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Best Cholent Recipe Ever – Jewish Overnight Stew in a Dutch Oven

Best Cholent Recipe Ever – Jewish Overnight Stew in a Dutch Oven

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After years of fine-tuning my cholent recipe, I have stopped trying to improve it because I am more than satisfied with how it comes out. So I decided it’s time to share the best cholent recipe ever (according to my husband…) If you’re looking for a delicious chicken soup recipe for Shabbat, check out Rochel’s Instant Pot Chicken Soup! Disclosure: this post contains commissioned images and links.

 Scroll through for the printable recipe card at the end and enjoy the best cholent recipe ever!

Click for the recipe that made me start loving Cholent - or Jewish slow cooked overnight stew! This is the best cholent recipe ever according to my husband. Make it in the dutch oven or in a crock pot or regular pot - but a le creuset dutch oven is best #jewish #cholent #recipe #jewishcuisine #jewishcooking #kosher #kosherrecipe

I always hated cholent. I didn’t know what people saw in it. I preferred other Shabbat lunch ideas that were lighter and easier to digest.

As I grew and my taste matured I started to kind of like it. But I never really loved it until I started making my own, and slowly developed the best cholent recipe ever.

I started with my sister’s basic recipe, with my mother-in-law’s cooking method, and my a few of my mom’s tricks (whole potatoes, anyone?)

I slowly tweaked it over the years, always cooking it in a pot fully, then leaving it to slowly cook overnight on a hot plate, set on a timer to go off for 15 minutes every hour. (You can see my comparison of the top Shabbat hot plate options here)

Some of the best recipes are developed this way – a blend of assorted family traditions – just like my best potato kugel recipe.

Then, recently, I faced a pot shortage and realized I needed a new “power pot” for weeks when I have lots of company. I decided to try something new and due to some suggestions I got on Facebook purchased an inexpensive 6 quart dutch oven. I found mine for really cheap in Burlington Coat Factory, but there are other great options online if you can’t find it there.

A dutch oven was the final touch that the best cholent recipe ever needed to be perfect.

Making the best cholent recipe ever on the stove

Why should the best cholent recipe ever be made in a dutch oven?

There are a few reasons why I love using the dutch oven but before I share them I want to make it clear that you CAN use this cholent recipe NOT in a dutch oven too. The cooking process is focused on using a dutch oven but it can easily be adapted for use in a crock pot or regular pot. I made it for years in a typical Farberware stainless steel pot and it was delicious. But here’s why I switched to the Dutch oven:

  • The texture – oh, you simply cannot beat the perfect texture of a dutch oven cholent. If you’ve struggled with not drying out your cholent, but not having it too watery, the dutch oven will help you get that best cholent recipe ever. You’ll have barley that’s done to perfection, moist but not mushy. You’ll have creamy potatoes. You’ll have juicy, flavorful meat. And sometimes you’ll even get a slightly caramelized crispy crunch at the top that everyone will fight over. This is because of the way the lid locks in moisture.
  • Oven to table – yep, you heard right! I bring the pot right to the  table, place it on a rustic wooden trivet and have a homely look. I’d never bring a pot to the table, but when you have a Le Creuset-style enameled cast iron dutch oven, it has that homely rustic feel and looks great on the table – I even do this for guests! It keeps the cholent hotter for longer, and saves you from having to wash doubles of the most pain-in-the-neck dishes.
  • IT DOESN’T STICK!! – Yep, you heard right. I was SO frustrated with spending hours peeling cholent of the bottom of a pot after every Shabbos. With the Dutch oven, you do have a bottom layer that’s maybe a bit overdone, but it just comes right off!
  • Looks great on the counter too – Do you ever get frustrated with how after cleaning your whole house so that it’s spotless for Shabbos, you’ve still got a pot sitting on the counter all day? The cast iron enameled dutch oven that I use looks amazing on the counter – like it belongs. This is the least of my reasons for making the best cholent recipe ever in a dutch oven, but still a nice perk.

Which dutch oven should you use to make the best cholent recipe ever?

I can’t honestly tell you which dutch oven works and which doesn’t because I’ve only ever tried one. I use an off-brand one that I found in-store at Burlington Coat Factory. The finish got a bit ruined, but it still works totally fine, so if you’re looking to save, I’d recommend just going for cheap – it’s worth it.

The Le Creuset one is the “main brand” – and the top rated. I don’t know if the quality is that much better and worth splurging on, because I haven’t tried it. It also costs MANY times the price of a cheaper option. If you’d like to weigh in on this in the comment section, feel free!

Lodge makes a great budget-friendly option as does Amazon Basics.

I’m assuming that non-enameled dutch ovens would work too, as long as they have that heavy, tight seal as well. I haven’t tried it, so I can’t share how well the non-stick feature works.

How to make the best cholent recipe ever in a dutch oven:

First of all, if you’ve made cholent before you’ll understand that cholent is very individual. There isn’t much of a scientific formula to the actual components (onion, potato, etc) – it’s about what your family likes. So I’ll share with you what I do, but adjust accordingly.

STEP 1: Heat some olive oil in a pan. Add a whole onion, turning it every minute or so so that a new part is browning. When it begins to brown, add your meat, and sear it. We use the cheapest meat that’s not a steak – so whatever’s on sale.

I use a two-pronged fork to hold it on its side so that it’s browned all around. Turn off your flame once your meat has been browned.

TIP: After my first time using my dutch oven to make the best cholent recipe ever, I started browning the meat and onions in a separate pot or pan. I try to use something I’ll be using for another recipe anyway, since I’m usually on a cooking spree when I’m prepping for Shabbos. I felt like frying in the dutch oven ruined the finish – I don’t know if this is usually the case – it could be just because mine was a cheap one.

