I just don't mess with crock pots in general. I get no joy out of dumping a bunch of ingredients into a pot with no sequencing or technique involved. I have Le Creuset Dutch oven and a stainless steel Viking pan for all of my braising/slow cooked meal needs.
Speaking of da Viking pan, making mustard braised chicken thighs tonight:
Seared the skins, added some shallots and garlic. Let those caramelize in the chicken fat, then scraped them up and used them to make beds for the thighs to rest on. Added the white wine and let it reduce down by half. Added the whole grain and dijon mustard, then some chicken stock for the braising. Currently finishing in the oven.
Serving alongside slow-cooked red cabbage with lardon/caramelized onion and some vegetable quinoa.