This slow cooker beef taco meat is easy to make and hard to stop eating. Using just four ingredients, this recipe create juicy, flavorful taco meat perfect for all your favorite Mexican dishes.
My taco soup recipe inspired this delicious taco meat. I loved how easy it was to get all that taco flavor in a crock pot, so I decided to give this a try. It's the perfect addition to recipes like this beefy potato taco casserole.
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Why You'll Love This Crock Pot Taco Meat
This taco meat is incredibly versatile. Of course, it's great on tacos, but that's just the beginning. There's a lot to love about this recipe.
- It only uses 4 ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- It's a convenient recipe that makes it easy to get a meal on the table.
- This meat can be used in tacos, quesadillas, on nachos, and more.
- The meat is tender and flavorful every time.
Ingredients
You'll only need 4 simple ingredients to make this recipe, and you'll find them all in one quick trip to the grocery store.
- Lean ground beef
- Salsa
- Taco seasoning
- Yello onion - diced
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Flavor Variations and Substitutions
- Use ground turkey, chicken, or chorizo. You can also use plant-based ground beef.
- Add diced bell peppers, zucchini, or corn.
- Make it spicy by adding diced jalapenos or cayenne pepper.
- Use a can of diced tomatoes with green chilis in place of the salsa for a sweeter, smokier flavor.
- Add a bit of lime juice for a kick of tangy acidity.
If you love easy Mexican dishes like this one, check out my slow cooker shredded beef tacos.
How to Make Slow Cooker Taco Meat
1: Add the taco meat, salsa, onion, and taco seasoning to the crock pot in that order.
2: Cook until the beef is fully cooked through.
3: Break up the beef until crumbly, then add it to tacos, quesadillas, nachos, or your other favorite Mexican dishes.
Hint
There's no need to pre-cook the beef before making this taco meat.
Storage
Refrigerate this taco meat as soon as it cools for maximum freshness and flavor. To reheat the meat, place it in the crock pot and cook until heated through.
Refrigerator: Store for up to 5 days in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Store for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Defrost the meat overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Crock Pot Taco Meat
Serve this delicious taco meat on or with any of your favorite Mexican dishes for hearty Mexican-themed feast.
Tips
- You don't need to cook the beef before adding it to the crock pot.
- A spatula is the easiest way to break up the taco meat after it's cooked.
- Cool your taco meat completely before freezing it so you don't warm up your freezer.
Slow Cooker Taco Meat FAQs
For this recipe, yes. The slow cooker will cook the ground beef slowly and evenly.
I recommend using lean ground beef (90% or higher) for this recipe. It has less fat than other types of ground beef, so it will still be juicy and flavorful without all the added fat.
No, it shouldn't. The salsa and taco seasoning add moisture to the dish and help keep it from drying out. However, if your taco meat is too dry, add a few tablespoons of water or broth to the crock pot before cooking. This will help retain moisture and prevent the beef from drying out.
Keep taco meat in a crockpot on the "warm" setting for up to 2-4 hours, ensuring it stays above 140°F to prevent bacterial growth. Consider reheating on a stovetop or later use if needed for longer.
When cooking taco meat in a slow cooker using ground beef, turkey, or chicken, you typically don't need to add water as the meat releases its own juices. However, if using a taco seasoning mix, follow the packet instructions which may involve adding water for a saucy consistency.
More Crock Pot Beef Dishes
- Crock Pot Chili Mac
- Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
- Crock Pot Beef Tips and Gravy
- Crock Pot Cube Steak
- Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup
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Slow Cooker Taco Meat Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1½ cups salsa
- 3 tbsp taco seasoning
- ½ cup yellow onion (diced)
Instructions
- Place the uncooked taco meat in a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Pour the remaining ingredients on top of the ground beef.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- When the beef is done cooking, break up the beef and serve it over tacos, nachos, or quesadillas.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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