Shredded beef for tacos and more…

Shredded Beef Recipe

Some of the most popular dishes in Mexico, called “antojitos”, have shredded beef or chicken as the main ingredient (there are a few that use pork). Therefore, I find it always good to make a big batch of it and have it ready for those nights when you’re in a hurry and want to make your favorite Mexican dinner at home. Once cooked and shredded, you can store it for a couple of days in the fridge or even for some weeks in the freezer.

Dishes like fried tacos (flautas), sopes, tostadas, tamales even stews and our famous beef salpicon salad use shredded beef. Here are the basic steps in which we prepare and season the meat at home. You can use any leftovers for other uses like morning tacos, or as a gordita filling.  Enjoy this recipe for shredded beef.

How to make Shredded Beef Recipe

• 2 lbs. skirt or flank steak, cut into cubes (about 2-in)
• ½ medium white onion, cut into quarters
• 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cube Knorr Beef Bouillon
• Water to cook
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil*
• Salt and pepper to taste

• Adding the beef bouillon renders a really flavorful meat and broth, you can add up to 2 cubes of the beef bouillon for this amount of meat. You can also add soup bones to have a delicious and substantial beef broth.
• Usually, the meat is just cooked and shredded, but I add an extra step using the oil to give a great kick to the meat’s final taste. You can skip step 4 if you want, but I highly recommend it.

DIRECTIONS:

• Place the meat, onion, garlic, and bay leaf in a large pot, and cover with water. Cook over a medium-high heat until it starts boiling. One it starts boiling, covers the pot and reduces heat to simmer.
  Total cooking time will be about 1 hr and 30 minutes. Cook until meat is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork. 45 minutes in a pressure cooker, or about 5 hours in a slow cooker in a high heat setting.
• Once cooked, remove from pot and place in a bowl, draining any excess broth.
• Once the meat is cool enough to handle, shred the meat using 2 forks, pulling the meat with the forks in opposite directions, until you break the meat into strands. Discard any bits of fat or gristle you find in the meat. Continue this process until all the meat is shredded.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the meat and stir-fry for about 5 minutes. Add a little bit of the cooking broth to moisten the meat. Season with salt and pepper.

5 from 1 vote

Print

Shredded Beef Recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 5 mins

 

Shredded beef, Some of the most popular dishes in Mexico, called “antojitos”, have shredded beef or chicken as the main ingredient. Therefore, I find it always good to make a big batch of it and have it ready for those nights when you’re in a hurry and want to make your favorite Mexican dinner at home.

Category dish type: Beef, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 6

Calories: 254 kcal

Author: Mely Martínez - Mexico in my Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. skirt or flank steak cut into cubes (about 2-in)
• ½ medium white onion cut into quarters
• 4 large garlic cloves peeled and cut in half
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cube Knorr Beef Bouillon
• Water to cook
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil*
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place the meat, onion, garlic, and bay leaf in a large pot, and cover with water. Cook over a medium-high heat until it starts boiling. One it starts boiling, covers the pot and reduces heat to simmer.

2. Total cooking time will be about 1 hr and 30 minutes. Cook until meat is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork. 45 minutes in a pressure cooker, or about 5 hours in a slow cooker in a high heat setting.

3. Once cooked, remove from pot and place in a bowl, draining any excess broth.
4. Once the meat is cool enough to handle, shred the meat using 2 forks, pulling the meat with the forks in opposite directions, until you break the meat into strands. Discard any bits of fat or gristle you find in the meat. Continue this process until all the meat is shredded.
5. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the meat and stir-fry for about 5 minutes. Add a little bit of the cooking broth to moisten the meat. Season with salt and pepper.

Recipe Notes

• Adding the beef bouillon renders a really flavorful meat and broth, you can add up to 2 cubes of the beef bouillon for this amount of meat. You can also add soup bones to have a delicious and substantial beef broth.
• Usually, the meat is just cooked and shredded, but I add an extra step using the oil to give a great kick to the meat’s final taste. You can skip that if you want, but I highly recommend it.

Nutrition Facts

Shredded Beef Recipe

Amount Per Serving (4 oz)

Calories 254 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12g 18%

Saturated Fat 6g 30%

Cholesterol 90mg 30%

Sodium 477mg 20%

Potassium 536mg 15%

Total Carbohydrates 1g 0%

Protein 32g 64%

Vitamin C 1.6%

Calcium 4.2%

Iron 13.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Now, you are ready to enjoy your shredded meat in tacos, sopes, enchiladas, and any other creative ideas you might have.

Provecho!
Mely,

Thank you, Knorr® and Mirum Shopper for selecting me as your Brand Ambassador! All this month of July, I will be sharing recipes using Knorr, this little secret of many Mexican cooks

Leave a comment and share your experience with the recipe.

If you are on Pinterest, check our boards with hundreds of delicious ideas I’m pinning for you!