Serve up a satisfying supper with one of these cozy ground beef Crockpot recipes. With everything from lasagna to meat loaf, you'll never want to cook ground beef any other way.
38 Ground Beef Recipes to Make in Your Slow Cooker
Updated on Sep. 17, 2024
Stamp-of-Approval Spaghetti Sauce
This hearty sauce made with both ground beef and sausage is great on any shape pasta, not just spaghetti. It freezes well, too! Just put cooled sauce in a freezer-safe container, cover and freeze for up to three months. Make sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating on the stove.
1/38
2/38
California Tamale Pie
Total Time
6 hours 15 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I serve California Tamale Pie, I know I’ll see smiles on the faces of everyone at the table. With this recipe, you’ll enjoy the taste and texture of classic tamales, without the time and hassle. —Patricia Nieh, Portola Valley, California
This delicious ground beef and cornmeal combo has the taste and texture of tamales, but takes a lot less time to make. Top with cheese, sour cream and jalapenos for a full-flavored meal. If you’re going beyond ground beef, we have more slow-cooker beef recipes for soul-warming meals.
3/38
Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joes
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Slow cook your way to a crowd-pleasing entree! Ground beef is transformed into classic slow-cooker sloppy joes with just a few pantry staples. —Joeanne Steras, Garrett, Pennsylvania
A classic sloppy joes recipe made with ground beef, onions and green pepper is the epitome of Crockpot cooking. If you want to make it a little lighter, use ground turkey. In addition to soft rolls, have extras like sweet pickles, onions and more for toppings.
4/38
Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
10 servings (3-3/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe turned my husband into a quinoa lover. I made it the day he got good news on a new job, and we'll always remember how excited we were as we ate this beautiful meal. —Claire Gallam, Alexandria, Virginia
Quinoa adds extra protein and nutrients to this ground beef and bean chili. Want to make it vegetarian? Omit the beef! Amp up the spice if you like things even hotter, and keep cooling sour cream along with other toppings close by.
5/38
Cabbage Rolls
Total Time
1 hour 55 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It was an abundance of dill in my garden that led me to try this. My family liked the taste so much that, from then on, I made my old-fashioned cabbage rolls recipe with dill. This is how to make easy cabbage rolls. – Florence Krantz, Bismarck, North Dakota
6/38
Hamburger Stew
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings (4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this hamburger stew recipe from a woman at our church, Lois Henry, when I needed a way to use up our bounty of home-canned tomatoes. My husband loves it, and I like that it's easy to warm up for a carefree dinner in the winter months. —Marcia Clay, Truman, Minnesota
7/38
Slow-Cooker Enchiladas
Total Time
5 hours 30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As a busy wife and mother of two young sons, I rely on this handy recipe for slow-cooker enchiladas. I layer enchilada ingredients in the slow cooker, turn it on and forget about it. With a bit of spice, these hearty enchiladas are especially nice during the colder months. —Mary Luebbert, Benton, Kansas
You can use either flour or corn tortillas in this layered slow-cooker enchilada recipe. To make it even easier, mix in enchilada sauce instead of the tomatoes, chiles and spices with the ground beef. Once you’ve mastered this, you can make other slow-cooker Mexican foods, like tostadas, chicken mole and more.
8/38
Slow-Cooker Spaghetti & Meatballs
Total Time
5 hours 50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and this dish is still one that guests request frequently. It is my No. 1 standby recipe and also makes amazing meatball sandwiches. The sauce works for any type of pasta. —Jane Whittaker, Pensacola, Florida
The best meatballs are held together by breadcrumbs and a little bit of egg. When you put these beefy meatballs in the slow cooker, they become even more flavorful and tender. Serve with penne or ziti, or any pasta shape. Leftovers? Meatball subs, of course!
9/38
Cincinnati Chili Dogs
Total Time
4 hours 20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My in-laws are from Ohio, so we have Cincinnati chili at many of our family gatherings. I spiced up this family classic with cinnamon and cocoa powder and then ladled it over hot dogs. It's perfect for game day, tailgates and potlucks. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
You don’t just cook the chili in the slow cooker, but the hot dogs too! Add them toward the end of cooking so they become infused with the sweet Cincinnati chili flavors. Then ladle a lot more chili over the dogs in buns, top with onion and cheese, and watch them quickly disappear.
10/38
Corny Chili
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is so delicious and simple that I had to share it. I'm sure busy moms will be just as happy as I am with the taste and time-saving convenience of this pleasant chili with corn. —Marlene Olson, Hoople, North Dakota
Dump everything in the slow cooker in the morning, and come home to a richly flavored beef chili that deserves all the best toppings, like cheese, onion, sour cream and jalapenos. Check out some of our other slow-cooker chili recipes for more ideas.
11/38
Meat Loaf Burgers
Total Time
7 hours 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These hearty meat loaf sandwiches are delightful for potluck dinners. Served on hamburger buns, the beefy patties get extra flavor when topped with the seasoned tomato sauce. —Peggy Burdick, Burlington, Michigan
To make these tasty burgers, layer beef patties over onions in the slow cooker and let them cook for hours in a flavorful tomato sauce. All of it—sauce, onions and burger—goes right on the bun. Have another pound of meat waiting in the wings? Use it in one of our other best ground beef recipes.
