Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef along with the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks, until the meat is completely browned and the onion is softened and translucent — approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Do not skip this step: browning the beef on the stovetop before adding it to the slow cooker develops a depth of savory, meaty flavor through the Maillard reaction that you simply cannot achieve by adding raw ground beef directly to the slow cooker. Once browned, carefully drain away any excess grease from the pan and set the beef mixture aside.
