Delicious and Healthy Crockpot Ground Beef Recipes

If you're seeking simple meals that consistently deliver satisfaction, these crockpot ground beef recipes are precisely what you require! Featuring real food ingredients, these recipes are excellent for advance preparation for weeknight dinners, potlucks, game days, and entertaining. Select until you discover your new favorite slow cooker beef recipe. Once you taste them, many of these recipes will secure a spot in your regular dinner rotation.

Is there anything better than a crockpot meal? Slow cooker recipes are incredibly quick to prepare and simple to make, with endless variations. You're guaranteed to find something that satisfies! Beef is a versatile ingredient to incorporate into a wide variety of recipes. An excellent source of high-quality protein, it’s a staple. Need some done-ahead meals that are ready to go on your busiest nights?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you put raw beef in a crockpot?

Many crockpot beef recipes recommend browning the meat first to reduce the oil and lock in some flavor. However, this step isn’t always necessary. It is safe to add raw beef to a crock pot recipe.

Do you need to put liquid in a slow cooker with beef?

Unless the recipe specifically calls for it, there is no real need to completely submerge beef in liquids. Just make sure to cover the base of the slow cooker or crock pot contains some liquid to prevent the beef from burning as it cooks.

Does beef get more tender the longer you cook it in a slow cooker?

Yes, most crock pot beef recipes utilize thick cuts of beef with lots of tendons and fat.

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Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper

This Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper is easily made entirely in the Crockpot, with ground beef and macaroni in a cheesy, tomato-y sauce with extra veggies! The only element of Crockpot Hamburger Helper that needs to be cooked outside of the slow cooker is the beef. Then, everything gets mixed right into the Crockpot and cooked low and slow to cheesy perfection. Once you master this easy homemade Hamburger Helper Crockpot recipe, you’ll never go back to the store-bought box again!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Filling: This is one of those entrees that will fill you up after just one serving, but it’s so delicious that you might find yourself going back for more.
• Cheesy: There’s the perfect amount of shredded cheese in the mix to tie everything together.
• Easy: This slow cooker recipe is fail-proof! The steps here really couldn’t be easier.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef so it doesn’t render a lot of excess fat. If you end up with grease in your skillet, drain it before adding the meat to the Crock Pot.
• Milk: Any milk will work!
• Tomato Sauce: Any seasoned tomato sauce will work like a marinara or similar.
• Pasta: Elbow macaroni is a favorite. This recipe will work with other types of pasta, but be sure that the weight and cook time is the same.
• Onion: A white or yellow onion will both work very well.
• Cheese: For the best flavor and consistency, try to use a freshly shredded cheese if you can.
• Beef Broth: Always recommend using low-sodium beef broth. That way, you can add more salt if desired and better control the amount of sodium in your dish.
• Pepper: A red pepper adds the perfect touch of natural sweetness.
• Seasonings: There’s wiggle room here. Sprinkle in a simple combo of salt, Italian seasoning and just a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Instructions

1. In a medium skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned and onion is translucent.
2. Add to a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
3. Add in broth, milk, pasta sauce, bell pepper, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes and stir.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. (*The cook time here is really flexible - you want to cook the red pepper and get it hot enough to cook the pasta, so you can cook anywhere from 3 to 8 hours on low).
5. About 15 minutes before serving, turn the slow cooker to high and stir in macaroni. Check at 15 minutes, and add 5-10 extra minutes to the cook time as needed until the pasta is al dente. If the pasta is not cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, add ½-1 cup additional broth or milk as needed.

Tips and Variations

• Make it dairy-free: You can easily make this recipe lactose-free with lactose-free milk and cheese.
• Can I make it gluten-free?: I don’t recommend gluten-free pasta in one pot recipes because they cook differently and become mushier much more quickly.
• Spice: You can spice things up a bit by sprinkling in even more crushed red pepper flakes! Just be careful because a little bit goes a long way.

Storage & Reheating

• You can store leftover Hamburger Helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, add a splash of water or broth and pop individual portions in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.
• You can, but the texture will change. Let everything fully cool to room temperature, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge for a few hours prior to reheating.

