When cooking taco meat low and slow it becomes extra tender and flavorful – similar to how chili gets better after simmering for hours! Ground beef makes an excellent ingredient in this recipe, either lean ground beef or 90/10 ratio (90 meat to 10% fat).
Cooking taco meat in a crock pot is an excellent way to ensure it’s tender and flavorful! Plus, it takes very little effort for meal prep!
This taco meat can be used for a variety of dishes like tacos, burrito bowls and even taco salads! Plus, it’s so easy to freeze for later!
What is Taco Meat in a Crock Pot?
Easy to make
Taco meat in the crock pot is an easy meal prep favorite that’s great for meal prepping ahead of time. You can prepare it ahead and use it for multiple meals throughout the week or even for a large party!
On busy weeknights, this recipe is the ideal go-to for a quick dinner everyone will love. Plus, it freezes well for storage!
All that’s left for you to do is place raw ground beef into the crockpot and top with tomato sauce and taco seasonings.
Slow cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours until tender and no longer pink in the center. Stir then serve!
Seasoned ground beef is delicious served on soft tortillas, hard shells or corn tortillas with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream.
You can also incorporate it into burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas or Mexican casseroles for an added kick of flavor!
Easy to freeze
Taco meat makes for a convenient meal that you can prepare in advance and store in the freezer for quick meals during the week.
Just thaw it out in the fridge before heating on either the stove top or microwave to enjoy an instant dinner!
Taco meat in bulk is also an ideal way to prepare for a taco bar party. Once you’ve got enough, package it up into freezer bags and store in your freezer – you’ll always have enough for family dinners!
To freeze, simply combine cooked ground beef and salsa in a freezer-safe container or bag. It can be stored at this temperature for up to three months in your freezer.
Easy to transport
Crock pot taco meat is the fastest, tastiest way to make your family’s favorite tacos on busy weeknights. Plus, you can cook it ahead of time and store it in the freezer for later.
When you’re ready to eat, just place it in the crockpot and forget about it until dinner time! This recipe also works great as a pre-batch for parties or gatherings.
If you’re hosting a party, why not serve this recipe as a walking taco station so guests can customize their own toppings? It would make an excellent addition to tailgating or Cinco de Mayo celebrations!
This delicious and tender crock pot taco meat is loaded with chili powder, spices and garlic for an irresistibly flavor. Serve in soft taco shells or tortillas and top them off with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, shredded cheese, avocado, tomatoes or whatever other toppings you desire!
Easy to store
When you have a hectic week or are hosting a party, crock pot taco meat is the perfect go-to meal. Not only is it simple to make but it freezes well too – meaning you can have it ready whenever you need!
You can store this dish in the fridge for up to four days or freezer for up to six months. Reheating can be done either over high heat on the stovetop or using a slow cooker on low heat until heated through.
You can freeze raw ground beef or cooked taco meat in a freezer bag or container for up to four months, making it great to have on hand when planning ahead for meals! Meat can stay frozen up to this length of time – ideal if you plan ahead and make meals ahead!
Recipe for Crock Pot Beef Tacos
Slow cooking beef in your crock pot is a delicious and simple meal prep option. All you have to do is add seasoning, water and your desired ingredients – voila! Your slow cooked beef is ready!
Make these delicious crock pot beef tacos to satisfy your taco cravings or use them as the basis for burritos, taquitos, quesadillas and more! The shredded beef is saucy and melty with crunchy tortillas baked instead of fried for extra crunchiness.
Making Crock Pot Beef Tacos
Place the meat into an oval 5-6 quart slow cooker and stir together. Add taco seasoning and salsa; set it to high heat and cook for 2 hours or low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
For a kick of flavor, add hot sauce and/or chopped jalapenos or smoked paprika. Or for something sweeter, stir in a few teaspoons of brown sugar.
Here’s How to Make Crock Pot Beef Tacos
Step One: Pat the meat dry with paper towels and generously season with spice rub. Save any extra spices for later on.
Step Two: Sear the beef cubes on all sides in a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven for the oven/stovetop method.
Alternatively, use your crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours OR until it’s super tender and easily shreds with a fork.
Once the shredded meat has finished cooking, it’s ready to be topped off with all your favorite taco toppings. I like serving mine with chopped cabbage, lime juice and cilantro; plus it goes great with homemade guacamole and sour cream for extra enjoyment!
Crock-Pot Taco Meat: How Long to Heat?
It takes 2.5 hours to heat taco meat in a crock-pot on the high setting, or 4 hours on the low setting. The ingredients needed are ground beef, taco seasoning, and Rotel tomatoes.
To ensure that the taco meat stays warm for a longer period of time, it is recommended to use a crock-pot with a tight-fitting lid. On the low or warm setting, a crockpot can keep taco meat warm for up to two hours.
