14 Ground Beef Crockpot Recipes To Make for Dinner Tonight

Ground beef doesn’t get enough credit! It’s budget-friendly, easy to cook, and one of my favorite ingredients to use in the crockpot when I want dinner to be something easy that everyone at my table will actually eat. So today I wanted to talk you through my regular rotation of ground beef crockpot recipes that I think you’ll want to try! 

You’ll find all the family-friendly classics in here. Think cozy spaghetti meat sauce, hearty chili, and the kind of slow cooker dinners that make busy nights feel manageable. I’ve also included a few of my most-loved recipes, like my famous lasagna soup and an easy taco casserole that I’ll never get bored of.

Basically, if you’ve got a packet of ground beef sitting in your fridge right now and no idea what to do with it, I’ve got you. These are the crockpot dinners I rely on when I want something comforting, affordable, and guaranteed to make everyone at the table happy.

Crockpot Ground Beef Chili 

This crockpot ground beef chili is a classic, family-friendly dinner that gets better as it cooks. Browned ground beef, onions, and garlic simmer with tomatoes, broth, and a generous blend of chili spices that deepen and develop over hours in the slow cooker. Adding the beans toward the end keeps them tender without turning mushy, resulting in a thick, hearty chili that’s perfect for cozy nights, easy leftovers, and feeding a crowd.

Crockpot Spaghetti Ground Beef Sauce

One of those reliable family dinners that practically makes itself! Browning the ground beef and Italian sausage adds rich, cozy flavor, then onions, garlic, tomatoes, and herbs go in and the slow cooker does the rest. It’s simple, hands-off, and perfect for busy weeknights and guaranteed leftovers.

Crockpot Ground Beef Taco Meat

This crockpot taco meat is an easy, family-friendly staple that’s perfect for busy nights. Ground beef cooks low and slow with diced onions, garlic, salsa, and taco seasoning, soaking up all that saucy, seasoned flavor as it becomes tender and scoopable. It’s incredibly versatile, and you can use it for tacos, burritos, bowls, or nachos, and let everyone build their own dinner! 

Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup

If you haven’t thought about using ground beef in soup before, this one might change your mind. Browning the beef first adds depth, then it simmers low and slow with bell peppers, onions, and a tomato-rich base until everything turns cozy and flavorful. Stirring in cooked rice at the end gives it that classic stuffed pepper feel without it turning mushy. 

Crockpot Lasagna Soup 

Lasagna night, but make it hands-off. Browning the ground beef first adds that rich, classic flavor, then everything goes into the slow cooker so you can get on with your day while dinner takes care of itself. Adding broken lasagna noodles during the final stretch keeps them perfectly tender, and finishing each bowl with extra cheese and fresh herbs makes things pop. One of my most popular reader favorites! 

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

This cowboy-style take on crockpot sloppy Joes is pure comfort food with a little extra personality. Ground beef simmers low and slow with smoky bacon, tender onions, and a rich, slightly sweet BBQ sauce until everything is deeply flavorful. Stirring in rolled oats might sound a little weird, but they soak up the sauce and add heartiness in the best way. Trust me! 

Crockpot Root Beer Chili

This one has a little twist that makes people do a double take, in the best way! Root beer melts right into the tomatoes, spices, and ground beef as it cooks, adding a subtle sweetness and depth that balances the heat and acidity without making the chili taste sweet. Think of it as a secret ingredient that makes the whole pot richer, rounder, and just a little more fun for an easy, family-friendly crockpot dinner. 

Crockpot Cowboy Soup

This is one of those dinners that feels made for busy days. Ground beef, beans, and corn come together with plenty of seasoning for that cozy, campfire-style flavor, all in one slow cooker. After a quick browning step, everything gets tossed in and left to simmer, making this crockpot cowboy soup the ultimate meal that feeds a crowd and reheats beautifully.

Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

Everyone loves a good burger, and this cozy soup version brings all those familiar flavors to the dinner table in the easiest way possible. Seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, tender potatoes, and plenty of melty cheddar come together in a rich, comforting bowl that feels instantly familiar. Finished with your favorite burger-style toppings, this crockpot cheeseburger soup is a guaranteed family favorite and perfect for nights when you want something fun, filling, and low-effort.

Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup

All the cozy flavors of classic cabbage rolls, without any of the rolling or stuffing! Once the ground beef is browned, everything goes straight into the slow cooker — chopped cabbage, tomatoes, broth, rice, and seasonings — and simmers low and slow until the cabbage is tender and the broth turns rich and hearty.

