Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (2024)

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This Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe makes the best taco meat packed with flavor. Dinner time is a breeze when you make taco meat in a crock pot.

Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe

Tacos are my family’s favorite meal. Whether it is Mexican Monday or Taco Tuesday, our family is always up for a good taco.

While cooking the taco meat is not a hard task, sometimes you just need to be able to have dinner on the table the moment you get home. Learn how to cook slow cookertacofilling to make dinner time so easy during busy weeknights.

Toss everything in the slow cooker earlier in the day and once you come home, dinner is ready to be served. Plus, the meat is so flavorful and tender from being in the crockpot all day!

It is our favorite way to enjoy tacos. Check out also our Skillet Ground Beef Tacos or this Fried Taco recipe.

Crock Pot taco meat is perfect for parties!

Not only does your slow cooker make family dinner time a breeze but it is also great for parties or large crowds. We love to serve tacos for parties and using the crockpot makes it so easy.

I’m not stuck in the kitchen and the slow cooker does all the work. Plus, the taco meat stays nice and warm until everyone is ready to eat. You can even reheat taco meat in the crock pot if you have leftovers.

It truly is perfect for any parties you might have.

Do you have a good crock pot?

Now you definitely need a crock pot for this recipe. I used a 6 quart crock pot for this recipe.

I recommend a programmable crock pot so that the crock pot will switch to the keep warm setting after the cook time. They are awesome and you can find some that are very affordable.

How to use leftover taco meat?

We love leftover taco meat. I will intentionally double the batch that I am making so that we can have leftovers for the upcoming meat.

You can make burritos
We love making taco salad
Serve on top of homemade arepas
Make homemade taco bowls. I like to add black beans to my taco bowl.
Check out these other ways to use up the leftover taco meat.

Can you put raw ground beef in a slow cooker?

Yes you can. There is no browning required in this recipe. Everything gets tossed in the slow cooker for an amazing meal. You will love how tender and delicious this taco meat turns out.

If you do decide to have the crockpot brown you meat, it might turn out a little drier. Just add in a little salsa and it will be the perfect consistency for beef tacos.

If you would like to still brown your ground beef on a skillet, that is fine also. Just spoon it in the crockpot with the other ingredients.

Use homemade taco seasoning:

We love to make homemade taco seasoning. It is so simple and easy. I keep this on hand and it makes a big batch.You will save so much money making this at home.

It is so nice not having to buy the little packets all the time at the grocery store. Plus, I love knowing exactly what is in the taco seasoning.

Let’s make Crockpot Taco Meat!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Taco Meat:

Lean Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
Salsa
Taco seasoning – I use homemade taco seasoning

How do you slow cook ground beef for tacos?

1. Place the ground meat in the slow cooker.

2. Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix. (We use homemade taco seasoning.)

Toppings for Taco Meat:

Shredded cheese
Sour cream
Onion
Diced tomatoes
Salsa
Avocado

You can also add rice to your tacos. It is so tasty and a great way to stretch your meat as well. Everyone loves rice and it is such a tasty way to make your meat go further.

We also like crockpot taco chicken for a quick and easy dinner idea.

We have the best Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe with only 3 ingredients needed! This is a nice change from ground beef if you want to try something different some weeks.

This is one my favorite ways to cook chicken. With only 3 ingredients I can make easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos.

Save time and save money!

We often use what meat we have in the freezer or what is on sale that week. By shopping when things are on sale Isave money on groceriesand it really helps our budget.

Whether you use ground beef, ground turkey or chicken in this recipe, it is sure to be a hit. Saving money and feeding a big family can be accomplished. Easy recipes like this keep my family happy and my grocery budget in good shape.This is how I keep our grocery budget reasonable.

Plus, being able to throw this together quickly and easily really helps to avoid the temptation of getting take out.

Everyone is much happier with a delicious home cooked meal anyway. Take out these days is not that fast and costs a small fortune. It is even more if you have 8 kids like I do.

How to store taco meat

If you have taco meat leftover, you can place it in the refrigerator. I love having taco meat available for my kids to grab a quick taco as they are heading out the door. It is so much better for them and I know they are eating something that will last them for awhile.

Taco meat is also great to store. I like to place in a ziplock freezer bag. I make sure all the air is out and then I place it in the freezer. It is good in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure you check out all our Leftover Taco Meat Recipes.

This is one of favorite slow cookertacoground beef recipes!

This recipe is so easy and everyone loves it! You can’t go wrong with thisslow cooker recipe. Dinner is so easy with the slow cooker plus really tasty as well. Let us know what you family thinks!

What to serve with Tacos

Easy Spanish Rice Recipe
Easy Crockpot Refried Beans Recipe
The Best Crock Pot White Cheese Dip Recipe
Easy Sopapilla Recipe
Check out What to Serve with Tacos for more side dish ideas.