STEP 2:  Peel 5 medium sized yellow waxy potatoes (such as Green Giant Klondike Goldust or Yukon Gold) and cut in half  or leave them whole. Cutting them too small will cause them to melt into your cholent. Using this type of potato gives you the creamiest, most delicious result.

STEP 3: Cover your potatoes with water.

STEP 4: Turn your flame back on and season your cholent! Add a generous amount of paprika (a layer covering your water), a few shakes of pepper, about 1-2 T of Iodized salt (depending how big your cholent is) and plenty of onion and garlic powder. You can experiment with other seasonings too, depending on the flavor you’d like. Lately, I put chili powder in mine.

I never actually measure the salt but this is what I put into a smaller cholent.

Add ketchup (optional) – about 1/2 cup and honey – about 1/4 cup. The honey helps the top caramelize a bit. If you have a baby less than a year old who eats cholent, you can substitute the honey with duck sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook about half an hour or until your potatoes begin to soften but aren’t falling apart.

STEP 5: Add your barley. No, I don’t put in beans; I simply don’t like them. Add those at your own risk… I have added lentils in the past, but I’ve been skipping that lately. I usually put in 1/2-3/4 of a 1lb bag. Cover your barley with water plus an inch, and let it simmer uncovered until the barley is cooked (about half an hour). Watch it to make sure you have enough water since the barley tends to absorb a ton of it, and quickly!

When your barley is cooked, make sure you have a thin layer of water covering your food (check it again right before Shabbos, since sometimes the barley absorbs more after you shut the flame).

Set it on your Shabbat hot plate to cook overnight. It’ll already be delicious after a few hours if you like to dig in early. We set our hot plate with a timer so that it’s not on continuously (we turn it off for 15 minutes every hour – not an exact formula, again, but short enough that the cholent stays hot enough to be cooking continuously even when it’s off).

I hope you enjoy the best cholent recipe ever! Comment below: what do you put in your cholent recipe?

Want another fantastic Shabbat afternoon dish? Try my crock pot mushroom barley soup – perfect for that frigid winter day! And if you’re in need of something gluten free or Passover friendly, try my gluten free cholent!

Print Recipe
Best Cholent Recipe Ever - Jewish Overnight Stew in a Dutch Oven
You can make this cholent recipe using other dishes, but the texture is by far the best in a dutch oven.
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Jewish
Servings
Ingredients
Seasoning (all measurements are approximate)
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Jewish
Servings
Ingredients
Seasoning (all measurements are approximate)
Instructions
  1. Heat some olive oil in a pan. Add a whole onion, turning it every minute or so so that a new part is browning. When it begins to brown, add your meat, and sear it. Turn off your flame once your meat has been browned.
  2. Peel 5 medium sized yellow waxy potatoes (such as Green Giant Klondike Goldust or Yukon Gold) and cut in half or leave them whole.
  3. Cover your potatoes with water. Turn your flame back on and while it's heating season your cholent, adding all the "seasoning" ingredients and giving it a stir. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook about half an hour or until your potatoes begin to soften but aren’t falling apart.
  4. Add your barley. Add water if necessary to cover your barley, plus an inch, and let it simmer uncovered until the barley is cooked (about half an hour). Add water if needed as it cooks.
  5. Make sure you have a thin later of water covering your cholent, and that the meat is totally submerged. Set it on your Shabbat hot plate to cook overnight.
Recipe Notes

If your dutch oven can't handle frying, brown your meat and onion in a separate pan.

Don't chunk your potatoes too small - they'll melt into the cholent.

We set our hot plate on a timer so that it's not on all that time. We shut it for 15 minutes every hour so that it stays hot enough to still be cooking.

Your cholent will be ready to eat after a few hours, but the flavor strengthens and the crust forms when you leave it on overnight.

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Shelli

Wednesday 2nd of November 2022

The timer trick just *might* be the key! off for 15 minutes every hour - LOVE THAT! That way, it doesn't overcook, either. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

Paul Broughton

Monday 7th of March 2022

I have been on the lookout for a good cholent recipe. My wife and I made this cholent for the first time this weekend. It is excellent, with just the right flavoring. We let it cook on top of the oven on low for over 12 hours. We had this for dinner today and it was by far the very best cholent recipe we have had as a family - and easy to make. Thank you for sharing!

Menucha Citron Ceder

Monday 7th of March 2022

Hi Paul, thanks for your feedback! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed, and thanks for your cooking feedback!

Dodi

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

What kind of timer do you have that you can set it like that? My shabbos timers have little pegs enough for only a couple of on/off cycles. Thanks--this looks delicious.

Menucha Citron Ceder

Tuesday 11th of January 2022

Hi! I use one with pegs just like yours. The one I use allows for 24 hour cycles.This is the exact one I have: https://amzn.to/3qgyOjR

Debbie R Pine

Saturday 2nd of January 2021

You cook everything on the stove top when using the Dutch oven? Do you recommend to put it in a low temp oven and if so what temp and for how long?

Menucha Citron Ceder

Monday 4th of January 2021

Hi! I cook on the stove and then transfer to the warming tray (which is a low temp) for Shabbat. I never tried it in a low temp oven but I'd imagine that would work. You can see if you can find another recipe for oven cholent. It's usually cooked overnight at least.

Nicole

Friday 28th of February 2020

Do you need to precook the barley? Or the potatoes? Thanks! Love the timer tip - definitely have to try that.

Menucha Citron Ceder

Sunday 1st of March 2020

Hi! I put in the potatoes before the barley and cook for about half hour - until they start to soften (but I "precook" them in the cholent pot). Then I add the barley and continue until they are pretty much cooked.