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Mexican Slow Cooked Beef

Mexican Slow Cooked Beef

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4.7 from 15 reviews

Fall-apart Mexican Slow-cooked Beef in a rich, tomato sauce which can be served with just about anything – stuffed in burritos or crunchy tacos, piled on corn chips or, my favourite, loaded onto Mexican red rice.

  • Total Time: 3 hrs 45 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 kg (3 lb) chuck steak, gravy beef or oyster blade steak (any slow cook beef, no need to dice)
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 2 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) water
  • 1 large onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp tomato paste (concentrated tomato puree)
  • 400 g (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups (500 ml) beef stock
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Juice of 1 lime

SERVING SUGGESTION

  • 1 x 250 g (8.8 oz) Mexican-style microwave rice packet
  • Coriander (cilantro), tomato, red onion salsa
  • Freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Lime wedges
  • Sriracha mayonnaise
  • Diced avocado

Instructions

  1. Place the beef in a bowl. Add the cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and olive oil and use your hands to evenly coat the meat.
  2. Heat a large, deep frying pan over medium heat and cook the beef in batches for 3-6 minutes until browned. Use 3 tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan as needed (if it starts getting sticky). Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and garlic to the same pan and cook, stirring for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Add the tomato paste and stir it through before adding the crushed tomatoes beef stock, sugar and lime juice. Return the beef to the pan and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cook, covered for 2 hours.
  5. Uncover and cook for a further 1 hour or until the beef can easily be shredded with two forks. If it can’t be shredded easily and it is still tough, continue cooking in 30 minute intervals. Add ½ cup (120 ml) of water if the sauce begins to thicken and catch on the base of the pan.
  6. Remove the beef from the pan, transfer it to a large dish and shred with two forks.
  7. Increase the heat to medium-high and allow the sauce to continue cooking on the stove to thicken, if desired, for 10-15 minutes.
  8. Drizzle the beef with the sauce and serve with your favourite sides. 

Notes

SLOW COOKER

Follow the recipe up to and including step 3. Add the cooked beef, onion and garlic to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 8 hours or until the beef falls apart with a fork. Optional: remove the beef from the slow cooker, and return the sauce to the stove to thicken for 15 minutes on high. Shred the beef using two forks and return to the sauce.

MAKE AHEAD

Mexican Slow-cooked beef is perfect to make ahead of time, ready for when you need it. See the “Leftover” instructions below.

LEFTOVERS

Refrigerate for up to 3 days, freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. For best results, thaw completely in the fridge prior to reheating.

  • Author: Nicole
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 3.5 hrs
  • Category: Beef
  • Method: Slow cooked
  • Cuisine: Mexican