The 4 Best Roasting Pans We Tested for Turkey, Chicken, and More — Starting at $30

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksReviewsOthers We TriedWhat to KnowBehind the ScenesWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

In This Article

View All

Our Top Picks

Reviews

Others We Tried

What to Know

Behind the Scenes

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People / Russell Kilgore

People / Russell Kilgore

You might think a roasting pan is a once-a-year tool that you drag out from the bottom of a stack ofpots and pansteetering over the refrigerator, but like a greatDutch oven, a roasting pan is a useful kitchen item. We think it’s time to make roasting pans and their trusty racks as ubiquitous as sheet pans.The system of a hot, high-sided baking dish with a metal rack is the perfect environment for crisping up golden-brown root veggies while you cook a stunning protein — whether it’s a whole chicken, pork tenderloins, or chops. That means fewer dishes and a guaranteed-to-be-impressive dinner every time.We tested 18 of the most popular pans on the market to find the best for roasting chicken, potatoes, and more. Read on for our four favorite roasting pans — you’ll especially love our winner, which is a cool $30.Our Top PicksBest Overall:Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster at Amazon$30Jump to ReviewBest Dual-Height:Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster at Amazon$40Jump to ReviewBest Large Capacity:Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan at Amazon$110Jump to ReviewBest Compact:Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster at Amazon$56Jump to Review

You might think a roasting pan is a once-a-year tool that you drag out from the bottom of a stack ofpots and pansteetering over the refrigerator, but like a greatDutch oven, a roasting pan is a useful kitchen item. We think it’s time to make roasting pans and their trusty racks as ubiquitous as sheet pans.

The system of a hot, high-sided baking dish with a metal rack is the perfect environment for crisping up golden-brown root veggies while you cook a stunning protein — whether it’s a whole chicken, pork tenderloins, or chops. That means fewer dishes and a guaranteed-to-be-impressive dinner every time.

We tested 18 of the most popular pans on the market to find the best for roasting chicken, potatoes, and more. Read on for our four favorite roasting pans — you’ll especially love our winner, which is a cool $30.

Our Top PicksBest Overall:Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster at Amazon$30Jump to ReviewBest Dual-Height:Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster at Amazon$40Jump to ReviewBest Large Capacity:Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan at Amazon$110Jump to ReviewBest Compact:Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster at Amazon$56Jump to Review

Best Overall:Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster at Amazon$30Jump to ReviewBest Dual-Height:Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster at Amazon$40Jump to ReviewBest Large Capacity:Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan at Amazon$110Jump to ReviewBest Compact:Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster at Amazon$56Jump to Review

Best Overall:Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster at Amazon$30Jump to Review

Best Overall:Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster at Amazon$30

Best Overall:

Best Dual-Height:Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster at Amazon$40Jump to Review

Best Dual-Height:Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster at Amazon$40

Best Dual-Height:

Best Large Capacity:Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan at Amazon$110Jump to Review

Best Large Capacity:Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan at Amazon$110

Best Large Capacity:

Best Compact:Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster at Amazon$56Jump to Review

Best Compact:Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster at Amazon$56

Best Compact:

Best OverallFarberware Nonstick Steel RoasterPHOTO: Amazon$30 at Amazon$30 at Target$30 at Walmart

Best OverallFarberware Nonstick Steel Roaster

Best Overall

Farberware Nonstick Steel Roaster

PHOTO: Amazon

$30 at Amazon$30 at Target$30 at Walmart

Star QualitiesProduced super crisp potatoesEasy to cleanStreamlined, intuitive designGood valueRed FlagsCannot be used on the stoveSlightly longer cooking time

Star QualitiesProduced super crisp potatoesEasy to cleanStreamlined, intuitive designGood value

Produced super crisp potatoes

Easy to clean

Streamlined, intuitive design

Good value

Red FlagsCannot be used on the stoveSlightly longer cooking time

Cannot be used on the stove

Slightly longer cooking time

We love how this pan looks and how well it works. The medium-sized roasting pan has high 2.4-inch walls to prevent spills and insulate your ingredients. It comes with a sturdy flat metal roasting rack that leaves plenty of room underneath to roast veggies alongside a protein. The slides of the pan come about halfway up a standard whole chicken.