12/38
Spicy Goulash
Total Time
5 hours 55 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Ground cumin, chili powder and a can of Mexican diced tomatoes jazz up my goulash recipe. Even the elbow macaroni is prepared in the slow cooker. —Melissa Polk, West Lafayette, Indiana
This easy goulash recipe needs nothing more than a few pantry staples and spices, like canned tomatoes, beans, cumin and chili powder. You don’t even cook the macaroni first—it goes in dry and comes out delicious.
13/38
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Total Time
4 hours 20 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple casserole is an easy dinner for both you and the kids. Serve with carrot and celery sticks for a fuss-free feast. You can also stir in some spicy brown mustard if the adults want a bit more zing. —Laura Wilhelm, West Hollywood, California
Kids and adults will love this easy slow-cooker casserole. Want to make it a more balanced meal? Serve with fresh vegetables like carrots and celery sticks or a big leafy salad.
14/38
Peppered Meat Loaf
Total Time
6 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I came up with this easy dinner one day while experimenting in the kitchen. Everyone who tries it, loves it! —Laura Burgess, Mount Vernon, South Dakota
By putting big potato wedges in the bottom of the slow cooker before this hearty meat loaf, the wedges absorb some of the flavor from the meat and sauce. If you don’t want to add sausage, consider plain ground pork or more beef if it’s what you have.
15/38
Cuban Picadillo
Total Time
5 hours
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Most of the traditional recipes out there have numerous variations. Picadillo is no exception. This is my take on the Cuban classic. For added convenience, I adapted it for the slow cooker.—Sanford Brown, Big Pine Key, Florida
There are many variations of picadillo, a Cuban ground beef dish with tomatoes, spices, capers, olives and raisins. But this one is the easiest because it all goes into a slow cooker for a long stew. Serve it with rice, a nice salad, and if you want to get really traditional, these simple air-fryer plantains.
16/38
Spicy Montana Chili
Total Time
5 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings (about 2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This thick and chunky chili has some kick to it. I like to top it with shredded cheddar and then serve it with a side of cornbread. —Donna Evaro, Casper, Wyoming
When you need a chili with some kick, add more jalapenos; if you want it mild, use less. This is a thick chili for cold days, especially when served with cornbread still warm from the oven.
18/38
Italian Stuffed Peppers
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cooking the stuffed peppers in a slow cooker is not only convenient, the long cooking process improves the flavor of the filling.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
When you make stuffed peppers in a slow cooker, it allows more time for the tender ground beef filling to come together and the flavors to meld. The added mozzarella cheese gives the dish a slightly Italian slant (but you can always leave it out).
19/38
Slow-Cooked Enchilada Dinner
Total Time
2 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This layered southwestern meal just can't be beat. It gets its spicy flavor from green chiles, chili powder and cumin. Using a slow cooker liner inside of the cooker makes it easier to lift and remove the meal so it can be cut into individual wedges. —Judy Ragsdale, Queen City, Texas
Build layers of flour tortillas, a spicy ground beef mixture and cheese in the slow cooker, then let it do its thing for about two hours. Make a criss-crossed foil liner so it’s easier to lift the enchilada dish out of the slow cooker and cut it into servings.
20/38
Italian Meatball Subs
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of those recipes you always come back to. A flavorful tomato sauce and mildly spiced meatballs make a hearty sandwich filling, or they can be served over pasta. I broil the meatballs first to quickly brown them. —Jean Glacken, Elkton, Maryland
Skip the spaghetti altogether and make meatballs for subs and sandwiches. These meatballs are made with ground beef and sausage, plus a variety of seasonings, and they make a superb stuffing for Italian rolls or crusty bread.
21/38
Easy Chow Mein
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Some years ago, our daughter welcomed me home from a hospital stay with this easy Asian dish and a copy of the recipe. Now I freeze leftovers for fast future meals. —Kay Bade, Mitchell, South Dakota
This easy version of chow mein takes only a few ingredients, most probably already stocked in your pantry, and a few hours in the Crockpot. It freezes well, so you can get a few meals done in one fell swoop. Need more quick and easy dinner ideas? Check out more recipes with ground beef for inspiration.
22/38
Beef and Cabbage Stew
Total Time
2 hours 10 min
Servings
6-8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is one of my favorite meals since I don't have to stand over the stove or dirty a lot of pots and pans to prepare it. With six in the family, we have enough dishes to wash after each meal!
23/38
Cheeseburger Soup
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn't share its recipe with me. I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American dish turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin
A local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn’t share its recipe with me. I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American dish turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin
24/38
Slow-Cooker Spanish Rice
Total Time
4 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an economical dish with authentic Tex-Mex flavor. Even the little ones will go for this Spanish rice. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, Florida
This one pot meal has everything: Rice, ground beef, tomatoes and lots of Tex-Mex flavor. Serve with tortillas or lettuce cups for filling and folding.
