Think saucy, long-cooked dishes. Chili is the king of raw-beef crock pot meals. Also try spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes, or a hearty beef and bean stew. The liquid helps distribute heat and keeps the meat from getting dry.
Avoid doing this for things like meatloaf or hamburger patties. Those need a dry heat and a quick, high-temperature sear to hold their shape. The crock pot will just make them mushy and sad.
A Little Story From My Kitchen
Last Tuesday, I was running late for a meeting. I threw an entire pound of raw ground beef into the crock pot, added a jar of salsa, some cumin, and a can of black beans. I set it on low, put the lid on, and forgot about it.
Six hours later, my husband walked in and said, “What smells amazing?” I served it over rice with shredded cheese. He thought I was a wizard. I was just a beautiful, lazy genius with a slow cooker.
