What cut of beef is best for shredded beef?

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.

Why is my shredded beef not tender?

First, it may not have been cooked long enough . If not cooked properly, the meat will remain tough and difficult to shred. Another reason is that there may not be enough liquid. It's important to use the right amount of liquid to keep the beef moist and tender.

How do you keep shredded beef from drying out?

In this case, you can retain the meat's moist texture in the refrigerator or freezer by incorporating cooking juices within the sealed container . The key is to ensure the shredded meat is sufficiently drenched in juices before putting it away.

Can you overcook shredded beef?

Can you overcook pulled beef in slow cooker? Yes, you absoultely can overcook meat in the slow cooker and it will end up tasting dry and mushy.

How do you say shredded beef in Mexican?

In some countries it is called “ ropa vieja ”, literally meaning old clothes, in some others it is called “carne desmechada”, literally meaning shredded beef; but a common denominator is that we all recognize it immediately as we see (and smell) it.

Can you overcook stew meat in a slow cooker?

However, if you consistently find your slow cooker meals with meat coming out tough, lackluster, and flavorless, then you may need to reassess how you're prepping your dishes, and you may need to turn down the temperature. If you cook meat at too high of a temperature in your slow cooker, you're likely to overcook it .

What are the best cuts of meat to shred?

The Best cuts for Shredded Beef Chuck roast. Rump roast. Brisket. Flank. Skirt. Aug 23, 2017

What is the best cut of beef to slow cook and pull?

Here are the very best beef cuts to keep on hand to slow cook: Chuck steak. Round steak. Blade steak. Topside. Silverside. Skirt steak. Shin (gravy) beef. Sausages.

What kind of meat can I use to shred?

Shredded Beef and Pork : When searching for the best beef for shredding you'll notice many recipes for shredded meat call for beef chuck pot roast. Shredded pork recipes usually call for pork shoulder roast. These cuts, from the shoulder of the animal, contain marbling and connective tissue, which soften during cooking.

What is another name for chuck roast?

A chuck roast is cut from the shoulder and neck region of the animal and may be labeled chuck roast, shoulder steak, boneless chuck roast, or chuck shoulder pot roast . Slightly fattier than brisket or round, chuck has a richer taste but is higher in saturated fats.

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef - Isabel Eats {Easy Mexican Recipes} (2024)

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Author:

Isabel

Published:

January 21, 2019

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy.

This moist and tender Mexican Shredded Beef is made in the Instant Pot in less than 2 hours! Its delicious by itself or great in tacos, salads and more. (gluten free, low carb, paleo)

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef - Isabel Eats {Easy Mexican Recipes} (1)

Hands up if you agree that tender, juicy, fall apart Mexican Shredded Beef is simply the best!

Perfect for quick meals, this flavorful Instant Pot beef recipe is one of my go-tos for adding protein to my burrito bowls, salads, tacos, enchiladas and more. It’s made with a handful of ingredients that I always have in my spice cabinet, and requires minimal prep work.

Ingredients you’ll need

beef stew meat
chili powder, dried minced onion, ground cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, black pepper
cooking oil
beef broth or water
lime juice
cilantro

Which cut of beef do you recommend for shredded beef?

Slow cooking meats like chuck roast or round roast are great for making shredded beef. I often buy the cuts that are labeled “beef stew meat” at my grocery store, and those work perfectly!

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef - Isabel Eats {Easy Mexican Recipes} (2)

Shredded beef often takes quite a while to become fall-apart tender when made in the oven or the slow cooker. While I still love those methods of cooking when I have the time, they require some planning ahead which is easier said than done.

So the ultimate question is…

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How do you cook shredded beef quickly?

Use a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot!

People are obsessed with their Instant Pot and for good reason – it’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, saute/browning pan and more all in one.

The pressure cooker function in particular is what speeds up the cooking process dramatically and can cook things like shredded meats, stews, chilis, and other meals that normally take 4 or 5 hours in a fraction of the time. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite kitchen appliances and I can’t recommend it enough.

If you want to get dinner on the table fast and spend less time in the kitchen, then you’ve got to give the Instant Pot a try. I have the6-Quart 9-in-1 Duo Plus Instant Potand I love it.