Serving Suggestions

• You can serve Hamburger Helper all by itself! Or, have some fun and whip up a side dish like Air Fryer Broccoli or Green Beans with Bacon to add a pop of fresh flavor to your plate.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Casserole

This Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Casserole is guaranteed to be a new family favorite! The layered taste of flavorful ground beef with black beans and veggies is perfectly spiced with bursts of tang. For those long days when you know we are getting home later than expected, the crockpot is here to save you! This set it and forget slow cooker meal was a number one request when I asked for recipe suggestions for the fall.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• You don’t brown the beef before placing in the slow cooker! One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it will cook great without having to do this step. The prep time is so simple because we can dump in other ingredients that don’t require a lot of chopping.
• It’s loaded with protein and fiber! As a nutritionist, I am looking for recipes that are filling for my teenage kids. The addition of black beans, corn, tortilla chips, and ground beef allow this recipe to be satiating.
• The leftovers are great! My kids packed in their lunchbox the next day for a nutritious and filling lunch.
• It’s customizable to your needs. You can substitute the beans, add your own toppings or your favorite salsa to make it deliciously satisfying.

Ingredients

• Ground beef: I use 85/15, but feel free to use a lean ground beef, or ground turkey as a substitute in this recipe.
• Taco Seasoning: I made this super simple by buying a store-bought taco seasoning.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: I always add a few tablespoons to my taco recipes. It allows the flavors to pop with some tang! Trust me on this one.
• Black beans: I use a can of black beans that are drained and rinsed. You can also substitute with kidney beans or pinto beans.
• Frozen corn: I find frozen organic corn to be a simple addition that is also cost efficient.
• Salsa: I used salsa verde, but I’ve also made with red salsa as well!
• Tortilla chips: this is an important ingredients. They will soften in the crockpot, but they provide that taco tortilla flavor you are looking for. I buy Trader Joe’s Restaurant style corn tortilla chips that are gluten-free with minimal ingredients.
• Cheese: A Mexican blend of cheese or cheddar cheese works perfectly here.

Instructions

1. Add the raw ground beef with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and apple cider vinegar to the crock pot.
2. Set the crockpot to high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
3. Stir in the beans, corn, salsa, tortilla chips, and half the cheese. Mix around, then top with remaining cheese.
4. Add the ground beef, diced tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and seasoning to the crockpot.
5. After the ground beef is cooked, stir in black beans, corn, salsa, chips, and half the cheese. Mix the ingredients being careful not to break up the chips too much. Top with remaining cheese.
6. Place the cover on and cook on high for 15 - 30 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Before serving, add the fun toppings. A few of my favorites are sliced avocado, fresh tomatoes, bell pepper, red or green onion, cilantro, guacamole, jalapeños, sour cream, and more salsa.

Storage & Reheating

You can store this dinner in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Gently re-heat in the microwave or place in a baking dish and reheat in the oven for a more crispy texture.

1. Place the raw ground beef into the slow cooker with taco seasoning, apple cider vinegar, and diced tomatoes. Break up the ground beef into small pieces so that it cooks evenly.
2. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
3. Remove the lid and stir in black beans, corn, salsa, half the cheese, and the chips. Give it a good stir and be careful not to break the chips too much. Top with remaining cheese.
4. Return the lid and set your slow cooker to high.
5. Cook for another 15 - 30 minutes until cheese is melted.
6. Top with cilantro and any additional toppings such as avocado, guacamole, onion, sour cream, or jalapeños .

Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew

Slow cooker hamburger stew is an easy & comforting beef recipe. Using affordable ingredients like ground beef and canned tomatoes, this flavorful stew is hearty and packed with flavor.

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Hamburger stew is a hearty, comfort food recipe but also healthy! This ground beef stew recipe is Whole30 compatible. If you’re looking to lighten this up a bit, omit the potatoes.

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Onion
• Bell pepper
• Canned tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Garlic
• Celery
• Beef broth
• Oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet. When hot, add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook 5-7 minutes or until the ground beef is no longer pink. Crumble the ground meat as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.
2. Add the ground meat mixture to the slow cooker along with all other ingredients.
3. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Add the oil. When hot, add the ground meat, bell pepper, onion, and celery. Cook 5-7 minutes, crumbling the ground meat as it cooks. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 20 minutes.

Tips

• I prefer to use chopped baby potatoes when I make this hamburger stew recipe. What you see in the pics chopped baby yellow potatoes. Waxy potatoes always work best for slow cooking because they hold their shape better than other forms of potatoes.
• If you use non-waxy potatoes like russet or sweet potatoes, I suggest you cut them into larger chunks than you usually would.

Storage & Reheating

If you have leftover hamburger stew, you can store or freeze it for later use.

