Make This Shredded Beef To Instantly Upgrade Your Taco Night (2024)

We’ve all grappled with this question: How can I make something taste great with little to no effort? When it comes to large cuts of beef, the only answer is cooking low and slow until the meat is tender enough to transform into shredded beef. The flavor profile for our shredded beef recipe mimics our carne asada with the use of garlic, scallions, orange juice, and chipotle chiles in adobo, making it the perfect addition to upgrade your taco night.

If you’ve ever made pulled pork or an Italian beef sandwich, the process for shredded beef is essentially the same. There are a few quick steps in the beginning—season and sear the meat, cook a few aromatics, and add some acid and broth—but the rest is hands-off as you let the beef cook in a low-heat oven for a few hours. The time in the oven allows the meat to become super-tender as the fat and connective tissues melt. If you need this to be even more hands-off, we’ve added instructions for how to do this in a slow cooker as well. Keep reading for a few more tips on how to perfect this Sunday:

What is the best cut for shredded beef?
Chuck roast is hands down the winner for maximum beefy flavor, the right amount of fattiness, and cost-effectiveness, but there are a few runner-ups that will yield a delicious result. Brisket is always a delicious choice, but it can be on the pricey side. Rump roast is also a decent backup, but be sure to snag a piece with decent fat marbling.

How much salt does shredded beef need?
The key to making large quantities of anything is adding the right amount of seasoning. A great rule of thumb for protein is to season with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound. That means that the perfect amount could vary based on the size of the roast you get. Stick to the 1 teaspoon per pound ratio, and it will keep you from over- or under-seasoning the meat. Stick to coarse kosher salt for seasoning. If you plan on using Morton coarse kosher salt, you’ll only need a heaping 1/2 teaspoon per pound of meat.

Want to crank the heat up a notch?
If you’re into spice, there’s an easy way to give this recipe an extra kick. Instead of using just 1 tablespoon of adobo sauce, chop up one of the chiles (seeds and all) and add that to the pot with the sauce. You can also substitute canned green chiles if you can't find chipotle chile in adobo.

Serving shredded beef:
While this shredded beef is an obvious perfect addition to taco night, it also works perfectly added to your favorite leafy green salad, on top of a buttery, toasted brioche bun, or added to your burrito bowl.

Did you try making this? Let us know how it went in the comments!

Yields:
6 - 8 serving(s)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
4 hrs 30 mins
Cal/Serv:
447

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp.

    chili powder

  • 2 tsp.

    ground cumin

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 1

    (3 1/2- to 4-lb.) beef chuck roast

  • 2 Tbsp.

    neutral oil

  • 6

    scallions, sliced

  • 4

    cloves garlic, sliced

  • 2 Tbsp.

    tomato paste

  • 1 Tbsp.

    adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo

  • 1/2 c.

    orange juice

  • 3 c.

    low-sodium beef broth

  • 1/2 c.

    fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for serving

  • 1/4 c.

    fresh or dried oregano leaves

  • Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

  • For a Dutch Oven

    1. Step1Preheat oven to 325°. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, 3 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cut roast into 4 pieces; season all over with spice mix.
    2. Step2In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat oil. Working in batches if needed, sear beef on all sides until a deep brown crust forms, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer beef to a large plate.
    3. Step3Reduce heat to medium and add scallions and garlic to pot; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and chile sauce and cook, stirring frequently, until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Stir in orange juice and scrape any browned bits from bottom of pot. Stir in broth, cilantro, and oregano and return beef to pot. Increase heat to high and bring to a simmer.
    4. Step4Partially cover with a lid and transfer pot to oven. Roast 3 hours. Uncover and continue to roast until meat easily shreds with a fork, about 1 hour more.
    5. Step5Shred meat in pot with 2 forks; season with salt. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside.
  • For a Slow Cooker

    1. Step1In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, 3 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cut roast into 4 pieces; season all over with spice mix.
    2. Step2In a large slow cooker, combine scallions and garlic. Place beef on top.
    3. Step3In a large measuring cup or bowl with a pouring spout, whisk tomato paste, adobo sauce, orange juice, and broth. Pour over beef. Add cilantro and oregano. Cover with lid and cook on low 8 hours, or until beef is tender enough to shred with a fork.
    4. Step4Shred meat in slow cooker with 2 forks; season with salt. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges alongside.

