Slow cookers are getting more and more popular and you can tell why. You just throw things in, switch it on then go about your day. Later dinner's ready without a big fuss. It's great for busy people who dont wanna spend forever chopping and stirring but still wanna eat good home cooked meals. Plus you can make almost anything in one—soups, tacos, stews or whatever you like.
Ground beef is one of those things thats perfect for a crockpot. Its cheap, filling, and works in tons of different dishes. Maybe you want chilli that simmers all day or a creamy stroganoff thats ready by dinner—ground beef can handle it. Its full of protein so you feel full longer and you can add veggies or beans to make it even better for you. And because its so versatile, you can do Mexican style dishes one day and a stew the next. No need to get bored.
This post goes over lots of ground beef crockpot recipes, from classic ones that everyone knows to some surprize twists you probly havent tried. You’ll also get easy tips so your beef turns out tasty every time. Dosen't matter if youre a pro cook or totally new in the kitchen—you'll find simple steps and ideas to make dinner a breeze.
Benefits of Using Ground Beef in the Crockpot
Using ground beef low and slow has alot of perks. First, its packed with protein which helps your muscles grow and keeps you satisfied so you dont snack on junk. And since its real versitile, you can make mexican style stews one day or italian sauces the next. Never boring.
It’s also super easy. Spend five minutes browning it or even skip that step, dump everything in the pot, set it and forget it. Then you come back hours later to a hot meal. Perfect if youre running errands, working, or picking up kids from school.
Essential Cooking Tips for Ground Beef in a Crockpot
Here’s some tried and true advice so your ground beef dishes dont turn out greasy or bland.
- Picking Your Beef: Look at the fat %; lean (90%ish) is healthier but 80% lean tastes richer. Go for quality if you can for better flavour.
- Browning or Not: Browning first adds more taste and kicks out extra grease. But if you’re in a rush, skip it—you'll still get a decent meal.
- Layering Right: Put hard veggies like carrots and potatoes on the bottom, then beef, then soft stuff. That way nothing gets overcooked or mushy.
- Time Checks: Ground beef cooks faster than big chunks. Low for 6–8 hrs, high for 3–4. Always make sure it hits 160°F inside or no bueno.
Top Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes
Recipe 1: Classic Crockpot Ground Beef Chili
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, then drain off fat (you can skip, but it helps).
- Dump every thing in the crockpot and give it a stir.
- Cook on low 6–8 hrs or high 3–4 hrs.
Advice: Top with cheese, sour cream or cilantro if u like.
Recipe 2: Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups egg noodles
- 1 cup beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Brown beef and onions, drain fat.
- Add beef mix, soup and broth to crockpot.
- Cook low 6–8 hrs; stir in noodles last 30 mins.
Advice: Try different pasta types for fun change.
Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 cup chopped bell peppers
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Brown beef in skillet, drain.
- Mix beef, rice, broth and peppers in crockpot.
- Cook low 6–8 hrs, add cheese 15 mins before done.
Advice: Throw in corn or peas for more veggies.
Recipe 4: Spicy Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup water
- Taco shells or tortillas
- Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, avocado
Directions:
- Brown beef, drain fat.
- Stir in seasoning and water, let it simmer a bit then move to crockpot.
- Cook low 4–6 hrs.
Advice: Offer tons of toppings so everyone makes their fave.
Tips for Customizing Your Ground Beef Recipes
You can tweak recipes easy to match tastes or diets:
- Swap Ingredients: Use quinoa or lentels instead of rice or part of the beef for a twist.
- Adjust Spice: Go mild for kids or bump up heat with jalapenos or cayenne if you like it hot.
- Boost Nutrition: Pick leaner beef or sneak in grated carrots and zucchini to add fiber.
FAQs
Can you cook ground beef without browning it? Yeah, but browning adds flavour and cuts greasiness.
How to store leftovers? Cool then put in airtight containers in the fridge.
How long do leftovers last? Usually 3–4 days in the fridge.
Can you freeze these meals? Totally—just let them cool before freezing.
What else can replace ground beef? Ground turkey, chicken or plant based crumbles work well.
Conclusion
Cooking with a crockpot and ground beef is super easy and flexible. With these recipes and tips you can make tasty dinners without the stress. Try em out and see which ones become your new family faves.
ground beef crockpot recipes
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Measuring cups and spoons
- 1 Mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup beef broth For a thicker chili, reduce the beef broth quantity slightly.
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and add the beef to the crockpot.
- Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced bell pepper to the crockpot with the ground beef.
- Pour in the kidney beans, black beans, and diced tomatoes (with juice).
- Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the beef broth over the mixture, giving it a gentle stir to combine all ingredients.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 3 hours.
- Serve hot, topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions if desired.
