My Mom Has Used This Le Creuset Cookware for 17+ Years' Worth of Dinner Parties, and It's on Sale

My mom is the dinner party GOAT. She hosts two every month for local friends, book club gatherings, birthday celebrations, and more. And much to her credit, she never has them catered. On our calls, she’ll divulge her menus, and for each one, she turns to her kitchen that’s fully stocked with only Le Creuset cookware.

She has an induction cooktop, so using cast iron pieces is a must. Despite my 42 years of age, I still have a lot to learn from her in the kitchen. So I asked her about her favorite Le Creuset pieces to help her to be a successful host, and some of her favorites from the brand that “cook to perfection” — and pieces next up on her list to buy — are on sale at Nordstrom for up to 42% off. 

My Mom’s Le Creuset Must-Haves at Nordstrom

• Signature 5.5-Quart Round Enamel Cast Iron French/Dutch Oven, $420
• Signature 6.75-Quart Round French/Dutch Oven, $280 (originally $430)
• 9-Inch Signature Handle Enamel Cast Iron Skillet, $100 (originally $175)
• Signature 7.5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Brazier, $300 (originally $462)
• Signature 5-Piece Enameled Cast Iron Set, $575 (originally $820)
• Craft Series Utensil Set, $87
• Set of 3 Stainless Steel Nested Mixing Bowls, $84 (originally $120)
• 9-Inch Heritage Stoneware Pie Dish, $45 (originally $56)
• Set of 4 14-Ounce Stoneware Mugs, $76 (originally $96)
• The Heritage Set of 3 Rectangular Baking Dishes, $135 (originally $195)
• Signature Handle Enamel 11.75-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $250

Signature 5.5-Quart Round Enamel Cast Iron French/Dutch Oven 

My mom uses a variety of Le Creuset Dutch oven sizes depending on how many people she is cooking for — whether it’s just my dad, a small group of close friends, or her larger book club. But she swears by this one for making her flavorful chicken or turkey soup, or for steaming vegetables. She loves that it “stays warm without drying things out” and “heats up really well” so that “whatever you make just cooks to perfection.” In fact, she’s had it for 17 years but it still looks and works like new. 

The enameled cast iron pot is designed to resist staining, and perhaps my mom’s favorite part is how easy it is to clean, which makes the post-dinner party process a breeze. You can use it to braise, roast, fry, and more with juicy dishes that “literally never burn,” according to my mom, thanks to its ability to lock in moisture, evenly distribute heat, and circulate steam with its tight lid. You can grab it in the popular size 5.5-quart size or the 6.75-quart size that my mom also uses, which is on sale in teal.

9-Inch Signature Handle Enamel Cast Iron Skillet

One of her specialties is a simple side of mushrooms, peppers, and onions, which she can “saute in this amazing pan.” My mom said she “hates mushy vegetables,” but using the Le Creuset cast iron skillet makes them “just delicious, incredible, and cooked firm.” For her most recent dinner party, she used the 11.75-inch cast iron skillet for chicken marsala, which was a success because “the pan heats up quickly and stays at a really good temperature.” She added that “the chicken does not have a chance to dry out even though it’s a thin cutlet.”

The 9-inch skillet is on sale for 42% off at Nordstrom in the deep red color, and it features dual easy-pour spouts on either side. It also has an enameled finish so you don’t need to season it like you would other pans. 

Craft Series Utensil Set

In addition to cooking, she also loves to bake bread, and pumpkin, zucchini, and banana are her specialties, and she relies on Le Creuset accessories to help with her prep. Her go-to utensils can be found in this set that comes with a matching crock and her favorite kitchen tool — the multi-use spoon. “It mixes, scoops, gets the bowl clean, and leaves nothing behind.” She says she “could not make my famous pumpkin bread that my grandchildren always request without it,” adding that the spatula spoon “does it all.”

She also uses the included brush in place of a paintbrush, which is “so convenient because you can just throw it right in the dishwasher” thanks to the silicone heads that can easily be removed. Along with the spatula spoon and basting brush, the set comes with a small and medium spatula in colors like gray, white, and red.

Set of 3 Stainless Steel Nested Mixing Bowls

She doesn’t yet own these Le Creuset Mixing bowls, which she’s been eyeing for a while because of how often she bakes, so my mom is snagging them while they’re 30% off. Not only can she use the bowls to make her breads and other desserts, but they also come with silicone lids that provide an airtight seal, so she can store any leftovers after her dinner parties are over (which is rare because she’s such a good cook.)

The set comes with a large, medium, and small mixing bowl along with corresponding lids. They’re made of stainless steel inside and out, plus a rubber bottom so they don’t slide around while you mix. They also don’t absorb odors and are easy to clean. 

Shop even more of the Le Creuset items my mom can’t cook (or live) without, along with even more pieces she’s eyeing for her future dinner parties. And don’t miss the deal on the five-piece set that includes many of her favorites in one collection. 

Signature 5-Piece Enameled Cast Iron Set

9-Inch Heritage Stoneware Pie Dish

Set of 4 14-Ounce Stoneware Mugs

The Heritage Set of 3 Rectangular Baking Dishes