Can you put frozen ground beef into a slowcooker without browning the meat to make chilli?

It's not recommended to put frozen ground beef directly into a slow cooker without browning it first. Here's why:

* Uneven Cooking: Frozen ground beef will take much longer to cook than thawed meat. The outside of the meat could end up overcooked while the inside remains raw.

* Greasy Chili: Frozen ground beef will release a lot of moisture and fat during cooking. This can make your chili greasy and watery.

* Food Safety: It's important to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) to kill harmful bacteria. This is more difficult to achieve with frozen meat in a slow cooker.

Instead, here's what you should do:

1. Thaw the Ground Beef: Thaw the ground beef in the refrigerator overnight, or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

2. Brown the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the thawed ground beef. Brown the meat, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.

3. Add to Slow Cooker: Add the browned ground beef, along with your other chili ingredients, to the slow cooker. Cook according to your recipe instructions.

Quick Tip: You can also add a tablespoon or two of cornstarch to your slow cooker chili to help thicken it and absorb some of the excess moisture.