Crock Pot Recipes That Work in Slow Cookers Too

Sally Jones
Feb 23, 2016

Crock pots give us the best sort of deja vu. Just saying the word in our heads reminds us of 1970s shag carpeting, crocheted afghan throws and macrame plant hangers. Crock pots are homey, and so is the food that we cook in them — they are called comfort foods for a reason. Fast forward to today and your kitchen is more likely to have a slow cooker or if you are lucky an Instapot (combination slow cooker/pressure cooker). The good news is, most of the best crock pot recipes also work for a slow cooker. Because a crock pot is essentially a type of slow cooker, where the dish that sits inside is made of ceramic. Here are 12 crock pot recipes for easy weeknight meals that will work in either a crock pot or a slow cooker.

While crock pots are known to be great for soups and stews, really any dish where you can dump all the ingredients into one pot and let it cook all day will work. Crock pots can be used to cook a surprising array of things, from bread to dips to desserts. Here are 30 surprising slow-cooker recipes, including some desserts.

I find that meats come out a lot tastier when you sear them first, before putting them in the pot. Some will say that this defeats the purpose of one-pot cooking, but in my opinion it’s not that much extra work and the flavor is all the thanks you need. To sear first, just season the meat with salt and pepper, heat up some oil or butter in a skillet until it is piping hot, then brown the meat on all sides on high heat. Browning meat causes what chefs call the Maillard reaction, and it is more about instilling flavor than it is about changing the color. Not to go all sciency, but searing at a high heat rearranges some of the simple sugars and amino acids naturally occurring in the meat and gives the finished dish complex bitter-sweet flavors. Way more flavorful than you get with steamed or boiled meat, which is essentially what you get when you just put the meat in the crock pot with some liquids and other ingredients.

Over at The Kitchn, they are whipping up some crock-pot Boeuf bourguignon, Julia Child–style — and, yes, they are searing the meat first.

If you desire the seared meat flavor but still want the one-pot cooking, the Instapot has a stainless steal pot, which allows for searing before you toss in all the other ingredients, set it and forget it.

Do you have a favorite crock pot or slow cooker dish to share? Tag us on Instagram @britandco.

(Photo via The Kitchn)

Timothée Chalamet & Gwyneth Paltrow Making Out For 'Marty Supreme' Wasn't On My 2024 Bingo Card

Celebrities really aren't that different from us. They experiment with their fashion, they have their tried-and-true party recipes, and they get serious celebrity crushes. And we can actually thank Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple (and her celeb crush on Timothée Chalamet) for the GOOP founder's return to the big screen. Marty Supreme marks the first time Gwyneth Paltrow has been in a movie since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and as soon as Apple heard about the Dune star's involvement in the new movie, "she pleaded with her mom to accept," according to a Daily Mail source.

We don't actually have an official synopsis for the movie yet, but Variety reports that the fictional movie could be inspired by the life and career of professional ping pong player Marty Reisman, who passed away in 2012. Here's everything you need to know about the film, including the beloved rapper making his film debut.

Gwyneth Paltrow And Timothée Chalamet Get, Um, Cozy For 'Marty Supreme'

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd see Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow making out — especially not on a random Thursday morning. But TBH, I'm equally as focused on Gwyneth's outfit as I am on the actual kiss. It's totally giving The Royal Tenenbaums.

See The First Set Photos From 'Marty Supreme'

The first leaks from Marty Supreme show Timothée Chalamet with a brand new haircut and a mustache. (I was wondering why he cut all his hair off!). He is barely recognizable and my first thought when I saw these photos was "Oh!" His trousers + button down + tie combo is vintage, but I definitely want a pair of red leather gloves for fall 2024.

And can we get Timothée in a sweater vest for the rest of time?

What is the new ping pong movie?

Marty Supreme Plot

Timothée Chalamet's new movie Marty Supreme is a ping pong movie, and word on the street is it's inspired by the late Marty Reisman. On July 15, A24 confirmed Timothée's casting on X (formerly Twitter) with a photo of a ping pong ball with "Marty Supreme" written on it above three stars and "Made in America."

