Fall-Apart Tender Shredded Beef Recipe (Crock Pot or Oven!)
This easy Shredded Beef recipe is packed with savory flavor and melts in your mouth. Perfect for tacos, sandwiches, rice bowls, or meal prep!
Servings: 8
Ingredients
To season the beef:
- 3 lbs beef chuck roast or bottom blade pot roast
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp cayenne optional
To sear the beef:
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or olive oil
For the dutch oven or crockpot:
- 2 cups sliced onion from 1 large or 2 medium
- 4 tsp minced garlic from about 4 large cloves
- ½ cup beef broth or water
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lime juice
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
Sear the beef:
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne. Sear it on all sides until browned.
- Place sliced onion and garlic in the bottom of a slow cooker or Dutch oven. Place beef on top of onions.
- Pour in broth, vinegar and soy sauce.
Crockpot method:
- Close the slow cooker lid and cook for 8 hours on the low setting or 5–6 hours on the high setting.
Oven method:
- Cover and cook at 325ºF for 3–3.5 hours.
Both methods:
- Once beef pulls apart easily with a fork, shred it right in the pot. I use two large forks. Stir it into the juices. Let it sit 10 minutes to soak up flavor.
Notes
Searing the beef before slow cooking adds rich, savory flavor — don’t skip it!
Chuck roast works best for juicy, pull-apart shredded beef.
Let the beef sit in the juices for 10 minutes after shredding to soak up flavor.
You can cook this in a slow cooker or Dutch oven — both work beautifully.
Leftovers freeze well — store with the juices to keep the meat tender.
Nutrition
Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 919mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 477IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 4mg