Best Dutch Oven For Bread & Easy Artisan Honey Oat Bread Recipe

Have you been wondering what the best dutch oven for bread is? Or maybe you bought a dutch oven and now need a good homemade bread recipe to try?

Either way, we got you covered! We are going to break down the top of the best dutch oven for bread. We are also going to share our recipe for an easy artisan honey oat bread that is made in a dutch oven.

Top Three Best Dutch Ovens For Bread:

You will notice on all of our top three choices for the best dutch oven for bread making, we went with the enamel coating cast iron. The downside to using the enameled dutch oven is they are not good for outdoor use

While you can use a normal bare cast iron that is pre-seasoned for bread making, the enameled really works best. It also makes for much easier cleanup and you don’t have to oil it after you wash it as you do with normal cast iron.

But if you do find yourself using a normal cast iron dutch oven, be sure to check out our post on Cast Iron Care And How To Use. That way you will know how to take proper care of it.

As for the different shapes of the right dutch oven, it really is up to you. You just want to make sure you go with something that has the right quart capacity to allow enough room for the final rise and baking.

You can go with the oval shape if you don’t mind having oval bread. For me, the best choice has always been sticking with a round dutch oven.

#1: My top pick is the Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.

I know that is different from what a lot of others recommend.

Normally everyone always has the Le Creuset listed as the number one choice. However, I think it is just because they want to try and push you to buy the most expensive dutch oven to earn the highest commission.

I mean don’t get me wrong, the Le Creuset is a good dutch oven and I have it listed as my number two choice. I just don’t think the price makes it a top choice.

The Lodge dutch oven cooks just as well for a much lower price making it the best option in my opinion.

If you are making a normal size loaf, either the 6 qt or 7 qt lodge cast iron dutch oven is the right size to stick with. It also comes in a nice selection of colors.

Lodge Pros: 

• Lots of colors to choose from
• Even heating 
• heat up to 500 degrees
• Don’t have to oil after washing
• Reasonable price
• Limited lifetime warranty

Lodge Cons:

• Handwash recommend
• Made in China
• Weighs just under 15 lbs 

#2: My number two choice is the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven.

It has much of the same pros as the Lodge but this one has a much larger price tag. Honestly, the price tag is the only thing that really holds me back from listing the Le Creuset dutch ovens as the one in the number one spot.

This one also does not come in a 6-quart dutch oven. You would have to select either 5.5 or the 7.25 qt size dutch oven for bread making. 

Le Creuset Pros: 

• Superior heat distribution and heat retention
• Different colors
• Tight lid
• Durable enamel
• Made in France

Le Creuset Cons: 

• No 6 qt size available 
• Limited lifetime warranty (at that price I think it should not be limited)
• High price

#3: My number three pick is the Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven

The number 3 pick is the most budget-friendly option. It also comes really highly rated. Normally you don’t see such high ratings on budget-friendly items so it really does make this one a great option if you are budgeting.

While it is highly rated and it cooks really well, I feel it is made just a little cheaper and will not last as long as my other two choices.

With that said, even if you have to buy another one a few years down the road, it would still be less than the other choices because this one is so low priced.

Amazon Dutch Oven Pros: 

• Different color options
• Low priced 
• Has 6qt option 
• Highly rated

Amazon Dutch Oven Cons:

• Hand wash only 
• Oven safe to 400 degrees (so not as high temperatures as the others)
• Limited 1-year warranty
• Made in China

How To Make Honey Oat Artisan Bread In Dutch Oven:

After you give this honey oat bread a try, here are a few other bread recipes you may want to check out.

• Easy Olive Bread Bread Machine Recipe
• Pantry White Bread Recipe
• Homemade Banana Bread Baked In A Mason Jar
• Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks Recipe
• Keto Bun Recipe With Everything Seasoning

Ingredients Needed:

• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (or avocado oil) 
• 1 ½ Cups Warm Water
• 1 Cup of Old Fashioned Oats (not quick oats)
• 2 Tbsp of Honey
• ¼ Cup Honey
• 1 pinch of Salt
• 1 pack of rapid rise yeast
• 3 ½ Cups All-purpose flour
• ¼ Cup Butter Melted

Directions To Make The Dutch Oven Bread:

The first step is to mix ¼ cup of honey with warm water. Then add in the yeast and stir. Allow to rest for about 15 minutes. It should get nice and foamy.

Add a tablespoon of olive oil and stir.

In a large bowl or stand mixer add oatmeal, salt, and flour and mix well.

Then mix in the yeast mixture and mix well. The dough will be sticky and kinda shaggy.

Drizzle dough with olive oil and cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow to rest and for the dough rise in a warm area.

Check the dough after about 1 hour. If doubled in size it is ready to bake.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.

Pop the dutch oven in the hot oven and allow it to heat up while you shape your loaf.

Lightly flour counter or your work area. Remove dough from the bowl and lightly shape it into a ball.

Using a serrated knife, score the bread a few times on the top.

Sprinkle a tablespoon of oatmeal over the top.

Carefully remove the dutch oven from the oven. Place your loaf of bread into the dutch oven and place the lid on it. Be careful as the dutch oven will be hot.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Mix melted butter and 2 tablespoons of honey together. At the 30 minute mark, remove the lid off the dutch oven and drizzle the honey and butter over top of the loaf.

Bake for another 15 minutes. Or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and allow the bread to cool for about 5 minutes before you remove the bread from the dutch oven.