The style of A24's ping pong ball looks similar to real-life ping pong balls used in the 1960s, which definitely supports the idea Marty Supreme could take place in the 60s or 70s. And this isn't the first time we'll see Timothée Chalamet in a vintage biopic! The actor is starring as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, which hits theaters this Christmas.

Who's in the Marty Supreme cast?

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Pictures/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Marty Supreme Cast

In addition to Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler the Creator just joined the cast of Marty Supreme. Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein are writers, as well as producers alongside Timothée Chalamet, Eli Bush, and Anthony Katagas.

When is Marty Supreme coming out?

Marty Supreme Release Date

We don't have an official release date for the movie yet. Stay tuned to see when Marty Supreme will hit theaters!

Can't wait to see Timothée Chalamet onscreen again? Read up on why the A Complete Unknown Trailer Cements Timothée Chalamet As An Oscar Contender.

This post has been updated.

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Bethany Joy Lenz Finally Spoke On THOSE Hilarie Burton Feud Rumors

Haley James Scott and Peyton Sawyer might be best friends on One Tree Hill, but when fans realized actresses Bethany Joy Lenz and Hilarie Burton don't follow each other on social media, they speculated things weren't so friendly in the real world. And on the October 16 episode of Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast, while promoting her new book Dinner for Vampires Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!), Lenz seemingly confirmed that something had happened between the costars.

Amazon

"I love Hilarie,” she says. “I have always and will always and I don’t have any problem with her...There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl."

The "bizarre misunderstandings" in question could be related to political views and artistic differences. On February 29, the same day Lenz announced Dinner for Vampires, Hilarie Burton posted a graphic claiming "Imitation isn't the highest form of flattery," which some fans considered a reference to the similarities between their two book covers. Deuxmoi also claims the Tree Hill alums clash over LGBTQ+ views.

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Rumors of a feud intensified when Burton announced she was stepping back from the One Tree Hill rewatch podcast Drama Queens (which she co-hosted with Lenz and Sophia Bush). “We have reached the end of my behind-the-scenes experience on the show, and so I really started to question what I brought to this, but also how we keep that storytelling alive and important,” Burton said on the July 8 episode.

This decision to leave the show, and be replaced by Robert Buckley, confused fans even further. "We already had to experience the heartbreak of Hilarie leaving/getting kicked off the show as a regular. And now the podcast?" one Instagram comment reads. "Hilarie adds WAY too much entertainment to the show, we need her."

"Hilarie was very much looking forward to watching season 7 through 9 way back at the start of the podcast," another adds. "Disappointing 😞"

Warner Bros. Television

While Bethany Joy Lenz' appearance on Call Her Daddy provides OTH fans with plenty of behind-the-scenes details (like the how the "most iconic" Nathan & Haley moment was that kiss in the rain), she also talks about being part of the Big House Family Cult — and how she basically "disappeared for 10 years."

While there was "nothing to be suspicious about" at first, her experience in the group morphed into something that left her isolated and dealing with the effects of PTSD.

"The stakes were so high," she tells People. "They were my only friends. I was married into this group. I had built my entire life around it. If I admitted that I was wrong...everything else would come crumbling down."

Warner Bros. Television

Despite the fact the group convinced her she couldn't trust her One Tree Hill costars, Bethany Joy Lenz has had plenty of opportunities to bond with them since the show wrapped in 2012. In addition to Drama Queens, the One Tree Hill cast recently reunited for OTH Day in Wilmington, North Carolina, where they shot the show.

"Dangit, I love spending time with my Tree Hill family!" Lenz said in an Instagram post. "THANK YOU to everyone who came out! It never gets old visiting Tree Hill and seeing the love you guys continue showing all of us."

And while news of a sequel series was leaked in September, both Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz say it's "too early" to confirm who will be returning. Stay tuned for the latest news!

Warner Bros. Television

Can't get enough of One Tree Hill? Check out why This One Moment Proves Brooke Davis Is The Best Character.


