How To Cook Ground Beef In A Crock Pot

Jill Nystul · October 23, 2024

Learn how to cook ground beef in a crock pot or Instant Pot to save yourself tons of time and effort on future meals.

Learning how to cook ground beef in a crock pot or Instant Pot was a serious game-changer for me! Both methods allow you to cook a large amount of ground beef at once and freeze it in one-pound or half-pound portions to save yourself time and effort down the road.

raw ground beef in a crockpot and cooked ground beef in a plastic bag

Learn how to cook ground beef (or ground turkey) in your slow cooker or Instant Pot below!

Jillee’s Take:

If I had a nickel for every time I forgot to thaw the frozen ground beef I was planning to use for dinner, I’d be a rich woman! But now that I know how to batch-cook ground beef in my crock pot, it’s no big deal if I forget to take it out of the freezer, because it’s already cooked and thaws in a flash!

Step 1 - Break The Hamburger Up Before Cooking

How To Cook Ground Beef In A Crockpot

Put a few pounds of ground beef into your slow cooker, then use clean hands or a spoon to break it up.

Put the lid on your slow cooker and cook on High for 2-4 hours. Cooking times will vary based on the amount of meat you’re cooking. (As a point of reference, we cooked 3 pounds of meat in about 2 hours while shooting these photos.)

Stir the meat (and break it up again, if necessary) partway through cooking. A potato masher works well here!

When the meat is fully cooked, you’ll need to drain it. I like to do this by placing a sieve or colander over a foil-lined dish and carefully pouring the beef into the colander. (Then I just let the fat solidify and throw it away — it’s much better for our house’s sensitive plumbing than dumping it down the drain!)

When the drained meat is cool enough to handle, divide it into portions and place them in freezer-safe ziplock bags. Put the bags in your fridge until the beef is no longer warm, then transfer them to your freezer for up to 4 months.

How To Cook Ground Beef In An Instant Pot

Cooking hamburger meat in an Instant Pot is similar to cooking it in a crock pot, but it’s a lot faster! Here’s how to do it:

Put a few pounds of ground beef in your Instant Pot, break it up with a spoon or potato masher, then seal the lid. (As long as you’re cooking at least a couple of pounds of beef, you won’t need to add any liquid — the moisture and fat in the meat will create enough steam to pressurize the pot.)
Use the Pressure Cook program to cook the beef on high pressure for 5 minutes.
Use Quick Release to depressurize the pot, then stir the beef and check for doneness.
If the beef is nearly done, use the Sauté program to cook the beef for another minute or two until it’s fully cooked. (If the beef is only partly cooked, replace the lid and pressure cook for another 5 minutes.)
Drain the cooked beef, let it cool on a baking sheet or in a casserole dish, then divide into portions and freeze.

How To Use Frozen Pre-Cooked Ground Beef

Since pre-cooked and frozen ground beef has already undergone initial cooking, the goal is to reheat and restore its texture and flavor. Follow these guidelines:

To warm it on your stovetop:

Place the frozen ground beef in a skillet with a tablespoon of cooking oil over medium heat.
Break up the meat with a spoon or spatula as it starts to thaw and reheat.
Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the ground beef is warmed through.

To warm it in an Instant Pot:

Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
Use the pot-in-pot method by placing a trivet in the pot, and then placing the cooked beef in a steamer pan on top of the trivet.
Cook on high pressure for 5-7 minutes.
Let the pressure release naturally before opening the lid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Make With Frozen Pre-cooked Ground Meat?

You can make all kinds of delicious ground beef and turkey recipes with pre-cooked ground meat, like tacos, casseroles, spaghetti and meat sauce, chili con carne, and sloppy joes. These recipes are great for meal prep and can be easily adapted to suit your taste preferences.

Do I Need To Brown Ground Beef Before Cooking It In A Crock Pot?

Browning ground beef before cooking it in a slow cooker can enhance the flavor and texture of the meat. But if you’re short on time, feel free to skip it — you can always brown it after thawing it out!

How Much Ground Beef Can I Cook In A Crock Pot At Once?

You can cook 2-4 pounds of ground beef in a standard-sized crock pot without overcrowding. The more ground meat you cook at one time, the longer it will take to cook, so just keep an eye on it and stir periodically.

Conclusion

Having pre-cooked ground beef in the freezer is a great time-saver, especially on busy weeknights when you need to get something on the table ASAP. It’s a money-saver too because you’ll be less tempted to order delivery or stop for fast food!

What’s your favorite way to use ground beef?