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.

Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (1)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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!

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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.)

3. Cover and cook for 3 -4 hours on high until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat in the slow cooker and serve.

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 on high for 5-6 hours.

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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.

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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.

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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:

Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (12)

Review

Pin Print

Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe

4.99 from 444 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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More Crockpot Taco Recipes

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Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (13)

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We love this recipe, because you just dump everything in the crock pot and walk away. Try one of these other 63 Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes.

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About the Author

Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (22)

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
Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

Do you put taco seasoning in before or after you drain meat? ›

Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Pour water and seasoning mix over beef; stir to combine.

What is the thickening agent for taco meat? ›

A typical 12-serving taco seasoning mix recipe uses about 1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch. If you want to skip the cornstarch in your homemade seasoning to use it for other purposes, just sprinkle ⅓ to ½ teaspoon of cornstarch per pound of browned, spiced meat before adding ¾ cup of water and heat until thickened.

Do you add water to taco meat when cooking? ›

It also doesn't take as much cornstarch to thicken a sauce, making it ideal for including in a taco mix packet. The amount of flour needed would make the packet unwieldy. However, because cornstarch needs to be dissolved in liquid, you have to add water when cooking.

How do Mexican restaurants get their taco meat so fine? ›

Making Restaurant Style Mexican Ground Beef:

The secret to many of those simple ground beef dishes is to slowly cook the ground beef with a little water; the fat renders out and the beef, when finished, will be just right. And that works with this taco/burrito beef, too.

What can I add to taco meat to make it go further? ›

Potatoes!! The potato skin to be exact. I asked the waiter about this and he said that's what gives it its creaminess and that his mother used to add potatoes (and sometimes pinto beans) to their ground beef to make it go further.

Do you brown meat before adding taco seasoning? ›

To use the seasoning mix, brown 1lb ground meat then add 2 – 2-1/2 Tablespoons seasoning with 1/3 cup broth or water, then simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced, 1-2 minutes.

Why does my taco meat taste bland? ›

The number one reason why people end up with bland tacos is because the meat wasn't seasoned properly. Luckily, that isn't an issue with this dish. However, if you find that your tacos aren't spicy enough for your liking, feel free to adjust the seasoning as needed or add a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.

Do you brown taco meat before seasoning? ›

It is generally recommended to brown the meat before adding the taco seasoning. This helps to develop a richer flavor and ensures that the seasoning coats the meat evenly. Simply cook the meat in a skillet over medium-high heat until it is browned and then proceed to add the taco seasoning.

How do you spice up bland taco meat? ›

For tacos or Mexican dishes, common spices for ground beef include cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne for heat. Adjust quantities based on personal taste preferences.

What does adding cornstarch to ground beef do? ›

Combined with egg, cornstarch is an important ingredient in meat and fish marinades. When passed through the oil, cornstarch helps to seal in the juices of the protein and make it crispier.

Why is my taco meat runny? ›

If you've ever made your own taco seasoning mix from your stash of cabinet spices, you might have noticed that the resulting cooked meat is less cohesive. This is because most recipes do not include the addition of cornstarch.

When making taco meat do you drain the grease? ›

I don't drain my meat unless it seems excessively fatty. Instead, I would clear out a spot in the center of the cooked meat so that the fat will form a pool. Add your seasoning into the pool and stir to incorporate as much of the seasoning into the fat.

How much water do I need for 2 pounds of taco meat? ›

I use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per pound. For 2 pounds, I would use 4 tablespoons. After sprinkling over your burger mixture, don't forget to add about 2/3 cup of water (since your doing 2 pounds) to your mixture. Let it all simmer together in its taco goodness!

Do you drain grease from taco meat? ›

Draining the grease from ground beef will make a dish healthier and is usually recommended. Brown the meat first to extract the fat. Then, you can spoon the grease out of the pan or use a colander to drain the grease. It is important you do not discard the hot grease down a drain as it can cause damage to the drain.

What can I add to tacos to make them better? ›

Toppings
  1. Shredded cheese.
  2. Shredded lettuce.
  3. Pickled red onion.
  4. Jalapeño slices.
  5. Chopped tomatoes.
  6. Sliced black olives.
  7. Shredded Mexican cheese.
  8. Diced white onion.

How do you elevate a taco kit? ›

Upgrade Boxed Tacos
  1. Box of Taco Shells.
  2. Taco Seasoning Packet.
  3. Ground Meat ( we use beef or chicken)
  4. Diced sweet or white onion.
  5. Bell Pepper any color will do.
  6. 1 Diced Jalapeno.
  7. 1 Chipotle in adobo (you can add more if you want it hotter)
  8. Salsa.

How do you elevate tacos at home? ›

12 Best Additions That Will Elevate Your Tacos
  1. Nixtamalized corn tortillas. Sergio Hayashi/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Shredded meats. Veselovaelena/Getty Images. ...
  3. Consomme. Bhofack2/Getty Images. ...
  4. Crumbly cheese. Snyferok/Getty Images. ...
  5. Griddled cheese. Lauripatterson/Getty Images. ...
  6. Onions. ...
  7. Fresh herbs. ...
  8. Fresh or pickled cruciferous veggies.
May 12, 2023

How do you spice up taco seasoning? ›

If you prefer a spicier taco seasoning mix, use spicy chili powder and/or add up to 2 teaspoons red chili pepper flakes.

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