Ground beef is affordable, family friendly and a great slow cooker ingredient, as long as you brown it first. These crockpot ground beef recipes turn a pound or two of beef into chili, lasagna, sloppy joes and more.
Brown, drain, then let the slow cooker build the flavor.
Quick Picks
- Best for a crowd: Easy Crockpot Chili
- Best comfort food: Crockpot Lasagna
- Best for kids: Crockpot Sloppy Joes
11 Crockpot Ground Beef Recipes
1. Easy Crockpot Chili
Beef, beans and a homemade spice blend.
Get the full easy crockpot chili recipe
2. Crockpot Lasagna
Layered with no-boil noodles, ricotta and mozzarella.
Get the full crockpot lasagna recipe
3. Crockpot Lasagna Soup
Lasagna flavor in a bowl.
Get the full crockpot lasagna soup recipe
4. Crockpot Spaghetti
Meat sauce with the pasta cooked in the pot.
Get the full crockpot spaghetti recipe
5. Crockpot Meatloaf
Moist and tender with a ketchup glaze.
Get the full crockpot meatloaf recipe
6. Crockpot Sloppy Joes
Brown 2 lb (900 g) ground beef with 1 diced onion and 1 diced bell pepper and drain. Add 1 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 1 tbsp yellow mustard and 1 tsp salt. Cook on LOW for 4 hours. Serve on toasted buns.
7. Crockpot Taco Meat
Brown 2 lb ground beef and drain. Add 2 tbsp homemade taco seasoning and 1 cup salsa and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Keep on WARM for a taco bar.
8. Cheeseburger Soup
Beef, potatoes and cheddar in a creamy soup.
Get the full cheeseburger soup recipe
9. Stuffed Pepper Soup
Peppers, tomatoes, beef and rice.
Get the full stuffed pepper soup recipe
10. Beef and Bean Chili
A budget chili that stretches 1 lb of beef.
Get the full beef and bean chili recipe
11. Chili for Two
A small-batch version.
Get the full chili for two recipe
How to Cook Ground Beef in a Crockpot
- Always brown it first. Raw ground beef clumps and turns greasy in the slow cooker.
- Drain the fat. It keeps sauces from turning oily.
- Use 85% lean. It has enough fat for flavor without too much grease.
- Ground turkey works too. Use the same timing.
Equipment I Used
- Large airtight food storage container: for leftovers and freezer portions.
- Large ceramic pasta and soup bowls: deep enough for stews, soups and saucy dinners.
- Wooden cutting board with handle: for slicing and serving right at the table.
Planning a busy week? The Slow Cooking for Busy Days guide covers time-saving slow cooker recipes and meal planning.
Crockpot Ground Beef Recipes FAQ
Can you put raw ground beef in a crockpot?
It is safe if it reaches 160°F, but it clumps and makes the dish greasy. Browning first gives much better results.
How long does ground beef take in a slow cooker?
Browned ground beef needs 3 to 6 hours on LOW, mostly to build flavor in the sauce.
Can I use frozen ground beef?
No. Thaw it and brown it first.
What can I make with 1 lb of ground beef?
Chili, lasagna soup, spaghetti sauce or stuffed pepper soup all use about 1 lb.