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef - Isabel Eats {Easy Mexican Recipes} (3)

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do! Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Serving Suggestions

Chipotle Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Mexican Quinoa Salad
Authentic Mexican Rice Recipe
Cilantro Lime Rice

More Instant Pot Recipes

Pressure Cooker Carnitas
Instant Pot Pozole
Instant Pot Pinto Beans
Instant Pot Black Beans

4.73 from 114 votes

Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef

servings: 8 servings

Print Pin Review Save

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

This moist and tender Mexican Shredded Beef is made in the Instant Pot in less than 2 hours! Its delicious by itself or great in tacos, salads and more.

Ingredients

▢ 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into small chunks (chuck roast or round roast works well)
▢ 1 tablespoon chili powder
▢ 2 teaspoons kosher salt
▢ 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
▢ 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
▢ 2 tablespoons cooking oil
▢ 3/4 cup beef broth (or water)
▢ 1 lime, juiced
▢ 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

In a large bowl add beef, chili powder, salt, minced onion, ground cumin, garlic powder, oregano and black pepper. Toss to combine.
Press thesauté button on the Instant Pot and add the cooking oil. When hot, add the seasoned meat and sear until browned on all sides.
Add the broth, cover with lid, seal the pressure valve and cook for 50 minutes at high pressure.
Open the pressure valve to quickly release the pressure. Carefully open the lid and transfer the beef to a large plate using a slotted spoon.
Shred beef with two forks and then return it to the Instant Pot. Add lime juice, chopped cilantro and stir. Serve and enjoy in tacos, burrito bowls and salads.

Notes

I have the 6-Quart 9-in-1 Duo Plus Instant Pot.
To keep beef from drying out in the fridge, I recommend mixing it with some of the cooking liquid before storing in an airtight container.
To freeze, place cooled shredded beef in a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/8th of recipe, Calories: 290kcal (15%), Carbohydrates: 2g (1%), Protein: 21g (42%), Fat: 22g (34%), Saturated Fat: 8g (40%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 75mg (25%), Sodium: 650mg (27%), Potassium: 58mg (2%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 300IU (6%), Vitamin C: 3.3mg (4%), Calcium: 10mg (1%), Iron: 2.3mg (13%)

Author: Isabel Orozco-Moore

Category: Mexican

Megan
December 19, 2023
See Also
Fiesta Pork Chops and Rice Bake Recipe HelloFresh Spice Blends Recipes - How to Make Them at Home Chili Lime Steak Bites - 15-Minute Dinner Recipe!40 Best Flank Steak Recipes

I LOVE this recipe. It’s really easy to make and comes out great every time. This has quickly become my go-to recipe when I want to make dinner for (and impress) friends or family. I can’t count the number of times I’ve made it and people rave about it every time.
A couple of tips – If you double the meat, you don’t need to double the spices. Maybe 1.5x them? Also, I tend to burn the spices when I use the Instapot to sear the meat. I now sear it in a dutch oven or pan and then transfer it to the Instapot (and scrape out as much of the brown bits as possible).
Definitely recommend this recipe!
Reply
1. Isabel
  December 19, 2023
  I’m so happy you love it, Megan! Thank you so much for sharing your tips, too!
  Reply
Kaja
October 15, 2023

This recipe turned out amazing. My guy was very impressed and loved our taco night. We used beer instead of water for the cooking liquid and it was a great idea. I served it with roasted salsa verde and pickled red onions. We will definitely making this again!
Reply
Greg
September 24, 2023

I make this all the time and it’s one of my faves for the Insta pot! Hot tip for burritos: Cook one cup of rice then mix with meat, two cans of refried beans and 1.5 cups of shredded cheese. Place one cup of mix on a 12 inch flour or corn tortilla then wrap into a burrito. This makes approximately 12 burritos that can be wrapped in saran wrap and frozen. Place thawed burritos in a frying pan and lightly brown. Then place in a baking dish, pour green enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle additional shredded cheddar. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Delicious!!
Reply
Monica Van Rickley
August 9, 2023

These were perfect and didn’t lose their flavor like other instant pot taco meat recipes. Love it, Thank you for sharing.
Reply
Heather
June 2, 2023

This is one of our favorites! I would love to have more leftovers. Could you double this recipe in the instant pot? Thanks!
Reply
Duffy Hawes
April 22, 2023

I watched @Mandyinthemaking prepare this on her YouTube channel a few weeks ago and had to try it. So easy, and so delicious! I browned the beef in a skillet for ease, deglazed the pan and poured the broth into my Instant Pot to get all the yummy fond. I shortened the cook time to 40 minutes and it still fell apart with just a few twists from my chop-stir thingy.
My husband suggested I use these spices with a little less chili powder and cumin to make a rub for shredded bbq stew meat. I think he’s onto something!
Reply
Aimee
March 20, 2023

