• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Lovin Family
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Drinks
  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Sweets
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
    • Recipes
    • Cooking Tips
  • ×

    Home » Dinner

    Crockpot Taco Meat

    Published: Jun 16, 2020 by heather · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe

    Crockpot Taco Meat is just the recipe for a taco Tuesday at home or making dinner for a crowd. Full of flavor, tender and always a family favorite.

    If you enjoy slow cooker cooking be sure to try Crockpot Chicken Fajitas and Crockpot Chicken Tacos.

    Three taco shells with ground beef cheese and lettuce

    This slow cooker ground beef recipe can be used for so many different meals. Tacos, nachos, salads, stuffed peppers and so much more. 3 ingredients is all you need for a freezer friendly meal. Make extra to freeze for another nights meal. 

    Why make taco meat in the slow cooker?

    You might be wondering why should I make taco meat in the crockpot when it doesn’t take much time to cook on the stove? Here are a few reasons:

    • Flavor – The meat takes on incredible flavor since it is slow cooking in the seasonings.
    • Tender – Slow cooking makes incredibly tender beef. 
    • Quantity – If you are cooking for a large group, this is a great way to cook all at once instead of in multiple batches. It’s also great to keep the meat warm for a taco bar. 

    Ingredients needed 

    Ground Beef – I prefer using lean ground beef so avoid having a lot of grease. Feel free to substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.

    Taco Seasoning – Use a packet of seasoning or a homemade blend. 

    Salsa – Use your favorite jarred or fresh salsa.

    How to make taco beef in the crockpot

    Scroll down for full printable recipe, ingredients and video.

    • Combine: Add beef, salsa and seasoning to slow cooker.
    • Cook: Set to high and cook for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours. Make sure meat is cooked through.
    • Serve: Break up meat with a spoon and serve. (Break up meat about 30-45 minutes before serving.)

    ground beef, seasoning and salsa in a slow cooker

    Can you put raw ground beef in slow cooker?

    Yes! Add the beef directly into the slow cooker. I would recommend not cooking meat from frozen. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator before cooking. 

    Do you need to brown meat first?

    The answer is Yes and No. For this recipe, I did not brown the beef first and it was delicious. I have made it browning in the skillet briefly first and it does add a nice texture to the meat. 

    If you are in a hurry I would say don’t worry about browning but if you have the time, give it a quick cook in the skillet. 

    ground beef in a bowl

    Variations

    Can I use different meat? Yes! This also works well with ground turkey and ground chicken. 

    Vegetables? Feel free to add vegetables. Make sure to chop them up small. I like to sometimes add diced red bell pepper or riced cauliflower. 

    Taco Toppings

    I love making a taco bar for dinner. Everyone can choose there own toppings to “decorate” their meal. Here are a few ideas for taco toppings:

    • Diced avocado or guacamole
    • Sour cream
    • Shredded cheese
    • Diced onions
    • Salsa
    • Rice or beans
    • Lettuce
    • Sliced black olives
    • Pico de Gallo

    How to store and freeze

    Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

    Freeze: Cook beef and let completely cool. Place in a freezer safe container or bag. Make sure to squeeze all of the excess air out of freezer bag. This can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. 

    Reheat: Make sure meat is thawed and reheat in the slow cooker or in a skillet on the stove over medium heat.

    More easy crockpot recipes

    • Sweet and Sour Kielbasa – Flavorful kielbasa with peppers and sauce. 
    • Chicken and Noodles – Tender chicken cooked in a sauce with pasta.
    • Hawaiian Chicken – Shredded chicken and pineapple bits. Great served on rice. 
    • Chicken and Rice – Chicken and yellow rice makes a family favorite meal. 
    • Chicken Cheesy Spaghetti – A creamy pasta dish with chicken and cheese. 
    • Mississippi Chicken – We love this dinner packed with all kinds of flavor. Ranch spices with chicken and banana peppers. 

