Crockpot ground beef recipe is here. Cooking hamburger meat without a skillet is not only possible but comes out great! Then use it as an ingredient in your recipe, or enjoy as is for tacos.

crockpot-hamburger
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The other day I was wondering if I could cook ground beef from raw to perfectly tender without a stove. Instead I made it as a Crockpot recipe in the afternoon and a few hours later it was ready to enjoy! I couldn’t believe how helpful this kitchen hack was that I had to share it with all of you. (affiliate links present)

Can you put raw ground beef in a Crockpot?

In this case, yes!! No precooking or browning required. It is quite easy, you just break it up and in a few hours it is ready to add into a casserole or wrap inside a tortilla with cheese for tacos. This and our air fryer ground beef is a great alternative without a skillet necessary.

We love sharing what to cook with ground beef because we too have had super busy days when we need dinner done without a lot of prep. After an exhausting day of kids and sports it is nice to walk into your house and smell all the goodness.

Ground crockpot beef sits invitingly in a bowl, surrounded by salt, pepper shakers, and freshly chopped onions on a pristine white surface.
A white slow cooker holds raw ground beef, ready to be transformed into a hearty crockpot meal.

Tips

Hamburger and ground beef essentially mean the same thing to most of us. The biggest difference in the outcome will depend on the amount of fat left at the bottom. To be honest, it needs some. Grease and fat means flavor y’all so don’t go super lean on me. 80/20 is best if you ask me. Ground venison, bison or ground turkey doesn’t have much and will need a bit more seasonings to amp it.

Do you need to brown the ground beef first?

This is not necessary and it will still turn out great. Would kinda’ defeat the whole purpose if you use a pan and then put into your Crock. We will show you how to do it with 1-3 pounds in the recipe card below. Now in the case of Crockpot hamburger casserole you would need to cook beforehand since it is mixed with other ingredients.

Do you need to add liquid to cook ground beef in a slow cooker?

Nope! Here is the first step to get this going….throw it in!! Ok you need to break it up and spread it out on the bottom like you see here. Makes sense right, because you want it to cook evenly. Reason why you don’t need water or broth is that when cooking there will be grease released which will allow steam to form and heat the meat to browned.

Can you cook frozen ground beef in a slow cooker?

In this case it wouldn’t work so great because you would need to consistently break off the cooked pieces to reveal the iced middle in order for it to brown all the way thru. This is How to Cook Frozen Ground Beef a number of different ways but this for this one specifically, cooking frozen meat in a slow cooker isn’t a great option. Instead allow it to defrost in the fridge first.

Typically if this is all I have I will choose to cook Instant Pot frozen ground beef instead which is a quick and effective method. For these steps below, make sure meat is defrosted beforehand.

hamburger meat
A close-up of crockpot ground beef with onions rests on a wooden spoon above a white bowl, showcasing its rich texture and savory aroma.
5 from 6 votes

Crockpot Ground Beef Recipe

By Justine
Crockpot ground beef instructions are here. Want to know how to cook hamburger in a slow cooker raw, it's possible! Then use it as an ingredient in your recipe.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Servings: 8

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
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Instructions 

  • Put all ingredients into slow cooker sprayed with non stick spray. Smash meat into small pieces and a thin layer on the bottom.
    A white slow cooker holds raw ground beef, ready to be transformed into a hearty crockpot meal.
  • Cook on high for 1.5-2 hours breaking up meat every 30 minutes until beef is no longer pink and cooked.
    A bowl of succulent crockpot ground beef mixed with chopped onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 150kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 40mg, Sodium: 329mg, Potassium: 173mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
Do you have to cook ground beef before putting in the Crockpot?

Normally the answer is yes but not if you are cooking it all by itself, that is the exception to this rule. If you’re adding other ingredients like our Crockpot hamburger casserole then it needs to be browned on your stovetop first. If it’s alone like this, you don’t.

How long is cooked hamburger able to sit in a Crockpot?

Most machines have a “Warm” setting designed to keep food at a safe temperature above 140°F or 60°C for quite some time. You can safely leave the cooked hamburger on this setting for 2 to 4 hours and then you should really turn it off and allow it to cool off so you can store in the fridge for later.

Will a Crockpot brown ground beef?

Not really. It will cook it to a safe consumable temperature but you’d need to get some color on it in a pan over medium high heat. I do still from time to time depending on what I am making. If I have a busy day though it isn’t necessary and you can add taco seasoning right into the pot to essentially marinate the meat for a few hours in with your onions.

What are some good Crock pot recipes using ground beef?

Here is a long list of easy hamburger Crock pot recipes you can try once you’re ready to go too. This is great if you are batch cooking and having a get together, especially to use for a taco bar. If you love adding diced tomatoes and tomato sauce so then you can make a few trays full of lasagna!

What is ground beef made of?

This protein generally consists of the leftover trimmings from steaks, roasts and other beef cuts. 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. I think the first 2 are most important for us, I think there does need to be some fat for added flavor really.

slow cooker ground beef

What can ground beef be used for?

I could add into some homemade spaghetti sauce and have Crockpot spaghetti and meatballs ready super quick. Another hands off approach is our Sloppy Joes Recipe that is super quick to do and always a win with kids of all ages (and adults).

We will share a few of our family favorite comfort food meals below. Add cheddar cheese to this slow cooker breakfast casserole and you’re set. Sausage works too, whichever you prefer. Instant Pot lazy lasagna is a winner with parmesan cheese on top and a really short cooking time. Way easier than the “old fashioned” method.

Other ideas are air fryer stuffed peppers, this method is great. We love ground beef egg rolls for a fun meal idea too. There are tons of family friendly meals you can make once this is pre cooked and ready to go like our one pot spaghetti.

crockpot ground beef

About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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9 Comments

  1. This is great! I always just use the stove top but it’s great to have it cooking during the day while doing other things and have it ready to go for dinner time. LOVE!

  2. This was perfect for our taco tuesday night this week! Just added some taco seasoning at the end, yum!

  3. I’m always looking for new ways to use my crockpot so this was perfect! I’m sending this idea to my mom, too!