How to Cook Ground Beef in Your Slow Cooker
Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Allison Lancaster
Slow Cooker meals are not just for cold weather, in fact, we use our slow cooker almost daily which means I’ve developed some slow cooker hacks that help me get in and out of the kitchen quickly. Today I’m sharing my favorite and that’s how to cook ground beef in the slow cooker.
Crockpot Dinner Ideas
By now, you all know that I love a quick and easy dinner. When it comes to dinner prep, anything that makes my life easier…I am all in!
While I have heard of cooking ground beef in my crock pot, I was always a little scared to try it. I was afraid it would be too mushy or to burn. Finally, yesterday I decided to try it and I am so excited to share–it is my new favorite cooking tip!
Cooking ground beef in the crockpot is going to open up so many crockpot dinner ideas for me! Why not cook a large batch on Sunday to use throughout the week or freeze in family sized portions?
Then when it’s time to prep dinner, you can just add the already cooked meat right in too. One pot, toss it in and come home to a delicious, stress-free dinner. I love it!
Ground Beef Crockpot Meals
Here are just a few ground beef meal ideas to get you started on how to use your cooked ground beef in crockpot meals:
- Taco Tuesday Crockpot Beef Tacos – This is one of our favorite meals that we have all year round. We just add the ground beef to our favorite slow cooker taco seasoning, cook until it’s done, then toss it with your favorite toppings for a delicious and easy meal!
- Crockpot Chili – A classic slow cooker dinner idea ! I love this recipe because you can make it as mild or spicy as you like. With the ground hamburger already cooked, you just have to throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning.
- Cheeseburger Casserole – This is a fun, kid-friendly meal that the whole family will love! Just cook up your ground beef with some onions and diced pickles, then top with shredded cheese and bake until hot and bubbly. So good!
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meat Sauce – This is such an easy dinner idea and it’s always a hit! Just cook up your ground beef and add it with your favorite Italian spices to your slow cooker with some marinara sauce. Let it all simmer together until the flavors are combined, then serve over some cooked spaghetti squash or zucchini
How to Cook Ground Beef in the Slow Cooker
- Spray your crock pot with non stick spray
- Add 1 lb. of ground beef (we use venison, you can use any ‘ground meat’ that you like!). I added mine completely frozen and had no issues.
- Add 1 cup of beef broth
- Add any seasonings (for example-I added garlic salt, pepper and oregano because I was using the meat in spaghetti sauce)
- Cover and cook on low for 3.5 hours. Check your crock pot periodically, stirring and breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
- Add your meat to any recipe, or freeze.
How easy was that? This isn’t really a crock pot recipe that you can put in and leave while you are gone for 8 hours, but it’s a great idea to throw it in on a Sunday afternoon to use the rest of the week
Cooking Ground Beef in the Crockpot
Grab your slow cooker and make it work for you with these easy instructions for cooking ground beef in your crockpot!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef
Instructions
- Spray your crock pot with non stick spray
- Add 1 lb. of ground beef (we use venison, you can use any 'ground meat' that you like!). I added mine completely frozen and had no issues.
- Add 1 cup of beef broth
- Add any seasonings (for example-I added garlic salt, pepper and oregano because I was using the meat in spaghetti sauce)
- Cover and cook on low for 3.5 hours. Check your crock pot periodically, stirring and breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
- Add your meat to any recipe, or freeze.
This is insane! I feel like I just discovered something insanely cool. I will def be giving this a try soon!
I thought it was so awesome too! It saves me so much time (and the house doesn’t get as hot during summer months)!
To be honest, I`m not a good cook. My meat was not much taste than my mum. I just shared this with my mum and she said she will try this straightaway. Thnx dear for sharing such time saving stuff.
This is so great so the house doesn’t get super hot!
Yes~it’s been so hot here, I am all about ways to keep the house from getting hot!
I don’t cook, lol. But this is something that I think I can try. Quick and easy dinners would be a good start for somebody like me who isn’t fond of making meals.
I can’t wait to use this method from now on. I’ve never thought about doing that but it looks and sounds so easy.
I really need to use my crock pot more often. I have it tucked away some where in the kitchen. It will make meals so much easier for me. Thank you for sharing your recipe 🙂
I love cooking using my crock pot, there are so many recipes to enjoy and it’s also easier to prepare them. Thanks for the tip on how to cook ground beef!
I didn’t think it was possible to do this in a crock pot! Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to give this a try!
This is just great. You could even cook a frozen meat and it will thaw and cook inside. Saves so much time!
Wow, these are so great. I love to cook sometimes if I have a time. Glad you share this with us.
I love this recipe. I will try this at my mom’s home because she has a cock pot.
I’ve not done this before, haven’t even thought about it.
I will have to keep this in mind to do.
Thank you.
I would have never thought to cook ground beef in a crock pot. I already know that I am seriously underusing the one I have in the cabinet.
I swear every recipe I find you need to cook the beef before you put it in the crockpot. Now- this is what I needed! Thanks!
Absolutely! I love making things quick and easy!
I love beef so much but I am not a good chef. This is definitely a great help. Thanks for the info
Absolutely! I hope you can use it to make your life easier!
This is awesome! Love that you can cook it directly from frozen! Thank you so much for sharing!
Absolutely! I love how easy it is!
What an awesome hack! Thx SO much for sharing – will pin and post to my FB page too!
Thanks for stopping by!