Crockpot Taco Meat

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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!

Jump to:

• Taco Meat in the Crockpot
• Slow Cooker Taco Meat Ingredients
• How to Make Crock Pot Tacos
• Taco Meat in the Crockpot Recipe Tips
• Beef Tacos Seasoning
• Instant Pot Taco Meat Instructions
• Taco Meat Recipes FAQs
• How to Cook Taco Meat for a Crowd
• Leftover Taco Meat Recipes
• Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
• 📌 Pin it for later!
• 📋 Recipe

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!

Slow Cooker Taco Meat Ingredients

• 90/10 Lean Hamburger
• Water
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Dried Chopped Onion
• Ground Black Pepper
• Paprika
• Salt to taste

How to Make Crock Pot Tacos

1. Place the hamburger meat in the crockpot and break it up with a wooden spoon or similar utensil.
   
2. Place all the seasonings in the crock pot and stir well.
   
3. Add water.
   
4. 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!

Beef 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.

Taco Meat Recipes FAQs

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!

Leftover 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.

• Ground Beef Casserole
• Taco Casserole
• Make beef nachos using taco meat
• Add it to Hamburger Soup
• Beef Quesadillas
• Ground Beef Enchiladas

Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

• Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
• Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
• Slow Cooker Carne Picada
• Slow Cooker Roast Beef

Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating below to let us know what you think! We love to hear from you!

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