If you’ve ever pondered whether or not you could prepare ground beef in a crockpot, the answer is right here.
How to Cook Ground Beef in a Crockpot
Just occasionally, there are those days when you don’t want to stand by the stove and watch the water boil. In this case, watch meat cook down.
We frequently prepare ground beef recipes, so I just needed to figure out this fundamental step. There are times when you really want dinner prepared when you get home. It is nice to walk into your home and smell all the goodness after a long day of sports and kids. This one is always a winner for dinner.
FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….
- It’s perfect for bringing to a potluck because it has a locking lid and is my favorite 6 quart programmable one.
- This one should be chosen if you only want to serve a few appetizers and it will sit next to one another.
- For simpler cleanups, I prefer to simply spray olive oil inside before adding my food rather than using liners.
I’ll show you a glimpse of my new, pretty thing. I can just leave it out on the countertop constantly because it matches my kitchen. .
How to cook hamburger in a Crockpot
Ok so the names are synonymous to me. If I say hamburger or ground beef, you’ll understand what I mean. What kind you purchase doesn’t really matter all that much. The largest would be the fat content, which simply means that there would be a little more grease at the bottom. To be honest, it needs some.
Don’t go super lean on me because flavor comes from grease and fat, y’all. 80/20 is best if you ask me. Due to the lack of flavor in bison or ground turkey, it will require more seasonings to make it more flavorful.
- That was the question of the day. Learning how to do it well didn’t take too long.
- After that, I could add my own homemade spaghetti sauce to make quick slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs.
Or perhaps you just want to leave it alone. To make a quick meal for taco Tuesday, why not toss in a little taco seasoning?
Can you cook raw hamburger in the Crockpot?
If you’re here, I assume you’ve also been wondering that, so that brings us to the next question of the day. Yes, it’s possible and turns out great. With 1-3 pounds of ground beef on hand, we’ll demonstrate how to do it.
Normally the answer is yes. It needs to be browned on the stovetop first if you’re adding additional ingredients, like our Crockpot hamburger casserole. If it’s alone like this, you don’t.
This is a great way to finish it quickly while keeping your hands completely off of it. Yes, it needs to be stirred occasionally, but there’s no need to stand in front of a hot stove any longer and work up a sweat. .
Ground Beef in a Crockpot
Here is the first step…. Okay, break it up and spread it out on the bottom as shown here before you throw it in.
Makes sense right, because you want it to cook evenly. Add seasonings and/or diced onions or bell peppers now.
Ground beef Slow Cooker Recipe no Browning
Whether you’re making Crockpot taco meat or adding it to another recipe, it functions in the same way as if you were browning ground beef in a pan.
- Add meat and break it up into thin smaller pieces. To ensure even cooking, distribute evenly across the bottom of the pot. Add any additional seasonings, such as garlic powder, onions, and/or bell peppers, on top.
- Close lid and slow cook on high for 1. 5 – 2 hours for 1 pound. You must extend the cooking time if you are preparing more food than that. During the duration, stir every 30 minutes.
When you see that your hamburger has browned, stop cooking, drain it, and then proceed as desired.
Can I put frozen meat in a slow cooker?
It is NOT recommended to do this. Allow frozen meat to defrost in the refrigerator before slow cooking it. There’s the risk of harmful bacteria if you don’t.
Although I have prepared frozen ground beef in the Instant Pot using this technique, Instead, make sure meat is defrosted beforehand.
Yes, you can still perform the same action in a pan over medium-high heat. I do still from time to time. However, if I have a full day of chores planned, I can complete those while occasionally stirring.
- Slow cooking, in my opinion, does a slightly better job of bringing out all the flavors you enjoy.
- Essentially, marinating meat for a few hours in onions and perhaps some taco seasoning will really draw those flavors out of the meat.
- This is great if you are batch cooking too!
- This technique is great if you enjoy adding diced tomatoes and tomato sauce so you can prepare several trays of lasagna or stuffed peppers. We adore ground beef egg rolls as a tasty meal option.
- Once this is precooked and ready to go, you can make a ton of family-friendly meals.
- Instead, you can make air-fried ground beef if you’re in a serious rush.
When you’re ready, you can try any of the many simple hamburger Crock Pot recipes on this page.
Of course, you can also try some of our additional Instant Pot ground beef recipes. We’ll list a few of our loved comfort food dishes below. This breakfast casserole made in a slow cooker would be complete with cheddar cheese. Sausage works too, whichever you prefer.
What can ground beef be used for?
- Our sour cream-topped hamburger casserole is a delicious option for a Christmas brunch dish. For a thicker, creamier alternative, you could substitute cream cheese.
- With a quick cooking time and parmesan cheese on top, the lazy lasagna made in the Instant Pot is a hit. Way easier than the “old fashioned” method.
Our recipe for taco meat in the Instant Pot is another hands-off method. Very easy to complete and always a hit with children (and adults) of all ages.
You may not agree with me, but this is my go-to protein. For us, part of it entails purchasing a half-cow from a nearby farmer at the start of every year. Then we know it is grass fed, organic meat.
While receiving healthy meat that is less expensive than buying it in a store, we up here support the local farms. It’s a win win for us. If you’re interested in buying meat in large quantities, we also share our experience and ideas here.
What is ground beef made of?
- Typically, the leftover trimmings from steaks, roasts, and other beef cuts make up this protein. There is a wide range of different types though. The cheapest is going to have the highest fat content. Most expensive will be organic, grass fed and low fat. The first two, in my opinion, are the most crucial for us, and I do believe that fat is actually necessary for flavor enhancement.
Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!
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Print recipe below, or come back when you need it. We love “seeing you”!!.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- All ingredients should be added to a slow cooker that has been nonstick sprayed. Meat should be broken up into small pieces and layered on the bottom.
- Cook on high for 1. Meat should be broken up every 30 minutes for 5-2 hours until the beef is cooked and no longer pink.
VideoNutrition FactsCrockpot Ground BeefAmount Per Serving (2 oz)
How to Cook Ground Beef in a Slow Cooker
FAQ
Can you cook raw ground beef in a crock pot?
Absolutely, you can cook raw beef in a slow cooker. A step for browning the beef before adding it to the Crock-Pot can be found in many slow cooker chili recipes. Although it’s not necessary, caramelizing the meat results in richer, more intense flavors.
How long does it take to cook a pound of ground beef in a crock pot?
No-browning ground beef slow cooker recipe Add meat and cut it into thin, manageable pieces. To ensure even cooking, distribute evenly across the bottom of the pot. Close lid and slow cook on high for 1. 5 – 2 hours for 1 pound. You must extend the cooking time if you are preparing more food than that.
Should you cook ground beef before putting in slow cooker?
Prior to putting the ground meat and the other ingredients in the slow cooker, the meat should always be browned in a skillet and drained. This procedure reduces the amount of grease in the finished dish and prevents it from clumping together as it cooks.
Can you overcook ground beef in a slow cooker?
You can definitely overcook ground beef with a crock pot. It won’t be as juicy or tender if you cook it for too long. In a crock pot, your meat can even burn, but only if you don’t add water or if you leave it in for a very long time.