Beat the Back-To-School Blues With This Mason Jar Lunch

We love us some Mason jar salads in the Brit + Co office — so many uses and ways to decorate them. (Check out these gorgeous balloon-dipped mason jars for inspo.) This version of tuna Nicoise is our latest favorite. Chunks of rich albacore tuna with buttery-soft new potatoes, briny olives and the all-important hard boiled egg. And it’s SO delicious with the herby-lemon dressing! Have you jumped on the mason jar bandwagon yet? Why not go whole hog and pair your salad with a mason jar mojito? All finished off with a mason jar cheesecake! But first, here’s our yummy mason jar tuna Nicoise recipe.

Ingredients:
Makes 2 mason jar salads
— 6 baby new potatoes

— 2 eggs

— 1 cup green beans

— 1 baby gem lettuce, sliced

— 6-8 grape tomatoes

— (1) 7-ounce can albacore tuna, drained

— 6-8 olives

— 4 radishes

— 4-6 anchovy fillets

for the dressing:
4 Tablespoons olive oil

— juice of half a lemon

— 1 small clove of garlic, peeled and minced

— pinch of salt

— pinch of ground black pepper

— small handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped

— 1 Tablespoon cider vinegar

— 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions:

1. Prepare the ingredients that need cooking: Place the baby new potatoes in cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain and leave to cool. Place the eggs in cold water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. Steam or boil the green beans for 5-8 minutes until tender. Drain and run under cold water until cold (this will help to keep them bright green).

2. Slice the potatoes into thick slices, then chop the eggs and tomatoes into quarters. Slice the lettuce. Cut the radishes into thin slices. Cut the green beans in half.

3. Mix together the dressing ingredients and put to one side.

4. Assemble the salads. Divide the dressing between two mason jars. Add the green beans, tomatoes, eggs, tuna, olives, radish slices and potatoes. Top with the lettuce leaves and a few anchovies. Place a lid on and place in the refrigerator (or serve immediately!).

Prepare the ingredients that need cooking: Place the baby new potatoes in cold water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain and leave to cool. Place the eggs in cold water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and leave to cool. Steam or boil the green beans for 5-8 minutes until tender. Drain and run under cold water until cold (this will help to keep them bright green).

Slice the potatoes into thick slices, then chop the eggs and tomatoes into quarters. Slice the lettuce. Cut the radishes into thin slices. Cut the green beans in half.

Mix together the dressing ingredients and put to one side.

Now it’s time to assemble the salads. Divide the dressing between two mason jars. Add the green beans, tomatoes, eggs, tuna, olives, radish slices and potatoes. Top with the lettuce leaves and a few anchovies. Place a lid on and place in the refrigerator (or serve immediately!).

To serve, simply tip everything out into a bowl and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite mason jar meal or drink? Tweet us @BritandCo!

Minimal effort — that's our favorite phrase. Do a bit of arranging, brushing, and drizzling, then let the oven take care of the rest of the work for a dinner that's sure to end up on your regular recipe rotation. We use chopped potatoes, carrots, and red onion in this honey mustard chicken recipe, but you could easily replace 'em with baby new potatoes, baby carrots, and shallots (or scallions) to skip the knife work!

Bonus: Throw a bit of cooked couscous or quinoa in the leftovers (maybe a cheeky sprinkling of goat cheese too), and tomorrow's lunch is sorted. If you love the sheet-pan method, take a look at some of these veggie sheet pan dinners.

Now onto our delicious honey mustard chicken recipe!

Ingredients for Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken

Brit + Co

  • 3 large red-skinned potatoes, chopped into bite-size chunks
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped into bite-size chunks
  • 1 large red onion, peeled and sliced into chunky wedges
  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 medium head of broccoli, broken into florets
  • 20 asparagus spears
  • Small bunch of parsley, finely chopped

Directions for Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Chicken

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Arrange the potatoes, carrots, onion, and chicken breasts on a large sheet pan.

Brit + Co

3. Mix together the honey, mustard, and brown sugar. Brush this mixture on the chicken breasts. Drizzle two tablespoons of the oil over the chicken and vegetables, then sprinkle on the salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

Brit + Co

4. Take the sheet pan out of the oven. Use a spatula to turn the vegetables over, then add the broccoli and asparagus. Drizzle on the remaining oil and sprinkle on another pinch of salt and pepper. Place back in the oven to cook for a further 5-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

Brit + Co

5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve!

Brit + Co

Subscribe to our newsletter for more yummy (and easy!) dinner recipes.

This post has been updated.

If there's one thing I love to see, it's celebrities going makeup-free. And I'll celebrate it every single time! In addition to Drew Barrymore taking her makeup off on live TV (and throwing her extensions on the ground) and Millie Bobby Brown showing off her acne in selfies, Lady Gaga loves to go makeup-free. Remember when she performed at the Oscars with no makeup and ripped jeans?! Well the actress and singer just posted another adorable selfie without a stitch of makeup.

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about "Die With A Smile" alongside her no-makeup selfie.

