Crock Pot Taco Meat

Whether for Taco Tuesday or any night you’re feeling like Mexican for dinner, this easy Crock Pot Taco Meat recipe is exactly what you need!

crockpot taco meat in a white serving bowl with salsa


 

Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe

Tacos are great for any day of the week regardless of if it is Tuesday or not. Although I do use it being Tuesday as a good excuse for tacos.

Mexican has got to be one of my favorite cuisines to eat and tacos are pretty high up on the list. But this slow cooker taco meat can be used for so much more that just tacos.

taco meat with tacos

How to make taco meat in the slow cooker:

Add ground meat to crock pot. Most people use ground beef, but ground chicken, pork or turkey also work. Since we aren’t browning and draining, I like to use something with a low fat content.

Sprinkle meat with homemade taco seasoning (or store bought) and add salsa, stir to coat. You can also add a can of diced tomatoes if you want it to be super mild.

how to make taco meat in the crockpot

Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Drain, if necessary or use a slotted spoon to remove meat. Tender and flavorful, this will be the best taco night ever! Serve with your favorite taco toppings on either a soft or hard shell.

You can use taco meat on:

Soft tacos or hard tacos, this is a basic mix for crock pot taco meat. Classic recipes use ground beef, but feel free to substitute ground chicken or ground turkey.

close up of salsa taco meat in a serving bowl

I prefer to use a lean ground beef so draining isn’t necessary at the end. You do need some fat to prevent sticking and keep the mix juicy, but you don’t want grease pooling on the top either.

Why make taco meat in the crock pot?

It is true that this crockpot taco meat recipe can just as easily be made on the stove top and in a fraction of the time, but it will also be more likely to dry out.

A bowl of seasoned taco beef

Making anything in a slow cooker ensures that the liquids don’t evaporate and instead stay in the cooking vessel and with the food. In some cases, like a sauce, you don’t want this to happen, but for taco meat it is perfect!

Making it taco meat in the slow cooker is also ideal for parties and serving on a taco bar!

How to make a taco bar:

ONE. Cook your taco meat and either serve it in the slow cooker on “keep warm” or in another serving bowl.

soft taco with ground taco meat, avocados, tomatoes and jalapenos

TWO. Chop up all of your other taco toppings and fixings. Some of our favorites for a taco bar include:

Personalize your taco meat:

If you are looking to make your crock pot taco meat special, just add one of these and watch everyone swoon!

  • 2 tablespoons chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fresh jalapenos, minced
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn
  • 1/2 cup diced bell peppers
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbed
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
slow cooker taco meat for pinterest

How much is in a taco seasoning packet?

You might notice I don’t tell you to use a taco seasoning packet. It isn’t that they aren’t convenient or tasty, I just bet that you have all the ingredients already in your pantry.

  • chili powder
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • dried oregano
  • paprika
  • ground cumin
  • fine sea salt
  • ground black pepper

If not and your prefer to buy a little packet, go for it and use just one.

crockpot taco meat for pinterest

More Taco Recipes!

shrimp tacos with jalapeno

Shrimp Tacos with Slaw

Easy shrimp tacos don't get any better than these Shrimp Tacos with Cabbage Slaw! Taco Tuesday will never be the same! Full of fresh flavor and seasoning!
See The Recipe!
A close up of a plate of food, with Steak and Taco

Jalapeno Lime Flank Steak Tacos

Flank Steak Tacos with a jalapeno lime marinade that will have you craving more. Made with few ingredients and lots of flavor, it's sure to become a family favorite!
See The Recipe!
close up overhead shot of three slow cooker chicken tacos

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos only take 10 minutes to make in the crock pot! Just set it and forget it for a delicious dinner!
See The Recipe!

Alternatively, you can also make taco meat in the Instant Pot!

Whether it is Tuesday or any other day of the week, we hope you enjoyed your tacos!

taco meat with tacos

Crockpot Taco Meat

4.78 from 22 votes
Making taco meat for a crowd has never been easier than this Crock Pot Taco Meat recipe! Only 3 ingredients, set it and forget it!
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 4 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add ground beef to crock pot.
  • Sprinkle meat with taco seasoning and add salsa, stir to coat.
  • Cook on low for 3 hours.
  • Drain, if necessary or use a slotted spoon to remove meat.
  • Let us know if you’ve tried this recipe and how it was!

Notes

Taco meat can be frozen after it’s cooked.
You can use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of ground beef. 

Nutrition

Calories: 173 kcal, Carbohydrates: 4 g, Protein: 25 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 70 mg, Sodium: 525 mg, Potassium: 554 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 2 g, Vitamin A: 331 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 27 mg, Iron: 3 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 173
Course: Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: crockpot taco meat, slow cooker taco meat
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.78 from 22 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I love this recipe and use it all the time. I also stir in a can of drained and rinsed black beans at the end if I’m doing burritos or enchiladas.

  2. 5 stars
    I just love this idea and variations for the Crock-Pot Taco meat. I think that adds a ton of flavor and this recipe is so easy I can set and forget while I tidy the house or other things. I will be testing this out on the husband and kids this week.

  3. 5 stars
    Love a me a good 3-ingredient recipe! I would love this as a topping for my next Mexican Street Corn bowl!