Mexican Shredded Beef
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
8 hrs
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Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
10
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Course
Main Course
Mexican Shredded Beef
Description
This recipe uses chuck roast, a tougher cut that benefits from slow cooking to break down connective tissue for tender shredding. The beef is cut into large chunks, seared to develop a browned crust, then placed in a slow cooker with spices including cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Quartered onion and smashed garlic add aromatic depth.
Beef broth and bay leaves provide essential moisture and flavor, while cooking low and slow for 7-8 hours results in meat that is tender enough to pull apart with forks. The pan drippings are deglazed and added to capture concentrated flavor.
The shredded beef suits serving in corn tortillas topped with onion, cilantro, salsa, cheese, or guacamole, making it a versatile option for Mexican-style meals. It can be prepared in various kitchen equipment, including stovetop or oven, with adjusted times.
Cutting away excess thick fat before searing improves texture. The recipe notes options for stovetop simmer, oven roasting covered, or pressure cooking in an Instant Pot for convenience and speed variations.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 3 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried, Mexican
- ½ white onion quartered
- 4 cloves garlic smashed
- 2-3 cups beef broth unsalted
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Cut into large chunks approximately 3 inches in width. Remove any excessive hard pieces of fat.
- Sear: Heat a large skillet with a tablespoon of cooking oil over medium high heat. Working in batches, careful not to overcrowd the pan, sear the meat briefly on all sides. Once seared remove from the skillet and add to a slow cooker. Continue until all meat has been seared. Pour a small amount of the beef broth into the skillet to deglaze the pan, scraping with a wooden spoon, and pour this into the slow cooker to get all the bits for flavoring.
- Season: Add the seasonings into the slow cooker sprinkling over the meat: salt, black pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, and oregano.
- Add in the quartered onion and smashed garlic cloves.
- Pour the remaining beef broth into the slow cooker, just enough to cover the meat, pressing down into the broth. Add in bayleaves.
- Slow Cook: Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours until meat is tender and easily shredded.
- Remove the onion, garlic cloves and bayleaves. (You can serve the onion and garlic with the meat if desired.)
- Remove the meat, shred and return to to the slow cooker for another 30 minutes on LOW. At this point you can taste and adjust salt or seasonings as desired.
- Serve on corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings, or inside burritos, gorditas, or tostadas.
Notes
- Chuck roast is a shoulder cut that needs slow cooking for tenderness; it may be labeled differently but should be similar in fat and toughness.
- Best served on corn tortillas with toppings like cilantro, diced onion, salsa, or guacamole for authentic enjoyment.
- Variations: stovetop simmer at low heat for 3-4 hours, oven-bake covered at 325°F for 3-4 hours, or pressure cook in an Instant Pot for 35 minutes with natural release.
- Trim excess firm fat to prevent unpleasant texture in the finished dish.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 268kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 27g | 54% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 94mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 988mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 509mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 260IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 35mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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