The $16.99 ALDI Find Is Back For a Limited Time—I Use It All the Time

This stunning ALDI find is the workhorse of my kitchen.

An ALDI storefront — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

When I first started cooking, I relied on a single pot and pan combination to create most of my meals. Purists will say that this simple combination of tools is all you really need to whip up a variety of noteworthy meals, but it wasn’t until I got a Dutch oven that my creativity in the kitchen took off.

While shopping for deals at my local ALDI, I came across a Crofton 18cm cast iron Dutch oven in a rich shade of emerald green—it has returned from prior years. While I already own an Our Place Perfect Pot that I use all the time as a Dutch oven substitute, I loved the style and usability of this super affordable piece so much that I just had to get one.

A forest green enameled cast-iron Dutch oven with a brushed chrome handle on the lid — Simply Recipes / Aldi

ALDI's Crofton Dutch Oven Is an Incredible Deal

At just $16.99, the Crofton two-quart Dutch oven rivals popular brands like Staub and Le Creuset. For a similarly-sized pot, a Le Creuset will set you back a cool $260, with Staub not far behind at $210. More utilitarian Dutch ovens from other brands, like Lodge and Stansport, can be found in the sub-$50 category, but this Crofton piece is a true diamond in the rough.

Especially for those cooks whipping up a meal for one or two people every night, this affordable Dutch oven unlocks a treasure trove of recipe possibilities.

The price of this piece wasn't the only thing that caught my eye. Like its more expensive name-brand counterparts, this Dutch oven is easy to keep clean thanks to its enamel coating, and it's oven-safe to 482°F.

The 7.08-inch diameter pot can be used on all cooktops, including induction. Customers can choose between green and white colorways, both of which come with a two-year warranty.

The green Dutch oven from ALDI with cooked chicken wings and a rosemary sprig inside — Simply Recipes / Nathan Hutsenpiller

How I Use My Dutch Oven

My Dutch oven is the workhorse of my kitchen. I use it most often to make chilis or stews, but that's the tip of the iceberg. The first time I made bread from scratch, I used my trusty Dutch oven and was pleasantly surprised by the results.

The first thing I made with ALDI's Crofton Dutch oven was chicken wings with a spicy peri peri butter sauce and herbs. I set the temperature to low and let the wings simmer for two hours, checking back periodically to give them a good stir and add more butter and pepper sauce as needed. The Dutch oven's even heat turned out tender, succulent wings that caramelized in the sauce.

The possibilities for using your Dutch oven are endless. Whether you’re baking bread, braising meat, or just cooking up a quick pot of beans, it's a one-stop-shop kitchen tool that you’ll be happy you picked up. You can even use a Dutch oven instead of a skillet, thanks to its ability to retain extremely well and disperse heat evenly. What's not to love about that?