Print this Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe below:

Review

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Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe

4.99 from 442 votes

Learn how to make Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe for the best taco meat packed with flavor. Get dinner on the table quickly when you make taco meat in crock pot.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 6

Cuisine Mexican

Course Main Course

Calories 399

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

▢ 2 pounds lean ground beef
▢ 1 cup salsa
▢ 3 tablespoons taco seasoning

Instructions

Place the ground meat (raw) in the crock pot.
Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix. (We use homemade taco seasoning.)
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat and serve.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

I like to break up the taco meat 30 minutes before serving. Also, you could use frozen ground beef but you will need to cook for an additional hour on high.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 399kcal, Carbohydrates 3g, Protein 26g, Fat 30g, Saturated Fat 11g, Cholesterol 107mg, Sodium 541mg, Potassium 531mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 2g, Vitamin A 365IU, Vitamin C 1.6mg, Calcium 40mg, Iron 3.2mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page

FAQs

How to keep taco meat from drying out in the crockpot? ›

Taco meat can dry out if you don't add extra water to the slow cooker. I suggest adding water before turning on the heat. This will keep the meat nice and moist, and serves the double purpose of helping the seasoning melt into the meat!

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How can I make my taco meat taste better? ›

Taco Meat Recipes

Feel free to play around with adding different veggies or spices. I sometimes toss chopped onions in with the ground beef while it's browning. Chopped roasted green chiles are another great add-in, especially if you like spice. Simply add them along with the beans and corn.

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How long does it take to heat up taco meat in a slow cooker? ›

Instructions

Place the ground meat (raw) in the crock pot.
Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix. (We use homemade taco seasoning.)
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat and serve.

Dec 8, 2021

How long can cooked ground beef stay in the crockpot? ›

The hamburger meat itself is never going to burn in a crock-pot, and as long as there is a good enough seal and enough liquid, it shouldn't dry out. As long as the meat is in the bacteria-killing temperature range, I don't see why it couldn't stay there for 10 hours.

How do you keep taco meat from drying out? ›

The best way to prevent taco meat from drying out is to use ground beef with a high enough fat content, usually 70% lean 30% or 80/20. The leaner the beef, the more likely it is to dry out, so you'll want to add extra beef broth or water as it's cooking.

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Can you put uncooked ground beef in the crockpot? ›

Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done.

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Do you add taco seasoning before or after cooking meat? ›

Crumble the ground chuck into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until browned. Remove from heat, rinse meat with hot water, and drain water and grease from beef. Return meat to skillet, and pour in seasoning.

When to add seasoning to taco meat? ›

To season ground meat tacos, first sauté the meat until it loses its pinkish color. Then sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir to combine.

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What can I add to my taco meat? ›

I like to use salt, pepper, cayenne, chili powder, dried cilantro, and cumin. You could also use a taco seasoning packet, but I prefer this blend of seasonings. Once the meat is seasoned, add about 1 1/2 cups of beef broth and stir well.

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Can you cook taco meat and keep in crockpot overnight? ›

If it finished cooking before you need it, turn the crock pot down to LOW or WARM until you're ready to eat. If you are planning ahead, you can cook the taco meat on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Get More Info Here ›

How to keep taco meat warm in a crockpot? ›

How do you keep taco meat warm in a crock pot? Once it's cooked all the way, you can keep the slow cooker on warm. Keep the lid on and the meat will stay warm. Stir it every so often.

Read On ›

Can you overcook taco meat? ›

While it is true that overcooking ground beef is possible, it is essential to understand the signs indicating that it is ready. One way to know if it is fully cooked is to perform a "smell test." Smell the ground beef, and if it gives off an unpleasant odor, it may have spoiled and is no longer safe to eat.

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

A general rule of thumb from Luis Sanchez, senior category manager for the appliance manufacturer Breville: To go from "High" to "Low" (or vice versa), multiply (or divide) the original time by 1.5 to 2.5 hours. And as with the cooking times for specific ingredients, these times are approximate.

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Why is my beef still tough after 8 hours in the slow cooker? ›

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. It's important to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipe to ensure that the meat is cooked to the correct doneness.

Is it OK to leave meat in crockpot overnight? ›

On some occasions, you'll want to leave food in the slow cooker to keep warm, during Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner, for example, or any other event or holiday. While it's perfectly ok to use your crock pot in this way, try to avoid leaving food on the warming setting for more than four hours.

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How do you keep taco meat warm in a crockpot? ›

Yes, for a short time. The problem is crock-pots on Warm aren't hot enough to protect against possible spoilage for too long. If you are keeping it just to get the rest prepped, you should be fine. If you use the Low setting, that's a little too warm and you run the risk of overcooking the meat fairly quickly.

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Can I keep taco meat warm in a crockpot? ›

How do you keep taco meat warm in a crock pot? Once it's cooked all the way, you can keep the slow cooker on warm. Keep the lid on and the meat will stay warm. Stir it every so often.

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Can I keep taco meat warm in a slow cooker? ›

To Cook the Meat: Defrost the frozen ground meat in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours. Transfer to a slow cooker / crockpot. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours / high for 4 to 5 hours. (After cooking time is finished, the taco meat can hold on the warming function for up to 2 hours.)

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How do you keep taco meat warm for a party? ›

Keeping your meat, rice, and beans warm is crucial to the success of your taco bar. I use a Crock-Pot for ground beef and a dual warming tray for the rice and beans.

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