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A comforting bowl of slow-cooked ground beef chili topped with melted cheese, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of spices — hearty, flavorful, and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

Ground Beef Crockpot Recipe

A comforting, slow-cooked ground beef recipe that transforms pantry staples into a deeply flavorful, hearty dish. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, it's flexible enough to serve as chili, tacos, sloppy joes, or pasta topping.
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 410
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp brown sugar or maple syrup
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 can black beans, drained (optional)
  • 1 cup corn kernels (optional)
  • 1–2 diced jalapeños (optional)

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Slow cooker (5–6 quarts)
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • Knife and cutting board

Method
 

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add ground beef and break it up. Cook until mostly browned with a few pink bits left, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, brown sugar, and bay leaf. Stir well.
  4. Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours depending on your timeline.
  5. Remove bay leaf. If using beans, corn, or jalapeños, stir them in during the last 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or add broth if needed.
  6. Serve over rice, buns, pasta, or tortillas. Top with cheese, sour cream, green onions, or cilantro.

Notes

For extra spice, stir in jalapeños or chipotle. Want a sweeter finish? Try more brown sugar or maple syrup. Leftovers freeze beautifully and taste even better the next day.