• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Vindulge

BBQ and Grilling Recipes with Wine Pairings

  • Home
  • About
    • About Mary
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work With Me
  • Cookbook
  • Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Resources
    • Fundamentals For Learning How to Grill
    • Guide to Pellet Grills – Common Q and A
    • Best Pellet Grill – MAK Two Star General – Versatile American Made Pellet Smoker
    • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop Wines
  • Cookbook
  • All Recipes
  • Travel
  • Wine Guides
  • Blogging Resources
  • Connect with us!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Food » Recipes

    Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe – With Crispy Tortillas

    February 1, 2023 By Mary Leave a Comment

    Sharing is caring!

    15 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe

    Mexican Shredded Beef can be made in so many ways, from a slow cooker to an oven roast. But there is nothing more flavorful than Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos. This recipe starts with slowly smoked chuck roast that is finished in a beef broth braise and then shredded for the most amazing and tender filling for your next taco night.

    Smoked Shredded Beef Tacos on a platter

    Shredded Mexican Beef Recipe Highlights

    • Smoking the beef first adds incredible flavor to the meat.
    • Chuck roast is the ideal cut so it can slowly cook and will easily shred after the intramuscular fat renders down. It’s also more affordable than alternative cuts.
    • Finish the dish in a slow braise of rich broth to make it extra tender and flavorful.
    • The secret to the tacos is then soaking the corn tortillas in the broth, loading the tortillas up with the tender meat, and then searing them in a pan for crunch.
    • No liquid smoke needed (ever!). And this makes for an amazing shredded beef quesadilla recipe with leftovers.

    If you head to your favorite Mexican restaurant you’ll often see various versions of Mexican shredded beef, from barbacoa to birria. This recipe uses simple ingredients to mirror more of the barbacoa style shredded beef versus the more dense and broth focused birria.

    While we are making tacos with this meat, it’s easy to substitute this dish into shredded beef burritos, burrito bowls, or even shredded beef quesadillas.

    Ingredient List

    • Taco inspired beef seasoning – Ours combines kosher salt, chili powder, chipotle powder, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), black pepper, cumin, cinnamon and clove.
    • Boneless beef chuck roast (can also be labeled pot roast or beef stew meat) – Plan a 3-pound roast for up to 8 people. Cut the roast into smaller chunks for more smoke flavor.
    • Beef stock or beef broth
    • Canned diced tomatoes
    • Fresh garlic – Finely dice the garlic cloves.
    • Small onion
    • Orange juice
    • Lime juice

    Preparation

    dried spices for Mexican shredded beef
    1. In a small bowl combine the dried spices for the Mexican shredded beef seasoning.
    2. Trim the excess fat and silver skin from the outer edges of the chuck roast. Next, coat the chuck roast with olive oil as a binder, and then liberally season with the shredded beef seasoning.

    How to Make Mexican Shredded Beef on the Smoker

    Smoked chuck roast on the smoker
    We cut our chuck roast into smaller pieces, for more smoke exposure.

    Smoking the chuck beef roast will add smoke flavor and start the process of breaking down the connective tissue. We then transfer it to a liquid braise to finish and become fork tender. The entire cooking process takes about 6 hours from beginning to end.

    1. Preheat Smoker: Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. We like using fruit wood or oak for this recipe.
    2. Smoke Chuck Roast: Place the chuck roast on the smoker and smoke for 3 hours. A nice bark will develop and the smoke flavor will have infused with the beef roast.
    3. Braise Chuck Roast: After three hours it’s time to transfer into the braising liquid, which we typically start about 30 minutes before pulling the meat off the smoker. In a 3-quart Dutch oven over medium heat add olive oil and diced onions. Sauté the onions until soft (about 6-8 minutes). Add the garlic and stir for 1 additional minute. Then add the broth, canned tomatoes, orange juice, and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Once at a simmer you can add the smoked beef roast.
    4. Continue Cooking, Covered: Place the beef roast into the braising liquid and then you can finish it on the smoker covered, or you can finish on the stove top keeping the braising liquid to a simmer until the beef is fork tender (about 2-3 additional hours). Rotate the meat halfway through the cooking process to keep it submerged in liquid.
    5. Shred Meat: Once a fork can easily shred the beef it’s time to shred it all up in the braising liquid using two forks or a shredding tool and then it’s ready for your tacos.
    Adding the smoked chuck roast to the braising liquid.
    Cover the pot and continue cooking 2-3 hours until fork tender.
    After 2 hours the liquid has reduced and developed a deep color
    After shredding

    To Assemble the Shredded Beef Tacos

    1. Preheat a large skillet (we love cast iron) over medium heat with olive oil.
    2. Take a corn tortilla and quickly dip it in the braising liquid briefly to coat with the braising flavor. Then stuff the tortilla with the shredded beef mixture and a little bit of shredded cheese.
    3. Place on the hot cast iron pan for 2 minutes to crisp up. Flip and repeat for 2 additional minutes.
    4. Serve with your favorite toppings and sides.

    Chef’s Note: We recommend using a large cast iron skillet (at least 10-inches) so you can cook multiple tacos at a time. Alternatively you can use a flattop or plancha.

