Skip the stove time and learn how to cook ground beef in a crock pot. It’s easier with less mess and results in delicious browned beef to be used in tacos, spaghetti, and casseroles.
There are so many ways to brown beef that you may be wondering why to choose a crock pot.
- Less mess and no grease splatters
- You don’t need to stand at the stove stirring
- Cook more in less space
- Great for meal prep
Listen, I brown beef stovetop too. But as a Certified Nutrition Coach, I find that cooking ground beef in the crock pot just makes for easier meal prep.
Having it cooked, seasoned, and ready to go means that dinner is on the table faster, and busy nights are easier.
Ingredients
Though you don’t need to, I find that seasoning the beef just results in a saved step later on. So, below is what you’ll need when browning hamburger in a crock pot.
Lean ground beef: the leaner the beef the less grease you’ll have to drain later.
Seasonings: you essentially need homemade taco seasoning here. Chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt. Adding in some cumin is wonderful too and what I use in these sheet pan fajitas.
Know that you can also toss in some minced onion and garlic for flavor.
Expert Tips
You’ll need to stir the ground beef about once an hour to keep breaking it up, and so that it cooks evenly.
Try to use thawed ground beef first as it’s easier to work with and there’s less chance of bacteria. If you use frozen ground beef or even if it's partially frozen, you’ll need to stir it more often to break it into chunks.
If you have leaner beef you may need to add ¼ cup of water so that it doesn’t stick to the crock pot. Likewise, you may not have to drain the grease afterward, it’s your call and preference.
How To Make It
This recipe is based off of 2.5 pounds of ground beef. If you’re cooking more in the slow cooker, know that you may want to double up on the seasonings and cook it longer.
Step 1: Add the raw ground beef into the crock pot.
Step 2: Season the beef and give it a stir.
Step 3: Cook on low for 3-5 hours stirring every hour or so.
Step 4: Drain the grease from the cooked ground beef and you’re good to go!
How To Drain The Grease
There are a few ways to do this and it depends on how much you’ve cooked. I tend to just muscle through it, put on oven mitts, and drain it with the lid cracked and pour it over the sink like I normally would.
Another option would be to use a strainer that can be attached to the slow cooker. I have this one for pots and it makes it SO easy not to have to hold a lid.
Of course, you could use a slotted spoon and scoop out the beef as well into whatever you’ll be storing it in.
What Slow Cooker To Use
I use a 7-quart programmable slow cooker that I love. Learn more about slow cookers and which one is best for your family.
This is my favorite because it shuts off to warm and doesn’t get too hot. Learn everything you need to know about slow cooking.
Meal Prep and Storage Instructions
Having cooked beef on hand is gold for busy nights. To store the beef make sure it has cooled fully first.
Refrigerator: store the cooked ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer: portion the ground beef into large freezer bags and store it for up to three months. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the fridge overnight if you can or cook it from frozen.
Reheating: how you reheat the taco meat will depend on what you need it for. We use it a lot in spaghetti and chili and for those, you can actually dump it into the sauce frozen and let it heat like that
Ways to Use Cooked Ground Beef
Cooked ground beef is the easiest thing to have on hand. We use it the most to make beef and zucchini casserole or throw together meals like:
- Spaghetti sauce
- Nachos
- Tacos
- Burrito bowls
- Casserole
- Gluten-free sloppy Joe stuffed sweet potaoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can easily cook raw beef in a slow cooker. However, it depends on the meal you plan on making. If you’re making a casserole in the slow cooker or something Salisbury steaks, brown the beef first. However, you can brown hamburger in a crock pot easily enough to make taco meat.
If you’re browning beef in the slow cooker you’ll want to cook it about 2 hours for every 1lb of beef. This may depen a bit on the size of your slow cooker as well and whether it has room to spread out. In that time, stir it roughly once an hour.
Though you can, it’s not recommended. Not only does it unevenly, it also takes more time to break it apart which means it would be better cooked on the stove. It also is trickier to heat through which means that there’s a higher risk of bacteria. Whenever possible, thaw the beef first.
When cooking on low, ground beef will take roughly 2-4 hours to cook in the crock pot. Some of this will depend on the size of the slow cooker and how much ground beef is used. Estimate 2 hours for every pound of ground beef.
Yes! Overcooked ground beef will have a chewy, dried out texture. Like anything else, keep an eye on the ground beef in the final hour and use your best judgement. Each slow cooker heats slightly differently so this is important.
How To Cook Ground Beef In A Crock Pot
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds Raw ground beef
- 2 tablespoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Sea salt
Instructions
- Add the ground beef into the crock pot.
- Season the beef and give it a stir.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours stirring every hour.
- Drain the grease and you’re good to go!
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
I make a batch of this every Sunday for meal prep, so easy!