This recipe makes approximately 6 generous servings, making it an excellent choice for feeding a family, batch cooking for the week, or preparing a meal that stretches comfortably across two dinners without feeling repetitive.
Directions
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it into smaller pieces as it cooks. Cook, stirring and crumbling occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until the beef is thoroughly browned with no remaining pink. Browning the meat properly is important — the deep caramelization on the surface of each piece of beef adds a rich, savory depth to the finished dish that simply simmering raw meat in the sauce will not achieve. If there is a significant amount of excess grease in the pan after browning, carefully spoon off most of it, leaving just a small amount behind for flavor.
Step 2: Soften the Onion
Add the diced yellow onion directly to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes until the onion begins to soften, become slightly translucent, and pick up a little color at the edges. This brief softening step ensures the onion will melt completely into the sauce during the long slow cooker cook, contributing sweetness and depth rather than remaining raw and sharp.
