Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is the beyond simple, incredibly flavorful, comfort food you need in your recipe line up! It's a set-it-and-forget-it hero. This beef is simply seasoned and slow cooks all day until it's fall apart tender.
Perfect for nachos, burritos, tacos, and more. You'll be putting this on the rotation asap!
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Do you ever have those days that you know are going to be incredibly busy? No time to slow down? No time to take a breath? Or those days that sneak up on you and plans change in an instant and you have to pivot. The question of what's for dinner needs to be super simple, almost zero effort, and maximum return. My Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is just the answer.
This beef is just amazing. It slow cooks until it is fall apart, tender, and juicy. The simple seasoning and optional searing take no time and you just put everything else into a slow cooker and let it do its thing. At the end of the day, you'll have a succulent beef that is ready to go for your family's favorite Mexican dish!
Perfect for Taco Tuesdays, nachos, burritos, bowls, salads or soups, everyone can enjoy this recipe. My kids love it, my husband requests it, so that makes it a no-brainer in my book.
What You'll Need
- Mexican Spices - In the recipe card below, I have the measurements for what you'll need or you can use your favorite taco seasoning!
- Crushed Tomatoes, Yellow Onion, Garlic - For the savory sauce.
- Orange Juice and Lime Juice - For flavor and a hit of acid. They're so good in this recipe!
- Beef Broth - Use a good quality one. Because this is such a simple recipe, you'll be able to taste the difference.
- Bay Leaves - For the earthy, herbal notes. I love, love the flavor bay in slow cooked recipes like this.
- Chuck Roast - My preferred cut of beef, but you can use your favorite!
How To Make It
This Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is beyond simple. I'll give you a quick rundown of the festivities here, but the details will live in the recipe card below. All you have to do is:
- Season and sear the beef.
- Deglaze and add all ingredients to the cooking bowl.
- Cook until tender.
Once the beef is perfectly tender and falling apart upon touch, it's time to decide how to serve it! Told ya it was easy!
Serving Ideas
In my house, we eat some kind of Mexican food at least twice a week. This recipe is perfect because everyone can make their favorite dish! One of my kids loves a nacho, one prefers burritos. My husband makes a mish-mash thing and if I'm in the mood to keep it lean, I'll add this to a salad. Whatever you decide to do with this tender slow cooker beef, you cannot go wrong.
Let's begin with the accompaniments. This is our basic rundown of favorites.
We include but do not limit to the following:
- Flour and/or Corn Tortillas
- Tortilla or Corn Chips
- Crispy Taco Shells
- Pico De Gallo
- Salsa
- Sour Cream
- Lime Wedges
- Cilantro Leaves
- Avocado Slices
- Guacamole
- Shredded Cheese
- Queso
- Sliced Jalapeños
Using the above list we can make any of the following:
- Crispy Beef Tacos
- Soft Beef Tacos
- Nachos
- Burritos
- Enchiladas
- Beef Taco Salads
- Beef Burrito Bowls
- It's Great For Taco Bars
- Mexican Beef Soup
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?
This recipe is both gluten and dairy-free! No need to worry about either of those dietary concerns.
What are the Instant Pot instructions?
For the Instant Pot, sear using the high sauté function. Cook at high pressure for 1.5 hours and let natural release.
What are the dutch oven instructions?
For the dutch oven, sear on the stove top. Cook in a 250°F oven for 6-8 hours or until the beef is tender.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use a pork butt instead of a chuck roast. It's an awesome protein option for this recipe!
- Make it spicy. Add a can of chipotle in adobo for a kick and a lovely smokiness.
Slow Cooker Mexican Beef Recipe
Ingredients
Spice Rub
- 1½ tablespoon chili powder
- 1½ tbsp smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoon granulated onion
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
The Beef
- 2-3 lb chuck roast
- 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup beef or chicken broth
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 1 medium yellow onion, cut into chunks
- 5-6 cloves garlic I leave the cloves whole and them smash them after cooking.
- 2 bay leaves
- juice of 1-2 limes
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
The Spice Mix
- Mix all of the dried herbs and spices together. Coat the outside of the chuck roast with the spice mix.
Searing
- In a skillet on medium-high heat or using the high sauté function on your slow cooker, add a healthy drizzle of olive oil to the skillet and sear the seasoned beef on all sides.
- Use the beef broth to deglaze the pan or slow cooker. If using a separate skillet, add this broth mixture to the slow cooker.
The Beef
- Place the chuck roast into the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Shred the beef with a fork and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Storage and Reheating Instructions
This slow cooker Mexican beef will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
To reheating, add beef to a skillet and warm through or pop it in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel.
This recipe is perfect for freezing and I do it often! It will stay good in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Once you're ready to use it, thaw it out in the fridge and heat up on the stove or in the microwave. This is such a great thing to keep on hand for those super busy days!
If you guys make this Slow Cooker Mexican Beef, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Slow Cooker Mexican Beef recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Other Recipes You'll Love
Instant Pot Taco Chicken - The chicken version of this, but in the Instant Pot. It's another go-to I make all the time and especially for busy weeks!
Beef Enchiladas - A classic comfort meal for us. I've got a homemade red enchilada sauce that goes in it that will just knock your socks off!
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef - One of my all-time favorites! Tender, flavorful beef with minimal effort, served on rice or noodles!
Maria Vasquez says
This is great in a tortilla or over tortilla chips!