    ***If you made this recipe please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.

    Three tacos on a plate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    5 from 12 votes

    Slow Cooker Taco Meat

    Super easy and flavorful Slow Cooker Taco Meat.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time4 hrs
    Total Time4 hrs 5 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: crockpot taco meat
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 395kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground beef
    • 1 16 oz jar salsa
    • 1 package taco seasoning

    Instructions

    • Place ground beef, spices and salsa in slow cooker. Place lid on and turn to high heat or 3-4 hours.
    • Approximately 30 minutes before serving, break up the meat with a spoon.

    Video

    Notes

    If you prefer the texture of the ground beef to be a little crisper, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat before adding to slow cooker. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 547IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @foodlovinfamily or tag #foodlovinfamily!

    More Dinner Recipes

    • Bowl of mashed rutabaga, diced rutabaga, and rutabaga soup.
      24 Delicious Rutabaga Recipes
    • Bowl full of diced, roasted rutabaga.
      Roasted Rutabaga
    • Bowl with mashed rutabaga.
      Mashed Rutabaga
    • Purple slaw, potato salad, pea salad, and beans.
      Brisket Sides
    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cherise Kachelmuss

      June 19, 2020 at 2:41 am

      I love that you don’t have to brown first but I probably would out of habit! Great for parties though!

      Reply
    2. Rosemary

      June 19, 2020 at 12:37 am

      Can never go wrong with tacos for sure. Great tip to make the meat in a crockpot. The flavors must be divine. Love this recipe.

      Reply
    3. Shannon Gurnee

      June 18, 2020 at 4:54 am

      I love making chicken in the crockpot for tacos. This looks like a yummy recipe.

      Reply
    4. Helena

      June 18, 2020 at 4:04 am

      5 stars
      Reads like an easy, healthy and tasty way to make tacos!

      Reply
    5. Marysa

      June 18, 2020 at 2:48 am

      This sounds like a convenient way to prep tacos. I haven’t been using my crockpot much, and this sounds like a perfect recipe to try.

      Reply
    6. Jaime

      June 18, 2020 at 12:58 am

      I love using the crock pot. This is a great idea for tacos. Yum!

      Reply
    7. Liz

      June 17, 2020 at 9:15 pm

      This seems so delicious and easy! I really need to invest in a crockpot.

      Reply
    8. Sarah Bailey

      June 17, 2020 at 8:04 pm

      I have to admit I do love a good taco – I wouldn’t have thought of using a crockpot to make the meat though – I should try it!

      Reply
    9. Kathy

      June 17, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      That looks amazing! I’ve never tried making it before in the crockpot. What a great idea. I’m going to have to give this recipe a try real soon. We sure do love tacos.

      Reply
    10. Beth

      June 17, 2020 at 1:35 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea to prepare the taco filling in the crockpot! It looks delicious!

      Reply
    11. Lori Bosworth

      June 16, 2020 at 11:24 pm

      5 stars
      I love tacos! I never thought to make the meat in my slow cooker. I’m definitely going to try this!

      Reply
    12. Tasheena

      June 16, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      This looks really yummy. I love that this recipe is made in a crockpot.

      Reply
    13. jerry godinho

      June 16, 2020 at 8:44 pm

      i love tacos and mexican food but never thought about doing it in a crock pot. I love your vivid details, i love your exact menus and i just love everything about your blog keep up the amazing work

      Reply
    14. Amber Myers

      June 16, 2020 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum, this looks good. I’ll try this out the next time we make tacos.

      Reply
    15. Brenda

      June 16, 2020 at 8:04 pm

      Hi it’s Brenda from RubyHemMinistries.com We make tacos all the time so I’ll have to keep this recipe to give it a try.

      Reply
    16. Jennifer Van Haitsma

      June 16, 2020 at 7:10 pm

      I’ve never made it in the crockpot but that sounds amazing! I haven’t had a taco in ages. Now I need to put the ingredients on my next grocery list 🙂

      Reply
    17. Crystal Carder

      June 16, 2020 at 6:47 pm

      We love taco night in my household! I love how you make it in the crock pot too, no cooking on hot days.

