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This Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe makes the best taco meat packed with flavor. Dinner time is a breeze when you make taco meat in a crock pot.
Tacos are my family’s favorite meal. Whether it is Mexican Monday or Taco Tuesday, our family is always up for a good taco. Toss everything in the slow cooker earlier in the day and once you come home, dinner is ready to be served. Plus, the meat is so flavorful and tender from being in the crockpot all day!
While cooking the taco meat is not a hard task, sometimes you just need to be able to have dinner on the table the moment you get home. Learn how to cook slow cooker taco filling to make dinner time so easy during busy weeknights.
It is our favorite way to enjoy tacos. Check out also our Skillet Ground Beef Tacos, Easy Carne Asada Street Tacos recipe or this Fried Taco recipe.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Not only does your slow cooker make family dinner time a breeze but it is also great for parties or large crowds. We love to serve delicious taco meat for parties and using the crockpot makes it so easy.
I’m not stuck in the kitchen and the slow cooker does all the work. Plus, the taco meat stays nice and warm until everyone is ready to eat. You can even reheat taco meat in the crock pot if you have leftovers.
Crock Pot Taco meat truly is perfect for any parties you might have. We love this recipe, because you just dump everything in the crock pot and walk away. Try one of these other 63 Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes.
Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef – You can also use Ground Turkey or a mixture of both.
- Salsa – We like using chunky salsa but any type of salsa will do. We have even used our Homemade Salsa Recipe.
- Taco Seasoning – I use homemade taco seasoning or you can use the packet.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Taco Meat in the Slow Cooker
- Step 1 – Place the ground meat in the slow cooker.
- Step 2 – Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix. (We use homemade taco seasoning.)
- Step 3 – Cover and cook for 3 -4 hours on high until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat in the slow cooker and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Breaking up Beef – I like to break up the taco meat and stir 30 minutes before serving while it is slow cooking.
- Browning Meat – There is no need to brown the meat prior to putting it in the slow cooker.
- Drain Meat – Depending on the type of meat that you use, you may need to drain the meat after cooking in the slow cooker.
- Stovetop – If you prefer you can also make taco meat on the stovetop and add in salsa and the taco seasoning.
Toppings for Taco Meat
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Onion
- Diced tomatoes
- Lettuce
- Salsa
- Avocado
You can also add rice to your tacos. It is so tasty and a great way to stretch your meat as well. Everyone loves rice and it is such a tasty way to make your meat go further.
How to Use Leftover Taco Meat?
We love leftover taco meat. I will intentionally double the batch that I am making so that we can have leftovers for the upcoming meat.
- You can make Burritos
- We love making Crockpot Taco Salad Recipe
- Serve on top of homemade arepas
- Make homemade Taco Bowl Recipe. I like to add Black Beans in the Crockpot to add to my taco bowl.
- Check out these other ways to use up the leftover taco meat. Such as this Crock Pot Taco Casserole Recipe
How to Make Crockpot Chicken Tacos
We have the best Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe with only 3 ingredients needed! This is a nice change from ground beef if you want to try something different some weeks.
This is one my favorite ways to cook chicken. With only 3 ingredients I can make easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos.
Do you have a Good Crock Pot?
Now you definitely need a crock pot for this recipe. I used a 6 quart crock pot for this recipe. I recommend a programmable crock pot so that the crock pot will switch to the keep warm setting after the cook time.
They are awesome and you can find some that are very affordable. Check out these Best Slow Cookers of 2024 if you are in the market for a new one.
What to Serve with Tacos
Tacos are a staple meal that we have just about every week. These are some easy side dish that complete our meal.
- Easy Spanish Rice Recipe
- Easy Crockpot Refried Beans Recipe
- The Best Crock Pot White Cheese Dip Recipe
- Easy Sopapilla Recipe
- Queso Fundido con Chorizo and tortilla chips
- Check out What to Serve with Tacos for more side dish ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can put raw ground beef in crock pot. You may need to adjust cooking time, but this is a great way to meal prep taco meat for the week.
If you have taco meat leftover, you can place it in the refrigerator. I love having taco meat available for my kids to grab a quick taco as they are heading out the door. It is so much better for them and I know they are eating something that will last them for awhile.
Taco meat is also great to store in the freezer. I like to place in a zip lock freezer bag. I make sure all the air is out and then I place it in the freezer. It is good in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure you check out all our Leftover Taco Meat Recipes or 10 Easy Crockpot Freezer Meals in an Hour!
You could use frozen ground beef but you will need to cook on high for 5-6 hours.
More Easy Crockpot Taco Recipes
Easy Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Shredded Beef Tacos
Easy Main Dish
Easy Crock Pot Street Tacos recipe
Easy Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Steak Tacos
Easy Mexican
Taco Tuesday Ideas
We love to hear from you. If you make slow cooker taco meat recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup salsa
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
Instructions
- Place the ground meat (raw) in the crock pot.
- Pour the salsa on top and sprinkle with the taco seasoning mix. (We use homemade taco seasoning.)
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until no longer pink. Use a spoon to break up the taco meat and serve.
Woohoo! It’s my favorite to cook ground beef too! I’m so glad you love it too! Thank you for sharing.
The crockpot made the ground beef so tender and flavorful, I will never cook taco meat in a skillet again!!
Yes, either of those will work in this recipe.
The taco recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of seasoning, but your seasoning recipe says to use 2 tablespoons per 1 pound of meat. Should I use 3 or 4 tablespoons? I’m using 2 pounds of ground beef. Thanks!
I’m making this recipe for a group of co-workers. Can I use low sodium beef stock or water instead of salsa?
