Buy Staub Cast Iron Cocotte

The 9-quart size is honestly overkill for two people, but it's perfect for big batches of chili or braising a whole chicken with room to spare. The dark blue enamel cleans up way easier than my old bare cast iron, and the lid fits tight enough that almost nothing evaporates.

I've been using this for Sunday batch cooking and the 9 qt size handles a whole chicken plus root vegetables without crowding. The cast iron holds heat so evenly that I can sear on the stove and move it straight to the oven.

The dark blue enamel looks gorgeous sitting on my stove, and the black interior means I don't have to worry about staining it with chili. Cooked a batch of short ribs for four hours and the heat distribution was incredibly even.