Lady Gaga is "so grateful" the song is #1.

To celebrate "Die With A Smile" (her song with Bruno Mars) hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady Gaga posted a photo of her laying in the grass with a huge grin on her face — and without any makeup.

"Thank you to all of the monsters and hooligans for helping make 'Die With A Smile' #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We love you and are so grateful," she says in the post. "Having multiple songs of mine hit #1 across three decades feels surreal, and I am overwhelmed by the love and support you have shown me from the beginning. I have so much more in store for you and can’t wait to share it."

Friends and fans flooded the comments with everyone from Noah Cyrus saying, "you’re so gorgeous," to a fan account adding, "Thank you for your art! So proud of you and Bruno. You deserve this!"

And she loved recording it with Bruno Mars!

The song was released on August 16, and in a statement to Page Six, Lady Gaga praised Bruno Mars as a collaborator. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” she says. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on...It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

After revealing they "stayed up all night” to finish both writing and recording it, Lady Gaga continues, “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him." There's no one like you either Gaga!

Has "Die With A Smile" been on repeat for you? Let us know your favorite Lady Gaga song on Instagram!

Post-work exhaustion is something we don't talk about enough. After a long day, wouldn't it be nice to come home to a dinner that's already made and ready to eat — say, like one of your favorite vegetarian recipes? That's where the slow-cooker shines.

Slow-cooker and Crock Pot meals are not only delicious, but they also basically cook themselves. That way, there's no grumpy arguments with your partner over who's cooking dinner tonight! 😉

If you're looking for something easy and healthy, we found 30 delicious vegetarian Crock Pot recipes for Meatless Monday... or really, any other day of the week. Ahead, find our unique vegetarian slow-cooker recipes that form the tastiest menu lineup. From slow-cooker mac and cheese to Indian lentils, and creamy wild rice soup to spaghetti squash, keep scrolling to discover the deliciousness.

Slow Cooker Marry Me Chickpea Soup

This slow cooker Marry Me Chickpea Soup is the perfect combo of cozy and nutritious. It's swoon-worthy!

Give Recipe

Black Bean Lentil Soup

It's soup season! Try this meatless soup flavored with celery, carrot, garlic and lemon for your next slow cooker fix. It's low calorie, high-protein and fiber so it will keep you satisfied through the day. (via Give Recipe)

Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Chili

Pumpkin is the perfect ingredient for fall and wintertime comfort. Cook it into your next chili using the slow-cooker, and witness the culinary magic for yourself! (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Slow-Cooker Enchilada Casserole

This enchilada casserole stacks layers of cheese, beans, corn, and fresh veggies for a lovely differentiation of flavors. (via Damn Delicious)

Slow-Cooker Creamy Wild Rice Soup with Roasted Buttered Mushrooms

Anyone who dubs quinoa as “boring” needs a wakeup call — this cheesy, Italian-seasoned bowl full of quinoa, mushrooms, and peppers ought to do the trick. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Vegan Italian Wedding Soup

Even though this soup has meatballs in it, they're all vegan. The flavors in this bowl are simply unforgettable. (via The Edgy Veg)

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin season calls for a velvety slow cooker pumpkin soup. This one's so easy you'll have a warm bowl of delicious soup in just two steps: chop and blend! (via Where Is My Spoon?)

Slow-Cooker Chana Masala

You'll get a really nice dose of protein from the chickpeas in this vegetarian slow-cooker recipe. Make a big batch so you can feast on the leftovers all week long! (via Brit + Co.)

Vegan Corned Beef (Jackfruit) And Cabbage Soup

Slow cook this easy plant-based meal for a hearty meal on a chilly day.

Slow-Cooker Mac & Cheese Recipe

When a comfort food craving hits — mac & cheese is our forever go-to to deliver a bite of happiness. In this dish, Velveeta, cheddar cheese, butter, milk, and shell pasta bubble together for 2-ish hours to form a truly delish one-pot mac. (via Brit + Co.)

Slow-Cooker Marsala Veggie Grain Bowls

This vegetarian slow-cooker recipe combines quinoa, sweet potato, and black beans for a hearty and flavorful bowl. Everyone in your household will be craving more once you make it! (via Brit + Co.)

Crock Pot White Queso Dip

This white queso dip is so delicious and versatile that you can dip into it as a game day snack with chips and veggies, or drizzle it over tacos or nachos! (via Barley & Sage)

Slow Cooker Potato Curry

This Slow Cooker Potato Curry features slow-cooked potatoes and veggies in a fragrant and delicious coconut curry sauce recipe that hails from Trinidad & Tobago.

Slow-Cooker Enchilada Quinoa

Be sure to add this vegetarian slow-cooker recipe to your weekly rotation – it only calls for 15 minutes of prep! If you can handle minimal chopping and a little can opening in the morning, you’re so golden. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Photo by Jenny Mavmir / PEXELS

Slow-Cooker Vegetables

The slow-cooker is a star when it comes to whipping up vegetarian side dishes. You can easily season some of your favorite veggies then toss 'em in for a tender, tasty side for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike! (via Brit + Co.)

Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup

French onion soup is the epitome of comfort food, and luckily, this recipe is vegetarian-friendly. Just make sure you have some crusty bread on-hand for delightful dipping! (via Brit + Co.)

Slow-Cooker Indian Butter Lentils

Life is good when you can throw fewer than 10 ingredients into a slow-cooker, let them hang out for 6 to 8 hours, and come home to the smell of a rich and buttery Indian classic. If you've never tried your hand at making Indian cuisine at home, this is the perfect starter recipe to feed your craving. (via Host The Toast)

Slow-Cooker Minestrone Soup

A hot bowl of soup is what chilly weather is all about. Whether you’re enduring a hectic week or relishing in a lazy Sunday, this protein-packed vegan spin on minestrone soup is a very tasty way to nourish your bod. (via Little Spice Jar)

Buffalo Crock Pot Mac & Cheese

Not all vegetarian meals are focused on veggies – indulging in this divine buffalo mac will prove that. Ease your hesitant family into Meatless Monday with this delicious bad boy. (via Whitney Bond)

Slow-Cooker BBQ Chickpeas

Traditional BBQ flavors make this plant-based chickpea sandwich a dinner win. We love how unique this slow-cooker vegetarian recipe is! (via Real Food Whole Life)

Vegan Mushroom “Bone” Broth

Some days (AKA sick days), you just want to curl up to a piping hot mug of broth. This nutritious blend features shiitake mushrooms, seaweed, and chickpeas. Though it’s made in a pressure cooker, you could absolutely go the slow-cooker route and cook this on low for 6 to 8 hours. (via Simply Quinoa)

Crock Pot Lentil Bolognese

If you’re hankering for a Bolognese sauce, but could do without the heft and greasiness, lentils will do the trick! This slow-cooked sauce is a healthy and substantial option. You may never consider a classic Bolognese again! (via Simply Whisked)

Quinoa Black Bean Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

The best way to enjoy bell peppers? Stuffed and and utterly overflowing with vegetarian goodies. (via Pinch of Yum)

Slow-Cooker Bean Soup

If you’re going to dig into a bowl of bean soup, you have to go big or go home. Start with a bag of 15-bean mix (yes, it’s a real thing), and let the slow cooker do the hard work. (via The Seasoned Mom)

Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Dal

If you've been toying with the idea of incorporating more squash into your life, this Indian dal dish is a fab place to start. (The Girl on Bloor)

Slow-Cooker Spinach Ricotta Lasagna

If you’re not quite ready to ditch the lasagna noodles for eggplant or zucchini, worry not! There are ample vegetarian lasagnas out there that cater to plant-based diets, and this spinach and ricotta lasagna will make sure you don’t miss out on the meatiness. (via Kristine’s Kitchen)

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Ratatouille

This belly-warming blend of eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes just might end up on your weekly slow-cooker menu. (via Eating Bird Food)

Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash

Once your gourd is cooked until tender, serve it up with plenty of Parmesan, olive oil, and parsley for a low-frills dinner that always satisfies. (via Well Plated)

Slow-Cooker Vegetable Curry with Chickpeas

Top this vegetarian slow-cooker recipe off with crunchy cashews, and allow yourself to sink into a state of pure bliss. (via The Lemon Bowl)

Crock Pot Low-Carb Lasagna

Comfort food is all about the cheesy and the saucy. Sadly, with that usually comes the carb-y and the heavy, but not in this case! This meatless slow-cooker lasagna replaces noodles with eggplant, and it's kind of the best thing ever. (via Well Plated)

Loving these vegetarian crock pot recipes? Get more recipe ideas from our weekend scroll!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Two Peas & Their Pod.

Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

Liane Hentscher/HBO

I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

Kate Middleton has been top of mind for a lot of people over the last year after the princess announced in March 2024 she was battling cancer. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she shared in a video update. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved." And in honor of Kate's 43rd birthday, Prince William posted the sweetest tribute honoring her strength and perseverance.

Here's what Prince William had to say in Kate Middleton's birthday tribute.

Prince William celebrates "incredible" Kate Middleton's "strength."

Kate Middleton turned 43 on January 9, 2025. In honor of the big day, Prince William took to Instagram to celebrate, praising his "incredible" wife.

"To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable," he says in the post. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."

And well wishers flooded the comments. "Happy Birthday Catherine, wishing you a wonderful year ahead surrounded by family and loved ones," one user says, while another adds, "Happy Birthday Princess of Wales! What a gorgeous photo. Wishing you a wonderful year 😍 xx"

And the tribute comes after revealing Kate was doing "amazing" following her cancer battle.

The birthday celebration comes after the prince shared an update on Kate in early November that had us all breathing a sigh of relief. “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on," he said before the Earthshot Prize awards (via People). “She's been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

"From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson added in an interview withHello!that same week. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

We're sending Kate Middleton so much birthday love! For more about your favorite members of the Royal Family, check out Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cooking Show Will Feature Some Of Your Fave Celebs.