During testing, this pan produced some of our favorite roasted potatoes, with crispy skins and soft, pillowy centers. The nonstick coating made the cooking time slightly longer (an hour and five minutes), but the results were worth it. It is also worth noting that this pan can’t be used on the stove.

Testers Say"At $30, this is an incredibly good deal. While the roaster isn’t the largest one I’ve ever seen, it should get the job done for almost every reasonably sized bird, and with good execution."

Testers Say

“At $30, this is an incredibly good deal. While the roaster isn’t the largest one I’ve ever seen, it should get the job done for almost every reasonably sized bird, and with good execution.”

Dimensions:16 x 11.3 x 2.4 inches |Weight:3 pounds |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:450 degrees

PHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best Dual-HeightRachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch RoasterPHOTO: Target$40 at Amazon$40 at Wayfair$75 at Macy’sStar QualitiesNonstick coating is easy to cleanReversible rackWide and comfortable handlesRed FlagsShould not be used with metal utensilsDifficult to pour liquids from straight sidesThis is a highly versatile roasting pan. The reversible rack can be used for shorter and taller positions, depending on whether you want more space under your protein for veggies and aromatics or need the room on top. The flat rack has wider openings than others we tested, and both the rack and pan have a nonstick coating for quick and easy cleanup. Remember, you shouldn’t use metal utensils as they could scratch the coating, so stick to wooden or silicone utensils.The potatoes started to caramelize in the pan after just 15 minutes, and our chicken came out juicy and evenly cooked on the higher rack position. Our gravy was uniform and didn’t have that acrid flavor of burnt flour. The straight sides made pouring liquids out of the pan difficult, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker. At $40, this roasting pan is an incredible value that a cook of any level will appreciate.Testers Say"It’s only $40 and is one of the better-performing roasting pans. The ability to change the rack height and the nonstick, easy-to-clean inside has made this one of the easiest-to-use roasting pans. You can’t get much better for this price.“Dimensions:16.5  x 13.5 inches |Weight:3.5 pounds |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:500 degreesPHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best Dual-HeightRachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch RoasterPHOTO: Target$40 at Amazon$40 at Wayfair$75 at Macy’s

Best Dual-HeightRachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster

Best Dual-Height

Rachael Ray 16 x 13 Inch Roaster

PHOTO: Target

$40 at Amazon$40 at Wayfair$75 at Macy’s

Star QualitiesNonstick coating is easy to cleanReversible rackWide and comfortable handlesRed FlagsShould not be used with metal utensilsDifficult to pour liquids from straight sides

Star QualitiesNonstick coating is easy to cleanReversible rackWide and comfortable handles

Nonstick coating is easy to clean

Reversible rack

Wide and comfortable handles

Red FlagsShould not be used with metal utensilsDifficult to pour liquids from straight sides

Should not be used with metal utensils

Difficult to pour liquids from straight sides

This is a highly versatile roasting pan. The reversible rack can be used for shorter and taller positions, depending on whether you want more space under your protein for veggies and aromatics or need the room on top. The flat rack has wider openings than others we tested, and both the rack and pan have a nonstick coating for quick and easy cleanup. Remember, you shouldn’t use metal utensils as they could scratch the coating, so stick to wooden or silicone utensils.

The potatoes started to caramelize in the pan after just 15 minutes, and our chicken came out juicy and evenly cooked on the higher rack position. Our gravy was uniform and didn’t have that acrid flavor of burnt flour. The straight sides made pouring liquids out of the pan difficult, but that wasn’t a dealbreaker. At $40, this roasting pan is an incredible value that a cook of any level will appreciate.

Testers Say"It’s only $40 and is one of the better-performing roasting pans. The ability to change the rack height and the nonstick, easy-to-clean inside has made this one of the easiest-to-use roasting pans. You can’t get much better for this price.”

“It’s only $40 and is one of the better-performing roasting pans. The ability to change the rack height and the nonstick, easy-to-clean inside has made this one of the easiest-to-use roasting pans. You can’t get much better for this price.”

