich ingredients like beef broth, red wine, and fresh herbs that will look beautiful sprinkled with parsley on your serving platter.

• Time to Prepare: 15 minutes                   
• Cooking Time: 2 hours
• Ingredients: 5 pounds of beef short ribs, olive oil, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, low-sodium beef broth, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, all-purpose flour, and salt and pepper.
• Recipe Notes: You can use boneless short ribs, but Chef Jenn suggests getting bone-in ribs that are roughly 4 inches long for plenty of meat, and plenty of flavor.
• Serving Suggestions: These garlic braised beef short ribs pair well with a side like mashed potatoes or rice where you can make use of the delicious beef gravy.

Instant Pot Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce

If you’re looking for a meal that the whole family will love, this Instant Dutch Oven Bolognese sauce from Fork to Spoon is a great option since it’ll satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Using an Instant Dutch Oven takes this classic Italian sauce and makes it even simpler by removing the need to stand over a hot stove, stirring your pot.

• Time to Prepare: 10 minutes                   
• Cooking Time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
• Ingredients: Olive oil, carrots, celery, minced garlic, pancetta, ground beef, tomato paste, beef broth, milk, crushed tomatoes, nutmeg, bay leaf, salt and pepper, and Italian seasoning.
• Recipe Notes: The vegetables in this sauce add a hearty, rich flavor, so don’t leave them out.
• Serving Suggestions: Bolognese sauce is traditionally served over some type of pasta, but you can also use it to top your favorite piece of crusty bread!

Instant Pot Chicken Caeser Pasta

This rich, creamy meal from Adventures From a Nurse is the ideal comfort food. Chicken pairs so well with the sharp flavors of caser dressing. Add salty bacon, rich parmesan, and some hearty pasta you’re left with an easy, warm meal that gives your whole body a hug! Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners when you need to get food on the table in less than an hour.

• Time to Prepare: 10 minutes                   
• Cooking Time: 30 minutes
• Ingredients: Chicken breasts, Caeser dressing, sour cream, parmesan cheese, bacon, garlic cloves, parsley, al-dente pasta, and optional panko bread crumbs.
• Recipe Notes: You can use full-fat or low-fat sour cream in this recipe.
• Serving Suggestions: If you’re meal prepping a bunch of meals, make this recipe without the pasta, toss it in the freezer, then let it thaw in the fridge the night before you serve it. Add some al-dente pasta and heat up the chicken and sauce for a quick and easy dinner.

The Best Beef Stew

Instant Dutch Ovens make amazing stews, and this beef stew recipe by The Food Network showcases the versatility of this handy kitchen cooker. The original recipe calls for both a Dutch oven, and the use of a regular oven. But, you can use the instant Dutch oven’s searing function to brown the beef and sauté the veggies, and then the whole stew can be cooked inside the Instant Dutch Oven making this simple recipe even easier!

• Time to Prepare: 20 minutes                   
• Cooking Time: 1 ½ to 2 hours
• Ingredients: Olive oil, beef chuck roast, onion, garlic, carrots, a dry red wine, celery, flour, chicken broth, red potatoes, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper, and parsley.
• Recipe Notes: Cut down on the salt in this recipe! You’ll only need ½ to 1 tablespoon, not 3 tablespoons.
• Serving Suggestions: Since the flavors of this dish become richer the longer they sit, this is a great meal to make ahead and reheat later.

The Instant Dutch Oven makes meals a breeze with its variety of cooking functions and ease of use. Be sure to let me know in the comments which recipe your family loved best!