The Pot We Love for All of Our One-Pot Pasta Recipes
What’s the key to a one-pot pasta dinner? The pot! Clearly. While you might think that one-pot pastas need to be made in a Dutch oven or a large saucepot, we at Kitchn beg to differ. While both of those pots will do the job, our preference is something that’s technically not even a pot at all. It’s the Le Creuset Everyday Pan. It’s a workhorse piece of cookware that makes for the silkiest, dreamiest one-pot pastas, not to mention just about a countless number of other easy meals. I personally reach for this pan so often, it has earned a permanent spot on my stovetop.
My own love story with the Le Creuset Everyday Pan — also called the Le Creuset Braiser, depending on where you’re shopping — began a little over three years ago when I was setting up my wedding registry. I spotted the pan while browsing online and I was intrigued by the endless number of positive reviews. So I asked for it in the same color as my Dutch oven (Ink, if you’re wondering!) and a family member gifted it to us. Almost immediately after I unwrapped it, I started using it nightly to sauté vegetables, braise meat, and sear fish.
Where its real strength lies, though, is in making one-pot pastas. The wide, shallow pan makes it easy for all the ingredients to comfortably fit — even long strands of spaghetti. Plus, the shape of the pan helps the water come to a boil faster and evaporate more efficiently, which helps prevent the pasta from overcooking. It’s also a lot easier to stir everything in this pot (versus a Dutch oven) as it cooks, which means you don’t have to worry about any pasta getting stuck to the bottom of the pan or sending ingredients splashing around. One-pot pasta has become a weekly dinner in my house, thanks to this pan, and I am not upset about it.
While it’s definitely a bit of a splurge, if you’re able to spring for it (or you have a birthday or your own wedding coming up), it’s one that’s worth the investment — for one-pot pastas and beyond.