Last Updated On December 27th, 2021
From Lancashire hot pot to coq au vin, vegan chilli, and beef bourguignon, there’s nothing like a delicious casserole to warm your stomach and your heart. However, if you want to create the perfect meal, then you need to start with the right tools, and that means investing in the best casserole dish UK chefs often use.
A good casserole dish can give you everything you need to make and enjoy dozens of high-quality meals over the years. All you need to do is prep your ingredients, create your sauce, and throw them in the oven or on the cooker top until they’re ready to serve. However, while choosing the meals, you want to eat might be easy enough – finding the right casserole pot isn’t quite so simple.
There’s more to getting the perfect bakeware than most people realise. The different pans, sheets, and pots you use can have a massive impact on the way that your food tastes. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this list of the finest casserole dishes for your needs.
Let’s get cooking.
Our Favourite Casserole Dishes Compared
Best Casserole Dish Reviews – Top 9 Picks
1. Le Creuset Signature Round Volcanic (Editor’s Choice)
Part of the Le Creuset cookware range, this cast iron casserole dish is big enough for the whole family, measuring in at a 24cm diameter. If you’re looking for an amazing kitchen classic that looks just as good as it cooks, then this could be the product you’ve been searching for.
Features
This cast iron casserole dish is great for making a range of meals, all the way from pasta to slow-cooked stews.
Along with an attractive design that’s sure to catch the eye of your guests, the Le Creuset model comes with a set of easy-grip handles to reduce your risk in the kitchen. It also features an easy-clean toughened enamel interior to protect against staining and damage over time. There’s a heat-resistant steel knob in the centre of the pan lid, too, so that you can check on your meals from time to time.
With Le Creuset cast iron casserole dish, your leftovers won’t go to waste because it is both dishwasher and freezer safe. What’s more, you can use it on all cooker types, under the grill, or in the oven. The options for cooking are limitless. With a lifetime guarantee for peace of mind and various beautiful colours to choose from, it’s hard to go wrong with this casserole dish. The only major issue – it’s very heavy as compared with other options. Thus, you’ll need to keep that in mind when cooking with it and washing it.
- Beautiful design in a range of colours
- Holds up to 4.2 litres of food
- Suitable for all cooker types, under the grill, and in the oven
- Dishwasher and freezer safe
- Lifetime warranty included
- Simple cleaning process
- Very heavy
- Some reviewers didn’t like the silver knob in the centre
2. Le Creuset Signature Shallow (Best Hob to Oven)
Beautifully elegant and available in a range of colours, this enamelled casserole dish from Le Creuset is one of the best on the market. Made in France using the best materials, this casserole dish offers you everything you need for fuss-free cooking.
Features
There’s a tight-fitting lid to prevent spills, and the dish is capable of holding enough food for up to 6 people! Thanks to the easy food release enamel on the interior, cleaning your dish will be a breeze. What’s more, the dish is designed to ensure even heat retention everywhere, for a fantastic bake.
You can use this dish for anything from making bread, pasta, and one-pot roasts. Additionally, because it can withstand any temperature, there’s no need to worry about your casserole dish breaking in the oven. You can use it on the hob as well.
One downside is that this product might be a little too large for some ovens. Additionally, it’s important to be careful when handling it, as it’s not resistant to knocks.
- Excellent design in multiple colours
- Huge capacity
- Even heating with excellent heat retention
- Versatile enough for any meal
- Easy-grip handles
- Can be quite fragile – be careful when cooking
- May be too big for some ovens
3. GreenPan Venice Pro (Best Clear Lid)
Simple yet reliable, this fantastic non-stick casserole dish is a kitchen must-have. Designed to help you transform your favourite recipes, this pot is an excellent choice for baking, sautéing, and more. Whether you’re cooking for snacks, lunch or dinner, you’ll love using the GreenPan Venice Pro.
Features
The ceramic non-stick materials used in this cookware ensure that it is easy to clean and resilient. The advanced ceramic coating is also toxin-free, so there isn’t any lead or dangerous materials to fret about. You also need not worry about harmful fumes as well.
In addition, the patented induction technology allows for stability wherever you place this casserole pot. This high-performance cooking tool won’t warp even when exposed to the hottest temperatures.
One of the more durable options on the market, this will give you a fantastic performance every time, without the worry of having to constantly it after each meal. The product even comes with a lifetime warranty for a little extra peace of mind.
One possible downside is that the GreenPan tends to take a long time to warm up. Additionally, over time it can begin to lose some of its non-stick coating towards the centre of the dish.
