Is there any better feeling than walking into your house, when it’s dark (already) at 5pm, and smelling the juicy, spicy, richness of a chili or bolognese in the slow cooker?
These ground beef recipes are rich and hearty, simple and uncluttered. Just saucy chunks of tender beef that are ready and waiting. Hello, are you crying? It’s all just so beautiful.
1. Crockpot Taco Meat
Even though making taco meat on the stove is pretty quick, this Crockpot version takes easy to a whole new level. It’s an absolute game-changer, especially for families like mine that could happily live on tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.
And hello, can we talk about meal prep? This is a total dream.
I’ve even been known to set this before bed to have everything ready for some amazing breakfast tacos or huevos rancheros first thing in the morning. It’s perfect!
2. Crockpot Pizza Casserole
Did someone just say pizza? This Crockpot pizza casserole is just about as easy as ordering delivery, and oh my gosh, it’s so cheesy and delicious.
You can have this gooey, wonderful meal ready in just 30 minutes. Go for pepperoni or sausage, load it up with veggies, or keep it simple. You can make this pizza casserole exactly how you like it.
Plus, you can use whatever pasta you happen to have in your pantry. Seriously, it could not be more straightforward!
Good thing this recipe is so foolproof, because your family will be asking for it all the time!
3. Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
That classic pairing of sweet and sour makes this dish a total showstopper. These slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs are so good, you’ll be skipping your usual take-out order.
This recipe has you make your own meatballs, but you can absolutely use store-bought ones to make this meal even more of a breeze.
The sweetness comes from pineapple and brown sugar, and that perfect tangy note is all thanks to apple cider vinegar.
Serve it up with some rice or noodles for an extra satisfying meal the whole family is going to rave about!
4. Crockpot Enchiladas
I will happily eat a flavorful enchilada any day of the week. And with this Crockpot recipe, I know I’ll be making them way more often!
First, you dip your tortillas in enchilada sauce before rolling up that yummy meat mixture inside. Just place them seam-side down in the slow cooker and let it work its magic for hours.
The second you walk through the door, you’ll be hit with the most incredible aroma!
5. Crockpot Shepherd’s Pie
Savory and packed with flavor, this Crockpot shepherd’s pie is true comfort food at its very best.
The most difficult part is just browning the meat and mashing the potatoes. Using frozen vegetables is a fantastic shortcut that keeps this dish wonderfully simple.
Everything goes into the slow cooker except for the mashed potatoes. Those get spread on top when there are just two hours of cooking time left.
If you’re looking for a way to speed up prep, you could even use instant mashed potatoes!
6. Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
So many great memories have been made around the dinner table over sloppy joes. They are simple, so tasty, and just plain fun to say!
I ditched the store-bought sauce years ago when I figured out how ridiculously easy they are to make from scratch. Most of the ingredients are things you already have in your pantry.
Just let it all bubble away in the slow cooker, allowing all those flavors to meld together perfectly.
You can toast your bun and even add a slice of cheese. Trust me, you’ll never look at that canned stuff again!
7. Slow Cooker Meatloaf
It feels like you can cook almost anything in a slow cooker, and meatloaf is definitely on that list!
The meatloaf becomes incredibly tender and soaks up so much flavor after cooking in the sauce for hours. If you want to get a little fancy, you can even mix in some bacon or peppers.
Add your favorite side, like creamy mashed potatoes or mac and cheese, and your family is in for such a treat.
8. Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
These effortless slow cooker stuffed peppers are brimming with bold Tex-Mex flavors.
My favorite thing about them is how totally customizable they are. This recipe features ground beef, brown rice, black beans, corn, and salsa, but you could so easily swap in your favorite Mexican-inspired ingredients.
And don’t forget to finish them with a dollop of sour cream or guacamole.
These are a complete meal all wrapped up in those cute, colorful peppers!
9. Crockpot Hamburger Hash
For a seriously satisfying meal, this Crockpot hamburger hash is where it’s at. This cheesy dish is destined to be a family favorite.
It has everything you need for a full meal all in one pot. You’ve got meat, potatoes, and a ton of veggies!
I absolutely love that it’s so adaptable; it lets me use up whatever vegetables I have hanging out in my fridge. You can even swap the red potatoes for sweet potatoes.
Just toss everything but the cheese into your slow cooker and let it cook all day. Add the cheese at the very end and get ready to enjoy!
10. Crockpot Hamburger Vegetable Soup
The second the weather gets even a little bit chilly, I always get the urge to make giant pots of soup. This Crockpot hamburger vegetable soup is guaranteed to warm you right up!
It’s actually a pretty healthy dish, even though it doesn’t taste like it. If there are some vegetables you aren’t a fan of, just leave them out and toss in your favorites instead!
This soup is incredibly versatile and is perfect for any time of the year!
11. Crockpot Frito Chili Pie
Even the pickiest eaters in your house will fall head over heels for this Frito pie.
With meat, beans, and crunchy Fritos, what’s not to adore? Though if you ask me, the toppings are what really make this dish something special.
Add on some cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, or even a big scoop of guacamole! The possibilities are endless.
12. Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
Are you tired of spending so much time cooking meals your kids won’t touch? This slow cooker tater tot casserole is your golden ticket to a peaceful dinner and happy, full bellies.
