Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Beef
If your family loves Mexican-inspired dinners as much as mine does, I have your next Mexican Monday sorted.
This Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is one of those easy recipes I love having up my sleeve for busy nights. It takes just a few minutes to prepare in the morning, then the slow cooker does all the hard work while you get on with your day.
Made with a handful of simple ingredients, the beef cooks until it's beautifully tender and easy to shred, soaking up all those delicious smoky Mexican flavours along the way. The result is tender, juicy shredded beef that's packed with flavour and perfect for easy family dinners throughout the week.
What I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. One batch can be turned into tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, rice bowls or loaded potatoes, making it perfect for feeding a family. Set everything out on the table and let everyone build their own meal with their favourite toppings.
Even though chipotle sauce is often associated with spicy dishes, this version is actually quite mild and very family-friendly. It delivers plenty of flavour without much heat at all. If you prefer a spicier meal, simply add some chilli flakes while it cooks or serve it with your favourite hot sauce on the side.
This is the kind of meal that's perfect for busy weeknights, weekends spent running between activities or those days when you know you will want dinner ready in a hurry.
Just five minutes of preparation, a few simple ingredients and a slow cooker are all it takes to create a tender, flavour-packed meal that the whole family will happily gather around the table for.
If you're looking for an easy slow cooker dinner that the whole family will enjoy, this Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is one you'll want to save.
For more easy slow cooker dinner ideas, check out my Easy Slow Cooker Recipes eBook for plenty more busy weeknight inspiration.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Only 5 minutes of preparation
Made with simple supermarket ingredients
Tender, juicy shredded beef every time
Family-friendly and mild in flavour
Perfect for meal prep
Great for feeding a crowd
Versatile enough for multiple meals
Freezer-friendly
Ingredient Notes
Chuck Steak or Gravy Beef: Both cuts work beautifully in the slow cooker and become fall-apart tender after several hours of cooking.
Taco Spice Mix: Adds classic Mexican-inspired flavour and helps season the beef throughout cooking.
Chipotle Taco Cooking Sauce: Provides a rich, smoky flavour without making the dish overly spicy.
Cornflour: Helps create a slightly thicker, richer sauce as the beef cooks.
Beef Stock: Keeps the beef moist and creates plenty of delicious cooking liquid for shredding back through the meat.
Serving Suggestions
This Mexican Beef is incredibly versatile and can be served in:
Soft tacos
Burritos
Nachos
Quesadillas
Mexican rice bowls
Burrito bowls
Loaded baked potatoes
Toasted wraps
Enchiladas
Mexican-style sliders
Loaded fries
Stuffed sweet potatoes
Serve with your favourite toppings such as:
Avocado
Guacamole
Sour cream
Shredded lettuce
Tomato salsa
Cheese
Corn salsa
Pickled onions
Jalapeños
Fresh coriander
Lime wedges
Top Tips
Use chuck steak for the most tender shredded beef.
Don't skip the cornflour as it helps create a richer sauce.
Shred the beef while it's still warm for the best texture.
Mix plenty of cooking liquid back through the beef to keep it juicy.
For extra heat, add chilli flakes to the slow cooker.
Serve with a hotter Mexican sauce if your family enjoys spicy food.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of cooking liquid to maintain moisture.
Variations
Extra Spicy Mexican Beef
Add 1-2 teaspoons chilli flakes or a finely chopped chilli before cooking.
Mexican Beef Rice Bowls
Serve over rice with avocado, corn, tomato and Kewpie mayo for an easy family dinner.
Loaded Nachos
Pile the beef onto corn chips and top with cheese, guacamole, salsa and sour cream before baking until golden.
Meal Prep Burrito Bowls
Portion into containers with rice, beans and salad for easy lunches throughout the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use gravy beef instead of chuck steak?
Yes. Both cuts become tender and shred beautifully in the slow cooker.
Is this recipe spicy?
No. This recipe is mild and family-friendly. For extra heat, add chilli flakes or your favourite hot sauce.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely. The flavours develop even more after sitting overnight.
Can I freeze Slow Cooker Mexican Beef?
Yes. Freeze in portions for up to 3 months and thaw overnight before reheating.
Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Beef
This Slow Cooker Mexican Beef is tender, juicy and packed with flavour. Made with just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, it's perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos and rice bowls.
Ingredients
- 1kg chuck steak or gravy beef
- 30g Old El Paso Taco Spice Mix
- 2 tablespoons cornflour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 x 170g packets Old El Paso Chipotle Taco Cooking Sauce
Instructions
- Place the beef onto a large plate.
- Sprinkle over half the taco seasoning and cornflour mixture, rubbing it into the beef. Turn the beef over and repeat with the remaining seasoning mixture.
- Transfer the beef to the slow cooker and sprinkle over any remaining seasoning from the plate.
- In a jug, stir together the beef stock and one packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Pour the mixture over the beef.
- Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until the beef is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Remove the beef from the slow cooker and transfer it to a large chopping board. Shred the beef using two forks.
- Gradually stir some of the cooking liquid back through the shredded beef until it is juicy and coated in the sauce.
- Serve with the remaining packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Enjoy in tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, rice bowls or any of your favourite Mexican-inspired meals.
- If you have a few extra minutes, heat a little oil in the Dutch oven and brown the beef for 2-3 minutes per side before adding the liquid ingredients. This will add a deeper, richer flavour to the finished dish, but the recipe is still delicious if you skip this step.
- Preheat the oven to 160°C fan-forced (180°C conventional).
- Place the beef onto a large plate.
- Sprinkle over half the taco seasoning and cornflour mixture, rubbing it into the beef. Turn the beef over and repeat with the remaining seasoning mixture.
- Transfer the beef to a Dutch oven or heavy-based ovenproof casserole dish and sprinkle over any remaining seasoning from the plate.
- In a jug, whisk together the beef stock and one packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Pour the mixture over the beef.
- Cover with a lid and cook for 3½-4 hours or until the beef is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Carefully remove the beef from the Dutch oven and place it on a large chopping board. Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces.
- Gradually stir some of the cooking liquid back through the shredded beef until it is juicy and coated in the sauce.
- Serve with the remaining packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Enjoy in tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas or rice bowls.
- Place the beef onto a large plate.
- Sprinkle over half the taco seasoning and cornflour mixture, rubbing it into the beef. Turn the beef over and repeat with the remaining seasoning mixture.
- Transfer the beef to a Dutch oven and sprinkle over any remaining seasoning from the plate.
- In a jug, whisk together the beef stock and one packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Pour the mixture over the beef.
- Place the pot on the stove over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and cook for 2½-3 hours, turning the beef once or twice during cooking, until it is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- If needed, add a little extra beef stock during cooking to maintain the liquid level.
- Carefully remove the beef from the Dutch oven and place it on a large chopping board. Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces.
- Gradually stir some of the cooking liquid back through the shredded beef until it is juicy and coated in the sauce.
- Serve with the remaining packet of chipotle taco sauce.
- Enjoy in tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas or rice bowls.
Notes
Top Tips
- Use chuck steak for the most tender shredded beef.
- Don't skip the cornflour as it helps create a richer sauce.
- Shred the beef while it's still warm for the best texture.
- Mix plenty of cooking liquid back through the beef to keep it juicy.
- For extra heat, add chilli flakes to the slow cooker.
- Serve with a hotter Mexican sauce if your family enjoys spicy food.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
593Fat
42 gSat. Fat
21 gCarbs
7 gFiber
1 gNet carbs
6 gSugar
2 gProtein
46 gSodium
1019 mgCholesterol
167 mgThe nutritional information provided is computer generated and is only an estimate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