Dimensions:16.5  x 13.5 inches |Weight:3.5 pounds |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:500 degrees

PHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best Large CapacityCuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting PanPHOTO: Target$110 at Amazon$150 at Target$110 at WayfairStar QualitiesStovetop-safe on medium heatEasy to cleanCurved rack for more surface area under proteinHigh-quality materialsRed FlagsCannot be used with metal utensilsInvolved cleaning processThis is an efficiently designed roasting pan with tons of space for veggies, potatoes, and more under the protein. The rack is U-shaped, with gently curved sides and a flat bottom for your roast or bird to sit. It would be a great choice for a centerpiece-worthy standing rib roast for the holidays, with plenty of crispy veggies to go around. Just don’t forget themeat thermometer— and avoid using metal utensils to keep the surface scratch-free.We cooked a juicy, delicious chicken and deeply browned potatoes that slid right out of the pan without sticking. There wasn’t as much fond — the ultra-flavorful browned bits on the bottom of the pot — as we would have liked, but we still found the lighter gravy tasty and evenly cooked.Though almost nothing stuck to the pan during our tests, the care instructions from Cuisinart are a little involved. The brand says to fill the pan with water while it’s still hot and let the water cool before cleaning it with a sponge and dish soap.Testers Say"Quite frankly, I think this is everything you want out of a roasting pan. I expected it to be at least $200 — if not $300 — when I looked it up. This feels professional-grade in terms of construction and performance.“Dimensions:20.75 x 6.25 x 13.25 inches |Weight:1 pound |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:500 degreesPeople / Russell Kilgore

Best Large CapacityCuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting PanPHOTO: Target$110 at Amazon$150 at Target$110 at Wayfair

Best Large CapacityCuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan

Best Large Capacity

Cuisinart MultiClad Pro Roasting Pan

$110 at Amazon$150 at Target$110 at Wayfair

Star QualitiesStovetop-safe on medium heatEasy to cleanCurved rack for more surface area under proteinHigh-quality materialsRed FlagsCannot be used with metal utensilsInvolved cleaning process

Star QualitiesStovetop-safe on medium heatEasy to cleanCurved rack for more surface area under proteinHigh-quality materials

Stovetop-safe on medium heat

Curved rack for more surface area under protein

High-quality materials

Red FlagsCannot be used with metal utensilsInvolved cleaning process

Cannot be used with metal utensils

Involved cleaning process

This is an efficiently designed roasting pan with tons of space for veggies, potatoes, and more under the protein. The rack is U-shaped, with gently curved sides and a flat bottom for your roast or bird to sit. It would be a great choice for a centerpiece-worthy standing rib roast for the holidays, with plenty of crispy veggies to go around. Just don’t forget themeat thermometer— and avoid using metal utensils to keep the surface scratch-free.

We cooked a juicy, delicious chicken and deeply browned potatoes that slid right out of the pan without sticking. There wasn’t as much fond — the ultra-flavorful browned bits on the bottom of the pot — as we would have liked, but we still found the lighter gravy tasty and evenly cooked.

Though almost nothing stuck to the pan during our tests, the care instructions from Cuisinart are a little involved. The brand says to fill the pan with water while it’s still hot and let the water cool before cleaning it with a sponge and dish soap.

Testers Say"Quite frankly, I think this is everything you want out of a roasting pan. I expected it to be at least $200 — if not $300 — when I looked it up. This feels professional-grade in terms of construction and performance.”

“Quite frankly, I think this is everything you want out of a roasting pan. I expected it to be at least $200 — if not $300 — when I looked it up. This feels professional-grade in terms of construction and performance.”

Dimensions:20.75 x 6.25 x 13.25 inches |Weight:1 pound |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:500 degrees

Best CompactCooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel RoasterPHOTO: Amazon$56 at Amazon$56 at Walmart$61 at WayfairStar QualitiesHigh oven-safe temperatureStovetop-safe to medium-high heatEasy to cleanVery even heat distributionRed FlagsHeavySmaller sizeThis roasting pan is smaller than others we tested but feels durable and high quality. The pan is hefty, and the handles are wide and comfortable. The thicker stainless steel seems to insulate the potatoes so they cook through and turn golden brown without burning. Likewise, our fond was golden, not burnt, and produced a stunning gravy.Speaking of gravy, we could comfortably whisk it up in the roasting pan, which can fit over a single stovetop burner. This pan would be a great choice for an apartment because it can accommodate a meal for up to four and is easier to store. Despite its smaller size, the pan is on the heavier side at 6.2 pounds — a testament to its durable materials — but if you’re wary of lifting the pan with a roast inside, it may not be the best choice.Testers Say"There’s something about this pan that insulates the potatoes from burning while cooking them just enough to brown without sticking. It also produced a fond that’s brown but not a burnt bit — just what you want in your gravy.“Dimensions:14 x 12 x 3 inches |Weight:6.2 pounds |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:550 degreesPHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best CompactCooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel RoasterPHOTO: Amazon$56 at Amazon$56 at Walmart$61 at Wayfair