Crockpot Taco Casserole

Taco night meets slow cooker ease with this cozy, family-friendly casserole. Seasoned ground beef is browned first, then mixed with enchilada sauce, salsa, black beans, corn, and onions to build bold taco flavor. Layered with tortilla chips and cheese in the crockpot and finished with fresh toppings before serving, this is an easy crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for busy weeknights and let-everyone-build-their-own dinners.

Crockpot Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole

Seasoned ground beef is layered with black beans, corn, tortillas, and plenty of melty cheese, all smothered in a rich enchilada sauce and cooked low and slow. It’s an easy, family-friendly casserole that’s perfect for busy nights when you want big flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients (serves 6): 

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained

• 1 (1 oz) envelope taco seasoning

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (10.5 oz) can tomatoes with green chilies

• 1 cup frozen corn

• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 3 (10 oz) cans red enchilada sauce

• 12 corn tortillas

• 3 ½ cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded, divided

• Diced tomatoes, scallions, cilantro for topping (optional)

Instructions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, taco seasoning, garlic, tomatoes with green chilies, corn, and black beans.

2. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Pour one can of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.

4. Add a layer of 4 corn tortillas.

5. Spoon in half of the meat mixture and spread it out evenly.

6. Sprinkle with 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese.

7. Repeat the layering: another 4 tortillas, one more can of enchilada sauce, the rest of the meat mixture, and another 1 ½ cups of cheese.

8. Finish with a final layer of 4 tortillas, the last can of enchilada sauce, and the remaining cheese.

9. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

10. Once ready, garnish with diced tomatoes, scallions, cilantro, or any toppings you love. Slice and serve!

Crockpot Nacho Beef Soup

Loaded nachos, but in cozy soup form. Ground beef, beans, corn, and Rotel tomatoes simmer together with warm spices until everything is rich and flavorful, then get finished with cream and cheddar cheese for that classic nacho-style creaminess. It’s a fun, comforting weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. Just add tortilla chips on the side for dipping and scooping.

Ingredients (serves 6):

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 jalapeño, diced

• 1 (10 oz) bag frozen corn

• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 (10 oz) can tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel)

• 1 (1 oz) envelope taco seasoning

• 3 ½ cups chicken broth

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 4 tablespoons flour

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• Jalapeños, scallions, and tortilla strips, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add the cooked ground beef to the slow cooker.

2. Stir in the onion, red bell pepper, garlic, jalapeño, corn, black beans, tomatoes with green chiles, taco seasoning, and chicken broth until well combined.

3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.

4. About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the heavy cream and flour until smooth. Stir into the soup.

5. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, cover, and cook for another 20–30 minutes until the soup is slightly thickened and creamy.

6. Stir well, ladle into bowls, and serve hot with tortilla chips and your favorite nacho toppings.

Crockpot Dr. Pepper Meatloaf

This is one of those comforting, crowd-pleasing dinners that always disappears fast. With a sweet, sticky BBQ glaze made with a splash of Dr Pepper to take it over the top, it’s a great twist on the classic. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and especially good served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes for a cozy, family-style meal.

Ingredients (serves 4): 

For the meatloaf:

• ¾ cup milk

• ⅔ cup seasoned bread crumbs

• 2 eggs

• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon mustard

• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• ¼ teaspoon seasoning salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

For the glaze:

• ½ cup Dr. Pepper

• ½ cup BBQ sauce

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine the milk and bread crumbs. Stir until well mixed and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

2. Add the eggs, dried minced onion, garlic, mustard, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, black pepper, and ground beef.

3. Mix everything together gently with a wooden spoon (or clean hands!) until fully combined—don’t overmix.

4. Line your slow cooker with foil for easy cleanup and shape the meat mixture into a loaf. Place it right into the bottom of the slow cooker.

5. In a small bowl, whisk together the Dr. Pepper, BBQ sauce, and brown sugar.

6. Pour half of the glaze over the meatloaf.

7. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until cooked through.

8. Optional: Transfer the cooked meatloaf to a baking sheet, brush with the remaining glaze, and broil for 2–3 minutes for a sticky, caramelized finish.

9. Slice and serve hot—mashed potatoes are highly recommended!

I hope you’ll love making these recipes in your own kitchen! As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. It helps me to create more ideas to share in the future, and it makes my day. You can also tag me in your pics on Instagram @slimmingviolet!