• Store leftover stew in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• To freeze hamburger stew, let the stew cool completely. Once cooled, add the stew to an air tight container or freezer-friendly plastic bag. Store the stew in your freezer for up to 2 months.
• To reheat frozen stew, you have two options.

Slow Cooker Tex-Mex Ground Meat

Slow cooker Tex-Mex ground meat is an easy recipe that produces a versatile filling.

Ingredients

• Ground beef (or ground turkey, pork, or chicken)
• Bell pepper
• Onion
• Diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or salsa
• Chicken or beef broth
• Oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the ground beef with salt & pepper and to the skillet. Cook the beef, crumbling it as it cooks, until it is no longer pink.
2. Add all remaining ingredients to the slow cooker.
3. Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot add the oil, ground beef, bell pepper, and onion Cook a 5-7 minutes or until meat is browned and vegetables soften. Crumble the meat as it cooks. Drain grease if necessary.
4. Add all the remaining ingredients. Stir to mix well. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 10 minutes.

Tips

• I recommend you brown the meat and drain the grease before adding it to the slow cooker. If you’re using a very lean meat then you might not find the need to do this but I find that the end result is too greasy unless you do.
• Your choice of diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or your preferred salsa can be used in this Tex-Mex ground meat recipe. If you use salsa, please note that the brand of salsa you choose may alter the taste of the dish.

Serving Suggestions

When it comes to serving this flavorful ground meat, the sky is the limit! Seriously, this meat can be served in so many different ways. I use a 3.5-quart slow cooker for this recipe.

Additional Ground Beef Slow Cooker Recipes

• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
• Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe’s
• Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Beefy Nacho Soup
• Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup
• Slow Cooker Tailgate Chili
• Slow Cooker Taco Soup
• Slow Cooker Taco Pasta
• Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
• Mexican Lasagna
• Slow Cooker Beef and Cabbage Casserole
• Slow Cooker Enchilada Soup

Cooking Ground Beef in a Crockpot

Thanks to the slow cooker we can cook ground beef without grease splatters or watching the stove. There are many methods for cooking ground beef. You can brown ground beef on the stove or in the oven, but have you ever cooked ground beef in a crockpot? Cook once and eliminate a step later on in the week when you're making meals. All you do is add up to 3 pounds of ground beef to your crock-pot (I have done as many as 5 lbs. at one time). Break up the beef and add ¼ cup water (per pound of beef). Turn your crock-pot on and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours. During the cooking process, I stir the meat mixture occasionally to help the meat cook evenly. Once your meat has fully cooked, drain off the grease. I then divide the meat out and store it in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Then later on in the week, when I need to add it to a casserole, sauce, etc., I just pull it out of the refrigerator and add it along with the other ingredients. It is a huge time saver.

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Instructions

1. Place the ground beef into the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Break up the meat with a large spoon and add the water.
3. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or low for 4 to 6 hours.
4. Once the beef is cooked through, carefully pour the excess grease and liquid from the slow cooker dish.
5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat into airtight containers.
6. Keep the cooked beef refrigerated and use within 3 days.

Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker

The slow cooker can be a lifesaver when it comes to preparing hearty and satisfying home-cooked meals. Slow cookers are commonly associated with chicken entrees but there are just as many delicious and easy-to-prep options when cooking with ground beef. Even better when you can plan multiple meals with bulk ingredients!

• First, the slow cooker brings you freedom in your kitchen!
• Next, time is money and the slow cooker is economical in more ways than one! The slow cooker saves the time you’d otherwise be spending cooking over a stove or near an oven. The slow cooker is energy efficient!
• In the go-go-go family routines these days, it is tempting (and necessary!) to find shortcuts for our meals. Sometimes these shortcuts lead to higher costs, or less healthy ingredients. With the slow cooker, prep ahead and ensure quality ingredients without all the usual additives in pre-cooked foods.

Can you cook frozen ground beef in a slow cooker?

Like chicken, you can cook frozen ground beef in a slow cooker. Again, keep a few things in mind: cooking time will need to be adjusted and remember to stir more frequently to keep the meat cooking at an even rate.

Why brown ground beef before putting in the slow cooker?

Just because you can cook raw ground beef in the slow cooker, doesn’t always mean that it is best! I highly recommend taking time to brown ground beef before putting it in the slow cooker because of the benefits of flavor and texture. When you brown any meat, you seal in flavor from the outer edges, keeping more of the juices inside. This produces a better overall taste. Browning ground beef also produces a better texture (less soft and less “clumped” together), and allows the opportunity to drain excess grease.

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