Delicious! I used ground turkey, Pace mild salsa, and one packet of Taco Bell taco seasoning. It only took 2 hours on low, and then I left it on warm for about an hour. Will definitely go into weekly rotation!
I didn’t add seasonings and salsa until mostly cooked since my meat wasn’t lean and needed drained. Used my homemade taco seasoning. Very good flavor and juicy!
So glad you loved it!
I was so skeptical about putting ground meat in the crock pot, but had a brick of frozen beef and was tired and did not want to mess around. This was soo good and my house smelled wonderful. Not sure why the skepticism on my part!! Thanks for sharing!
I would cook the rice separately
No I wouldn’t. I would cut it in half if you are using water.
Yes, I have that recipe here https://www.eatingonadime.com/ground-beef-tacos/
Saw this recipe and was wondering will it work just as well for a fast stove top cook?
I’m going to cook 6lbs for about 15 people. If i decide to use water over salsa. Would you do 3 cups of water too.
If adding rice to make the meat go farther, would you add it when you put everything else in or cook separately and then add? (I always add rice to my regular tacos)
The question about serving is though it says 6 how many tacos does it make for 6 servings?
Making for church group tomorrow
Thank you so much
This is hands down the BEST way to cook taco meat! I’d rather not cook on the stove in the summer heat and I never thought of cooking it in the slow cooker. I was skeptical at first, but I added the salsa and homemade taco seasoning to the meat and mixed it all up. It tastes so authentic!! I will probably never cook taco meat on the stove again lol.
Excellent recipe. I used 2 lbs of frozen ground chicken and it turned out perfect. So good. Will make this again. So easy.
Yes, ground turkey would be delicious in this recipe.
Thanks for all your recipes.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes, you can. I’ve done that before and it still tastes great.
I’m curious if I could cook it without the salsa?? We have a tomato allergy in the family so unfortunately I can’t use salsa. Have you tried without salsa?
This is the only way I cook my taco meat. Delicious
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!
Was lazy and didn’t use the crockpot. It was a last minute dinner so cooked it up in a frying pan. My whole family decided we are to never use packaged taco mix again. So yummy
Thanks for sharing
I would add those in after you break up the ground beef so they do not get smashed with breaking up the beef. Then cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or low for an hour. I hope you enjoy it!
I would love to add corn and black beans in this…should I add it at the same time? Or wait till the last hour or so?
You can find my taco seasoning recipe here.
What is your taco seasoning recipe? Thanks!
I make this recipe all the time my husband and I love taco’s and this is easy and good. I was scared about putting raw hamburger in crockpot but turned out wonderful. I never have tacos at a restaurant anymore cause of this taco meat recipe.
This is now my go-to recipe for taco meat. It is so quick and easy. Tastes great, and on a busy day, I just need to set out the shells and the toppings. Love it!
Any salsa works great – I usually use whatever I can find on sale but you can definitely use your favorite type!
Do you use any particular salsa?
1 packet would work. Thanks!
If using store bought taco seasoning how many packets would you suggest?
If I use 6 lbs of higher fat, should I simply cook beef first and then drain. Adding the salsa and seasoning in the final hour?
I made this exact recipe before, loved it and am now trying to fix it for a party.
Do you use water or no I’m cooking this now I didn’t add water only what u said
I generally use 90/10 beef so that there is not any grease that needs to be drained. Thank you!
What happens to the Grease , is there any , you don’t drain it or anything ?
Thanks for sharing.
This recipe serves 6 so 1 serving is 1/6 of the entire amount. Thank you.
How much is in a serving?
Did exactly this yesterday (Saturday)!
I turned out so great that we ate the rest for breakfast this morning.
Thank you soooo much!
Yes, you can cook on low for 7-8 hours and break up the meat before the last hour of cooking time. Thank you!
Having a taco party at work tomorrow and I found this recipe. Do you think I could cook on low over night? Thanks!
No, you shouldn’t need to increase the time. I would break up the meat and let it cook a bit longer in the crock pot. At least an hour. Thanks!
If I add more meat, do I need to increase time?
I am cooking for a LARGE crowd tonight and was hoping to have 2 crockpots going with 4lbs of meat each.
I don’t because I use 93/7 or 90/10 ground beef so it doesn’t have much fat. If you are using a higher fat content ground beef, you may want to drain. Thank you!
Do you not have to drain the fat off the meat?
Yes, that’ll work great!
Could I cook this for 6 hours on low instead of 3-4 hours on high?
Tammy – I think it would be fine to triple this recipe in the same crock pot as long as you have a larger crock pot.
I have to feed 20….could I make this recipe x 3 in one crockpot? Or should I use multiple crockpots?
This recipe serves 6. Thank you!
Hi just wondering how many this amount would serve – I’m wanting to make enough for 70 Thank you
Arthur – Yes, you can use water instead. I would use 1 cup of water. Thank you!
I have a poker game coming up this following weekend and i really want to try this recipe, however i don’t want to use the salsa. Would it be possible to substitute the salsa for water? If it is how much would i use? Thanks.
Made this and we loved it. Couldn’t believe how easy. I will always fix in my crock pot from now on. Thanks for sharing. Tami from Wayne WV
I cooked 7.5 pounds of Taco meat, like this, for a Taco Bar on New Year’s Eve! It went great and I have leftovers in the freezer. I also used your recipe for Taco Seasoning. I made both my daughters a jar for Christmas. Now I need to make me some!
I made this last week it was delicious and so easy. Thank you
That sounds yummy.dies your meat not release a lot of fat. How do you make your homemade taco seasoning ?