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

Fantabulosity logo

  • All Recipes
  • Vintage Recipes
  • Holiday
  • Dinner Theme System
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Theme Night Dinner System
  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Holidays
  • Contact
  • About Jessica
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos

    By: Jessica · Posted: Aug 9, 2023 · Updated: Dec 20, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe 5 comments
    5 from 5 votes
    Close up of shredded beef taco on white plate, topped with taco toppings.

    These Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos will be a big hit for your family or the next friendly gathering. With the perfect amount of seasoning and all your favorite toppings, tacos on your Tuesday will be next level, especially since it’s one of our easy slow cooker recipes!

    Shredded beef tacos folded up in line with toppings.

     

    Beef is the essential taco filling in my book. You can also serve up some quick Chicken Street Tacos to cover all the bases! Does your family get tired of the “same old” week after week? I also love to mix things up and turn tacos into a fun pasta dish, making this Dorito Taco Salad, or switching to a warming Taco Soup when the weather turns chilly.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients Needed
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Tacos
    • Recipe Pro Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • What to Serve with Beef Tacos
    • Storage
    • More Taco Recipes You’ll Love
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • Custom spice level: Grab a packet of seasoning at the store, or mix up your own and vary the spiciness.
    • Hands off: The perfect pulled beef tacos need to cook all day to achieve the tenderness we are looking for, meaning it’s only about 15 minutes to assemble and later shred!
    • The perfect leftovers: Especially for a smaller family, this recipe makes enough for leftovers. Cook once, eat twice! We love making slow cooker pulled beef too for tacos!

    Ingredients Needed

    I’ve highlighted a couple of ingredients below with some relevant notes. Aside from this, the ingredients needed are pretty basic.

    Labeled ingredients for shredded beef tacos.
    • Chuck roast – I think this is the best cut of meat for pulled beef tacos because it is affordable, and it has just the right amount of marbling that lends itself well to slow cooking.
    • Flour tortillas – I used soft taco shells but you can always add crunch by picking up hard taco shells instead.
    • Taco seasoning – make it easy and use a packet, or stir up your own special seasoning.
    • Beef broth – We are using just enough, combined with tomato sauce, to make a taco that won’t be sad and dry.
    • Toppings – Go wild here! I suggest tomato, avocado, and sour cream. Add cheese if you like!

    Substitutions

    Sometimes substitutions are necessary because of ingredients that are unavailable or needed for dietary restrictions. Here are some suggestions that can help:

    • Taco seasoning – see the notes in the recipe card to whip up your own “packet.” I’ve also easily used Chicken Taco Seasoning on beef.
    • Broth – you can use homemade or store-bought. I even like to keep a jar of “broth base” in the fridge as it keeps longer than broth. Just dissolve into water per the directions before using. Beef stock and broth are also interchangeable.

    Equipment

    Get out your slow cooker! Just about every kitchen has one (or more!) and it’s the perfect way to achieve tender taco meat. A 6-8 quart size is best here, and will accommodate double the meat if you want to go that route. If you’re using the slow cooker function on your Instant Pot, then you’ll also want to keep this pulled pork recipe in the Instant Pot in mind, for a future dinner idea.

    How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Tacos

    I love these for busy days, especially if everyone is outside the house with work or errands. Take just a few minutes to add everything to the crockpot in the morning, and another few minutes to shred just before serving!

    *Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*

    Steps 1-4 of how to make shredded beef tacos.

    STEP 1. Prepare the Sauce. Combine the broth, tomato sauce, and garlic in the slower cooker.

    STEP 2. Add the roast. Settle the roast into the liquid. Cover and cook on low.

    STEP 3. Shred the beef. Use two forks to pull the beef into shreds.

    Tip: The cooking liquid should give your shredded beef just the right texture, but feel free to splash in more water or broth if desired.

    STEP 4. Season and serve. Stir the taco seasoning into the shredded beef. Add to taco shells and top as you like.

    Slow cooker beef taco on tortilla with toppings.
    Cooked taco flavored beef lifting out of slow cooker with tongs.

    Recipe Pro Tips

    • Make your own taco seasoning. This way you know exactly what you are adding to your meal. You can also easily keep things gluten-free if needed, and then you can use it for other recipes like this walking taco casserole.
    • Double it up. Doubling this recipe means you can stash half of the meat away in the freezer for a busy night!
    • Toppings are key. Red onions are classic, but you can use any variety. Use avocado or swap to guacamole.
    Pulled beef taco on tortilla with toppings.

    Recipe FAQs

    Why do I need to use a chuck roast?

    I find this cut of beef to be the perfect marriage of affordability and shredability. It’s a lean enough cut so you won’t have floating fat on top of your dish, but there is just the right amount of marbling to tenderize the meat. This is cut that definitely benefits from slow cooking – it will shred incredibly easily after the low and slow cook time.

    What type of broth is best?

    Grabbing a carton of broth is fine here! But if you do make your own, that definitely adds a lot of flavor. Bouillon cubes or a paste/base also work. Just rehydrate per the instructions on the product before adding to the slow cooker.

    Can I make pulled beef tacos ahead?

    You can absolutely make this taco filling ahead of time! It’s perfect for parties. Double the recipe for a larger crowd. It’s key to cool the meat completely before packing up to freeze. You can freeze in bags or containers and then easily reheat before serving. Just save the topping prep until you are ready to serve!

    What to Serve with Beef Tacos

    Skip plain diced tomato and whip up some fresh homemade Pico de Gallo for topping! Add chips and some Smoked Queso for the ultimate side dish. And since you’ve already got the chips ready, you may as well add Elote Dip.

    Storage

    Double this shredded beef taco recipe if you’d like! It makes for great leftovers if stored properly. Allow the beef to cool completely before sealing it in an airtight container. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store any prepped toppings in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. 

