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My Crockpot Taco Meat recipe is the best taco meat you will ever make at home! It's easy, needing only 5 minutes of prep and simple ingredients that make up the best taco meat seasoning recipe. Set it, leave it to enjoy the rest of your day, then come back to the perfect meat for taco dinner!
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Taco Meat in the Crockpot
My family looks forward to taco night at least once a week, and out of all the methods I've tried, crockpot taco meat is my favorite way to prepare it! It's as easy as adding all of your ingredients to the pot and cooking it on high. You don't need to do anything to it - you don't even need to stir it!
But, don't be fooled by how easy it is to make slow-cooker taco meat. The prep might be simple, but the flavor is not! It is so complex and flavorful, I promise you'll be cooking taco meat in the crockpot every time after trying it just once.
Taco night has never been so easy. I know you're going to love this recipe as much as my family does! It's a toss-up at our house on which tacos to choose for taco Tuesday, this recipe, Birria Tacos, or Carne Asada Tacos!
Crock Pot Taco Meat Ingredients
- 90/10 Lean Hamburger - How to Defrost Ground Beef
- Water
- Chili Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Dried Chopped Onion
- Ground Black Pepper
- Paprika
- Salt to taste
Slow Cooker Taco Meat Recipe
- Place the hamburger meat in the crockpot and break it up with a wooden spoon or similar utensil.
- Place all the seasonings in the crock pot and stir well.
- Add water.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. When ready, taste for seasonings and add more if need be. Enjoy!
Taco Meat in the Crockpot Recipe Tips
- If you don’t prefer lean hamburger, cook the hamburger by itself for two hours, drain, then add all the remaining ingredients. Chop up the hamburger and stir well. Leave to cook for another hour.
- If need be, you can swap out the seasonings for 3 packets of your favorite taco seasoning.
- If you want to cook the beef on low, it will need to cook for 6 hours.
- Even if you place the meat in the slow cooker chopped up when raw, it will cook into a big disc. So, you’ll want to break it up really well so all the flavors can reach as much of the hamburger as possible.
- The water helps the hamburger remain moist and not dry out through the slow cooking process. It’s important and shouldn’t be omitted!
- Want a slight sweetness to your taco meat? Add a Tablespoon of brown sugar to the mix.
- Want a spicy twist? Add 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, or add some fresh/pickled jalapenos to the mix. Some hot sauce would be a nice touch as well, while adding even more flavor!
Crockpot Tacos Seasoning
My beef taco seasoning is so simple yet it is just perfect. Yet you can adjust it to your liking.
Want a slight sweetness to your taco meat? Add a Tablespoon of brown sugar to the mix.
Want a spicy twist? Add 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper, or add some fresh/pickled jalapenos to the mix. Some hot sauce would be a nice touch as well while adding even more flavor!
Instant Pot Taco Meat Instructions
You can make this taco meat recipe in the Instant Pot, too. Because you need more room in the Instant Pot for the food to pressurize and cook properly, I recommend cooking 1 pound of ground beef at a time to ensure you do not go above the max fill line.
Follow these instructions to make Instant Pot taco meat. Instant Pot taco meat can be made using frozen or thawed ground beef.
- First, add 1 cup of water to the pot. Then, place the trivet in the pot and add the ground beef on top of the trivet.
- Seal the lid and pressure cook for 15 minutes on high pressure for thawed ground beef, or 20 minutes on high pressure for frozen ground beef.
- Once the cooking time is up, carefully quickly release the pressure. After it releases, transfer the beef to a plate and remove the trivet. Rinse and dry the inside of the pot.
- Add the ground beef back to the Instant Pot on saute mode. Cook the beef until it browns and crumbles. Once it is mostly brown, add your seasoning and another ½ cup of water. Cook until the liquid is mostly gone, then serve and enjoy.
Crockpot Taco Meat FAQs
Taco meat lasts 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Generally, you will want about ¼ pound of taco meat per person. The average person eats about 3 tacos. This recipe for crockpot taco meat yields 3 pounds of taco meat, which is enough for 12 servings, making it perfect for serving a crowd or for meal prepping for the week.
Crockpot taco meat using 90/10 lean hamburger beef makes the best taco meat. It cooks easily and is so flavorful.
My taco meat recipe is keto-friendly and perfect for serving as part of a keto meal plan! Try making it into lettuce wraps.
How to Cook Taco Meat for a Crowd
My recipe for crockpot taco meat calls for 3 pounds of beef, which makes enough for 12 servings.
If you need more, you will need a larger slow cooker or you can cook the beef at separate times. Crockpot taco meat holds up well in the refrigerator and can easily be made ahead of time!
Taco Meat Recipes
If you have leftover taco meat, try using it for some of my favorite taco meat recipe ideas! These are the best hamburger meat recipes for using up your leftover meat.
- Taco Soup
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Add it to Hamburger Soup
- Ground Beef Enchiladas
- See my guide on How to Cook Ground Beef for more ideas!
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Crockpot Taco Meat
Equipment
- 6-quart Slow cooker
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 3 Pounds 90/10 Lean Hamburger
- 1 Cup Water
- 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Chopped Onion
- 1 Tablespoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika
- Salt to taste
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Place the hamburger in the crockpot and break it up very well with a wooden spoon or similar utensil.3 Pounds 90/10 Lean Hamburger
- Place all the seasonings in the crock pot and stir well, then top with water.1 Cup Water, 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder, 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder, 2 Tablespoons Dried Chopped Onion, 1 Tablespoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper, 1 Tablespoon Paprika, Salt
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
- Taste for seasonings and add more if need be. Enjoy!
Notes
- You will need at least a 6-quart Slow Cooker Crockpot.
- If you want to cook the beef on low, it will need to cook for 6 hours.
- Even if you place the meat in the slow cooker chopped up when raw, it will cook into a big disc. So, you’ll want to break it up really well so all the flavors can reach as much of the hamburger as possible.
- The water helps the hamburger remain moist and not dry out through the slow cooking process. It’s important and shouldn’t be omitted!
Nutrition
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Judy says
What about the grease from the hamburger meat?
Em Beitel says
Hi Judy! Because of how it cooks in the slow cooker, you don't need to drain it. Thank you!
Patt says
Will taco seasoning from a mix work? We have one that we love and I really don't want to buy large amounts of those seasonings if I don't need to.
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Patt! Of course! Feel free to use taco seasoning mix.
Heather says
If I use 80/20 beef. I know I cook the beef separately first. Do I add the water first, or once beef is cooked 2 hours and I’m adding the seasonings?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Heather! You don't need to cook it separately first. You can follow the recipe exactly as shown here for 80/20 beef as well. Enjoy!