Shredded Beef Tacos

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Seasoned beef on a crispy corn tortilla, these Shredded Beef Tacos are so delicious. Top them with cheese, onions, and guacamole for a tasty meal that everyone will love.

Shredded Beef Tacos lined up on a plate.

Table Of Contents

Recipe Details
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
Add-ins and Substitutions
How to Make Shredded Beef Tacos
Recipe Tips
FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Make This Recipe in Advance
More Delicious Taco Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions

Recipe Details

I love this recipe for Shredded Beef Tacos because they are simple yet so delicious. Everyone loves them! The mix of flavors and the hearty beef makes it a real winner of a dinner.

TASTE: Savory beef, pungent garlic, and citrusy lime all come together for a really tasty dish. The spices add some spicy, earthy flavor.
TEXTURE: The beef is tender and shredded so you get the perfect mouthful. Wrapped in a crisp tortilla and topped with crunchy onions, these tacos are delicious.
TIME: Prep time is just 15 minutes, plus the 3 hours to tenderize the beef.
EASE: This recipe is so easy to make. With basic kitchen staples, you can easily whip it up for a weeknight meal.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Shredded Beef Tacos: beef chuck, onion, lime, olive oil, beef stock, garlic, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cumin.

Ingredient Notes

Beef- I use chuck roast for this recipe because even though it can be a tougher cut of meat, we cook it until it’s tender and shreddable.
Beef stock- This will help keep the beef moist as it cooks and softens.
Onion and Garlic- These pungent ingredients are a must and go great with the meat.
Lime- Lime juice adds a bright citrusy note to the dish that contrasts nicely with the savory flavors.
Seasonings- Cumin, Paprika, Chili powder, and Garlic powder add yummy flavors and a little heat to these beef tacos. Salt and Black pepper also make this dish taste great.

Add-ins and Substitutions

Add other flavors- Top with tomato, avocado, cilantro, or sour cream for even more tasty tacos.
Substitute the beef- These can also be made with pork or chicken.
Use a slow cooker- Making this in a crockpot also works. You can set it and by the time you get home from work, the beef is ready.
Substitute the lime juice- You can also use orange juice or lemon juice to add a citrusy note to the beef.

How to Make Shredded Beef Tacos

Preheat. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
Sear the beef. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear the beef on all sides until deeply browned. Remove the beef and set aside.

Pro Tip: Make sure to sear the beef in batches to make sure that all sides are browned. Cooking too much in the pot will make this impossible,

Steps to make Shredded Beef Tacos: sear the beef pieces in a dutch oven until browned.

Cook the aromatics. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion and pressed garlic to the same pot and cook until softened and lightly golden, about 4–5 minutes.
Add the spices and beef back in. In the same dutch oven pot, add the salt, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir for about 1 minute and add the seared beef chunks back in.
Build the braising liquid. Return the beef to the Dutch oven. Pour in the lime juice and beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Braise. Cover the Dutch oven and transfer it to the oven. Cook for 2½ hours, or until the beef is fork-tender and easily shreds.
Shred the beef. Remove from the oven and shred the beef directly in the pot using two forks. Stir to coat the meat in the flavorful juices.
Assemble the tacos. Warm the corn tortillas and fill with shredded beef. Top with your favorite toppings and serve.

Steps to make Shredded Beef Tacos: add the paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, and cumin to the softened onions and garlic, then add the beef stock and beef, and shred the beef with two forks after cooking.

Recipe Tips

Sear the meat- Make sure to do this step because it gives the beef a nice crust on the outside that you’ll love in your tacos alongside the tender inner parts of the shredded meat.
Use the brown bits in the pot- Those brown bits that you have are chock full of flavor. Be sure to stir them into the braising liquid to make it taste even more amazing.
Use forks for shredding the beef- This is the easiest and more effective method for shredding beef. They will pull the hot meat apart really well so the tacos don’t have any too big chunks.
Go crazy with the toppings- These shredded beef tacos are so good, especially when topped with lots of different flavors to make them a party for your taste buds.

FAQs

What cut of beef is used for shredded beef?

Chuck roast is the best cut to use for shredded beef. The collagen, fat, and marbling in this meat that comes from the shoulder of the steer makes it ideal for shredding.

What to put in shredded beef for tacos?

There are so many things that you can put into shredded beef tacos, including lime juice, garlic, onion, green bell pepper, chipotle peppers, orange juice, soy sauce, and beef broth. Spices like cumin, chili powder, and cumin are also good.

Serving Suggestions

This Shredded Beef Taco recipe is so delicious and it can be used in lots of ways. Enjoy them with a variety of toppings or serve the beef in nachos, enchiladas, or burritos.

Toppings: I like using red onion, cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, and cotija cheese for my toppings, but Pico de Gallo, cheddar cheese, and crema are also delicious.
Nachos: Add this shredded beef to your favorite nachos, including these Loaded Chicken Nachos.
Enchiladas: Enjoy the mouth tender beef in enchiladas, like in the place of the chicken in these White Chicken Enchiladas or Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce.
Burritos: Add it to burrito bowls or your favorite handheld burrito.

Make This Recipe in Advance

Make ahead: You can prepare the beef in advance and place it in the refrigerator until you are ready to heat it and serve it in a warm tortilla with toppings.

Storing: Store any leftovers of these Shredded Beef Tacos in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

Freeze: The beef for these tacos is very freezer-friendly. Just place the cooled meat in a freezer ziplock bag and keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before heating and serving.

More Delicious Taco Dishes!

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Dina

Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!