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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

    Crockpot Taco Meat

    Published: May 4, 2023 Modified: Jun 28, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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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!

    crockpot taco meat in a wooden bowl with a spoon
    Jump to:
    • Taco Meat in the Crockpot
    • Crock Pot Taco Meat Ingredients
    • Slow Cooker Taco Meat Recipe
    • Taco Meat in the Crockpot Recipe Tips
    • Crockpot Tacos Seasoning
    • Instant Pot Taco Meat Instructions
    • Crockpot Taco Meat FAQs
    • How to Cook Taco Meat for a Crowd
    • Taco Meat Recipes
    • 📌 Pin it for later!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    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!

    Crockpot taco meat in a wooden bowl with green onions on top

    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

    1. Place the hamburger meat in the crockpot and break it up with a wooden spoon or similar utensil.
      Taco meat broken up in crockpot
    2. Place all the seasonings in the crock pot and stir well.
      Seasoning taco meat in crock pot
    3. Add water.
      Adding water to seasoned taco meat in crock pot
    4. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. When ready, taste for seasonings and add more if need be. Enjoy!
      crockpot taco meat in a wooden bowl with a spoon and green onions on top

    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.

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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

    How long does taco meat last?

    Taco meat lasts 3-4 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

    How much taco meat per person should I serve?

    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.

    What is the best taco meat?

    Crockpot taco meat using 90/10 lean hamburger beef makes the best taco meat. It cooks easily and is so flavorful.

    Is taco meat keto-friendly?

    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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    taco meat in a wood bowl with a spoon over top
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    4.57 from 51 votes

    Crockpot Taco Meat

    Learn how to make taco meat in the slow cooker following my Crockpot Taco Meat recipe! This is the best taco meat with so much flavor, and it's so easy to make.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time3 hours hrs
    Total Time3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: crock pot taco meat, crock pot tacos, crockpot taco meat, taco meat in crock pot
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 215kcal
    Author: Isabel Laessig

    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
      Taco meat broken up in crockpot
    • 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
      Adding water to seasoned taco meat in crock pot
    • Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
      taco meat in a crockpot
    • Taste for seasonings and add more if need be. Enjoy!
      crockpot taco meat in a wooden bowl with a spoon and green onions on top

    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

    Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 883IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 3mg
    • Author
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    Isabel Laessig
    Isabel Laessig
    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me
    Isabel Laessig
    Latest posts by Isabel Laessig (see all)
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    « Grilled Sirloin Steak
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    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judy says

      January 14, 2023 at 8:33 am

      What about the grease from the hamburger meat?

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 16, 2023 at 11:20 am

        Hi Judy! Because of how it cooks in the slow cooker, you don't need to drain it. Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Patt says

      July 15, 2023 at 10:48 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Isabel Laessig says

        July 25, 2023 at 3:19 pm

        Hi Patt! Of course! Feel free to use taco seasoning mix.

        Reply
    3. Heather says

      September 04, 2023 at 9:13 am

      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?

      Reply
      • Isabel Laessig says

        September 18, 2023 at 11:37 am

        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!

        Reply

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