I’ve been cooking dinner on a near-nightly basis for the better part of the last two decades and over that time, I’ve come to understand a few essential things about myself. The most primary is that at my core, I’m a lazy cook. I’m not trading quality over convenience, but I am always making choices that I hope will make life just a little bit easier.
My inclination to reduce dishes and avoid unnecessary steps means that whenever possible, I opt for soups, stews, and other dishes that only require a single vessel. I will often cram things into a single pan when they might have been better off cooked separately. And any recipe that requires browning in batches is summarily discarded.
Last month, a piece of cookware came into my life that has both encouraged my lazy ways and upped my nightly game. It’s a stainless steel casserole that holds just over six quarts. It is sturdy, has a low, wide profile that makes for quick evaporation, comes with a tight-fitting lid, cleans up beautifully, and it made by Viking (until they reached out about this pan, I didn’t realize they did more than large kitchen appliances). It’s the Viking 3-Ply 6.4 Quart Casserole Pan.
This pan has been on my stove top on a near-constant basis since it arrived. I’ve made a number of skillet chicken dishes in it (brown chicken in a single batch. Remove. Add onions and veg and cook until wilted. Return the chicken, add a little liquid, cover and braise until the chicken is cooked through). I’ve used it for pancakes, turkey bacon, and a large batch of eggs poached in tomato sauce.
However, I think that the very highest calling for this pan is this skillet pasta dish. The original inspiration for this recipe is the single skillet pasta recipe from Martha Stewart that took the internet by storm a few years ago. This one isn’t quite as simple as just heaping all the ingredients in a pan and heating for nine minutes, but it’s pretty darn close.
You start by heating a couple tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. When it shimmers, add some chopped onion, garlic, red pepper, and kale and cook until all the veg is tender. Then you add some cubed chicken sausage (I used some that was already cooked through), a cup of liquid (white wine, chicken stock, or water) and a couple cans (or jars, if your pantry runs to such things) of fire roasted tomatoes and get it bubbling.
Then you add eight ounces of uncooked pasta. I used whole wheat elbows, but any short cut variety you have in the pantry does the job. Cover the pan and cook until the pasta is tender. It will absorb the liquid in the pan, making for flavorful pasta and less clean-up for the cook.
I’ve written the instructions out in an organized fashion for you, but this is more of a technique than a recipe that must be followed to the letter. You could do a version with braised fennel bulb and a pound of pork fennel sausage. A batch with artichoke would also be nice. The options are endless!
What would you make in a Viking casserole like this one?
Red Pepper, Kale, and Chicken Sausage Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion minced
- 2 red peppers cored and chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 1 bundle lacinato kale washed and chopped
- 1 pound cooked chicken sausage diced
- 1 cup white wine or chicken stock
- 2 15- ounce cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 8 ounces short whole wheat pasta
- salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or casserole (like the Viking Professional Stainless Steel Casserole). When it shimmers, add the onions, red peppers, and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes over medium-high heat, until they begin to get a little color.
- Add the chopped kale and stir to combine. Once it has wilted, add the diced chicken sausage and stir to combine. Cook until the sausage begins to brown a little and the pan seems quite dry. Add the wine/chicken stock and stir to combine.
- Pour the tomatoes and their juice into the pan and stir to combine.
- Add the pasta and stir it in.
- Bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and put a lid on the pan.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the pasta is cooked. Season to taste. Serve with grated parmesan cheese on top.
Disclosure: The folks at Viking sent me this pan, with the intention that I use it, develop a recipe in it, and feature it on my blog. No additional compensation has been provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Chicken marsala pasta!
Beef stew. It looks big enough so that you don’t need to sear the beef in batches.
Any kind of braised meat.
SOUP
My husband’s mom’s Mexican macaroni.
How do you think this pan compares to an enameled Dutch oven?
I’ve come to the point in my cooking career where I almost always opt for heavy gauge stainless steel over enameled cast iron. I will say that this pan isn’t perfect if you’re looking for a soup pot, but as a braiser, casserole, and skillet, it’s a winner.
Delicious pot of awesomeness!
Any good for jam?
Looks fantastic! How would it do for jams? This summer I’m planning on expanding my collecting to include a wider skillet/pan that is deeper than what I have for when I’m making jams. Do you have any suggestions? How would this one work?
“I’m All About that Base”…..I won’t buy anything without a thick heavy gauge disk of steel on the bottom since my pans tend to warp on a ceramic top stove. This really looks like it would lay perfectly flat. I’m in! I’d definitely cook my One Pot Spaghetti in it (noodles cook in chicken broth instead of water) and its all done in one shot, one pan. Can’t wait to try out your Skillet Pasta…yum!
What a wonderful pan! Sqush Rissoto !
That pan is a thing of beauty! I’m sure I’d use it for stews and likely a tamale pie recipe I’ve got.
This is just the type of pan that I love. I clicked the link but this pan is out of my price range 🙁 I have a cheaper, smaller version. I especially like a pan like this anything that can be finished in the oven.
Perfect size for a batch of spiced figs!
Curried Ginger Chicken. I’m lazy too & prefer to use one pot, one dish & one knife for the whole lot.
Lamb stew with dumplings!
Family favorite- Jambalaya!
What wouldn’t make in it – I’m totally a one dish dinner girl myself.
Oh the possibilities are endless!!! Pasta and meatballs first then chicken and then pasta and then…..
I would make a huge pot of chicken and dumplings with lots of basil in the dumplings
Love this pan!! What wouldn’t I make?
Would be great for white chicken chili.
Ratatouille first, then I’d try some spice rubbed lamb shanks.