It's been quite chilly here in the Midwest lately and that's got me thinking about some of my favorite fall meals. Whether you have a big family or not, using your slow cooker (or crock pot) makes things so much easier on busy days. While I use mine all year round, it happens to come in handy for my all time favorite fall slow cooker recipe. Just mix ground beef with some Mexican/American spices and you've got one of our family favorites.
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A Family Favorite Fall Slow Cooker Recipe
Sometimes I use the word "soup" loosely (see this post). I suppose it is used that way here, too. This meal is like a watery stew or a hearty soup, whichever way you want to look at it. Either way, we all agreed after the first time we tried it that it was a keeper.
This recipe was given to me by a family friend because she knew I was looking for good meals to feed my growing family.
I like this meal because:
- Everyone in the family likes it
- You can easily multiply it to feed a big family
- It's relatively inexpensive to make
- It's healthy (you can choose organic if you want)
- About 4-5 hours in the crock pot is all it takes
- Everyone likes it - that's worth stating twice, right?
We usually assemble it around lunch time and it is ready to eat for dinner. Serve it in a bowl with shredded cheese, sour cream and scoop style tortilla chips for dipping and you've got a very tasty, comfort-food kind of meal.
You can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. Use grass-fed beef and organic ingredients or go to Aldi and get their store brands. No matter which route you choose, the meal will be tasty.
I also like that you can make it spicier if your family enjoys spicy foods. Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate any spice, so I thoroughly enjoy this meal as is.
Without further ado, here is the recipe. I hope your family will try this fall favorite and enjoy it as much as we do.
Taco Soup
2 lbs ground beef, browned
1 small onion, chopped
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 pkgs dry taco seasoning
1 Tbl Italian seasoning
1 Tbl dried minced onion
2 Tbl soy sauce
1 Tbl honey
1 Tbl apple cider vinegar
1 qt water
1 - 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 - 16 oz can tomato sauce
1 - 16 oz can diced tomatoes
Combine all of the above ingredients in a 5 qt or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour then reduce heat to low for 3 - 4 more hours. Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.
Do you have a meal that you enjoy eating when fall comes around? I'd love to have you share it in the comments below!