Best Stylish Cookware for Easy and Quick Meals

Nell Harris

My Go-To Kitchen Essentials

The Holidays are coming up fast. We’re all looking for the best cookware. They can help us make awesome dishes for our family and friends. Nobody wants to spend all day and night cooking for a party. It takes longer depending on what you’re cooking, but that’s okay! You just want to cut down on the hours you spend in the kitchen whipping up a great holiday meal.

I cook for a family of five, so I know the importance of having the right cookware. The right cookware can make a stressful kitchen session fun, even without the holidays. It can also make a big difference in how much time I spend in the kitchen.

Whether trying to get dinner on the table after a long day, it’s important to have reliable tools. Exploring a new recipe also requires trustworthy equipment. Today, I’m excited to share six of my kitchen essentials. This cookware is what I depend on and use daily. It is a game-changer for other busy moms and new cooks. Check out these recipes I made with this awesome cookware here!

If you’re looking for versatile, durable cookware that makes meal prep easier, this list is for you!

Dutch Oven

A Dutch Oven is my go-to when I want to give my Instant Pot a break. From hearty soups to slow-cooked meats. It retains heat extremely well. It also distributes heat evenly. This makes it ideal for those cozy one-pot meals. Plus, they’re pretty enough to take straight from stove to table, which means fewer dishes to wash (hallelujah!).

It’s ideal for recipes that start on the stove. This includes browning meat or sauteing vegetables. Then, finish the cooking process in the oven to cook low and slow. Think of dishes like pot roast, or beef stew. The heavy lid helps keep moisture locked in, which means you get super tender meat and rich, flavorful sauces.

Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

For those hectic days when cooking seems impossible, my Instant Pot is my lifesaver! This magical device cooks meats, stews, and even beans quickly. It takes just a fraction of the time compared to the stove. It’s an excellent tool for first-time moms that want quick and healthy options with minimal hands-on time.

It isn’t just a pressure cooker. You can also use it as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and even a yogurt maker! It serves as multiple appliances in one. This feature is especially helpful if you’re short on space. It also prevents a crowded kitchen counter.

The pressure-cooking role on my Instant Pot is great! It can cook meats, stews, and even beans in a fraction of the time it would take on the stove. You can go from raw ingredients to a fully cooked meal in 20 minutes or less! Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or you need something on the fly, the Instant Pot lets you prepare dishes quickly.

Non-Stick Pots and Pans

There’s nothing quite like a good non-stick skillet. It’s great for making pancakes for breakfast, a quick stir-fry, or grilled cheese sandwiches without the dreaded sticky mess. Non-stick also means it’s faster to clean, which is key when you’re short on time. Look for a skillet with a good weight and a comfortable handle—your wrists will thank you! 🙏🏼😌

If you’re looking for stylish cookware, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Non-Stick Cookware is a must-have! They bring a pop of personality to your kitchen with their chic design and beautiful color options. They’re also surprisingly affordable. This is a win for any busy mom or first-time cook looking for quality without breaking the bank. They are only sold at Walmart and she has plenty of beautiful products. Check them out here!

Silicone Utensils

I didn’t realize how much I needed silicone utensils until I bought them. They’re flexible, heat-resistant, and perfect for scraping every last bit out of a bowl or pan. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t scratch my non-stick pans.

These utensils are the perfect way to add personality to your kitchen while being incredibly practical! Unlike traditional utensils, silicone options come in a rainbow of colors—everything from calming pastels to vibrant, bold shades. You can match them to a set of non-stick pans, like Drew Barrymore’s. You can mix and match them for a playful look. These utensils can elevate your kitchen style.

They’re perfect for everyday use, especially when cooking multiple meals for the family and cleaning them is a breeze. Just rinse them with dish soap or run them through the dishwasher, they’ll be as good as new.

Go ahead and pick a set of silicone utensils that makes you smile. They’ll add a pop of color to your kitchen, and your family will love the meals you cook with them. Plus, you’ll feel a little more stylish while you’re cooking! 😉

Air Fryer

As I mentioned, Drew Barrymore has a gorgeous collection of kitchen appliances that I love! One standout is the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Air Fryer—it’s perfect for those “set it and forget it” meals. My little girls adore vegan chicken nuggets and fries. This air fryer is our go-to appliance. It makes them quickly and perfectly crispy every time. My husband and I rely on it for that too! It cooks much faster than the oven. The auto shut-off feature is a lifesaver. This is especially true when I need to be in another part of the house while it’s cooking.

You can roast vegetables and bake small cakes. You can also fry crispy chicken wings without the mess and added calories of deep frying. Just season your wings, pop them in, and you’ll get that satisfying crunch in no time.

Instead of using the microwave, which can make things soggy, try using the air fryer to reheat leftovers. Foods like pizza, fried chicken, and even leftover fries come out fresh and crisp again.

This air fryer has a dehydrate feature, which is great for making dried fruits, veggie chips, or beef jerky. It’s an awesome way to make snacks!

With an air fryer, you have a mini oven, fryer, toaster, and dehydrator all in one! It’s a handy appliance that brings versatility and creativity to cooking.

Rice Cooker

Rice cookers are designed to cook rice to perfection. They automatically adjust cooking times and temperatures based on the type and amount of rice, giving great results.

First, measure your rice, rinse in cold water, turn on the rice cooker, and walk away! It automatically adjusts cooking times and temperatures based on the type and amount of rice, giving great results. It gives you time to focus on other meal preparations or attend family activities without constantly checking the stove.

Many rice cookers come with multiple settings. These allow you to cook different types of rice, like white, brown, jasmine, and sushi. You can even cook grains like quinoa or barley. Some models can steam vegetables (like mine above), make oatmeal, or cook soups and stews.

My rice cooker above is basic but, it gets the job done! Most have an automatic shut-off feature that turns on when the rice is done. This prevents overcooking or burning. The keep-warm feature keeps your rice at the perfect serving temperature until you’re ready to eat.

Cabinet Space

These kitchen essentials are perfect for my super deep and wide cabinets! They offer so much more storage space for bigger appliances than the standard-sized cabinets I used to have. The best thing about them is that they keep the counter space open and clean. This makes my kitchen look so much better and organized.

I hope this list of my favorite cookware helps you in your kitchen. Every item I have recommended has made my life easier as a busy mom. I hope they can do the same for you. Do you have a favorite cookware item I missed? Are there any kitchen tools you swear by? Would you like to know more? I’d love to hear from you! Write your comment below, and let’s share our go-to essentials.

And if you’re ready to stock up, check out the links to these items above!

Xoxo, Nell❤️