Description
Ground beef is a versatile ingredient that adds rich flavor to slow cooker meals. However, before adding it to your slow cooker, it’s essential to brown it properly to enhance texture, prevent excess grease, and improve the overall taste of your dish. Pre-cooking ground beef also helps reduce food safety concerns by ensuring even cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- ½ tsp onion powder (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a Pan: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil if using.
- Add Ground Beef: Break the ground beef into small chunks and spread it evenly in the pan.
- Season It: Sprinkle salt, pepper, and any optional seasonings for enhanced flavor.
- Brown the Meat: Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is no longer pink and has a brown, crumbly texture.
- Drain Excess Fat: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess grease.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Add the browned ground beef to your slow cooker and proceed with your recipe.
Notes
- Browning ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker prevents clumping and enhances flavor.
- If using lean ground beef (90% lean or higher), you may not need to drain much fat.
- For extra flavor, sauté onions and garlic with the beef before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Consider freezing browned ground beef in portions for quick meal prep.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Meal Prep, Basics
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ lb
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: ground beef, slow cooker, browned beef, meal prep, cooking basics