Top 19 Ground Beef Recipes for the Slow Cooker

Crock Pot Hash Brown and Ground Beef
Diana Rattray

Ground beef is a good choice for slow cooker casseroles, stews, chilis, meatloaf, and many other dishes. Most meats can be added to the slow cooker without searing or browning, with the exception of ground meat. Ground beef, in most cases, should be browned in advance for best texture and color.

If you use ground beef often, consider browning several pounds and freeze it in 1-pound portions for dishes. You'll have ground beef whenever you need it.

 From ground beef casseroles and meatloaf to pasta sauces and hearty chili recipes, you're sure to find an excellent recipe from among these family-pleasing ground beef crock pot recipes.

  • 01 of 19

    Crock Pot Ground Beef and Hash Brown Dinner

    Crock Pot Hash Brown and Ground Beef

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    The combination of ground beef and gravy, corn, cheese, and hash browns make a wonderful layered slow cooker dish. Add everything to the crock pot, let it cook, and simply serve your hash brown dinner. It couldn't be easier.

  • 02 of 19

    Crock Pot Pizza Pasta Casserole

    Slow Cooker Pizza Pasta Casserole

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Ground beef and pepperoni get together in this delicious slow cooker pizza pasta casserole. The meaty sauce is combined with the cooked pasta and mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Finish the dish in the oven for bubbly cheese.

  • 03 of 19

    Southern Grape Jelly Meatballs

    Grape jelly meatballs

    The Spruce

    These grape jelly meatballs will be the star of the party. They're great for holiday parties and game day gatherings and couldn't be easier to make.

  • 04 of 19

    The Easiest Crock Pot Chili

    The Easiest Crock Pot Chili

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

    This very easy hearty chili will quickly become a family favorite. Even the pickiest eaters will love this delicious chili that only takes minutes to throw together.

    Continue to 5 of 19 below
  • 05 of 19

    Crock Pot Meatloaf With Potatoes

    Crockpot Meatloaf

    Kristina Vanni

    This easy meatloaf is as versatile as it is easy, and the potato side cooks right along with it. Top it off with barbecue sauce or ketchup just before it's done.

  • 06 of 19

    Swedish Cabbage Rolls, Crock Pot or Stovetop

    Cabbage Rolls, Swedish Style

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    These fabulous Swedish cabbage rolls can be cooked in the slow cooker or on the stovetop. Freeze the head of cabbage overnight to make the leaves pliable. For even easier preparation, you might like this crock pot beef and cabbage dinner.

  • 07 of 19

    Slow Cooker Taco Stack With Ground Beef

    Slow Cooker Taco Stack

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Tex-Mex flavors are featured in this flavorful slow cooker taco stack. Seasonings include chili powder, cumin, olives, and optional jalapeno chile peppers.

  • 08 of 19

    Tater Tot Casserole, Slow Cooker or Oven

    Tater Tot Casserole, Slow Cooker or Oven

    The Spruce / Abbey Littlejohn

    Tater tot casserole is a one-dish meal that kids love. It can be made in the slow cooker or oven, and only requires four ingredients. Serve it as a main or side dish for brunch or dinner.

    Continue to 9 of 19 below
  • 09 of 19

    Crockpot Sloppy Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

    Barbecue Sloppy Joes, Slow Cooker

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Sloppy Joes are always a family favorite. Ground beef is slow cooked with onion, bell pepper, and a homemade barbecue sauce. The sloppy barbecue beef makes a deliciously messy sandwich.

  • 10 of 19

    Slow Cooker Chinese Pie With Ground Beef and Potatoes

    Chinese Pie With Ground Beef

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    This "Chinese pie" is not an Asian dish. It's actually a French Canadian/New England casserole with a quirky name. The dish is made with layers of potatoes, browned ground beef, and corn.

  • 11 of 19

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers

    Stuffed Green Peppers With Ground Beef

    The Spruce 

    Slow cooker stuffed peppers come with many possible variations, including homemade sauce suggestions and seasonings. They're a fun main dish and require little to no accompaniment.

  • 12 of 19

    Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie (Cottage Pie)

    Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie (Cottage Pie)

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Technically, the ground beef makes this filling dish with potatoes and green beans a cottage pie. If you want a more authentic shepherd's pie, you can use ground lamb instead. 

    Continue to 13 of 19 below
  • 13 of 19

    Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs With Sour Cream Gravy

    Traditional Sweden meatball.
    Luke Chan / Getty Images

    This easy recipe for Swedish meatballs is all about convenience. Frozen meatballs are cooked with prepared gravy, sour cream, and spices. Serve with hot cooked noodles or mashed potatoes.

  • 14 of 19

    Slow Cooker American Chop Suey

    Crock Pot American Chop Suey

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    American chop suey is comfort food to many, and this version is super easy to prepare and cook in the crock pot. It's an excellent busy day meal.  

  • 15 of 19

    Crock Pot Beef and Bean Dinner

    Beef and Beans

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Bake a pan of cornbread or cornbread muffins to go with the ridiculously easy beef and bean dinner. The browned ground beef and bacon are slow-cooked to perfection with canned beans and chopped veggies.

  • 16 of 19

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Ground beef, sausage, shredded or diced carrots, celery, and tomatoes go into this wonderful homemade bolognese sauce. Some dry red wine may be added to the sauce along with Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

    Continue to 17 of 19 below
  • 17 of 19

    Slow Cooker Onion Soup Meatloaf

    Meatloaf
    Lauri Patterson / Getty Images

    Slow cooker meatloaf is flavored with onion soup mix. Oats and eggs help the loaf bind together, and barbecue sauce or ketchup are a classic topping.

  • 18 of 19

    High Protein No-Bean Chili

    Crock Pot No Bean Chili

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    If you aren't a fan of beans in your chili, this ground beef no-bean chili is an excellent choice. It's super beefy, and makes a great topping for nachos or hot dogs.

  • 19 of 19

    Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Sweet and sour meatballs are simmered with an easy homemade Asian-style sauce as well as peppers and pineapple chunks for more texture and flavor. Serve these meatballs with hot boiled rice.