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 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.
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.
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:
- Nachos
- Burritos
- Tostadas
- Enchiladas
- On top of queso dip
- Walking Tacos
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.
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.
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.
TWO. Chop up all of your other taco toppings and fixings. Some of our favorites for a taco bar include:
- Crema fresca
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced fresh tomato
- Cilantro
- Hot Sauce
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Mexican Yum Yum Sauce
- Seasoned Pinto Beans
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 or aleppo pepper
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.
More Taco Recipes!
- Crunchy Pork Tacos
- BBQ Pork Tacos
- Tropical Beef Tacos
- Korean Beef Tacos
- BEST Fish Tacos
- Easy Taco Salad Bites
- Buffalo Chicken Tacos
- Even more delicious Taco Recipes!
Shrimp Tacos with Slaw
Jalapeno Lime Flank Steak Tacos
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco 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!
Crockpot Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 16 ounces chunky salsa
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
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!
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.
Love that idea! Thanks so much for coming back to let us know.
This is so easy to make!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
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.
I love when we have taco night and this meat just made it better!
Love a me a good 3-ingredient recipe! I would love this as a topping for my next Mexican Street Corn bowl!
Perfect for meal prepping! Thanks for sharing.