Make This Shredded Beef To Instantly Upgrade Your Taco Night (2)

Make This Shredded Beef To Instantly Upgrade Your Taco Night (4)

Make This Shredded Beef To Instantly Upgrade Your Taco Night (2024)

FAQs

What cut of beef is best for shredding? ›

Chuck roast is arguably the best cut to use for pulled beef. Similar to the front shoulder of pork (or the pork “butt”) chuck roasts, being from the front shoulder of the steer, are chock full of fat, collagen, and marbling. This is the stuff we need to make delicious juicy pulled beef.

What is shredded taco meat called? ›

Carne Deshebrada or shredded beef tacos are a meal the whole family craves. This flavorful beef recipe is also a favorite for, gorditas, tostadas, and more! With stove top, slow cooker, and Instant Pot instructions included, there's no excuse not to make this delicious recipe.

What to bring to taco Night? ›

10 Flavorful Sides to Go with a Taco Bar
  • Refried Beans. Refried beans, or "frijoles refritos," have been a staple in Mexican cuisine for centuries. ...
  • Traditional Mexican Rice. ...
  • Taco Slaw. ...
  • Seven-Layer Dip. ...
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad. ...
  • Zesty Black Bean Salad. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
Jul 11, 2023

How do you keep shredded beef from drying out? ›

How do you keep pulled beef moist? Place your shredded beef in an ovenproof dish or catering pan add in a little liquid to replace some of the lost moisture. This can be apple juice, cider vinegar, broth, or a thick BBQ sauce.

What kind of beef is best for tacos? ›

Flank steak is one of the most well-known kinds for anything that requires thin steaks. This thin cut works well for slicing, as required for tacos and fajitas. It's also relatively affordable compared to top-of-the-line steaks like ribeye and New York strip.

Is barbacoa the same as shredded beef? ›

Barbacoa (or Mexican shredded beef) is made out of tougher cuts of meat that require long, slow cooking times with flavorful chiles and seasonings. It's usually hand shredded and used for tacos, burritos, etc.

What is pastor taco meat? ›

What kind of meat is used for Al Pastor tacos? The Al Pastor meat is usually made from boneless pork shoulder, which is a triangular cut from the area just above the front leg of the pig. Butchers often sell pork shoulder with the skin on and a layer of fat. The al pastor taco has to be cooked on a rotating spit.

What's the difference between ground beef and shredded beef? ›

Basically, ground beef and shredded beef offer distinct textures, preparation methods, and culinary possibilities. Ground beef's fine texture and rapid cooking make it versatile for a wide range of recipes, while shredded beef's tender fibers and rich flavor lend themselves well to slow-cooked dishes.

What toppings do you put on tacos? ›

Many traditional Mexican tacos are topped with white onions, cilantro, maybe some sliced radishes, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of salsa or hot sauce, but toppings can vary by region (both in Mexico and the U.S.) and taco type.

What do you eat at a taco party? ›

Taco Party Food Ideas

The heart of your taco party is, of course, the tacos themselves. Try to offer a variety of fillings to cater to all tastes. Some filling ideas to get you started might include; tender spiced beef, marinated chicken, and flavourful vegetarian options like sautéed peppers and beans.

How do you moisten dry shredded beef? ›

Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

Why is my shredded beef dry? ›

The most likely cause of this is overcooking. As meat cooks, its muscle fibers shorten in both length and width and eventually squeeze out the juices they normally hold. As you can imagine, this leaves meat dry, and often stringy in texture. To avoid this problem, choose less-tender cuts of meat.

Why is my beef roast not shredding? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

What cut of roast falls apart? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

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