Slow cookers work best if they are at least half full. While many families routinely need a 4- to 6-qt. crockpot, some recipes, like desserts or dips, won't fill your usual slow cooker. You can cook smaller batches of food in a large crockpot by using a separate, oven-safe casserole dish or baking pan, like a loaf pan or small cake pan, inside the larger crock of your slow cooker.

Select a casserole dish or oven safe baking pan that fits into your crockpot.

Spray the inside of the casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray for easy clean up.

Fill the casserole dish with your favorite slow cooker recipe.

Place a wire rack into the bottom of your slow cooker. If you don't have a rack that fits your crockpot, you can place balls of aluminum foil on the bottom of the slow cooker in place of a rack.

Set the prepared casserole dish or baking pan onto the rack or foil in the slow cooker. Plug in and turn on the crockpot, cooking as directed by your recipe, usually four to six hours on high or around eight hours on low.