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The 20 Absolute Best TV Kisses Of All Time, Ranked

As a chronic binge-watcher and hopeless romantic, I've fallen in love with numerous TV show couples over the years. And while every couple I come across may not be end game, some of them have the all-time best kisses to grace our televisions. From a classic couple like Luke and Lorelai to my controversial take on Dan and Blair, there are just some kisses that are earth-shatteringly good. You know — the hand-in-the-hair, passionate kisses that you've waited for season after season? Yeah, those.

So, without further ado, this is my definitive ranking of the best TV show kisses of all time!

20th Century Fox Television

Nick and Jess from New Girl

My #1 favorite TV kiss of all time is Jess and Nick's first kiss. It's truly unbeatable! This will-they-won't-they situation left us all begging for them to finally get together — and boy, did they come through! The tension and chemistry between this pair had me truly convince they must be a couple in real life. This kiss had so much passion, and it made fans everywhere so happy that it FINALLY happened. Honorable mention for Cece and Schmidt, because they're also a fave TV couple!

Netflix

Joanne and Noah from Nobody Wants This

Joanne and the Hot Rabbi — I mean Noah — come in at #2 here. I haven't fallen in love with a show this hard in such a long time, and their first kiss made me feel the same way I did when I watched New Girl. It had all the same passion, pent-up chemistry, and even the whole going-in-for-seconds thing going for it. Let's hope we get even more of their amazing chemistry in season 2!

Getty Images

Rachel and Ross from Friends

Rachel and Ross are a classic TV couple — and for good reason. We fell in love with their on-again-off-again relationship over so many seasons, but most of all we admired their ability to put the past behind them (ie: the "we were on a break" situation of it all). But I'm still not over their season 2 kiss in the coffee shop...itt was everything! Truly one of the best TV kisses ever.

20th Century Fox Television

Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls

Hello, the friends-to-lovers arc has officially entered the chat! Being a romantic doesn't just mean you want the whole "love at first sight" thing. It can also be romantic to have the foundation of a friendship over years and years, because that creates the ultimate compatibility, IMO! These two are the perfect example of that, and their first kiss was well worth the wait.

ABC Entertainment

Fitz and Olivia from Scandal

These two quite literally invented the word chemistry, and since it's about time for my annual re-watch of the show, of course I had to add Fitz and Olivia to the list. While their first kiss occurred before the first episode technically, their first on-screen kiss was one of the most memorable ever! I rewatch this literally every single year — and their fiery relationship has everything to do with it. If you haven't watched it yet... consider it time.

Netflix

Charlotte and George from Queen Charlotte

Often dubbed as the best story in the Bridgerton world, Queen Charlotte has one of the best kisses, too! In this show, you truly see how compassion, respect, loyalty, and kindness come together to create a fierce passion for one another that translates so beautifully into Charlotte and George's first kiss. You want to root for them, episode after episode. Can we get another season of this please?!

Warner Bros. Television

Dan and Blair from Gossip Girl

Okay hear me out on this...while I love Chuck and Blair (and I really, really do), I happen to think Blair and Dan's relationship is one of the most romantic of the series. Like I said before, I love a good friends-to-lovers arc, and these two are the epitome of that. Well...maybe enemies-to-friends-to-lovers... but still! Their kiss was so unexpectedly romantic.

BTW, you can't even try to convince me that Dan loves Serena as much as he loved Blair — it's not even close.

CBS

Fran and Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny

An oldie, but definitely a goodie. With so many seasons of their banter, jealousy, and back-and-forth, Fran and Mr. Sheffield finally get together with a phenomenal first kiss. This was honestly a defining memory for my younger self — these two really showed so much passion, admiration, and love. I just love these two!

Peacock

Leslie and Ben from Parks and Recreation

I love a grumpy/sunshine trope, and Leslie and Ben deliver all that and then some. I rooted so hard for these two when Ben first entered the scene, but I was totally unsure if they would end up together, because of Leslie's, well...insanely positive attitude and outlook on life. But when they finally kissed and got together? It just made sense! Tiny park forever! (Also fully obsessed with April and Andy in this show too — talk about a slow burn!)

