Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on a link and/or make a purchase, I may be paid a small commission at no additional cost to you. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my Disclosure page for more information.

Looking for an easy dinner? Need to make taco meat for a crowd? Or just want an easy meal prep recipe? This 3-ingredient Crockpot Taco Meat is the recipe you’re looking for.

My favorite go-to recipes are the ones that allow me to throw ingredients in a crockpot and carry on with my day. If a recipe requires a lot of prep, I’m out.

Cooked meat in a white bowl, small bowls of cheese, radishes, lettuce& tomatoes and tortillas on a white counter top with Crockpot Taco Meat graphic overlay.

All you need are three ingredients and a little hands-off time in the slow cooker to make this flavorful taco ground beef. Add your favorite toppings and voila – dinner is ready!

Whether you’re making dinner for your family or feeding a crowd, my easy taco beef recipe will save you time and energy. This slow cooker recipe is one of the easiest recipes I have, which also makes it one of my favorites.

We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.

Our Favorite Ways to Use Taco Meat

If your family is anything like mine, you love a good Mexican recipe. I’m always on the hunt for simple, fast, and inexpensive ways to indulge our tastebuds.

Mexican food recipes tend to be easy on the budget because they utilize affordable proteins like chicken and ground beef. The simplest and most obvious way to use this cooked beef is tacos.

If you’re looking for additional ways to use this flavorful meat, try adding it to quesadillas, crunch wraps, taco salad, enchiladas, taco soup, walking taco casserole and chimichangas. And if you’re looking for sides check out what to serve with tacos besides rice and beans.

A Go-To Meal

With only three ingredients (plus water) and virtually no prep time, this is one of my go-to Mexican recipes. It’s super easy to prepare, requires limited ingredients and is budget friendly. And most importantly, my entire family will eat it (hooray for food the whole family will eat!).

I also use this recipe for meal prepping. Cooking your protein ahead of time is a lifesaver on busy nights. Prepare a double batch and you can stash a couple pounds of cooked meat in the freezer for future meals.

Ground beef, tomato sauce & taco seasoning ingredients on brown counter top.

Ingredients for Crockpot Ground Beef Taco Meat

You probably have these ingredients on-hand:

Ground beef – use lean (93-97%) ground beef so you don’t have to drain off any grease.
Tomato sauce – use your favorite brand.
Taco seasoning – use my homemade taco seasoning recipe or store bought packets.
Water

Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.

How to Prepare Taco Meat in the Slow Cooker

Place the ground beef in the slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. You thought I was kidding when I said this was a simple recipe, didn’t you?

Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. While this recipe is mostly hands-off, you’ll want to break up the meat (I use this chopper for cooking ground meats) and give it a good stir every two hours.

If you want to reduce your clean-up time, be sure to use a disposable slow cooker liner.

What Can I Serve With This?

You’ll want to have all your favorite taco toppings and a few side dishes to round out the meal.

Soft tortillas, taco shells or tortilla chips.
Taco toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomato, radish slices, cheese, olives, sour cream, and guacamole are good choices.
Serve with a side of rice or a quick pasta salad to round out the meal.

What to do with Leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

If you don’t plan to use the leftover meat over the next few days, try freezing it. Place cooled meat in a zip top freezer bag (don’t forget to label it!), press the air out and toss it in the freezer for up to two months.

Thaw the meat overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove top and you’re ready to go. Easy peasy!

Other Recipes With Taco Meat

I’ve shared this recipe at these awesome online parties: Weekend Potluck.

Save Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Meat for Later

Large white bowl filled with cooked minced beef, smaller bowls filled with radishes, cheese, tomato & lettuce with Crockpot Taco Meat graphic overlay.

If you make one of our recipes, please leave a star rating or comment below. And don’t forget to tag us with #areinventedmom – we love to see your creations! For more great content follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & Yummly.