Kitchen Hack (noun): Refers to a shortcut found in the kitchen. A tip or a technique that makes one’s life easier, specifically when it comes to organizing or preparing a meal.
I serve a fair amount of ground beef. Not nearly as much as chicken, but still a good percentage of my recipes use ground beef. But I don’t like to ground my beef each time I want to make something calling for it. I’m not sure why, but it seems like a hassle. Why cook just 1 pound of ground beef when I can do 5 or 10 pounds of ground beef and be set for quite a while?
So that’s what I do. Instead of browning just 1 pound, I do 5 or 10 pounds at a time. But lately, I’ve been doing that in a slow cooker instead of on the stove. Does it take longer? Yes, most definitely. But most of it is passive time. I just get my food set up in the slow cooker, let it cook, and check on it later. It’s fabulous! Several hours later, I have plenty of ground beef ready to freeze in smaller portions, just waiting to be put to good use. In fact, on a recent weekend, I dedicated my Saturday to doing this for both chicken and beef. Since I have 2 slow cookers, I ended up with about 12 pounds of ground beef and 16 pounds of chicken, frozen and ready for cooking!
Some of my favorite ground beef recipes:
Spaghetti sauce
Freezer friendly baked spaghetti
Cheesy ground beef casserole
Tacos & Taco Salad (just add taco seasoning if you want)
Taco Soup
French Bread Pizza
Hamburger Vegetable Beef Soup
Ingredients
- Beef (I usually do 5 pounds at a time, but my 6-quart slow cooker can handle up to 7-8 pounds)
- Salt, pepper, and garlic powder
Instructions
Break ground beef up into smaller pieces in the slow cooker.
Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. It can be tricky to know how much, especially if you’re doing 5-8 pounds of meat at a time. Just guess. You can always add seasoning after it cooks.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours. I found it took the full 8 hours for me.
Drain. Use the biggest strainer that you have - or maybe do half at a time.
Let cool and package into smaller portions into freezer bags (don't forget to label the bags).
To freeze, I lay the packages onto a cookie sheet (so that they lay flat), freeze them overnight, then I can stack them in the freezer any way that I want.
Jayme is a wife to 1 and a mother to three little boys (soon to be 4 thissummer!). She coupons, but isn’t super extreme about it. She price matches and loves it! While she likes to cook, she’s in the stage of life where simple is usually better! She never knows how many hands she’ll have free at dinner time! You can find her atNo Regrets Living.
FAQs
If you're cooking for a family of four to six, a pound of ground beef in a skillet is likely the quickest and easiest solution for browning ground beef. But if you're feeding a crowd and need a way to brown ground beef in large quantities, an Instant Pot or even opting for a sheet pan dinner can be your supper savior.
What is the best way to cook a large quantity of ground beef? ›
If you're cooking for a family of four to six, a pound of ground beef in a skillet is likely the quickest and easiest solution for browning ground beef. But if you're feeding a crowd and need a way to brown ground beef in large quantities, an Instant Pot or even opting for a sheet pan dinner can be your supper savior.
What is the secret to slow cooking meat? ›
Avoid overcrowding: For the best results, fill a slow cooker between one-half and two-thirds full. Go ahead and cook big roasts and whole chickens; just make sure you use a large crock and that the lid fits snugly on top. Trim fat: For silky sauces and gravies, take a minute or two and cut the excess fat from the meat.
Does a slow cooker save money? ›
A great way to save money is to use a slow cooker or 'crock pot' which uses much less energy than an electric oven or gas fired hob. Slow cookers are simple and user-friendly, usually requiring no more set up than plugging it in.
Can I just put beef in the slow cooker raw? ›
You can add beef to the slow cooker without browning. Searing it in a hot pan to create a caramelised crust is not necessary but can make a richer flavour. Simply add the meat to your slow cooker with aromatics, stock and sauces and cook either on High for 4-5 hours or on Low for 5-8 hours.
What is the trick to cooking ground beef? ›
Break Up the Ground Beef While Cooking: Then start breaking it into smaller pieces with the wooden spoon. Continue to cook, stirring and breaking up the beef into small crumbles, until any moisture from the beef has evaporated and the beef is evenly browned and no longer pink.
How much ground beef to feed 100 people? ›
How Much Food to Serve at a Party
| FOOD | SERVE 25 | SERVE 100 |
|---|
| Meats |
|---|
| Hamburgers | 6-1/2–9-1/2 pounds | 26–30 pounds |
| Ham or roast beef | 10 pounds | 40 pounds |
| Hot dogs | 4 pounds | 13 pounds |
35 more rowsMay 23, 2024
Slow cooker recipes have (obviously) long cook times, and it's the meat—not the carrots—that benefit from it. By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.
What tenderizes meat in a slow cooker? ›
So how does slow cooking tenderize? Broth, water, or juices are always added along with the meat. The moist heat they provide softens the connective tissue that binds the muscle fibers in the meat, helping it to fall apart more easily.
Why is my meat tough in the slow cooker? ›
“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.
What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? Slow cookers only apply heat to the bottom of the crock, which cuts down on their ability to reduce liquids and brown foods, and develop flavor the same way a Dutch oven or pressure cooker can.
Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›
Low: 7-8 hours to reach the simmer point. High: 3-4 hours to reach the simmer point.
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker for 8 hours? ›
At the time of writing, and in accordance with the current energy price cap, the cheapest slow cooker will cost you around 2.5p to run for an hour. For eight hours, this will set you back 20p.
Can I cook raw ground beef in a crockpot? ›
Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done.
Do you have to brown ground beef before crockpot? ›
Browning Is Better
And if you dredge the meat in flour before you brown it, your sauce will thicken up to make a gravy. You should always brown ground beef or any ground meat in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker to prevent the meat from clumping up or from adding excess grease to your cooked dish.
How to cook 5 pounds of ground beef? ›
All you do is add up to 3 pounds of ground beef to your crock-pot (I have done as many as 5 lbs. at one time). Break up the beef and add ¼ cup water (per pound of beef). Turn your crock-pot on and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours.
How much ground beef to cook for 20 people? ›
In other words, if you're cooking for 10 people, you'll want at least five pounds of meat total. For 20 people, plan to purchase 10 or more pounds of meat.
What is the most appropriate cooking method for a large piece of meat? ›
Braising or pot-roasting—cooking with moist heat—tenderizes meat and is ideal for large roasts and tough bone-in cuts from the chuck, loin and round.
How many pounds of ground beef do I need for 24 people? ›
A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.
