• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home About Contact

The Cooking Jar

Cooking made easy

  • Recipe Index
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Casseroles
    • Dips and Sauces
    • Main Dishes
    • Quick and Easy
    • Sides and Salads
    • Soups and Stews
  • Ingredient
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Pasta
    • Seafood
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Oven
    • Sheet Pan
    • Slow Cooker
    • Stovetop
Home About Contact
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Casseroles
  • Dips
  • Main Dishes
  • Quick and Easy
  • Sides
  • Soups
Home » Ingredient » Beef

Main Dishes

Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

Published: September 25, 2016   |   Updated: June 30, 2022   |   8 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

5 from 1 review
Pin623
Share
Email
623 Shares

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Today we’ll be doing something I’ve been wanting to bring to the blog for awhile. I’ve made it about twice now and just can’t get over how freaking delicious it is. So on the menu, we have some slow cooker Ropa Vieja, with thick ropes of pulled-apart flank steak so tender, you can see each individual strand. I love it. It also gets pretty cathartic shredding them with forks.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

The flank steak sits in a tomato-based sauce infused with fresh onions, bell peppers and jalapenos. We will add a beef bouillon cube to make it even beefier and of course some seasonings of oregano and cumin.

You can opt to have the beef as is, which is plenty enough, or add a more authentic take with some olives stuffed with pimentos and capers. Serve over warm white or yellow rice or some tortillas.

Let’s begin.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Now I normally don’t send you guys down the ethnic aisle except for soy sauce and the occasional sesame oil. But this is so good, it is worth a trip there. Unless you’re familiar with the stuff there, you might panic a little at all the stuff you don’t recognize.

We only need 2-3 things, so I’ll give you the brands of the stuff I used and link them on Amazon so you have a visual in mind of what to look for. Don’t buy them there as it’s overpriced. Just have a look, commit it to memory and go find it in your local grocery store in the ethnic aisle. And remember that this is worth it.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

The most important part of the flavor is from the sofrito which is a cooking base of tomatoes, onions, green peppers, cilantro and garlic. And while I’ve already included these things in the ingredients, adding the sofrito gives it even more flavor. I used the Goya brand of sofrito.

The other most important flavor aspect is the tomato sauce. You can get regular tomato sauce but the one I used is spicy with TONS of flavor. Look for El Pato tomato sauce which is a Mexican hot style.

Lastly, I seasoned the flank steak with Adobo seasoning, but you can just use regular salt and pepper. Adobo seasoning is a blend of stuff like paprika, black pepper, onion powder, oregano, cumin, chili powder and garlic powder with some variations here and there.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

For the jalapenos, the heat is in the seeds. So you can de-seed it and be content with that or leave them in if you like it that way. Just remember to wash your hands after handling the jalapenos and don’t touch your eyes before washing them!

Now you can technically throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and call it a day. But I like to sear the steak after seasoning. It gives it more flavor. I also like to sauté the veggies, throw in the sofrito, tomato sauce and seasonings to make the sauce and then put it all in the slow cooker. How you do it is up to you and how much time you have or want to spend.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Then we slow cook for about 8 hours on low and enjoy how good it makes the whole house smell. You’ll seriously have to resist the urge to sprint to the slow cooker and dive into the food before it’s ready. I know I did.

Once it’s cooked, shred the steak with two forks. It’ll go pretty quickly. Don’t worry about how much liquid there is in the slow cooker when you first unveil your gourmet prize. Once the steak is shredded, it’ll absorb all that sauce and make it that much more juicy.

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Then we add the olives and capers. You can skip this if you’re not a fan, that’s up to you. Garnish with cilantro if you want and serve over rice or with tortillas. I like mine over rice with hot sauce. A good plate of this is plenty comfort for me.

And that’s it. Happy eating everyone!

PS: For another slow cooker beef shredded recipe, check out the milder shredded beef tacos.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.

Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

  • Author: The Cooking Jar
  • Total Time: 8 hours 35 mins
  • Yield: 6-8 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Fork-tender strands of pull apart flank steak simmering in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker Ropa Vieja something you should not miss.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lb. flank steak
  • Salt and pepper to taste/Adobo seasoning to taste
  • 1 cup pitted green olives with pimento, sliced (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons capers (optional)
  • Chopped cilantro (optional)

Sauce:

  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1–2 jalapeno(s), seeded and diced
  • 6 oz. sofrito
  • 3 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
  • 1 beef bouillon cube
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

  1. Season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper seasoning or Adobo seasoning
  2. Sear the steak in some oil over medium high heat until browned, about 5 minutes per side. Remove and set aside
  3. In the same pan, add onions, bell peppers and jalapenos and saute until soft, about 5 minutes
  4. Add in sofrito, garlic, tomato sauce, beef bouillon cube, oregano and cumin and simmer on medium for another 5 minutes
  5. Transfer beef to a slow cooker and top with the sauce. Cook on low for 8 hours
  6. Remove meat and shred with two forks. Return meat to the sauce
  7. Add in olives and capers to the sauce and stir to combine
  8. Season if needed with salt and pepper to taste
  9. Serve over warm rice or with tortillas. Add hot sauce for more flavor!
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 8 hours 20 mins

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how you liked it, what substitutions you made, or what you paired it with in the comments below. If you enjoyed it, help me out with a  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating!

Leave A Review

Nutrition for serving size of 8:

Tender strands of pull apart flank steak nestled in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker spicy shredded beef something you should not miss.

Tender strands of pull apart flank steak nestled in a spicy tomato sauce makes this slow cooker spicy shredded beef something you should not miss.

posted in: Beef, Main Dishes, Slow Cooker

Previous
Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli
Next
Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potato Stacks

Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Share your thoughts and rate the recipe!
    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Comments & Reviews

  1. Liv says

    November 16, 2024

    Easy recipe. Love the olives and sofrito. Accidentally bought the wrong cut of beef but it turned out great

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      November 19, 2024

      I’m glad this worked for you, even with the wrong cut. Which cut did you use? This recipe is one of my personal favorites, it has so much flavor and goes so well with rice.

      Reply
  2. Denise says

    July 9, 2024

    It’s was awesome. Second time I’ve made it and both times it was a hit at the party.

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      September 24, 2024

      I love this one too – it is a personal favorite of mine. It has so much flavor! Thanks for sharing how well it did at your party, Denise.

      Reply
  3. Karly says

    April 24, 2017

    This looks SO stinking good! Always looking for new and improved slow cooker recipes to add to my dinner game. Definitely need to try this!

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      April 25, 2017

      It’s popular with the guys, which isn’t very surprising at all! I might make this again some time next week, suddenly in the mood for it again 😉

      Reply
  4. Morgan says

    September 30, 2016

    Mm, this looks absolutely scrumptious! Peppers and steak are a great combination, so I know this dish must be delicious! Thanks so much for posting the recipe!

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      October 2, 2016

      Absolutely, Morgan!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Grilled shrimp on plate.
Farah - Author of The Cooking Jar.

Here at The Cooking Jar you'll find recipes that focus on practical everyday food using everyday ingredients. Each recipe is tried and true from my kitchen to yours. Happy cooking!

More About Me
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.

FREE eCookbook!

Subscribe to the newsletter + get a free copy of our most popular recipes!

Thank you!

Check your email to confirm and activate your subscription.

Kitchen Essentials - The Basics.

Warm up with these winter favorites!

  • A close up photo of slow cooker chicken and dumplings in a crockpot.
    Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
  • Sour cream beef noodle casserole in a white casserole dish.
    Sour Cream Beef Noodle Casserole
  • A generous ladle of white chicken chili with shredded chicken, beans, corn and chopped cilantro.
    White Chicken Chili
  • Baked Parmesan crusted chicken on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
    Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken
  • Spinach and artichoke ravioli bake in a white casserole dish.
    Spinach and Artichoke Ravioli Bake
  • Creamy sausage pasta in a stainless steel skillet.
    Creamy Sausage Pasta
  • Featured On
  • Buzzfeed Logo.
  • the kitchn Logo.
  • delish Logo.
  • The Huffington Post Logo.
  • CountryLiving Logo.
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.

FREE eCookbook!

Subscribe to the newsletter + get a free copy of our most popular recipes!

Thank you!

Check your email to confirm and activate your subscription.

The Cooking Jar Logo

Recipes

  • Appetizers
  • Beef
  • Breakfast
  • Chicken
  • Casseroles
  • Dips and Sauces
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta
  • Seafood
  • Sides and Salads
  • Slow Cooker
  • Soups and Stews
©2025, The Cooking Jar. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Nutrition Disclaimer
Back To Top
×
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.
The Cooking Jar eBook - Readers Favorite Recipes.

FREE eCookbook!

Subscribe to the newsletter + get a free copy of our most popular recipes!

Thank you!

Check your email to confirm and activate your subscription.

623 Shares
Pin623
Share
Email