    I like to freeze flat in a gallon Ziploc bag! This allows you to easily break it up from frozen to help in reheating.

    To reheat, spread the shredded beef out over a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Pop it in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until heated through. This will give you some great browned bits. Alternatively, transfer the beef to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals (stirring between each) until heated through.  

    Once you have reheated your beef, assemble the tacos as you normally would. 

    More Taco Recipes You’ll Love

    • taco layer dip recipe
      Easy Taco Layer Dip Recipe
    • Crispy chicken tacos baked on baking sheet.
      Crispy Chicken Tacos
    • Chicken Street Tacos on white plate.
      Chicken Street Tacos
    • Fried tacos on wooden cutting board.
      Fried Tacos

    Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!

    Recipe

    Shredded beef tacos that were cooked in slow cooker, sitting on white plate.

    Shredded Beef Tacos

    Jessica Burgess
    Nothing is easier than setting the crockpot out in the morning and coming back to dinner, done! Top these tacos with your favorite toppings, as that's KEY to making the best shredded beef tacos!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 hours hrs
    Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 680 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 slow cooker 6-8 quart size

    Ingredients

    • 4 pounds chuck roast
    • ½ cup beef broth
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • ¼ cup tomato sauce
    • 1 package taco seasoning see notes to make your own!
    • 8 soft tortilla shells

    Toppings

    • 1 tablespoon lime juice
    • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 2 avocados sliced
    • 1 tomato diced
    • ½ red onion diced

    Instructions
     

    • Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, and garlic to the base of a 6-8 quart slow cooker and stir to combine. Set the beef roast on top of the liquid.
    • Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
    • Use 2 forks to shred the beef in the slow cooker.
    • Mix together the taco seasoning and shredded beef. Stir well; the juices from slow cooking the beef will mix with the taco seasoning. You can add extra water if needed.
    • Divide the shredded beef evenly between 8 taco shells and top with sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, avocado, tomato, and onion.

    Notes

    Not a store-bought taco seasoning person? No problem! Making your own is quite simple. Just whisk together the following ingredients:
    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 2 teaspoons onion powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons oregano
    • ½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
    Use homemade taco seasoning in this recipe just as you would a store-bought version. If you are sensitive to spice, feel free to cut back a bit on the paprika and/or cayenne.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1taco | Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 984mg | Potassium: 1160mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 799IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 7mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords beef tacos, shredded beef, slow cooker tacos
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Spiral ham cooked in the slow cooker with pineapple.
      Slow Cooker Ham with Pineapple
    • Crack Chicken Sandwich on wooden cutting board.
      Crack Chicken Sandwiches
    • Pork chops cooked in the crock pot, sitting on plate with gravy, mashed potatoes and a biscuit.
      Creamy Crock Pot Pork Chops
    • Chicken Caesar Sandwich with bun and lettuce leaf, sitting on round plate.
      Chicken Caesar Sandwich
    Subscription Form

    Get 5 Days of Delicious & Easy Dinner Recipes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

      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.

    1. Amy says

      October 24, 2023 at 6:07 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing! Our roast was only like 2.5 pounds and enough for a few meals for the 2 of us. Served with quick pickled onions, radishes, cotija cheese, diced tomatoes. And homemade black beans done in the instant pot. We got the little flour tortillas that look like street taco size. Omg. Oh and a squeeze of fresh lime. I also made the taco spice mix according to the recipe and it was the best. I don’t like to buy the packaged stuff cuz of tye preservatives.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        October 24, 2023 at 7:39 pm

        Oh Amy, I’m so happy to hear that you liked these slow cooker beef tacos! Thank you so much for taking the time to share what you did and for leaving a review.

        Reply
    2. Olivia says

      September 25, 2023 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! These shredded beef tacos were super flavorful and so easy to make in the slow cooker!

      Reply
    3. Kristyn says

      September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      YUM!! Love that the slow cooker does all the work!! My family loves these tacos!! You can’t mess them up!

      Reply
    4. jess says

      September 22, 2023 at 12:32 pm

      5 stars
      This really is the easiest way for me to make shredded beef tacos for the whole family! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessica Burgess of Fantabulosity, slicing an avocado.

    Hi, I'm Jessica! - Owner and Creator of the blog and brand, Fantabulosity.

    I’m here to teach you how to make quick and easy recipes, using simple ingredients, that your family will love.

    More about me →

    Spring Recipes

    • Slice of lemon meringue pie on small plate, with slice of lemon laying beside it.
      Lemon Meringue Pie
    • egg salad on croissant
      The BEST Egg Salad Recipe
    • Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad in big bowl, sitting on napkin.
      Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Smoked chicken tenders on parchment paper and baking sheet.
      Smoked Chicken Tenders – 3 Ways!

    Popular Recipes

    • bread pudding in baking dish
      Bread Pudding Recipe: Easy Old Fashioned Recipe (With Video!)
    • Burger baked in the oven, steamed in aluminum foil, and placed on white plate.
      Burgers in the Oven
    • Oven Baked Steak with Butter and a side of potatoes
      How to Cook Steak in the Oven
    • Strawberry brownies on white marble cutting board.
      Strawberry Brownies Recipe
    • Cheeseburger Sliders
      Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
    • Baked BBQ Pork Steaks on white plate
      Pork Steaks in the Oven

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured In

    About

    • About Jessica
    • Contact
    • Collaborate
    • 5 Days of Delicious Dinners

    Easy Recipes

    • All Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts

    How to Cook

    • Oven-Baked
    • Stove-Top
    • No Bake
    • Slow Cooker

    Privacy Policy |Accessibility Copyright © 2025 Fantabulosity | Terms & Conditions | FTC

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.