      Reply
    18. melissa chapman

      June 16, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      5 stars
      That taco meat is sure to please a crowd or just the family. I rarely use a crock pot or slow cooker but this sounds like a great way to cook the meat.

      Reply
    19. cait

      June 16, 2020 at 6:08 pm

      were huge fan os taco meat but i never thought to make it in a crockpot. ill have to do this sometime!

      Reply
    20. GiGi Eats

      June 16, 2020 at 5:45 pm

      I bet this meat tastes MAGICAL!!!! I need to try it in a crockpot, STAT!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello and thank you for visiting Food Lovin’ Family! With 3 kids I know it can be hard getting food on the table. Here you will find easy and delicious recipes that the whole family will enjoy.

    More about me →

    Favorite Recipes

    • Bacon wrapped water chestnuts, pinwheel, wontons, crab cakes.
      36 Best Hors D’Oeuvres Recipes
    • Bowl of salmon dip with sliced cucumbers, radish, and crackers.
      Canned Salmon Dip
    • Cheese fondue with bread, chocolate strawberry fondue, steak fondue.
      25 Best Fondue Recipes
    • Candy, popcorn, chicken nuggets, and soft pretzel.
      28 Best Movie Snacks
    • Loaded cheese fries.
      21 Best Loaded Fries Recipes
    • Hand holding chip with cheese dip.
      Chili Cheese Dip

    Sweets

    31 Best Ricotta Desserts

    Slice of cheesecake, cannoli, zeppoli, and ricotta cake.

    Strawberry Milkshake

    Glass with strawberry milkshake and whipped cream.

    31 Best Blueberry Desserts

    Slice of blueberry pie, blueberry ice cream, and piece of blueberry buckle.

    27 Best Brownie Mix Recipes

    Chocolate cookies, brownie sundae, and brownies.

    More Love →

    Drinks

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    25 Delicious Apple Cider Cocktails

    Glass filled with ice and apple juice.

    25 Spooky Halloween Cocktails

    Orange martini, bloody mary, and green martini.

    30 Festive Christmas Cocktails

    Copper much with cranberries, blue drink, green drink, and a milky drink.

    More Love →

    Lunch

    Canned Salmon Salad

    Salmon salad on a lettuce leaf and wheat bread.

    24 Best Poke Bowls

    Tuna poke bowl, shrimp poke bowl, and tofu poke bowl.

    30 Best Fall Soup Recipes

    Four bowls of soup.

    30 Tortilla Wrap Recipes

    Chicken tortilla wrap, hap and cheese wrap, and chicken wrap.

    More Love →

    Breakfast

    Strawberry Muffins

    25 Delicious Breakfast Drinks

    Smoothie, hot chocolate, frappuccino, and mimosa.

    McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce Recipe

    Bowl of yellow sauce and a spoon.

    27 Best Bisquick Recipes

    Breakfast casserole, chicken tenders, pizza, and piece of quiche on plate.

    More Love →

    Appetizers

    24 Delicious Rutabaga Recipes

    Bowl of mashed rutabaga, diced rutabaga, and rutabaga soup.

    36 Best Hors D’Oeuvres Recipes

    Bacon wrapped water chestnuts, pinwheel, wontons, crab cakes.

    Canned Salmon Dip

    Bowl of salmon dip with sliced cucumbers, radish, and crackers.

    25 Best Fondue Recipes

    Cheese fondue with bread, chocolate strawberry fondue, steak fondue.

    More Love →

    Dinner

    24 Delicious Rutabaga Recipes

    Bowl of mashed rutabaga, diced rutabaga, and rutabaga soup.

    Roasted Rutabaga

    Bowl full of diced, roasted rutabaga.

    Mashed Rutabaga

    Bowl with mashed rutabaga.

    Brisket Sides

    Purple slaw, potato salad, pea salad, and beans.

    More Love →

    Footer

    Collage of logos.

    Copyright © 2022 foodlovinfamily.com. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY.