My Kitchen Is Stocked With Le Creuset, and These Are the 5 Pieces I Love the Most

Whether you’re buying it for yourself, receiving a sacred, passed-down piece from a family member, or getting it as a gift from someone who clearly really loves you, scoring some gear from Le Creuset is always a treat. For many, it’s become a beacon of high quality, signifying that whoever is using it probably knows what they’re doing (or, at least most of the time I find this to be true). Since 1925, the French cookware company has been designing some of the most vibrant, durable, and capable pieces on the market, and these days, you’ll find it everywhere from Michelin-starred restaurants to the kitchen of your friend who treats dinner like it’s an episode of Chopped.

I’ve been pretty blessed when it comes to Le Creuset cookware — between my own purchases, my fiancée’s collection, and some marvelous pieces that my grandmother gave me over the years, I’ve amassed a pretty decent arsenal. And while most of them are in frequent rotation, there are a few that I simply love to see and use. There is, indeed, some iconic cookware in my list of favorite Le Creuset pieces, but also a couple unsuspecting items that simply make my life better by existing in my kitchen and home. It was not easy to whittle down this list, but I humbly present my favorite Le Creuset pieces that I own.

5 of My Favorite Pieces from Le Creuset

Classic 3-Piece Oval Baking Dish Set

I love how versatile these dishes are. Sure, you can bake a casserole, au gratin, or even a lasagna in these, but they’ve also quietly become some of my most powerful serving dishes. For some reason, potato salad looks gorgeous in one of these, and so does the spinach, artichoke, and white bean dip that I love making for guests. Included in this set are 1.2-quart, 1.9-quart, and 3.6-quart stoneware dishes, so you can have multiple things in the oven or on the table looking uniformly excellent.

Utensil Crock

Part of what makes Le Creuset so awesome is that pieces don’t need to be cooking up some coq au vin or whatever for us to see how beautiful they are. Case in point: One of the first things I bought for my current apartment was this simple “Oyster”-colored utensil crock, and though it sort of blends into my kitchen, it elegantly improves the vibe of my countertop every single day. Guests might not even notice it, but it keeps me saying, “Ooh, look at this Le Creuset!” every couple days, so that’s cool. Also, it can hold a ton of spatulas, wooden spoons, and microplanes. 

Silicone Coaster Set

The original Le Creuset coaster set I bought is no longer available, which is a shame (if not only because it makes me feel super old to know that something I once bought new is now probably considered vintage). But I recently copped this newer silicone coaster set for my office, and I like it just as much. These are super easy to clean, and just look really nice on a table, whether you’re using it for coffee, keeping your Negroni from getting the table wet, or preventing a not-too-hot dish from sitting directly on your tablecloth (it’s heat-resistant up to about 480 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Round Dutch Oven

Le Creuset’s round Dutch oven is one its most iconic pieces, and rightly so. This 5.5-quart (there’s also a 7.25-quart option) enameled cast iron beast is equally easy to cook with and clean, and with upward of two dozen vibrant color options, it always looks good doing it. I love this for gumbo, chili, tortilla soup, or really anything you’d use a Dutch oven for. It’s also grand for everything from Bolognese to collard greens. From any angle, this is flat-out one of the most gorgeous pieces of cookware ever made.

Signature Square Skillet Grill

I love grilling outside, truly, but sometimes I just want to impart some smoky, charred flavors without having to hustle out back and fire up the grill. For those meals — usually a lazy summer evening or a brutally cold Chicago winter night — the square skillet grill is far from a shortcut. Whether it’s grilled veggie tacos, a hot dog party, or burger night, this enameled masterpiece is always up to the challenge.