Begin by spraying your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner. This helps to prevent sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

Place the raw ground beef directly into the slow cooker and brown the ground beef before adding other ingredients for enhanced flavor. While some recipes recommend browning the meat first, you can safely add it raw if you prefer a more hands-off approach in your crockpot ground beef dishes, allowing you to cover the slow cooker and let it work its magic. If you have extra time and want enhanced flavor, you can quickly brown the meat in a skillet to develop a richer taste before transferring it to the slow cooker.

Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, taco seasoning, and Italian seasoning to the ground beef for slow cooker stuffed peppers. Stir gently to combine. The onion and garlic will release their flavors as the meat cooks, enhancing the overall dish for the best ground beef recipes.

Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, and tomato paste (if using) to create a savory base for your chili recipe, perfect for cooking beef in a crock pot. These liquids will help deglaze the ingredients and form a flavorful base for your ground beef, perfect for a beef soup. They also ensure that the meat remains moist throughout the cooking process, which is essential for a flavorful beef soup.

Cover your slow cooker with the lid. For ground beef, cooking on high for about 3 to 4 hours or on low for about 5 to 6 hours is usually sufficient. The actual time may vary based on the quantity and the specific slow cooker you are using.

Midway through the cooking time, stir the meat to break up any clumps and ensure even cooking. This step is optional but can help achieve a more uniform texture.

Once the beef is fully cooked and has reached a safe internal temperature (at least 160°F for ground beef), give it one final stir, then cover and cook the beef for optimal flavor. If the recipe you’re using later requires a less greasy meat mixture, you may want to drain excess fat from the browned ground beef using a slotted spoon or by carefully pouring off the liquid before adding it to your tater tot casserole.