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Le Creuset is synonymous with high-end cookware, and one of its flagship bestsellers is the round Dutch oven—available in a rainbow of colors to match your kitchen aesthetic. It can handle everything from hearty stews to roasting a small chicken to baking bread. But at more than $260 for the smallest 2-quart version, it’s the kind of purchase that might stay in your cart for a while.
That’s why Aldi’s Le Creuset-style find is such a steal. For just $20, you can snag a near-exact replica of this coveted Dutch oven in a 2-quart capacity, complete with the signature ombré design. Aldi also sells a 4.6-quart French oven for $30, a related style with more rounded interior walls, making both some of the best deals you can get right now.
2-Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Navy Blue, $20 at Aldi
At first glance, Aldi’s Crofton Dutch oven is nearly indistinguishable from the original, save for the brand name stamped on the lid and knob. While Le Creuset offers dozens of colors, Aldi’s comes in cream or navy. Still, it has all the essentials: wide handles that are easy to grip with oven mitts and a sturdy knob that gives you a secure hold when checking on your food.
The 2-quart may be the smallest size Le Creuset makes, but it’s ideal for one or two people. It’s not quite a meal-prep machine, but perfect for a hearty dinner. For just $10 more, the 4.6-quart French oven gives you more than double the capacity. To put it in perspective, Le Creuset’s 4.5-quart version runs close to $400. For the price of takeout, Aldi offers a premium-looking, durable piece of cookware that can hang in your kitchen for years.
Related: Hobby Lobby’s $5 Mini Stoneware Pot Is the Le Creuset Lookalike You’ll Use for Everything
Why This Pot Belongs In Your Kitchen
A Dutch oven deserves a permanent spot on your stove. Aldi’s Crofton version, whether you grab the 2-quart Dutch oven or the 4.6-quart French oven, is built for all kinds of cooking. The 2-quart is perfect for sauces and sides. It’s the right size for simmering marinara, reducing a pan sauce, or slow-cooking baked beans without hogging stove space. It also doubles as a bread oven. You can bake a compact sourdough boule that looks like it came from an artisan bakery.
The 4.6-quart French oven is where things open up. It’s big enough to handle a batch of chili or beef stew, roast a whole chicken, or braise short ribs until they’re falling off the bone. Want to try your hand at baking? It’ll hold a full-size boule of sourdough or no-knead bread with that crackly crust everyone’s after. It’s also perfect for one-pot meals—pasta tossed straight into the sauce, a slow braise you can finish in the oven, or even frying wings or chicken cutlets.
Aldi’s Dutch oven saves you money and opens up the door for a variety of recipes. A heavy, enameled pot within reach encourages you to tackle recipes you’d normally scroll past, including ramen broth from scratch, a Sunday bolognese, or a seafood boil tipped straight onto the table for friends. Sometimes all it takes is one solid piece of cookware to change how you eat at home.
Related: Hobby Lobby’s Football-Shaped Slow Cooker Will Keep Your Food Warm Through Every Quarter