    Advanced Preparation and Leftovers

    If you have time to make this Mexican Shredded Beef recipe over the weekend, it is great to have on hand to use throughout the week when you may not have as much time. It will last up to seven days in the refrigerator and this portion makes a big batch.

    The liquid will thicken up from the rendered fat, so all you need to do is warm up the portions you want and then it will liquify and soften up again.

    Note: Be sure you shred the beef before it cools.

    Topping Ideas

    The following are our favorite toppings for shredded beef tacos.

    • Fresh pico de gallo
    • Blender salsa
    • Sour cream
    • Diced red onions
    • Freshly sliced jalapeños
    • Squeeze of fresh lime juice
    • Green chiles
    • Fresh cilantro

    Other Mexican Food Inspiration

    Use leftovers for our awesome pulled beef quesadillas.

    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Grilled Cauliflower Tacos
    • Chicken and Corn Tacos with Tarragon Sauce
    • Pulled Pork Enchiladas

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through the link. We partner with brands we know and love and use and it helps keep the blog going!

    Tried this recipe? Give us a star rating and we would love to see! Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge on all the social media handles. And consider subscribing to our newsletter where we drop all our favorite ideas and inspirations every week.

    Smoked Shredded Beef Tacos

    Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe

    Smoked chuck roast finished in a Mexican inspired beef braise, and then shredded and made into tacos.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Making Tacos: 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 402kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $25

    Equipment

    • 1 10-inch cast iron skillet (For pan searing the tacos)
    • 1 3-quart Dutch Oven (For the beef broth braise)

    Ingredients

    • 3 pound chuck roast (Boneless is ideal)
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, separated

    Shredded Beef Seasoning

    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • ½ teaspoon ground clove

    Braising Liquid

    • 1 red onion, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, finely diced
    • 4 cups beef broth
    • 1 can diced tomatoes
    • the juice of one orange
    • the juice of one lime

    Taco Ingredients

    • corn tortillas
    • shredded cheese
    • your favorite taco toppings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat Smoker to 275 degrees Fahrenheit using fruit wood (like cherry or apple) or oak.
    • Preparation: In a small bowl combine the dried spices for the Mexican shredded beef seasoning. Trim the excess fat and silver skin from the outer edges of the chuck roast. Next, coat the chuck roast with olive oil as a binder, and then liberally season with the shredded beef seasoning.
    • Smoke Chuck Roast: Place the chuck roast on the smoker and smoke for 3 hours. A nice bark will develop and the smoke flavor will have infused with the beef roast.
    • Braise Chuck Roast: After three hours it’s time to transfer into the braising liquid, which we typically start about 30 minutes before pulling the meat off the smoker. In a 3-quart Dutch oven over medium heat add olive oil and diced onions. Sauté the onions until soft (about 6-8 minutes). Add the garlic and stir for 1 additional minute. Then add the broth, canned tomatoes, orange juice, and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Once at a simmer you can add the smoked beef roast.
    • Continue Cooking, Covered: Place the beef roast into the braising liquid and then you can finish it on the smoker covered, or you can finish on the stove top keeping the braising liquid to a simmer until the beef is fork tender (about 2-3 additional hours). Rotate the meat halfway through the cooking process to keep it submerged in liquid.
    • Shred Meat: Once a fork can easily shred the beef it’s time to shred it all up in the braising liquid using two forks or a shredding tool and then it’s ready for your tacos.

    Making the Tacos

    • Preheat a large skillet (we love cast iron) over medium heat with olive oil.
    • Take a corn tortilla and quickly dip it in the braising liquid briefly to coat with the braising flavor. Then stuff the tortilla with the shredded beef mixture and a little bit of shredded cheese.
    • Place on the hot cast iron pan for 2 minutes to crisp up. Flip and repeat for 2 additional minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings and sides.

    Notes

    Topping Ideas: The following are our favorite toppings for shredded beef tacos.
    • Fresh pico de gallo
    • Blender salsa
    • Sour cream
    • Diced red onions
    • Freshly sliced jalapeños
    • Squeeze of fresh lime juice
    • Green chiles
    • Fresh cilantro
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop

    Nutrition

    Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 1484mg | Potassium: 813mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge
    « Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 Product Review
    Brazilian Cheese Bread – Pao de Queijo Recipe (Gluten Free) »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Fire and Wine Cookbook Cover.

    Get Ready for Summer

    Smoked Brisket

    What’s on our Grill

    Tri Tip fajitas and peppers in a cast iron skillet.

    Easy Grilled Tri-Tip Fajitas Recipe

    Verde chicken tacos on a serving platter

    Super Easy Verde Chicken Tacos

    Vegetarian Chili in a bowl with cheese and a spoon.

    The Ultimate Vegetarian Chili Recipe

    Pulled pork breakfast hash in a cast iron pan.

    Pulled Pork Breakfast Hash

    More

    As Seen On

    Products we love

    taking the temperature of a porchetta roast on the grill
    We use Thermoworks Signals BBQ Alarm to monitor the internal temperature of the meat while it’s cooking, then double check with an instant read thermometer, like the Thermapen One.

    Vindulge Wine Club

    join the wine club side bar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio
    • TV Appearances
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Vindulge

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    15 shares