25/38
Sloppy Joe Recipe
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll love this quick, easy and economical dish. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness, both for traditional sandwiches on buns or as a down-home topping for rice, biscuits or baked potatoes. —Laurie Hauser, Rochester, New York
26/38
Meatball Cabbage Rolls
Total Time
8 hours 25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother often had these cabbage rolls simmering in her slow cooker when my family and I arrived at her house for weekend visits. The mouthwatering meatballs tucked inside made these stand out from any other cabbage rolls I've tried. —Betty Buckmaster, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Stuffed cabbage by another name, these savory meat-filled cabbage rolls cook low and slow in a lightly spiced tomato sauce. All you need is some delicious mashed potatoes and fresh green beans on the side for a perfect comfort food meal.
27/38
Cowboy Calico Beans
Total Time
4 hours 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cowboy beans recipe is tradition when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin
This Crockpot ground beef recipe with four different kinds of beans and a tangy sauce is the perfect party staple. After a few hours in the slow cooker, ketchup, cider vinegar, mustard and brown sugar really help amp up the flavor.
28/38
Spinach-Basil Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
In the kitchen, my husband and I like to use classic ingredients in new ways. I came up with this lasagna one day and haven't made another type since. We love it! —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan
In the kitchen, my husband and I like to use classic ingredients in new ways. I came up with this lasagna one day and haven’t made another type since. We love it! —Charlotte Gehle, Brownstown, Michigan
29/38
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to dunk these appetizer meatballs in blue cheese or ranch salad dressing. If I make them for a meal, I often skip the dressing and serve with blue cheese polenta on the side. —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
30/38
Spicy Stuffed Banana Peppers
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Banana peppers can be very tricky: Sometimes they are hot and sometimes they are not. If you want to be on the safe side, I recommend using Bianca peppers instead, which are a more sweet type of pepper. —Danielle Lee, Sewickley, Pennsylvania
If you can’t find banana peppers, or aren’t willing to test your luck finding the not-so-spicy ones, use Bianca or bell peppers instead. The ground beef, sausage and quinoa filling tastes great in all of them!
31/38
Zippy Spaghetti Sauce
Total Time
6 hours 20 min
Servings
3 quarts
From the Recipe Creator:
This thick and hearty sauce goes a long way to satisfy my hungry family. They enjoy any leftovers ladled over thick slices of grilled garlic bread. To make sure I have the ingredients on hand, I keep a bag of chopped green pepper in my freezer and minced garlic in my fridge—always! —Elaine Priest, Dover, Pennsylvania
Leftovers? Simply ladle the thick and hearty ground beef sauce over garlic bread the next day, top with a little cheese and pop in the oven or toaster oven. Or freeze it: This sauce will keep up to three months in an airtight freezer-safe container.
32/38
Chili Mac
Total Time
6 hours 15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This chili mac has regularly appeared on my family menus for more than 40 years, and it's never failed to please at potlucks and bring-a-dish gatherings. Sometimes I turn it into soup by adding a can of beef broth. —Marie Posavec, Berwyn, Illinois
If you want to kick up the heat in this chili mac, use chile-spiked beans and top with fresh or pickled jalapeno and hot pepper cheese. Want to turn it into soup? Simply add a can of beef broth.
33/38
Italian Veggie Beef Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings (4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My sweet father-in-law, Pop Pop, would bring this chunky soup to our house when we were under the weather. We like it so much, we take it to our own friends who need comfort. It always does the trick. —Sue Webb, Reisterstown, Maryland
34/38
Moo Shu Lettuce Cups
Total Time
3 hours 25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I took ordinary ground beef and turned it into a new classic with sweet and savory flavors that make this dish a new dinnertime favorite. We love them served in flour tortillas too! —Christine Keating, Norwalk, California
A riff on the classic Chinese takeout dish, this super easy version has all the flavors of moo shu pork but with ground beef. To serve, use crisp lettuce leaves or traditional Chinese pancakes or even flour tortillas.
35/38
Meat Loaf from the Slow Cooker
Total Time
3 hours 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple, easy-to-make meat loaf is one of my personal favorites. I'm often asked for the recipe. —Laura Burgess, Mount Vernon, South Dakota
Variations in meat loaf generally come down to the binder (in this case saltines and egg), the seasonings and the sauce. The sauce for this one has a touch of nutmeg. Make sure to use the foil “cross” in the bottom of the pot to lift the loaf out with ease.
36/38
Potluck Enchilada Meatballs
Total Time
4 hours
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a twist on the ordinary potluck meatballs. These are easy, inexpensive and a hit for any occasion. —Terina, Lewis, Decatur, Illinois
Use taco seasoning and enchilada sauce for these easy and inexpensive meatballs. They’re particularly great for potlucks. Have a stack of corn or flour tortillas on the side so guests can make their own meatball tacos.
37/38
Slow-Cooker Pizza
Total Time
2 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Always a hit at our church dinners, this hearty casserole keeps folks coming back for more. —Julie Sterchi from Jackson, Missouri
This isn’t exactly pizza (there’s no crust), but it is a clever way to get pizza flavors, from the sauce to the cheese and pepperoni, in a slow-cooker noodle casserole. Just like pizza, add any of your favorite toppings, such as crumbled sausage, olives and green peppers.
38/38
