Don’t have time to fuss over your meat on the stove? This Crockpot Browning Meat Trick has been such a lifesaver… it saves SO much time!!
Then… be sure to also try these genius hacks for How to Shred Meat!
Crockpot Browning Meat Trick
When it comes to browning meat… I’d rather do almost anything else! I mean, who really wants to spend time standing over the stove moving raw meat around, right?
That’s why this Crockpot Browning Meat Hack is an absolute game changer!
I know how much quicker meals can come together once the meat is browned and ready to go.
So to save time and effort, I just let my slow cooker do the work for me now! It’s such a cinch!
Go grab your Crock Pot and let’s get started!
Here’s what you need to do to take back your time from the kitchen…
Related: How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half (35 brilliant tips)
How to Brown Meat in Crockpot
Who knew it was SO easy to brown your meat using your Crockpot?!? When my friend Myra shared this tip back in January, I could hardly wait to try it!
I adore my crockpot, and am always looking for ways to simplify meal prep!
Now… every time I brown meat, this is what I do…
1. Simply transfer the meat to your crockpot.
2. Mash a little to separate the beef or pork. You can use use a potato masher or wooden spoon.
3. Cover with crockpot lid and cook on HIGH until done, stirring occasionally, every 30 minutes or so.
4. Time to cook will depend on how many pounds of beef you’re browning. I’ve browned 5 lbs. in a 6 quart Crockpot in 4 hours, and 1 lb. in a 4 quart Crockpot in 2 hours.
5. When it’s done, drain and discard any excess fat. Don’t pour down the drain, but instead pour into an old yogurt container and place in your garbage… your drains will thank you. 🙂
How to Season Browned Meat
If you want seasoned browned meat, now that it’s done, it’s time to add in your seasonings!
Taco Meat
1. Mix in this Easy Taco Seasoning Recipe with a little water, stir well.
2. Allow meat to cook approximately 15 minutes longer on LOW, and you’re done!
3. Use some in your meal that day, or freeze pre-seasoned meat for a quick and easy meal later! (taco night, burritos, nachos, pasta sauce, etc.)
Pasta Meat Sauce
1. With 1 lb. of browned meat, pour in a 24 oz. jar of Marinara sauce, and sprinkle with a little Salt, Pepper, Basil, Oregano, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder.
2. Stir well, and turn Crockpot to LOW, stirring occasionally and allowing to simmer while flavors blend together.
3. Pour over cooked pasta for an easy dinner, and ENJOY!
Want some more simple tricks?
I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen, so here are some more of my favorite Meat Browning Tips…
Can You Freeze Browned Beef?
Yes… you sure can brown your meat before freezing!
I’ve found this to be a BIG time-saver! Rather than dealing with frozen raw meat, now I can just grab a bag of frozen (already browned) meat out of the freezer!
Sometimes I’ll even pre-season it with taco seasoning like I mentioned above when browning it… so that’s checked off the list, too!
Half the battle is already over, and dinner comes together so much quicker!
Related: 101 Easy Meal Prep Ideas
Can You Reuse Freezer Bags for Meat?
Yes… and it will save you so much money!
Have you noticed how expensive freezer bags have gotten lately?
Yikes, right?
Many freezer gallon bags are now 25 cents each. So every time you wash and reuse one, you’ll save a quarter.
Oh I know that doesn’t sound like much, but did you know if you found a way to save just 27 cents a day you’d be saving over $100 a year?
And let me tell you… I can think of a whole lot of things that are more fun to spend $100 a year on than freezer bags. 🙂
So yes… another simple trick is to simply reuse the freezer bags you store your browned meat in.
Reusing freezer bags is a simple way to save a little extra $$… and since you’ve already browned your meat, the bags won’t be the ooey-gooey throw away kind anymore!
Just rinse, clean, and reuse!
More Time Saving Kitchen Hacks
I’ve got even more easy recipes and Genius Kitchen Tips and tricks I know you’ll love.
Have fun checking out these easy ideas…
How to Shred Meat (4 fast easy tricks!)
These simple little tricks are perfect for cutting down on time in the kitchen and quickly shredding chicken or pulling pork!
Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
Make your own Easy Taco Seasoning Recipe in a snap with just 6 Ingredients!
Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe (Taco Tuesday Everyday)
The scratch made Fajita Seasoning adds the flavor your chicken dinner has been craving.
Crockpot Beef Tacos Recipe
Get ready to feed a crowd whenever they are ready with this tasty Crockpot Beef Tacos Recipe!
Easy Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe
Is it time for your Taco Tuesday to have a delicious makeover? You’ll LOVE this Easy Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe!
150 Fall Crockpot Recipes
With over so many cozy recipes and Fall Crockpot Meals to choose from, you never know how many new ideas you might fall in love with!
101 Easy Meal Prep Ideas
Mealtime is about to get ridiculously simple with this HUGE list of Easy Meal Prep Ideas! You won’t believe how much time and money you’ll save each week!
20 Ways to Save Money on Meat (How to Save BIG All Year Long)
Are you looking for some Easy Ways to Save Money on Meat? With grocery prices soaring, these simple tips and tricks are just what you need!
How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half (35 Money Saving Tips)
Want to know how to cut your grocery bill in half? Keep more cash in your wallet with these easy money saving tricks!
So have you tried this Crockpot Browning Meat method yet??
Leave a comment & share!
Have just discovered the frugalgirls.com. Love it!
I have just discovered it too, I really missed out!
I’m definitely going to do this. This is the time of year where you wish the meat was ready for your dish…this way it will be!
I love cooking up hamburger in the crockpot key is to mark the bags – I have some just beef, beef and cream of mushroom soup&gravy. Usually I season and cook beef remove 2/3 to freeze then add 2 cans rinsed kidney beans,large jar of Salsa, 1 can of Delmonte diced seasoned tomatoes and let it cook atleast and hour to blend the flavors – I will have some that day and I will freeze the chilli in 2 cup portions for future QUICK meals. Just heat in microwave and sprink cheese of choice.
I LOVE the frugal idea of reusing freezer bags but I NEVER reuse the ones that have contained meat or cheese, as they are a breeding ground for bacteria. And that cannot be washed away.
I reuse freezer bags. What I do is to keep the ones I have used in the freezer–empty. If you are not leaving them out at room temp, I think it would be hard for bacteria to grow on them and they take up hardly any room in the freezer!!
This is what I do too. I put them in the freezer empty and then reuse them. I also keep and reuse the bags I use for cheese and dry items like uncooked macaroni and spaghetti.
Great idea. I will though go with Kathleen M’s idea of browning the meat in a skillet and then freezing it. I love ‘saving time’ tips!
For those of us with limited freezer space (okay, I don’t have too little, I just store too much in the freezer), you can also can browned beef. It’s really simple and lasts for a long time (if canned properly it can last up to three years). More importantly, it makes meals even faster than just pulling from the freezer, it’s just popping the lid on the jar and heating through. We can all kinds of prepared and partially prepared meat dishes (soups, stews, italian chicken, bbq pork, etc.). Not only does it make for super simple and fast meals, but it gives me comfort knowing I’m storing foods healthy foods my family loves to eat in case of times of need.
Do you have to have a pressure canner to can meat, or can you use stock pot method? I’m still new to canning.
Whats the best way to reheat once you take it out of the freezer? You wouldnt want to overcook it, right?
Place your meat in a strainer and then place the strainer over a bowl slightly bigger than the strainer. Cook in the microwave stirring a couple time throughout. Cooks fast and drains at the same time.
I am sorry but you cannot and will not actually brown meat in the crock pot. That is steaming the meat.
The meat turns brown when cooked. The method doesn’t matter. True, it is not fried and crispy. It IS browned. You can also brown meat in the microwave, but keep a loose lid or paper towel on it to prevent too many spatters.
I can’t wait to try the crock pot method to brown ground beef.
You can brown meat in a moist environment. The Maillard reaction does occur when the protein is cooked over 350 for a length of time. Check out the America’s Test Kitchen on the subject.
yes, you can! maybe you need a new crockpot.
The pampered chef mix n chop is the BEST!!!!
I love that tool! It’s become my best friend in the kitchen. 🙂