15 Easy Ground Beef Recipes for the Slow Cooker (2024)

Get ready for 15 easy slow cooker ground beef recipes that are totally out of the box! Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, these dishes offer savory flavors and easy preparation. From classic favorites like chili and meatloaf to creative options like beef stroganoff and taco soup, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Let your slow cooker do the work while you savor every bite.

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5 Reasons to Cook with Ground Beef

Cooking with ground beef can be a versatile and practical choice for many reasons. Here are five:

  1. Versatility: Ground beef is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of dishes, from soups and stews to tacos, burgers, casseroles, and pasta sauces. Its adaptability allows for countless flavor combinations and culinary creations.
  2. Affordability: Ground beef is often more affordable than other cuts of meat, making it a budget-friendly option for many households. It provides a cost-effective way to incorporate protein into meals without breaking the bank.
  3. Nutritional Value: Ground beef is a good source of essential nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. While leaner cuts offer lower fat content, even regular ground beef can be part of a balanced diet when consumed in moderation and combined with plenty of vegetables and whole grains.
  4. Quick Cooking: Ground beef cooks relatively quickly compared to larger cuts of meat, making it ideal for busy weeknights or when you need to get dinner on the table fast. Its smaller size and surface area allow for faster and more even cooking.
  5. Family-Friendly: Many people, including children, tend to enjoy dishes made with ground beef, such as spaghetti with meat sauce, chili, tacos, and meatloaf. Cooking with ground beef can be a practical way to prepare meals that the whole family will love and enjoy together

1. Slow Cooker Beef Ramen

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Beef up your ramen noodle packages by adding juicy ground beef, carrots, red peppers, and green onions. Simmer in your crock pot with a flavorful, sweet and savory sauce. This Slow cooker beef ramen recipe from Persnickety Plates is a Japanese-inspired dish that will satisfy even the hungriest teens!

2. Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole

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Crock Pot Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole from Spicy Southern Kitchen is full of pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, sour cream, and 4 types of cheese. It’s pure comfort food and always a family favorite.

3. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

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Ground Beef Stroganoff from Together as a Family is an easy dinner recipe that comes together quickly. It’s made with ground beef, a gravy packet for lots of flavor, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup. This recipe is the easy way to make the classic comfort food beef stroganoff.

4. Slow Cooker Ground Beef Goulash

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This Crockpot Goulash from Chef Savvy is comfort food at it’s finest! Ground beef, vegetables, tomatoes and seasonings are slow cooked for hours. The elbow macaroni even gets cooked in the crockpot! This is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes ever!

5. Kitchen Sink Crock Pot Casserole

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You know the expression, “Everything but the kitchen sink?” Well, that’s where this Ground Beef Casserole from Family Fresh Meals gets its name. It’s got pretty much everything you can think of in it: ground beef, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, celery, rice, cheese, butter, steak sauce, onion powder, and tomato soup. And somehow, it all works together.

6. Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Casserole

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This hearty and savory cabbage roll casserole from Recipes Worth Repeating combines the flavors of rich tomato sauce with cabbage, ground beef, and cheese. Without the hassle of making traditional cabbage rolls, this easy crock pot casserole version is perfect for any weeknight dinner

7. Slow Cooker Taco Pasta

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Prep the ingredients for this Easy Slow Cooker Taco Pasta the night before and then start it cooking in your crock pot when you are ready. With just 10 minutes prep, this comforting pasta dish from Kristine’s Kitchen couldn’t be easier or faster to make! he flavor is spot on, and it’s just the kind of warm comfort food you want after a long day. Cheesy pasta with ground beef and your favorite taco flavors… I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!

8. Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

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Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are every child’s favorite comfort food and are a true classic! They are made with ground beef, tomato sauce, brown sugar, and seasoning. Reminisce your childhood right in your kitchen with this easy recipe from Sweet and Savoury Meals.

9. Slow Cooker Meatloaf

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Meatloaf is sort of the all-purpose, go-to dinner recipe. It doesn’t call for any complicated or expensive ingredients. It’s easy. And pretty much everyone likes it. Here’s a Crock Pot Meatloaf recipe (from Family Fresh Meals) with instructions to cook the entire meal in the Crockpot – meatloaf, carrots, and potatoes, all at once. How’s that for easy?

10. Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

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These super-simple crock-pot Swedish Meatballs from Day By Day In Our World are a family and friend favorite. Ground beef in a creamy mushroom sauce – what could be more comforting than that? This one is a great winter dinner recipe to feed your family.

11. Slow Cooker Enchilada Meatballs

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These Slow Cooker Enchilada Meatballs from the Diary of a Housewife are full of flavor and make the perfect appetizer or served them over rice for an easy dinner your family will love. With enchilada sauce, juicy beef, and melted cheese, this easy recipe is sure to be a crowd favourite!

12. Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole

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Crockpot pizza casserole is a weeknight dinner your whole family will devour! In this recipe from All Things Mamma, tender pasta is combined with ground beef, pepperoni, a zesty tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese for a total crowd-pleaser.

13. Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin

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If you’re looking for a hearty meal, this Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin from The Magical Slow Cooker is the perfect recipe to try. Packed with hearty Russet potatoes, ground beef, and simple flavors, your family will love this dinner choice.

14. Slow Cooker Poor Man’s Stew

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Crock Pot Poor Man’s Stew from Eating on a Dime is made with ground beef and other simple ingredients. This makes a delicious and budget friendly stew recipe.

15. Slow Cooker Beef Chili

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Get ready for a little bowl of Chili heaven when you make this flavor packed Easy Crockpot Chili Recipe with Beans from The Frugal Girls.

Enjoy these simple and delicious ground beef recipes made in the slow cooker!

Related

15 Easy Ground Beef Recipes for the Slow Cooker (2024)

FAQs

Can you put raw ground beef in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can totally cook raw beef in a slow cooker. Many slow-cooker chili recipes have a step for browning the beef before it goes into the Crock-Pot. While this step isn't necessary, caramelizing the meat creates richer, bolder flavors.

Do you have to brown ground beef before putting it in the slow cooker? ›

Typically, beef or pork can turn out dry or not as tender if they aren't browned first. However, this applies more to roasts or whole cuts of meat. While you can certainly brown it partially on the stove first, that defeats the purpose of cooking ground beef in the crock pot!

Is beef better at low or high in slow cooker? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

It also makes the meat far more flavorful. Moreover, the slow-and-low method ensures you get that fall-off-the-bone tender meat. The same results just aren't achieved when cooking meat on high heat for a shorter period of time.

How to cook ground beef for beginners? ›

Instructions
  1. Heat the pan and coat with oil. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. ...
  2. Add the meat to the hot pan and break into large pieces. Add the meat to the center of the hot pan. ...
  3. Break meat into smaller pieces, season, and brown. ...
  4. Finish browning.
Aug 29, 2023

Can you put beef in slow cooker without liquid? ›

It's also important to season your beef first and then add plenty of beef broth or another liquid a recipe for slow cooked beef calls for. The meat will make a little of its own juices, but cooking it without liquid may dry out your beef long before it's even fully-cooked, making for a not-so-appetizing dinner.

Why is my ground beef still pink in the crockpot? ›

Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked. The pink color can be due to a reaction between the oven heat and myoglobin, which causes a red or pink color. It can also occur when vegetables containing nitrites are cooked along with the meat.

Why do you put flour on meat before cooking? ›

As for why it's such a prevalent method at all, the two main reasons people will supply are that it helps create a more flavorful sear on the meat and that it thickens up the sauce or broth of the final product.

What happens if you don't brown meat before cooking? ›

“If you leave any parts not browned, you are leaving flavor behind." Wondering about seasoning? Stockton suggests seasoning your meat one day (or at least 10 hours) ahead of time, then letting it sit uncovered on a rack in the refrigerator.

Do you add oil to brown ground beef? ›

If you're working with a nonstick pan, you may not need to add any additional oil. The natural fat from the ground beef will help the meat brown and prevent it from sticking. If you prefer, you can add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to the pan before adding the beef.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Is 3 hours on high the same as 6 hours on low? ›

Change cooking times depending on your schedule. One hour on HIGH generally equals two hours on LOW.

Why does my beef go tough in slow cooker? ›

Meat that is over-cooked, even if it's submerged in liquid, will eventually dry-out, and get tough, and different cuts of meat cook differently. There are a few reasons for that. Not having enough liquid in the pot can do it. A poor cut of meat can result in toughness as well.

What is the trick to cooking ground beef? ›

Place the ground meat in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. The most important trick to browning ground beef is using a wooden spoon ($6, Amazon) or heatproof spatula to break up the meat into equal-size pieces as it cooks. This ensures that all the ground beef pieces brown evenly.

How do you make ground beef more flavorful? ›

The main players include chili peppers, crushed red pepper, black pepper, jalapeño peppers, paprika, poblano peppers, and spicy non-pepper seasonings, such as garlic, onion, and cumin.

How long does raw beef take in slow cooker? ›

Heat on high for 4 hrs or low for 6 hrs until the beef is cooked and tender.

How long does it take to cook raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Cook Time & Quantity
Meat CutMeat WeightHigh Cook Time
Pork Loin3-4 lbs5 hours
Poultry**6 lbs6 ¼ hours
Beef Roast3-4 lbs5 ¾ hours
Stew Meat3 lbs4 ¾ hours
2 more rows

What happens if you don't brown meat for chili? ›

For those with this question in the future, the answer summed up: browning adds more flavor. Not browning the beef beforehand results in greasy chili and boiled mushy yucky beef.

Can you put raw hamburger in spaghetti sauce? ›

You can put raw anything into spaghetti sauce, simmer it long enough and it will cook and be safe to eat.

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