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When you imagine a Dutch oven, you probably picture a colorful Le Creuset. At this point the two are practically synonymous.
Le Creuset has earned the brand recognition. Its iconic enameled cast-iron cookware is versatile, gorgeous, and incredibly durable. It transitions seamlessly from stovetop to oven to table, and it’s compatible with every kind of cooktop, including induction. The signature sand-colored interior enamel browns and caramelizes food beautifully. With proper care it also provides a lifetime of protection for the cast iron underneath.
It’s no wonder this pricey cookware often tops the wishlists of so many home cooks, but tempting as it may be to buy a knockoff or hit up the TJ Maxx kitchen aisle in search of a miniature stoneware cocotte sporting the same logo, don’t. Because when someone tells you they want Le Creuset, they almost always mean one thing: they want a Le Creuset enameled cast-iron Dutch oven.
With that out of the way—and with so many styles and sizes of Le Creuset Dutch ovens to choose from—I’ve broken down the brand’s myriad offerings below. And if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, read all the way to the end for a few options that are far more functional than that cute but impractical cocotte.
The Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven
The Round Dutch oven is Le Creuset’s flagship offering, and we think it's the best Dutch oven you can buy. It has straight sides, a tight-fitting lid with an ovenproof knob, and is versatile enough to use for soups, stews, braises, breads, and so much more.
This coveted enameled cast-iron cookware comes in seven sizes ranging from 2 quarts to 13.25 quarts, and it’s available in more than 25 colors—though it’s not always possible to get every color in every size. Le Creuset also releases special edition Dutch ovens in seasonal shapes and patterns, but unless your giftee has specifically requested one of those, it’s best to get a timeless shape in a practical size and a solid color.
The 3.5-quart round Dutch oven is a great starter size for most home cooks. It can easily hold four servings of soup or chili, and I know from experience that the 9-inch diameter is roomy enough for roasting a small chicken. Even if they upgrade to a larger size someday, this is a piece they’ll continue to reach for when whipping up small batches of soups and sauces.
The 5.5-quart Dutch oven is Le Creuset’s most popular product as well as Epi’s top pick. It’s big enough for soups and braises, but not too big for sauces. It’s also just the right size for rustic no-knead bread recipes, which often call for a 5.5-quart Dutch oven.
A 7.25-quart round Dutch oven makes a great gift for anyone who likes to braise big cuts of meat, regularly cooks for a crowd, or frequents chili cookoffs. It’s not cheap (the suggested retail price at time of writing is $460), but it’s a substantial gift they’ll use forever. And while it is possible to go even bigger, I don’t recommend it: The 9-quart and 13.25-quart sizes are overkill for most everyday cooking. They’re unwieldy, and will look comically large on a residential cooktop.
Other Le Creuset enameled cast-iron pieces to consider
The 2.75-quart Shallow Round Oven has shorter sides and less overall capacity than the 3.5-quart classic Round Oven, but the diameter of the cooking surface is the same, so it’s still roomy enough to hold a small chicken. This was my first Le Creuset, and it’s the one I still reach for the most because it’s lightweight and just the right size for side dishes, sauces, and small batches of soup.
Wider and shorter than the Shallow Round Oven, this 6.75-quart Le Creuset Dutch Oven provides 12 inches of cooking surface area for browning, braising, and roasting. However, because the sides are only four inches high, it’s probably not the best gift for someone who makes a lot of soups and stews.
Another top seller for Le Creuset, the Oval Dutch Oven comes in eight sizes, ranging from a single quart to a whopping 15.5 quarts. The narrow shape lends itself to poultry, and the impressive size range means you can use the smallest one for a quail and the biggest for a hefty Thanksgiving turkey. That said, 6.75 quarts is the most popular size.
Though it is ovensafe, this slope-sided enameled cast-iron cookware is designed to be used on the stovetop for dishes like risotto that require lots of stirring. Depending on the size you get and where you buy it, it might be called a chef’s oven, French oven, soup pot, Chef’s Dutch Oven or a stew pot. No matter the name, you can be sure you're getting a versatile piece of cookware that's a great gift for someone who already has a classic Dutch oven they love.
Le Creuset gifts under $100
Unless you find a good sale, it’s hard to get a Le Creuset Dutch Oven for less than $250. So if you’re on a budget and still want to give the gift of Le Creuset—but have heeded my advice and avoided the temptation of the too-small-to-be-functional stoneware cocotte—you still have some good options.
The thick stoneware walls on this French press keep coffee warmer longer than a standard glass vessel. It’s prettier too.
Le Creuset’s enameled steel tea kettles are durable and timeless. I used a full-sized one for a decade before I swapped it for this more compact (and more affordable) demi kettle.
Most of Le Creuset’s current Dutch oven inventory features the Signature stainless knob, but those who’ve been cooking with the iconic French cookware for years may still have the basic black phenolic plastic knobs. For less than $30, you can give the gift of a shiny silver, copper, gold-toned, or iridescent knob that will make their trusty old Dutch oven feel new again.
No, handing over a gift card isn’t quite as exciting (or muscle toning) as heaving heavy cast-iron cookware into the arms of your loved one. But anyone who dreams of owning Le Creuset will appreciate $25 or $50 toward the purchase of their ideal Dutch oven.
