We have fully entered the season of busy. Easy weeknight meals are one of the things you guys ask for most, and this is also the struggle I see with many of my nutrition clients, simple, approchable meals for the busy work week. So, today I am sharing one of my favorite, simple slow cooker recipes, that comes with 3 different variations, so you won’t get bored. You could literally make this dish every single week as part of your meal planning and mix it up a million different ways.
My favorite thing about each of these recipes are the many varying ways to serve it up:
- lettuce wrapped
- on a salad
- over cauliflower rice (or traditional grains, like quinoa or millet)
- over zucchini noodles
- in any kind of veggie bowl
- filling for tacos, fajitas, burritos or enchiladas with your favorite tortillas
- sandwich
- filling an omelette
- nachos
- add to soups or stews
- stirred into a scramble or frittata
- add to fried rice or fried cauliflower rice
- over ramen noodles
- just spooned straight into your face!
This is precisely the kind of food that makes eating at home and staying on track with your health goals, a total breeze. It’s simple, quick and thoughtless and if we are being totally honest, sometimes that’s just all we need. Of course, you know that I am a HUGE proponent on the importance of choosing grass-fed beef from pasture raised cows. Read more about why to choose grass-fed meat here.
Meal Planning Goals
I love making a big batch of this Slow Cooker Shredded Beef at the start of the week and making various meals from it, but excitingly it also freezes super well, so if we have a busy week, I will keep half out for the days ahead and freeze the other half for another super busy week to come, which they always do.
The simple base recipe is truly wonderful just as it is, great flavors and super versatile. Perfect for salads and veggie bowls, however you want to serve it.
Often I will make the base recipe at the start of the week and do a second cook later in the week and change up the flavors to keep it fun.
The Mexican-inspired Barbacoa version has a beautiful blend of spices, with just a little heat. It makes KILLER tacos and nachos. I also really love this over a salad with cauliflower rice, for a burrito bowl, of sorts.
The Asian-inspired Shredded Beef also goes nicely over cauliflower rice (or of course regular rice) with a little broccoli and a generous squeeze or sriracha. Yes as the protein in fried rice (or cauli-rice) or over noodles.
Obviously if you don’t want to plan for a week of meals or freeze the leftovers, you can just make 2 pounds of beef and half the remaining ingredients.
Bonus: This recipe is super FREEZER FRIENDLY!!
UPDATE – INSTANT POT OPTION:
Cut the beef roast into 3 or 4 pieces, add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot, set on high for 60 minutes. I usually let the pressure release naturally and then I shred it. Done.
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Recipe – BASE RECIPE
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds grass-fed beef roast, chuck or round roast
- 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
- 1 cup low sodium chicken or beef broth or stock, or water
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3 teaspoons coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add the beef to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients. Give it a good stir around the beef.
- Cook the beef for 4 hours on high setting or 6-8 hours on low setting.
- Once the beef is cooked, remove from the slow cooker with tongs into a serving dish or large bowl. Break apart lightly with two forks and then add back to the sauce in the slow cooker set on warm for another hour.
Notes
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Recipe – Mexican-Inspired Barbacoa
Ingredients
- base recipe for shredded beef, above
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or for more heat, chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon all spice powder
- roughly chopped cilantro, for serving
- thinly sliced green onion, for serving
Instructions
- Add all of the above ingredients to a small bowl and mix well together to combine. Add the beef to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients from the base recipe and the above ingredients all mixed together. Give it a good stir around the beef.
- Cook the beef for 4 hours on high setting or 6-8 hours on low setting.
- Once the beef is cooked, remove from the slow cooker with tongs into a serving dish or large bowl. Break apart lightly with two forks and then add back to the sauce in the slow cooker set on warm for another hour.
- Option: Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste then sear all sides over medium high heat in some oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Recipe – Asian Inspired
Ingredients
- base recipe for shredded beef, above
- ½ cup tamari, coconut aminos or soy sauce
- swap apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for serving
- roughly chopped cilantro, for serving
- thinly sliced green onion, for serving
Instructions
- Add all of the above ingredients to a small bowl and mix well together to combine. Add the beef to your slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients from the base recipe (leaving out the apple cider vinegar) and the above ingredients all mixed together. Give it a good stir around the beef.
- Cook the beef for 4 hours on high setting or 6-8 hours on low setting.
- Once the beef is cooked, remove from the slow cooker with tongs into a serving dish or large bowl. Break apart lightly with two forks and then add back to the sauce in the slow cooker set on warm for another hour.
2 Responses
Hi. I’m going to make the asian inspired one tomorrow in my slow cooker, but forgive me, I’m finding the instructions confusing.
I add all the ingredients of “asian inspired” to a bowl (except beef) and mix.
Then I put all the ingredients of the base recipe (except for apple cider vinegar), plus Asian inspired mix in slow cooker PLUS beef and then turn it on?
Am I getting that right? Thanks for the help!
Can you share the nutritional information for this recipe?