My family loved this! We made chimichangas with the meat and it was so good. Thank you for sharing!
Reply
Rachael
March 20, 2023
This instant pot mexican shredded beef is perfection! Obsessed with how easy, shreddy and tasty this is!
Reply
Rebecca B
March 6, 2023

Winner for my whole family. So easy and so flavorful, will definitely be placed on the menu rotation for sure. And I may never make regular ‘beef stew’ ever again! We used the meat for tacos with grilled peppers+onions and beans. I also swapped fresh garlic and onion because I didn’t have any dried, and added 5 minutes cooking time to our grass-fed cut-up roast.
Reply
See Also
Chili's Steak Fajitas Recipe - Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  March 7, 2023
  Hi Rebecca! Thank you so much for sharing!
  Reply
Hmc
December 19, 2022

Love this recipe! I regular rotate this recipe in my meal planning. Even got my sister hooked on it. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
Shannon
November 20, 2022

Sooo good!
Reply
Lori
November 12, 2022

This is such a great recipe! I have made it a couple times for company because it’s so easy and tasty. I didn’t change anything in the recipe.
Reply
Christina
October 4, 2022

I have a very fussy family of three – we are all autistic and sometimes dinner is rough but we can always agree on tacos. But man am I bored of ground beef, Americanized tacos. I had beef stew meat that I thought was going to become, well, beef stew, and then I was craving the local shredded beef tacos from our favorite place. But at $15 a plate… plus tax… plus tip… $15 of beef later, and WOW!!!! We are a little weaker in the spice arena – I only used 1/4 teaspoon of Chile, but left all else the same. I was so excited that they were all ingredients I always keep around. I’m sorry for such a long winded review, but if it were me, I’d want to know! You helped a little neurodivergent family add a new recipe to the rotation of “we always love this” liar and that’s a big deal around here. I’m like tearing up. I don’t get a 10/10 review from my husband and son simultaneously very often it feels amazing. Thank you – a million times!
Reply
1. Christina
  October 4, 2022
  
  Not liar, list. Stupid typos! Thanks again
  Reply
2. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  October 6, 2022
  Hi Christina! Thank you so much for sharing! We’re glad you enjoyed this recipe with your family!
  Reply
Rhia
October 1, 2022
Can this be made in a crock pot instead?
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  October 3, 2022
  Hi Rhia! Yes you can make this in the crockpot! I would follow steps 1 and 2, but sear the meat in a pan, and then place it with the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot and set on high for 3-4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours.
  Reply
Cindy
August 8, 2022
My beef wasn’t able to shred after it was cooked. I cut in it small
Pieces and it wouldn’t shred when I used fork. Any reason why?
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  August 12, 2022
  Hi Cindy! That’s weird that it turned out like that. Maybe they were cut a little too small and they overcooked. Do you mind elaborating on how you cooked it?
  Reply
Barb
July 8, 2022
I didn’t want to use my stove or oven on a warm summer day so thought an Instant Pot dinner would be good. Isabel’s recipe was a choice from my Google search for ‘shredded Mexican beef’ and it’s a winner! I’ve bookmarked her site and I’ll be back for more summer ideas (i.e. her Mexican quinoa salad). My partner is a hunter so all our ‘beef’ is venison or elk meat. This recipe results in super-tender meat that shreds easily with 2 forks. Love the blend of spices and someone else’s suggestion to add a little chipotle pepper. I questioned the 1 Tbl of chili powder but it wasn’t overpowering.
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  July 11, 2022
  Thank you Barb! We’re glad you enjoyed this recipe!
  Reply
Gwen S
June 15, 2022

Oh man, this is INCREDIBLE. I messed up the recipe slightly cause I wasn’t paying attention and I forgot to sear the meat first, so it’s not quite as good as it could have been, but this is easily a 10/10, and I 100% will be making this again.
Reply
Patty
April 29, 2022

I love this recipe! I added some ground smoked chipotle pepper and some smoked paprika also to the rub. What an easy and delicious recipe. Thank you
Reply
Ana
February 10, 2022

This is a great recipe full of flavor. Its always a hit and its easy to make.
This has become a favorite for my family.
Reply

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Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef - Isabel Eats {Easy Mexican Recipes} (21)

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