Easy Slow Cooker Chili-Lime Mexican Shredded Beef

Soda would possibly appear to be a wild ingredient, but it surely works magic right here. It tenderizes the meat till it’s juicy and virtually melts aside with a fork. Add in just a little chili powder, garlic, and recent lime juice on the finish, and also you’ve acquired a loopy good shredded beef that’s good for loading into tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and extra.

Additionally attempt our Slow Cooker Jalapeño Beef or Slow Cooker Carne Asada.

Why Our Recipe

• Soda acts as a tenderizer for juicy, melt-in-your-mouth shredded beef.
• A lot of taste with little or no effort from a easy mixture of soda, spices, and just a little recent lime juice.
• Set it and overlook it, then pile it into tacos, rice bowls, sandwiches, you identify it.

After I first found the magic of cooking beef in soda, I grew to become just a little obsessed. The sugar and carbonation break down that powerful roast and produce a young, moist, and attractive shredded beef. It’s straightforward and completely scrumptious. I’ve used this recipe so many instances and served it so many various methods. It’s at all times successful!

Ingredient Notes

• Cooking Oil: You should use any impartial cooking oil like avocado or vegetable oil or use olive oil.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the most effective taste, however jarred minced garlic works too. It’s simply barely extra bitter.
• Beef Chuck Roast: That is the reduce of roast that you just use for a traditional shredded beef. You possibly can additionally use a high or backside spherical roast or brisket. They’ll simply be barely much less tender since they don’t have as a lot fats.
• Chili Powder: Not all chili powder is created equal. We advocate utilizing a name-brand chili powder for the most effective taste profile. It actually does style higher. You may also experiment with the completely different fancy varieties like an ancho chili powder, Mexican-style, chipotle, or darkish chili powder.
• Lemon-Lime Soda: Any model will work! Sprite, 7-up, Sierra Mist, or you can even go for a grapefruit soda with Squirt. We extremely advocate you utilize a soda with common sugar in it reasonably than weight loss program. You want the sugar to tenderize the meat.
• Lime Juice: Recent is at all times going to provide the finest taste, however the bottled lime juice works too.

The Science of Soda

It would sound just a little unusual to pour soda over an enormous roast, however there’s truly some fairly cool science behind it! The acid in lemon-lime soda helps break down the powerful fibers within the beef because it cooks, making the meat tremendous tender and straightforward to shred.

Plus, the sugar within the soda isn’t only for sweetness, it additionally helps the meat keep juicy. Because the roast slowly cooks, the sugar pulls moisture into the meat and helps lock it in, so you find yourself with beef that’s ridiculously smooth. That’s why it’s vital to make use of a soda that has actual sugar as a substitute of a weight loss program model — you want that sugar for the magic to occur!

To Sear or To not Sear

That’s the query! We advocate that you just sear the roast in a skillet earlier than sticking it within the sluggish cooker. This further step is non-obligatory, however it’s so price it for the flavour and texture that the browning provides the meat.

If you’re quick on time, or it’s simply a type of days, you may skip the sear and nonetheless get a splendidly scrumptious outcome. We gained’t decide.

Serving Solutions

Make a bowl: Add rice, beans, and veggies, and also you’ve acquired a protein-packed bowl. You may also use quinoa as a substitute of rice. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

Tacos and Burritos: This Mexican-style shredded beef is ideal for tacos or burritos. Add cheese, avocado, salsa, and another toppings you like for a scrumptious meal.

Salad: Make a fast restaurant-style salad with black beans, rice, and tortilla strips. Don’t overlook the dressing—we love this cilantro lime ranch!

Nachos: Load up your nachos with shredded beef, beans, and cheese! Use shredded cheese or go all out and make our home made nacho cheese sauce. Prime all of it off with guac and bitter cream!