26 Ground Beef Recipes to Make in Your Slow Cooker
There's a lot you can do with ground beef in your slow cooker. Plus, ground beef will last three to four months in the freezer, so stockpiling this staple ingredient will serve you well. From hearty comfort foods like lasagna, chili, and meatloaf, to lightened-up soups and stews, these are the easy, hands-off ground beef slow cooker recipes you'll want to have on hand for busy weeknights.
1 of 27
Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
This is not your TV-dinner Salisbury steak. Be sure to serve with mashed potatoes and spoon the excess gravy overtop.
1 of 27
2 of 27
Cocktail Meatballs
The tangy, sweet-heat meatballs are a classic special occasion appetizer. They can be served straight from the slow cooker to keep them warm throughout the duration of the evening.
2 of 27
3 of 27
Cabbage Rolls II
Cabbage leaves are stuffed with ground beef, onion, and rice, and simmered low and slow in a tomato-based sauce. It's a satisfying, budget-friendly dinner that requires minimal prep work.
3 of 27
4 of 27
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Cooking lasagna in a slow cooker means no pre-cooking the noodles. Simply start by simmering the ground beef and tomato mixture, layer with lasagna noodles and a creamy cheese blend, and let the slow cooker do the rest!
4 of 27
5 of 27
Slow Cooker Chili II
This hearty chili is a great way to sneak in vegetables; it's packed with beans, veggies, beef, and spices. Serve with a side of cornbread, of course!
5 of 27
6 of 27
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Meat Loaf
The slow cooker is the secret to super-moist meatloaf. A ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce adds a tangy-sweet flavor.
6 of 27
7 of 27
Slow Cooker Enchiladas
Forget filling and rolling tortillas, this slow cooker recipe layers seasoned beef with quartered tortillas and a mixture of salsa, cream soup, and Mexican cheese. "Anytime we have a potluck, I am asked to bring these," says recipe creator AIMS312.
7 of 27
8 of 27
Cabbage Beef Soup
Ground beef, cabbage, tomato sauce, kidney beans, and onions make up the bulk of this wholesome soup that's best enjoyed on a cool autumn day.
8 of 27
9 of 27
Meat-Lover's Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
If you prefer a rich, chunky meat sauce, look no further than this top-rated spaghetti sauce. The combination of Italian sausage, ground beef, tomatoes, and spices is enough to make anyone leave the jarred sauce behind.
9 of 27
10 of 27
Grandpa's Classic Coney Sauce
"My Grandfather owned a drive-in restaurant back in the 1950's. This is his exact recipe for Coney Dogs from back in the day," says recipe creator Sean S. "I make this on special occasions and it is always a hit with friends and family."
10 of 27
11 of 27
Randy's Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna
Here's an unusual take on lasagna (and not just because it's cooked in the slow cooker): Layers of meat sauce, ravioli, and cheese make for a delicious, fuss-free take on lasagna.
11 of 27
12 of 27
Slow Cooker Pizza
What's even easier than ordering pizza? This slow cooker "pizza." Alternate layers of browned ground beef, rigatoni pasta, mozzarella cheese, tomato soup, pizza sauce, and pepperoni make up this super simple six-ingredient recipe.
12 of 27
13 of 27
Slow Cooker Bolognese
This traditional Italian meat sauce is made simple in the slow cooker. Reviewer DEE C. says, "This is a very good authentic recipe that's hard to mess up."
13 of 27
14 of 27
Hamburger Soup II
Here's a nourishing, slow-cooked soup loaded with beef, potatoes, celery, onion, peas, and carrots. Chop the veggies ahead of time to save time on busy weeknights.
14 of 27
15 of 27
Spicy Pumpkin Chili
This autumn-inspired chili has two secret ingredients: pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. You might only associate pumpkin with dessert, but it also adds a slightly sweet, earthy flavor to savory dishes as well.
15 of 27
16 of 27
Texas Cowboy Baked Beans
Green chiles and hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco™) add Texas-flair to these slow cooker baked beans. Pair it with Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread and you can't go wrong.
16 of 27
17 of 27
Hobo Beef and Vegetable Soup
"My grandma called this soup Hobo Soup. She said it was something they made way back when, out of whatever they had available in their garden and shelves," says recipe creator Amanda Combs. "It is a large dish (they were a family of 10), so have a big pot or slow cooker!"
17 of 27
18 of 27
Slow Cooker Ground Beef Stew
Recipe creator Luv2BakeGirl describes this as, "The ultimate comfort food with veggies included!" Serve over warm biscuits straight from the oven.
18 of 27
19 of 27
Hobo Beans
In this chili-like dish, ground beef, bacon, and beans are cooked in a sweet, thickened sauce. Some reviewers suggest playing with the amount of brown sugar to reach your desired level of sweetness.
19 of 27
20 of 27
Steph's Zesty Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Cooking these meatballs in the slow cooker allows the sweet and sour sauce to permeate the meat. Serve over steamed white rice.
20 of 27
21 of 27
Easy Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs
Using frozen cooked meatballs means there's very little prep involved in making these Swedish meatballs. Serve over egg noodles to soak up the creamy gravy.
21 of 27
22 of 27
Slow Cooker Taco Bean Soup
It's hard to beat a good taco soup, especially one that allows you to dump all the ingredients in a slow cooker and forget about it! Top with tortilla chips, avocado, shredded cheese, or anything you'd like.
22 of 27
23 of 27
Slow Cooker Pasta Fagioli Soup
Pasta e fagioli literally translates to "pasta and beans." Here it's served up in soup form for a comforting cold weather dish: "Got this going early in the day and enjoyed a hearty, robust soup for dinner with a side salad and a hot baguette," says Allrecipes Allstar lutzflcat.
23 of 27
24 of 27
Mexican Cheese and Hamburger Dip
Here's the perfect tailgate dip that can be served straight from the slow cooker on the "Keep Warm" function. Green chiles and jalapeño peppers add a bit of a kick.
24 of 27
25 of 27
Sloppy Joes for a Crowd
This recipe makes a whopping 24 servings, so you'll want to have it on hand for potlucks and events (although it can easily be scaled down).
25 of 27
26 of 27
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
"Homemade Parmesan-flavored meatballs and tomato sauce are cooked in the slow cooker and served over hot spaghetti for an easy and delicious dinner," says recipe creator ADoyonb86.
26 of 27
27 of 27
More Ground Beef Recipes:
- Pictured: Easy Korean Ground Beef Bowl
- 25 Best Ground Beef Recipes
- 22 Deliciously Different Things to Do with 1 Pound of Ground Beef
- Browse our entire collection of Ground Beef Recipes.