Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Beef

Shredded beef

Paula Thomas/Getty Images

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 7 hrs 30 mins
Total: 7 hrs 45 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings

This slow-cooked roast is cooked until it is literally falling apart, making a moist and juicy shredded beef that is perfect by itself or used as a filling for tacos, burritos, tamales, or enchiladas. It is quite versatile, so try it as an ingredient in your non-Mexican dishes, as well!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) beef (such as chuck roast)
  • 1/2 teaspoon annatto paste (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder (ground chiles)
  • 2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium onion (roughly chopped)
  • 1 4-ounce (113 grams) can chopped green chiles
  • 1 15-ounce (425 grams) can of diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups water or beef broth

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat a large saucepan or pot over medium-high heat and add the oil. Swirl it around to coat the bottom of the pan or pot.

  2. Sprinkle the flour over the piece of beef and rub it in evenly over the surface. Carefully place the meat into the hot pan and let it sizzle for 2 to 3 minutes or until it's browned nicely. The idea is not to cook it, but to sear the outside to seal in the juices. Turn the roast over and sear the other side. If it is thick enough, you can brown the sides as well.

  3. Place the beef into a slow cooker. Use a spoon to smear the annatto paste over the top, if using. One at a time, sprinkle on the ground cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic, cocoa powder, and salt. Pour the chopped green chiles and tomatoes directly from the can over the roast. Add the onion.
    Pour the liquid (water or broth) into the crockpot to a depth of an inch or two. (Much more than that and your beef will be soupy.)

  4. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. After that time, the beef should be fork-tender and fall apart easily. There should be barely any liquid in the bottom of the pot, and what is left should be of a gravy consistency. Remove any large chunks of fat from the roast; shred the remaining beef by pulling it apart into chunks or strands. Stir the “gravy” and beef together until well-combined.

  5. Serve your moist, delicious shredded beef with a stack of hot tortillas and toppings such as chopped onion, chopped cilantro leaves, a one or more delicious Mexican table sauces.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Recipe Variation

  • You can easily substitute fresh green chiles for the canned ones, if you like. Roast a large green chile (or two small/medium ones) over an open flame or under a broiler until the skin is blackened. Let it cool and peel the skin off. Cut the stem off; open the chile and scrape out and discard the seeds and veins. Dice the remaining chile flesh and use in the recipe in place of the canned green chiles.

-Edited by Robin Grose

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
496 Calories
24g Fat
13g Carbs
54g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 496
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 161mg 54%
Sodium 466mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 54g
Calcium 100mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)