- Versatile and easy to use
- Ceramic non-stick coating
- Great balance on the hob
- Excellent resistance to heat
- Easy to clean
- May lose its non-stick coating over time
- Casserole pot may take a long time to warm up
4. Le Creuset Signature Oval (Best Oval Pot)
Once again, we return to the Le Creuset casserole collection to examine their oval ovenproof casserole dish.
Features
Equipped with all of the incredible features of the signature range including a dishwasher and freezer safe design, a lifetime warranty, and a non-stick interior, the oval dish is an excellent option for any household.
Designed for cooking with longer cuts of meat and vegetables, the oval casserole dish is big enough to roast an entire leg of lamb at once, with the trimmings, too. This kitchen classic comes with 45% larger handles to make it easier to lift and use. Additionally, the heat-resistant steel knob can withstand any temperature inside of your oven for peace of mind when you’re checking your food.
Like most casserole dishes in the Le Creuset range, this solution is suitable for use with all heat sources, making it ideal for oven to hob cooking. However, some customers say that the handle on the top of the pot isn’t as high in quality as the rest of the product. Furthermore, it can begin to ooze glue after a short time.
- Large enough for longer cuts of meat
- Beautiful design with multiple colour options
- Suitable for all heat types
- Dishwasher and freezer safe
- Lifetime warranty
- Handle on top of the pot can ooze glue after some time
- The pot is very heavy, even with the wider handles
5. ProCook Professional Adonised (Best Large Option)
If you’re looking for the best casserole dish to feed your entire family at once, then you’re going to love the capacity of this ProCook professional.
Features
Offering enough space to cook up to 6.1 litres of food at once, this large casserole dish is ideal for searing fish, meat, poultry, and vegetables alike. What’s more, because it was built with high-quality 3.8 mm aluminium, the heat moves evenly and quickly across the surface, allowing for more efficient cooking.
The special anodised surface is excellent for those in search of a textured and attractive exterior. Moreover, the thin layer of stainless steel on the bottom of the pan means you can use it with an induction hob, as well as place it into the oven. What’s more, the cool-touch contoured handles will give you better control over your pan whenever you’re using it.
With versatility and convenience built-in, as well as a 25-year guarantee for peace of mind, the ProCook casserole pot offers just about anything you could need for an excellent cooking experience. One slight drawback is that the handles can get hotter than you think. What’s more, the size of the pan might mean that you have trouble fitting it into your oven.
- Large family-friendly capacity
- Professional results with high-quality materials throughout
- Great for use on a stove or in the oven
- Versatile and convenient control
- 25-year guarantee included
- Too big for some ovens
- Handles can get hotter than you’d expect
6. MasterClass Cast Aluminium (Best Aluminium)
Cast iron isn’t the only option when you’re looking for a reliable casserole pan with lid. The cast aluminium pot from Masterclass conducts heat quickly and evenly, for better cooking all-around. According to the manufacturers, it could transform the way that you cook forever.
Features
This unique pot comes with a stainless steel base, which means that it’s safe to use with any heat source including on the cooker top or in the oven for temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius. Inside the pot, you’ll find 2 layers of non-stick and anti-scratch material, which helps to protect your investment against abrasions. Another unique thing about this pot is that it comes with a self-basting lid. This helps to keep the moisture levels in the pan as high as possible, for extra-moist and rich meats.
If you’re looking for high-performing home-cooking, this Masterclass product is a great choice, with a 25-year guarantee and dishwasher safety feature. Just keep in mind that the handles can get very hot. Additionally, it’s a bit confusing that the label says “hand wash only” when the manufacturer claims that the pot is dishwasher friendly.
- Excellent for use with any heat source
- Aluminium design conducts heat and spreads it evenly
- Steel base is great for any heat source
- 2 layers of anti-scratch and non-stick material for excellent abrasion resistance
- Self-basting lid included
- 25-year guarantee included
- Handles get very hot, making it difficult to use
- Confusing instructions regarding dishwasher safety
- Non-stick coating can be damaged easily
7. Berndes 1504101 Round (Best Family Option)
If you’re looking for a hob to oven casserole dish that combines style and functionality with convenience and versatility, then get ready to be blown away.
Features
The Berndes 1504101 round pot is an excellent cast iron casserole dish for marinating and cooking. No matter what kind of meal you’re trying to make, the Berndes can absorb heat easily and distribute it evenly around the pot for reduced risk of burns and hot spots during cooking.
The enamelled cast-iron construction gives you the perfect combination of high-quality materials for delightful, delicious-tasting meals. Additionally, the dish is conveniently suitable for all heat sources, including ovens (up to 280 degrees), induction cookers, and more. There are no harmful synthetic coatings, but you still get a non-stick result. Therefore, you don’t have to spend forever scrubbing at your pan.
