I think I may be one of the only people in the world who’s not a Chipotle fan. I know…judge away.
But. I absolutely love shredded beef tacos. They’re my absolute favorite thing to order at two of my favorite Mexican restaurants in town. So when I saw one of my favorite bloggers post a delicious photo and recipe of her shredded beef tacos a few months ago, I knew I had to give them a try!
In the past whenever I’ve tried making shredded beef, the seasonings have always seemed too bland. But sure enough, this recipe — rockin’ the chipotle peppers, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic and more — made for some totally flavorful tacos!!! And for leftovers later in the week…it starred again in some quesadillas and sandwiches as well. :)
So bring out your crock pot, and give this recipe a try! It’s definitely a keeper!
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 2 pounds beef (I used a boneless chuck roast)
- 2 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 cup beef stock
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced (if you want extra flavor/heat, add an extra pepper)
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- Flour tortillas
Instructions
- Whisk together the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix into the beef, covering each side evenly.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the beef in the skillet and sear on each side until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove the beef from the skillet and place in the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and diced onion to the saute pan. Saute for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the beef stock and stir the pan to deglaze it, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add tomato paste and minced chipotle, and whisk into the pan sauce until combined. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for a 3-5 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly. Pour the pan sauce down over the beef in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef shreds easily.
- Shred the beef with two forks, and toss to coat with any of the remaining juices. Serve the beef in the flour tortillas, topped with your favorite taco toppings.
Notes
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Ali’s Tip:
If you’re like me and rarely make it through an entire can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, would highly recommend chipotle powder! It’s now available in most grocery stores, and is so fun to have on hand. For one pepper, I usually substitute in around 1/2 tsp. of the powder.
funny, I just had Chipotle today and came here for your latest ideas. And you got my Chipotle favorite here. I am sure this comes out better from home. thanks!!!
I don’t like Chipotle either!! These look fantastic! I never can seem to find the chipotle chili powder in my stores…I always end up wasting almost an entire can of chipotle peppers in adobo! I need to get an ice tray and just freeze them individually I guess.
I wish I had a slow-cooker so I could make these, they look perfect.
I’ve always wanted to try this, and now I think I will. Thanks sis!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Awesome recipe, Jen — thank you!! :)
I love my slow cooker. I have healthy recipes that I post on my slow cooking blog if you are interested.
I love shredded beef, this recipe sounds and looks amazing!
What, you don’t like chipotle?? I can forgive because this recipe looks delicious! One of my favorite restaurants serves shredded beef chimichangas and tacos and I absolutely love them! Now I can try to recreate at home!
Hi Mireya!
I know…weird. I’ve just never really been blown away there. Maybe it’s because I feel like my burritos are always 70% rice, and minimal everything else. Or because I like to scope out toppings, and you have to make super-speedy decisions in the line…ha! I’ll still go there with friends though and enjoy it. :) But love making these at home. Hope you enjoy the recipe!!
~A
I’ve never been to a Chipotle restaurant – but I love shredded beef tacos too! I’ll have to try and find chipotle powder, it sounds like a better deal than trying to use up those cans of peppers.
Something about a slowcooker recipe that always gets me. It has such promise of tender, pulled meat that just melts! Perfect to go with your banana split cupcakes!