Best CompactCooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster

Best Compact

Cooks Standard 14x12-Inch Stainless Steel Roaster

$56 at Amazon$56 at Walmart$61 at Wayfair

Star QualitiesHigh oven-safe temperatureStovetop-safe to medium-high heatEasy to cleanVery even heat distributionRed FlagsHeavySmaller size

Star QualitiesHigh oven-safe temperatureStovetop-safe to medium-high heatEasy to cleanVery even heat distribution

High oven-safe temperature

Stovetop-safe to medium-high heat

Very even heat distribution

Red FlagsHeavySmaller size

Heavy

Smaller size

This roasting pan is smaller than others we tested but feels durable and high quality. The pan is hefty, and the handles are wide and comfortable. The thicker stainless steel seems to insulate the potatoes so they cook through and turn golden brown without burning. Likewise, our fond was golden, not burnt, and produced a stunning gravy.

Speaking of gravy, we could comfortably whisk it up in the roasting pan, which can fit over a single stovetop burner. This pan would be a great choice for an apartment because it can accommodate a meal for up to four and is easier to store. Despite its smaller size, the pan is on the heavier side at 6.2 pounds — a testament to its durable materials — but if you’re wary of lifting the pan with a roast inside, it may not be the best choice.

Testers Say"There’s something about this pan that insulates the potatoes from burning while cooking them just enough to brown without sticking. It also produced a fond that’s brown but not a burnt bit — just what you want in your gravy.”

“There’s something about this pan that insulates the potatoes from burning while cooking them just enough to brown without sticking. It also produced a fond that’s brown but not a burnt bit — just what you want in your gravy.”

Dimensions:14 x 12 x 3 inches |Weight:6.2 pounds |Material:Stainless steel |Oven-Safe Temperature:550 degrees

PHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Other Roasting Pans We Tried

What to Know About Roasting Pans

Types of Roasting Pans

Stovetop Compatibility

While all of our roasting pans can go into the oven (that’s what they’re designed for, after all) not all are safe to use on the stovetop. It’s handy to have a stovetop-safe roasting pan, like theCuisinart Multiclad Pro, so you can whisk up gravy directly in the pan while your roast rests. If this is important to you and you have an induction stove, be sure to check that the pan is also induction-compatible.

Design

We found that the easiest pans to clean were nonstick, but this didn’t always produce the crispiest and most evenly-cooked potatoes or chicken. Our stainless steel roasting pans also tended to not have sticking issues and generally produced beautiful golden potatoes without many hot or dark spots.

Another design choice to look out for is the pan’s handles. Since your roasting pan is likely to be in a hot oven for a long time, it’s important to have sturdy handles that aren’t so close to the sides of the pan that you risk burning yourself, and you need plenty of space to have a firm grip while wearing oven mitts. Other nice-to-have features include sloped sides or a spout for pouring off liquids and a dual-height rack for added versatility.

Price Range

We tested roasting pans that cost up to $300, but our favorite was the cheapest we tried. TheFarberware Nonstick Steel Roastercosts just $30. For a few extra bucks, theRachael Ray Roasterhas a reversible rack, and even the priciest of our favorite pans, theCuisinart Multiclad Pro, costs less than $100.

To find the best roasting pans with racks, we tested 18 models from a variety of brands and price points.

The inexpensiveFarberware Nonstick Steel Roasterwas not only the highest value item we tested, but it also performed the best in our tests.

Lizzy Briskinis a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE and a trained chef and recipe developer. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and was formally the food editor at Real Simple and Food Network magazines. She now contributes recipes and food content to outlets including Wirecutter, Delish, The Kitchen, and SELF. She believes that everyone needs a great roasting pan, and they should use it more often than for a once-a-year turkey — what’s better than roasting crispy veggies and juicy chicken thighs at the same time?

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source: people.com