The Best Dutch Ovens of 2025

Mar 11, 2025

Read time: 6 minutes

By Mr. Dean

Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.

A Dutch oven is the true workhorse of any kitchen. Safe to use on most cooking surfaces, these bad boys can make pots of soup or stew, sauté vegetables, braise meat, and even bake a loaf of crusty bread. If your kitchen only has room for one large pot, it should be a Dutch oven.

Finding the best Dutch oven is more complicated than asking yourself “Le Creuset or Staub?” There are a lot of great Dutch ovens on the market. Not only do they range in price from $80 to $420, they range in quality too. While most of them follow the same basic design—a deep, cast iron pot coated in nonstick enamel—the shape and construction make a huge difference in cooking experience. That’s why we tested the top Dutch ovens on the market.

After putting each through its paces, our testing experts concluded that the Made In Dutch Oven (available at Made In) is the one we want in our kitchens and would recommend to friends. If you're in the market for an more affordable Dutch oven, the Lodge 6-Quart Round Dutch Oven (available at Amazon) is our Best Value pick with a performance that rivals more expensive pots.

The Made In Cast Iron Dutch Oven is the best one we've tested.

Made In Dutch Oven#

Best Dutch Oven Overall

There's a lot to love about Made In's Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven—enough to steal the top slot from previous winner, the Staub Cast Iron Round Cocotte.

During testing, this enameled Dutch oven blew us away with its nonstick qualities, even heat distribution, and moisture retention (thanks to the divots under the lid). Our review of the Made In found that chicken soup was flavorful, bread was evenly cooked, and meat was pleasantly browned without ever sticking. This Dutch oven also cooked a whole chicken beautifully, browning it evenly without getting it dry.

After all that cooking, the Made In didn't show any signs of damage or deterioration, and cleaning even caked-on foods was a breeze.

We also love that it took a lot for the handles of this Dutch oven to get hot—and when they did, it was still easy to move the pot from the oven to the stovetop (with pot holders or dish towels) thanks to the handles' roomy design.

Even with all this impressive functionality, the Made In Dutch oven comes in at a fraction of the cost of many competitors. But it's still made with the iconic hand-enameled cast iron that hails from its homeland of northeast France. And—bonus points—it comes in a variety of beautiful colors.

Pros:

✅ Excellent cooking results

✅ Comfortable handles

✅ Affordable

Cons

❎ None we could find

Le Creuset's 5.5 quart round Dutch oven is our pick for best upgrade.

Le Creuset 5.5-Quart Round Dutch Oven#

Best Upgrade Dutch Oven

Unsurprisingly, the iconic Le Creuset—beloved among cooks and kitchen scholars—aced every test we threw at it. And if you're willing to spend an upfront investment, this Dutch oven will likely last you years—maybe decades—to come. It’s the most expensive Dutch oven we tested, but if the price is within your budget, it’s worth the cost. Although there are some precautions you have to take, Le Creuset’s lifetime warranty can give you some piece of mind if you decide to take that plunge.

The Le Creuset Dutch oven makes a perfect meal every time. It also offers large handles, which are ideal for moving the pot from the stove to the oven and back, from your stove to the table, or from your house to your friend’s place.

And while its size means it's roomy enough to cook for guests, it also means that if you’re dealing with tight stove space, you might run into some problems. This Dutch oven is gorgeous and produces consistently delicious food, but its size means it'll always need to be the star of the show.

Pros:

✅ Large handles

✅ Excellent cooking results

✅ A long-time cook's favorite

Cons:

❎ Large size can crowd out other cookery

Buy $315 at Amazon

The Lodge 4.6-Quart Round Dutch Oven is our Best Value pick.

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven#

Best Value Dutch Oven

A serious competitor to both Staub and Le Creuset at a fraction of the cost, the Lodge Dutch oven impressed us with its durability and versatility. That should come at no surprise, considering Lodge’s reputation for making quality cast-iron cookware.

In almost every test, the colorful Lodge Dutch oven was at the top of the pack. However, its base is narrower than the others, resulting in crowding for certain recipes like braised short ribs.

It's also lacking the self-basting divots that came in so handy on our top picks. But at this price point, this colorful Dutch oven is absolutely still deserving of the Best Value title.

Pros:

✅ Cleans easily

✅ Multiple color options

✅ Scores high in a variety of cooking tests

Cons:

❎ Smaller-than-average-base

Buy $52 at Amazon

The HexClad Dutch oven is the best non-cast iron option on the market.

HexClad 5-Quart Dutch Oven#

Best Lightweight Dutch Oven

HexClad's Dutch oven isn't made of cast iron, which makes it the most lightweight pot on this list at just over three pounds. (For context, our winning Dutch oven weighs in at over 13.) Instead, it's made with HexClad's signature hybrid design that features a nonstick surface, magnetic steel base, aluminum core, and stainless steel surface.

Although this Dutch oven isn't traditionally designed, it performed well in all of our tests. Short ribs browned quickly and evenly, chicken soup was incredibly flavorful, and bread even came out with a pleasantly browned crust and springy interior.

A huge plus to this pot is obviously its lightweight build, which made transferring from cooktop to oven (and from oven to table) a breeze. The handles and tight-fitting lid are also fantastic; they stayed cool even when soup had been simmering for hours. And the lid is designed to trap steam and avoid drippy messes when being removed. (Plus, it's dishwasher-safe!)

But a lightweight build means typical cast iron features might be missed. A roast chicken took longer to cook in the HexClad than its cast iron competitors. And its nonstick design means no fond will build up when browning meat or aromatics, which can make for a disappointing deglazing process.

Given that this pot's versatility goes beyond typical Dutch oven duties (it doubles as a regular stock pot) we think it's worth considering.

Pros:

✅ Lightweight

✅ Even, fast heating

✅ Dishwasher safe

Cons:

❎ Baking results sometimes take longer

❎ Unable to produce fond

Buy $199 at Amazon

Other Dutch Ovens We Tested#

Staub Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte

The Staub Dutch oven, with its glossy finish and self-basting lid, excels in flavor, even cooking, and easy cleanup.

KitchenAid Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

The KitchenAid 6-quart Dutch Oven cooks delicious meals with even heat and a tight lid, but it's heavy, has hot handles, and stains show on its pastel colors.

Caraway Dutch Oven

Caraway's Dutch Oven has a charming look and great nonstick, but its lightweight build and holed lid lead to less heat retention and slower cooking.

AmazonBasics Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6-Quart

Amazon's Dutch oven mimics Cuisinart but falls short, with black marks and hot handles. A decent budget pick for rare use.

Cuisinart 5-Quart Round Covered Casserole

2 / 2 Cuisinart Dutch oven has a wide base for sautéing, but tests showed black spots on bread, tough soup cleanup, and imperfect meat, lowering its rank.