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Learn How to Cook Ground Beef in a Crock Pot with these simple steps. The perfect way to meal prep ground beef for the week without the mess.
There are many cooking methods to brown ground beef but cooking in the crockpot is now my go-to method. As a busy mom of 8, this easy slow cooker recipe makes planning meals for the week so much easier.
Making this ground beef in a crockpot is perfect to use to make Ground Beef Teriyaki for an easy weeknight meal.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
Slow Cooking ground beef in the crock pot allows you to walk away and let the crockpot do all the work. It prevents grease splatter and makes cleanup a breeze.
This cooking tip is a great way to meal prep all your ground beef recipes for the week to save time. The ground beef comes our full of flavors and taste of amazing.
Ingredients
- Raw Ground Beef
- Water
- Salt
- Black Pepper
Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Ground Turkey – You can add in ground turkey with the ground beef if you prefer.
- Seasoning – Feel free to change the spices to what you prefer. We have even added in taco seasoning if we are making this ground beef for Mexican Recipes.
- Veggies – Add in chopped onions, bell peppers or diced tomatoes to add flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – Add the 3 pounds of ground beef, water, salt and pepper to a crock pot.
Step 2 – Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Break up the browning meat in the crock pot every 30-60 minutes. Stir and cook until the beef is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Step 3 – Then carefully drain off any excess grease and liquid from the crock pot and ground meat.
- Step 4 – Then the browned ground beef is ready to use in your favorite recipe or refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Recipe Tips
- Cooking Ground Beef – Add the ground beef is cooking in the crock pot, continually break up the beef with a spatula. This ensures that the meet cooks thoroughly. Cooking time will vary.
- Draining Ground beef – Drain the fully cooked ground beef after cooking. We recommend using colander or a slotted spoon to ensure that all the liquid has been drained.
What to Make With Ground Beef?
There are many recipes to use with this prepared ground beef. I like to prepare my menu based on this cooked ground beef or it is easy to store in the freezer to use throughout the month.
These are some of our favorite recipes.
- Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole Recipe
- Cincinnati Chili Recipe
- Best Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
- Ground Beef Taco Meat Recipe
- Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
I used a 6 quart crock pot for this recipe. But you can use an 8 quart crockpot if you prefer.
We recommend dividing the ground beef in 1 pound airtight containers to store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.
You can freeze the browned ground beef in a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months.
If your lean ground beef is frozen, we recommend allowing it to thaw first in the fridge. Then place in the crockpot to make slow cooker ground beef recipe.
More Cooking Tips for Beginners
We love hearing from you. If you Brown Ground Beef in your Slow Cooker, please leave us a comment.
How to Cook Ground Beef in a Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Ground Beef
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, water, salt and pepper to a crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Break up the beef in the crock pot every 30-60 minutes and cook until the beef is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Then carefully drain off any excess grease and liquid from the crock pot.
- Then the browned ground beef is ready to use in your favorite recipe or refrigerate for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
