Best Ever Mexican Shredded Beef Recipe - Amazing shredded beef recipe cooked low and slow in your crockpot/slow cooker. My easy homemade shredded beef is perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, sandwiches, salads and more!
Ingredients you need to make the best Mexican Shredded Beef recipe:
Beef Roast - Top Round, Chuck Roast, London Broil, Brisket or Tri-Tip Roast all work great in this recipe! You'll need a 2 pound roast.
Mexican Seasoning Blend: Chipotle powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, oregano & black pepper. You will use this blend to season the beef prior to searing hot in your skillet.
Tomato Sauce - You'll need a half cup of tomato sauce for this recipe. You can also use crushed tomatoes as well.
Soy Sauce - Light or regular soy sauce both work great in this recipe. You can also use Worcestershire sauce as a substitute as well.
Broth - Chicken, beef or vegetable broth all work great. I love to use chicken bone broth in this recipe but you can use whichever you prefer!
Water - We will use water to deglaze the skillet after searing beef to transfer all of those delicious flavors to the slow cooker.
Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves are best in this recipe! You'll need 3 large cloves. If you are using pre-minced garlic, use about ½ tbsp. For garlic powder substitution - use 1 ½ tsp.
Onion - Yellow, white or red onion all work great in this recipe. You'll need 1 cup chopped which is about 1 small onion.
Orange - I used one orange in this recipe. The orange will go into a food processor with the broth to make smooth. You can substitute the 1 orange for ¼ cup orange juice.
Tools to have on hand for this recipe:
- Slow Cooker - To slow cook the beef roast.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons - For properly measuring all of your ingredients.
- Skillet - For searing the beef roast prior to slow cooking.
What cut of beef is best for Mexican Shredded Beef:
We recently used a top round roast in this recipe and it turned out extremely tender and delicious. You can also use a chuck roast, tri-tip roast, brisket or a London broil in this recipe.
They all work amazing and give you a tender pull-apart end result. I would just go with whatever is on sale at your local grocery store.
How to make the Best Ever Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef:
In a small bowl, combine Mexican seasoning blend. Rub seasoning all over the beef roast.
In another bowl, mix together orange juice, soy sauce, tomato sauce, chopped onions, garlic and broth. Pour mixture into the bottom of your slow cooker.
Heat a cast iron skillet (or similar) over very high heat. Add oil. Carefully add roast to the skillet and sear for about 30 seconds to a minute on each side and until nice and dark brown. Transfer to slow cooker.
Turn skillet off. Carefully pour ½ cup water into skillet to deglaze and pour that liquid over the roast in the slow cooker.
Cover the slow cooker with lid and cook on low for about 7-8 hours or on high for about 3-4 hours. When done, beef will be fork tender.
Remove meet from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Spoon some of the liquids from the crockpot over the beef if you'd like! Serve with tacos, burritos, sandwiches, and more. Enjoy!
How to make shredded beef in an instant pot:
After your sear the meat, transfer to your instant pot instead of the slow cooker. Cook on "high" or "manual" mode for 1 ½ hours. Let pressure release naturally when done (about 15 minutes). When done, shred beef with two forks.
What to make with shredded beef:
You can make so many different dishes with homemade shredded beef! For example: Tacos, Enchiladas, Burritos, Burrito Bowls, Sandwiches, Tortas, Salads, Taquitos...and more!
Side Dishes to pair with Shredded Beef:
Instant Pot Mexican Refried Beans - The easiest, most delicious authentic style Mexican refried beans made in an instant pot (pressure cooker)!
Mexican Rice - My Mexican Rice recipe is so flavorful and super easy to make. We make it almost every single week! I love to pair this side dish with refried beans, a sprinkle of cotija cheese and fresh chopped cilantro.
Sweet Corn Cake - With only four ingredients, this corn cake is so easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Authentic Guacamole - Homemade guacamole made with fresh avocados, tomatillos, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice.
More slow cooker beef roast recipes you'll love:
Tender BBQ Beef Roast - The most delicious slow cooker pull-apart bbq beef tri tip roast. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes for absolute perfection.
French Onion Pot Roast - Tender and delicious pot roast recipe cooked to pull-apart perfection in a slow cooker layered with tender onions in a savory sauce.
Slow Cooked Tender London Broil - This London broil recipe is super easy and absolutely melt in your mouth delicious. The flavor is slightly sweet but mostly savory. If you are looking for a tender, pull-apart London broil recipe that takes very little effort from start to finish, look no further!
Slow Cooker Tender Short Ribs - English cut short ribs seared in a cast iron skillet then cooked low and slow in a red wine sauce.
Best Mexican Shredded Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb Chuck Roast or similar
- ¼ cup Orange Juice about 1 orange juiced
- ½ tablespoon Oil
- ½ cup Broth Chicken, Beef or Vegetable
- ½ cup Tomato Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- ½ cup Water
- 1 cup Diced Onion
- 3 Garlic Cloves minced
Mexican Seasoning Blend
- ½ tablespoon Chili Powder
- ½ teaspoon Chipotle Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Oregano
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Paprika
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine Mexican seasoning blend. Rub seasoning all over the beef roast.
- In another bowl, mix together orange juice, soy sauce, tomato sauce, chopped onions, garlic and broth. Pour mixture into the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Heat a cast iron skillet (or similar) over very high heat. Add oil. Carefully add roast to the skillet and sear for about 30 seconds to a minute on each side and until nice and dark brown. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Turn skillet off. Carefully pour ½ cup water into skillet to deglaze and pour that liquid over the roast in the slow cooker.
- Cover the slow cooker with lid and cook on low for about 7-8 hours or on high for about 3-4 hours. When done, beef will be fork tender.
- Remove meet from slow cooker and shred with two forks. Spoon some of the liquids from the crockpot over the beef if you'd like! Serve with tacos, burritos, sandwiches, and more. Enjoy!
Sue H
There are very few recipes that my family of six can all agree on. This one was a winner. My husband said it is better than anything in the Mexican restaurant.
Amanda Cooks & Styles
Hi Sue! Thank you so much for your kind review! I'm so happy you and your family enjoyed this recipe. :)Amanda