Take Taco Tuesdays up a notch with this tender Mexican Shredded Beef recipe that cooks in the crock pot! The flavorful sauce and juicy meat make a great filling for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more!
This Mexican shredded beef is an easy recipe that can be used as the base for a number of other recipes. This tender beef works well in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and more.
It takes just a little more time than a dump-and-go slow cooker recipe, but it can still be prepped and in the slow cooker in less than 20 minutes.
Can I use a different cut of meat?
You can. I like to use a shoulder roast because it works well for slow cooking. It takes a long time to break down, but once it cooks, the meat is tender and leaner than with a lot of other cuts.
If you can't find a shoulder roast (or don't want to use one), you can use another cut, like a chuck roast, that is well-suited for slow cooking.
Can you skip browning the meat?
If you're in a hurry and don't have time to brown the meat, you can skip this step. Browning the meat does give the meat more flavor, but it isn't absolutely crucial.
More slow cooker beef recipes!
- Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
- Crock Pot Balsamic Beef
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
If you’ve tried this Mexican Shredded Beef recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes! You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.
Mexican Shredded Beef
Ingredients
Spice Rub
- 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder*
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 pounds beef shoulder roast**
- 6 cloves garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 ½ cups diced yellow or white onion
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- Salt and pepper
- Water
Instructions
- Stir together spice rub ingredients in a small bowl.
- Rub spice mixture onto the surface of the roast.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the beef, and cook until browned on all sides.
- Place beef in slow cooker insert.
- Reduce heat to medium.
- Add garlic and onion to now-empty skillet, and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly, until onions have just softened.
- Pour onions and garlic around roast.
- Add remaining ingredients to slow cooker.
- Pour in enough water so that the beef is about ⅔ covered with liquid.
- Cover, and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. Beef will be done cooking when it is fork tender.
- Remove the beef, and shred with 2 forks.
- Turn slow cooker to HIGH and let the sauce cook with the lid OFF for about 20 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Serve beef topped with sauce, or return beef to slow cooker and toss beef in sauce.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Pamela Kay
The meat was the most flavorful I’ve cooked in a long time. I added bay leaf and rosemary and wanted to use a Merlot. I just didn’t get around to opening the wine and fish was still very flavorful *****. A five star didh
Kate
Thank you! I'm really glad that you liked it!
Tiffany
Can this recipe be doubled easily? How would that affect cook time? I’d like to make it for a company potluck to serve about 30 people.
Kate
Hi! Unfortunately, I don't have a slow cooker that will hold 6+ pounds of beef, so I've never tried to double the recipe.
Manuel
This was amazing! Will be making it again. Careful high risk of over eating.
Kate
LOL! Thank you! I'm so glad that you liked it. Thanks for commenting! =)
Nan
Delicious! Easy and very tasty. Will make again. Thanks!
Kate
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the beef! Thanks for coming back to comment! =)