And I have even more great news for you — besides browning the ground beef, there is zero prep for this dish.
Black beans, corn, salsa, green chiles, taco seasoning, and enchilada sauce all get mixed together and tossed right into your Crockpot. Layer it with tater tots and let it bubble away.
Just remember to add that cheese before serving!
13. Crockpot Hamburger Helper
I definitely grew up eating Hamburger Helper from a box, but now I prefer to cook most of my meals from scratch. This Crockpot hamburger helper is the absolute perfect way to bring those two worlds together.
My favorite part of this recipe is that it’s somehow even easier than the boxed stuff! Just put everything in the slow cooker and let it go all day. Stir in your pasta about 15 minutes before it’s done.
You’ll never go back to Hamburger Helper from a box again!
14. Slow Cooker Beef Chili
This slow cooker beef chili deserves a permanent spot in everyone’s weekly meal rotation. It’s absolutely perfect for a cold winter night, a game day celebration, or just one of those days when you’re short on time!
It might not taste like it, but this recipe is actually quite healthy. It is low in fat and packed with protein and fiber. Although, I admit it’s not quite as healthy when you add a mountain of cheese and sour cream, which is exactly how I do it.
Serve it all by itself, with some crackers for dipping, or even over a bed of rice!
15. Crockpot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
For a creative and totally effortless version of your favorite cheeseburger, you have to give this bacon cheeseburger soup a go.
What are your go-to burger toppings? Whatever just popped into your head, you should add it to this soup!
This recipe brings together ground beef, onions, tomato, bacon, and cheese, and yes, you can even add pickles. For a vegetarian option, you can substitute the beef with soy crumbles.
The potatoes make this a super satisfying dish that the whole family will adore!
16. Slow Cooker Golombki
Golombki is really just another name for stuffed cabbage rolls. But this slow cooker version is so much simpler and doesn’t chain you to the kitchen for hours!
Instead of all that stuffing and rolling, this recipe has you layer all the ingredients just like you would for a lasagna. Your sauce, ground beef mixture, and cabbage get layered multiple times, stacking up all that delicious flavor.
Come home hours later to the most tender and juicy golombki imaginable!
17. Crockpot Honey Garlic Meatballs
These honey garlic meatballs are festive enough for an appetizer platter and satisfying enough for a main course.
Feel free to use store-bought meatballs if you don’t feel like making them from scratch. After the meatballs are browned, just throw them into the slow cooker with your honey garlic sauce, and that’s it! You get juicy meatballs in a deeply flavorful sauce!
18. Homemade Meatball Subs
Give your family (or hey, just yourself) a serious treat with these homemade meatball subs made in the Crockpot.
The homemade meatballs are the real star of the show here, so please don’t try to substitute with frozen ones. It just won’t be the same.
The meatballs come out so tender and are infused with so much flavor after simmering in that sauce all day long.
Serve them on your favorite bun with plenty of cheese. Delicious!
19. Crockpot Poor Man’s Stew
Hamburger stew is sometimes called poor man’s stew because it relies on simple, budget-friendly ingredients.
This Crockpot version truly is slow-cooked perfection.
The ingredient list is wonderfully minimal, and they are all staples you probably have stocked in your kitchen right now. It gets its amazing flavor from onions, carrots, thyme, garlic, and onion powder.
The potatoes and beef stock make it a really hearty dish, and the diced tomatoes just pull everything together beautifully.
With a soup this rich and savory, you can even sneak in a few extra veggies. The kids will have no idea!
20. Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
I just love it when recipes have fun names, and I always wonder where they came from. This Crockpot cowboy casserole just sounds like pure, hearty comfort food.
This recipe uses both ground beef and breakfast sausage, giving the dish a huge amount of flavor.
After thinly slicing your potatoes, add them to your slow cooker with the other ingredients like salsa, beans, corn, and cream of mushroom.
It gets topped with a layer of cheese and cooks for hours, resulting in a creamy dish that’s satisfying enough for a cowboy!
21. Crockpot Cheeseburger Macaroni Casserole
There’s such a relaxing feeling that comes with knowing dinner will be all ready by the time you get home. And with this cheeseburger casserole, you’ll definitely have something wonderful to look forward to!
This dish gets its amazing flavor from butter, paprika, and garlic powder, while cream cheese and shredded cheese make it unbelievably creamy. No one will ever guess how simple it was to throw together!
22. Slow Cooker Chinese Pie
You won’t find traditional Asian flavors here. This slow cooker Chinese pie is an adaptation of shepherd’s pie, created by Chinese cooks building the Canadian railway in the late 19th century.
This pie has delicious layers of ground beef with bell pepper, gravy, potatoes, and corn. After it slow cooks for hours, all the flavors meld together into one creamy and totally succulent dish.
It’s satisfying, delicious, and a great meal to serve up with a side of fun history!
23. Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
Can all of us pasta lovers just agree that making spaghetti sauce in a slow cooker is pure genius? This slow cooker spaghetti bolognese is about to be your new favorite pasta dish!
To achieve a really aromatic and bold bolognese, you have to cook it low and slow for the whole day. But honestly, who has time for that?
Toss all your ingredients into the slow cooker and come back hours later to a beautiful and flavorful spaghetti bolognese. All you have to do is boil some noodles and enjoy!