This three-ingredient Slow Cooker Taco Meat has the perfect balance of flavor and makes creating a taco bar a breeze. Ground beef, taco seasoning, and Rotel tomatoes are dumped into the crockpot and left to slowly cook, allowing the flavors to simmer together, making the best taco meat ever!
If you’re looking for another Mexican-inspired dish, try our Slow Cooker Mexican Bubble Up Casserole.
Can I make taco meat in a slow cooker?
Although taco meat is typically cooked on the stovetop, another way it can be cooked is in the slow cooker. The biggest benefit of crock pot taco meat is the ability to start it and walk away. The raw ground beef will turn into delicious taco meat that can then be used in multiple ways.
The cooking time is longer than the stovetop option; however, when you have other things that need to be done, cooking taco meat in the slow cooker is a great easy dinner option for busy nights and taco Tuesday. If you are looking for a plain ground beef recipe, try my slow cooker ground beef.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Choosing lean ground beef will result in less grease content, but any kind of ground beef will do. You may need to use a paper towel to soak up some of the grease before serving.
- Taco Seasoning: You’ll need at least two packets of your favorite taco seasoning, and you can choose between mild or hot, depending on your taste preference. You can even use homemade taco seasoning.
- Rotel Tomatoes: These Mexican-style diced tomatoes not only add a tomato flavor but also a small kick to the overall taco meat mixture.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Place two pounds of ground beef into the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step Two – Dump in the two taco seasoning packets and can of Rotel tomatoes.
Step Three – Mix the ingredients together until roughly combined.
Step Four – Cook on HIGH for 2.5 hours or LOW for 4 hours. Stir, serve and enjoy! Blot the grease with a paper towel if your meat is on the greasy side.
Variations
- Extra Spicy: If you’re looking to make your slow cooker taco meat spicier, consider adding hot sauce, sliced jalapenos, smoked paprika, and/or a dash of chili powder.
- Sweet Taco Meat: Looking for a sweetened taste to your taco meat? Add a few teaspoons of brown sugar.
- Saucier Taco Meat: Consider adding tomato sauce and hot or mild salsa during prep time for saucier meat.
How to serve
- Taco Shells: You can’t go wrong with using your delicious taco meat to make yummy beef tacos.
- Tortilla Wraps: Skip the crunch of the taco shell and go with the softness of a flour or corn tortilla and make burritos. The meat can easily be turned into enchiladas.
- Tortilla Chips: Whether you want to use the chips for dipping or as a bed for a taco salad, they are perfect for this meal.
- Toppings: Having toppings on your tacos is a must. A few to have on hand are black beans, diced avocado, sour cream, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese.
Recipe FAQs
Of course! Ground turkey is an excellent substitute for this taco meat recipe.
Add any leftover taco meat to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Taco meat can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
It’s best to use thawed meat in the slow cooker. There is a possibility that the meat will stay in the danger zone if cooked from frozen.
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Slow Cooker Taco Meat
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. ground beef I use 7% fat
- 10 oz. Rotel tomatoes or a 14-oz. can of Mexican style diced tomatoes
- 2.5 oz. of taco seasoning (two packets) or 4 tablespoons homemade
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a 6 quart slow cooker and mix until combined.
- Cook on high for 2.5 hours or 4 hours on low.
- Stir the meat to break up the pieces. Blot the grease with paper towels if needed. Use a slotted spoon to scoop into taco shells.
- Serve immediately for tacos, nachos or on a taco salad.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- More or less taco seasoning can be used depending on your preferences.
- Ground turkey is an excellent substitute for this taco meat recipe.
- The ground beef should be thawed for this recipe.
- Add any leftover taco meat to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Taco meat can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Thank you for the effort in this recipe. I thought it might be tastier in the slow cooker but it wasn’t. Maybe because I used ground turkey instead of beef. I think doing it on the stove is easier and better tasting.
When you put the hamburger in the crockpot is it raw or cooked prior? Thank you!
It’s raw for this recipe.
Put the can of tomatoes, taco seasoning in the blender adding some cumin, garlic and a cut up jalapeno pepper – once all blended, I added to raw meat and mixed it well. Put in slow cooker and set per your instructions…DEEEEELISH on hot tortillas…
How much of the home made taco seasoning do I use for crockpot tacos?
4 tablespoons will work.
Love slow Cooker recipes but there are only two of us and much adjust most recipes.