These slow cooker shredded beef tacos are summer slow cooking at its best! Pair it with your favorite toppings for a hands-free, fun, family and friends meal!
How about some summer slow cooking? We want something easy and hassle free but good enough to feed a crowd or a family for a couple of days. So today we’re gonna be doing some slow cooker shredded beef tacos with some chuck roast seared lovingly before it’s slow cooked for hours in a spiced tomato sauce.
The toppings are entirely up to you. Lettuce, cheese, beans, rice, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime, guacamole, salsa, sour cream or hot sauce. Maybe even some corn! And don’t be limited by the title of the recipe. You can use this beef for burritos or enchiladas too.
There’s some cayenne and jalapeno in here, but when all was said and done, I didn’t find it spicy at all so don’t be turned off by those two. And if you want it super spicy, just add in more peppers or cayenne. Or some hot sauce. We always have a bottle of Cholula handy at home for this.
Alright, let’s cook!
Use a cheap cut of beef for this, something perfect for slow cooking like a chuck roast. I seasoned it with salt and pepper and seared it for awhile cause searing before braising is good. You can skip this step if you don’t want an extra pan to wash but read this before you do so you can make an informed decision!
Then in the slow cooker it goes and you top it with the diced onions and sauce mixture, which is beef broth spiced with cayenne, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic, tomato paste, lime juice and diced jalapenos.
If you want less heat, remove the seeds from the jalapenos. I did this, so my beef wasn’t too spicy. If you want more heat, leave the seeds in. If you want even more, add more peppers or more cayenne.
It’ll look like a slab of beef with very little juices to go around before you start cooking. Don’t worry about this because after 8 hours of braising, the beef will break down you’ll end up with more than enough juices to coat your shredded beef. Slow cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high and that’s it! I did mine on low for 8 hours. Then serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Prefer chicken? Try out these slow cooker shredded chicken tacos.
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Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 mins
- Yield: 22-25 tacos 1x
Description
These slow cooker shredded beef tacos are summer slow cooking at its best! Pair it with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
- 2–3 lb. chuck roast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
Instructions
- Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste then sear all sides over medium high heat in some oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side
- Remove beef and set aside
- Combine cayenne, cumin, paprika and garlic with the beef broth
- Add tomato paste, jalapeno and lime juice and stir to mix
- Transfer beef to a slow cooker and toss in diced onions
- Pour the beef broth mixture over the meat
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours
- Shred beef with two forks and toss to coat with the juices
- Dish and serve hot with toppings
Notes
Toppings: Lettuce, cheese, beans, rice, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime, guacamole, salsa, sour cream or hot sauce
122 Comments
Dorothy Dunton
July 13, 2015 at 4:39 PMHi Farah! I don’t use my crockpot as much as I did when I was working, but I recently brought it back out. This recipe is perfect! I cook every day (as I’ve always done), but sometimes it is nice to load up the crockpot and when suppertime rolls around it’s all ready! I agree with you on searing the meat first – it’s such a simple step, but makes a big difference in flavor in my opinion.
The Cooking Jar
July 13, 2015 at 10:06 PMIt’s something I just got used to doing along the way. Plus I really like the smell of seared meat, smells so good!
David Foreman
October 26, 2016 at 9:39 PMLet me say that this recipe is THE best shredded beef Mexican beef filling I have ever made, tasted, etc… This recipe made my very hip local Mexican restaurant jealous and wanting the recipe… I didn’t reveal it to them, rest assured 😛
The Cooking Jar
November 10, 2016 at 1:11 PMAwesome! Now I feel like part of a super secret recipe club for tasty taco fillings! 😉
Sherwina
July 20, 2019 at 11:00 PMLove this recipe. It helps me stay on my diet. I use it as toppings for my salad, filling for my morning omelet. I make a big batch and divide it for my meals. Thank you.for sharing it! Its a winner!
★★★★★
Audrey Fiso
April 22, 2020 at 3:40 PMI have a question is this recipe very spicy?
The Cooking Jar
April 24, 2020 at 9:21 AMIt isn’t spicy at all for me. If you want to cut the probability of all spiciness, leave out the cayenne. Hope this helps!
Marianne
May 31, 2020 at 10:25 PMHi Farah – I rarely give recipe reviews, but this shredded beef taco recipe really deserves a lot of praise. Made this today exactly as written and it was the best shredded beef taco meat we’ve ever tasted. I seared the meat and I agree this is an important step. I was a bit nervous with all the spice with the cayenne pepper and jalapeno but it was absolutely just perfect. We will be having this recipe again and again. Thank you!
Monique
July 14, 2015 at 6:38 AMI cooked this last night and everyone loved it….will be making this again. Great and easy to make. We enjoy all your recipes.
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
July 15, 2015 at 2:47 PMThanks for letting me know! It’s always a happy day when someone tries out a recipe 🙂
susan
August 3, 2015 at 6:42 PMThank you sounds great
The Cooking Jar
August 5, 2015 at 3:27 PMWelcome, Susan. Happy cooking!