Netflix

Colin and Penelope from Bridgerton

I couldn't forget yet another classic Bridgertoncouple — especially given that season 3 was one of the most popular yet! While I had mixed feelings on the season as a whole (season 1 really is so hard to beat!), I truly loved Polin's dynamic and how pure the love confessions were. While the first kiss wasn't truly love-filled, it was indeed filled with chemistry — and lots of it!

Peacock

Pam and Jim from The Office

Oh Jim and Pam. They're a couple that will always be in the history books as one of the best and most romantic TV couples. You can tell from day one how obsessed they are with each other, not just as romantic interests but as besties too. Which is what everyone hopes for in a relationship! As a gal who married her best friend, myself, their first kiss has always been one of my favorites!

Peacock

Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries

One of the most passionate first kisses? It has to be Damon and Elena. Their chemistry was all about passion and lust and love, all at once. Their chemistry was truly undeniable — so much so, that the actors even dated in real life for quite some time! This show definitely did such a good job with this couple, making sure they exuded passion, mystery, and romance at every kiss. Plus, the soundtracks were always 10/10 during those moments, too!

Getty Images

Chandler and Monica from Friends

Gimme all the friends-to-lovers moments, and I'll eat them up every single time! These two were seemingly inevitable — the epitome of end game. We were all convicted it was going to happen at some time, which is why it's so funny to see how shocked all of their friends were when they finally got together. As you can see, this kiss was truly...everything. You can just sense the longing and anticipation between them — so romantic! Needless to say, we miss Matthew Perry big time.

FOX

Kurt and Blaine from Glee

I think we all remember exactly where we were when we witnessed the oh-so-romantic first kiss between Blaine and Kurt. From the love confession to the romance, it was all so sweet — a total 10/10 kiss. BRB...going to rewatch every season of Glee immediately just so I can relive this touching moment!

The CW

Summer and Seth from The O.C.

Adam Brody making this list twice...ICONIC of him. I shouldn't be surprised though — that man has always oozed charisma and romance since his Gilmore Girlsdays. Seriously though, of course I had to add him to the list for Seth and Summer's first kiss! They'll always be our faves.

Amazon Studios

Fleabag and Hot Priest from Fleabag

Hot Priest walked so Hot Rabbi could fly... I don't think there is a hotter TV kiss than this one right here! I truly devoured this show, loving every minute of the Hot Priest Fleabag graced us with. When these two kissed, it was so forbidden, so truly insane — and I freaking loved it. I can't even talk about it for too long, because the ending just rips my heart out every time.

Warner Bros. Television

Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl

Since we talked about Dan and Blair, I have to redeem myself and also mention Chuck and Blair — because I really do love them, I swear! Every kiss they shared was so good, and I stand by the fact that no one loved each other as much as these two did. And although I feel bad for Dan, ultimately Chuck and Blair were the best match and they exude pure romance every episode. A 10/10 for me, all around.

Amazon Studios

Ruby and James from Maxton Hall

I just binged Maxton Hall in one sitting with my husband and OMG...it's so good. Ruby and James' first kiss was one of my favorites I've seen in a while, and it has me dying for a season 2 already! They're already filming, so fingers crossed we get more of their enemies-to-lovers romance soon!

Amazon Studios

Jane and Guildford from My Lady Jane

This show quickly became an obsession of mine, bringing back true yearning on TV! It's giving "Mr. Darcy hand touch" — and that kiss?! I'll never forgive Amazon Prime for canceling this show. Their romance was widely loved by the masses, so fingers crossed another network will pick up this wildly romantic show ASAP!

20th Century Fox Television

Scully and Mulder from The X Files

There's not many shows that you have to wait 7 whole seasons for the main characters to finally get together, but this one really tests your patience in that regard. I mean, talk about a slow burn! This was the longest burn to have ever burned! But when these two finally kissed, it was well worth it to say the least.

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