Unfortunately, while the description says this pot can be placed in a dishwasher, the product itself says that it isn’t. So, that is quite confusing. Additionally, the top of the pan isn’t non-slip, which means you can’t use it easily for boiling with another dish.
- Round large-capacity dish is great for families
- Cast iron body and enamelled design for excellent heat conductivity
- Excellent heat distribution for no heat spots
- Perfect for use with a range of heat sources
- No harmful coatings
- Top isn’t flat, so can’t use with other bowls or pans
- Dishwasher safety isn’t certain
- Might not be big enough for some meals
8. Tower Essentials Stainless Steel (Best Hob Product)
If you’re looking for a classic casserole pot with a stainless steel mirror finish, look no further than this Tower Essentials option.
Features
Designed to help you make the most of your cooking potential, this product comes with a generous 6-litre capacity – suitable for the whole family. What’s more, the efficient non-stick coating means that you’re less likely to spend hours scrubbing at your pot when you’re done using it.
This unit has been carefully designed to give you an excellent level of heat distribution. What’s more, there’s a glass lid with steam vent included. If you’ve wondered “can you put a casserole dish on the hob” before, this Tower Essentials product is sure to put your mind at ease. The design comes with two handy silicone-covered handles for easy movability for all users, too.
Keep in mind that this particular option is better-suited to hob use than in-oven cooking. However, you can use it in an oven of up to 200 degrees. Additionally, it’s safe to be included in a dishwasher with a guarantee lasting five years. Some reviewers complained that it’s not as big as they thought, and only actually serves about 2-3 people.
- Glass lid with steam vent included
- Polished mirror finish looks great
- Fantastic for heat distribution
- Silicone covered handles make it easy to move
- Dishwasher safety guaranteed
- 5-year guarantee
- Better for cooker than oven use
- Not ideal for steaming unlike other dishes
- Not big enough for some reviewers
9. Pyrex Flame Vitroceramic (Best Vitro Ceramic Base)
Finally, the Pyrex Flame casserole pot is one of the unique solutions on the market, because it doesn’t rely on stainless steel or cast iron for cooking.
Features
Made from a distinct material called Vitro Ceramic, this heat-resistant casserole is incredibly strong and durable. It was originally designed in partnership with the American Space Agency.
The product might not look special at first glance, but it’s suitable to use with all heat sources except induction. Moreover, it has a 2-litre capacity that should be more than enough to cook for a couple of people at once. You can also place your pot in the fridge when you’re done using it so you can save leftovers for later. The product is ideal for simmering, as it’s capable of withstanding high and low temperatures alike. Additionally, the non-porous hygienic surface means that it stays in great condition and is less likely to stain.
The main issue with this option is that it’s quite challenging to clean, as it can end up marking quite easily. It’s also not possible to use this pot on the induction cooker. You might want to consider these things before deciding to buy.
- Great for a range of cooking style
- Unique vitro-ceramic construction
- Chemical resistance with non-porous surface
- 2-litre capacity will suit plenty of meals
- Not easy to clean and maintain
- Not as durable as some alternative options
- Can’t be used with certain cookers
What is a Casserole Dish and How Do You Choose One?
A casserole dish is a wide pot with a close-fitting lid that you can use for a wide variety of different meals. Most of the time, it’s used for foods that use a combination of wet and dry ingredients.
Depending on the kind of meals that you want to prepare, casserole dish comes in a variety of sizes and materials. They’re even available in oval shapes which allow you to manage longer cuts of meat, and even shanks with the bone still present.
When you’re choosing a pot for your casseroles, you’ll need to consider a range of factors including:
1. Material Construction
Ceramic, cast iron, etc. – Casserole dishes come in a wide array of material construction. It’s always useful to do a little research on each type before deciding which one to buy.
2. Weight
The heavier a product is, the harder it will be to move, but the more robust it should be, too.
3. Size and Shape
The size and shape of your casserole dish will determine what kind of food you can cook in it.
4. Design
Some people want a stylish dish that looks more traditional, others prefer a steel pot with a mirror finish.
Choosing Your Casserole Dish
Finding the best casserole dish isn’t easy. You’ll need to think carefully about what you plan on cooking or baking, and what kind of style you’re looking for.
Our favourite option is the Le Creuset Signature round casserole pot because it allows for such a wide range of cooking opportunities with a stunning design. This dish is just large enough for the whole family, and it comes with a dishwasher and freezer safe construction which makes it easier to get the most out of your cooking for years to come.
Although it’s a little heavier than most, the Le Creuset also comes with an excellent easy-clean toughened enamel interior to protect against stains, too!
Good luck finding the ideal pot, and happy cooking!
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