Moi
December 9, 2015 at 12:42 PMLooks delish! I am such a taco person! Would you cook chicken for the same hours as beef in a slow cooker if I were to make shredded chicken tacos? Thanks!
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
December 14, 2015 at 2:58 PMYes, I would. I did another slow cooker Mexican-inspired chicken dish here. Same cooking time but I would advise not to go over that as chicken gets very, very tough if overcooked. Happy eating!
Shortsman
December 30, 2015 at 6:53 PMI have a smoker ? Barbecue will this work the same way
The Cooking Jar
January 3, 2016 at 2:10 PMGosh, I wish I knew more about a smoker. I did some research and they said chuck roast works well with it, so the only thing I would change is not to use the beef broth and make it a rub of sorts. The cooking and timing I leave to you and your experience! Other than that, I should think it would work!
Slow Smokin
February 11, 2016 at 8:09 PMAnything you want to know about smoking just ask.
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
February 16, 2016 at 2:29 PMOne day I just might!
Cat
January 3, 2016 at 5:52 AMThank you for the recipe! We made this yesterday and it was great, delicious!
The Cooking Jar
January 3, 2016 at 2:10 PMYou’re welcome, Cat! Happy to give good eats 🙂
John
January 22, 2016 at 12:26 AMCan I use lemon instead if lime?
The Cooking Jar
January 26, 2016 at 1:54 AMYou could if you prefer the taste. Although it will taste a little different!
Ctina1973
January 27, 2016 at 2:37 PMI just made this in the pressure cooker. Cut the beef into large chunks and cooked for about 20 minutes. Pretty good!
The Cooking Jar
January 28, 2016 at 2:59 PMPressure cooking is like cheating with food. I love using it with lamb and lentils. All it takes is 20 minutes!
Anna
January 31, 2016 at 9:11 PMLoved this recipe! Found it this morning – followed it to a T and 4 hrs later (on high) my family and I were enjoyed the most tender / tastiest shredded beef. Thanks for sharing! A new fan/follower =)
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
February 1, 2016 at 2:00 PMI’m glad you guys enjoyed it, Anna! Thanks for trusting my recipe and trying it out! 🙂
Bill
March 19, 2016 at 11:33 AMDang Girl…. this is good stuff.
The only thing Idid different was I grilled the meat on a searing station…. on my grill. It’s all good!
-Bill
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
March 20, 2016 at 5:49 PMHey, I’m glad it worked out for you Bill! This one seems to be popular with the menfolk with all their talk of smoking and grilling.
Garry
April 19, 2016 at 5:06 AMI love this beef recipe, I used the beef in a quesadilla with grilled and peeled red capsicum, fried onions and cheese….delicious. The following night I used the leftovers in a pasta dish…..thank you
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
April 25, 2016 at 1:19 PMYou’re welcome, Garry! It’s versatile enough to be put into many things, not just tacos. Burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, you name it.
Kimberly
May 12, 2016 at 10:15 AMFantastic recipe! I even shared the recipe with my grandmother and all of her guests raved about the meal! My cousins wife after dinner asked for the recipe as well! Thank You!
The Cooking Jar
May 23, 2016 at 3:48 PMWow, that’s GREAT to hear! Grandma approved! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the recipe with your family and letting me know it was a hit!
A A Ron
May 14, 2016 at 4:30 PMCrock pot has been going for about 3 hours now, I wish they made air fresheners in this scent! I can’t wait to eat it!
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
May 23, 2016 at 3:51 PMI know! I love the scent of sauteed onions and garlic. Imagine it in air fresheners, I’d be hungry all the time! I hope you enjoyed the meal :))
Joshua
June 4, 2016 at 4:59 PMThis recipe is fantastic!! Not only have I shared it multiple times but it’s been in regular monthly rotation in our household. If you’ll permit me to share a sauce for this – while searching for meals for my family I came across a blog called damndelicious and there’s a burrito bowl recipe that has a chipotle cream sauce. I use that sauce recipe as a topping on these shredded beef tacos and it’s an AMAZING addition! They go perfectly together. Then, with the leftovers, I lightly add the sauce to some tortillas, add cheese, and your shredded beef recipe and make quesadillas! It’s a hit with everyone! Thanks so much!
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
June 8, 2016 at 2:51 PMMost welcome, Joshua. Thanks for sharing the recipe with people! That sauce looks like a wonderful way to spice up regular sour cream: sour cream, chipotle, lime and garlic!
Melissa
July 13, 2016 at 3:37 PMMy favorite taco recipe nailed !!!! I don’t even bother going out for tacos anymore cause this recipe is THE BEST !!!! Serve with corn tortillas cilantro onion and lime !!! MMmmmmm make this once every couple weeks at least. !!
★★★★★
The Cooking Jar
July 16, 2016 at 5:42 PMYay!!! Glad you’ve found a staple, Melissa. Enjoy the tacos!