Incredibly juicy and tender, this Taco Shredded Beef is a delicious authentic shredded beef recipe for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco bowls or salads, nachos, or tostadas. We love to double this recipe for a large group!

close up of taco with meat, corn salad, and salsa

For our family, the best authentic Mexican meal is when we make a big pot of this Taco Shredded Beef and serve it in warm tortillas with delicous toppings. This taco meat recipe makes the BEST summer tacos, or “anytime” tacos. We prefer to use Trader Joe’s shredded beef, but you can use Chuck Roast, or any fall-apart-tender shredded beef!

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Taco Shredded Beef

We love shredded beef recipes any time of year. If you are planning a gathering, you can always double or triple this recipe, and then set out all of the side dishes or toppings for tacos.

a taco spread with meat, corn salad, salsa, tortillas, and green sauce

It’s also great to serve in the middle of a taco board if you’re hosting a large group. This Mexican Shredded Beef Recipe is one of our all-time family favorites, and we love it served with rice and beans.

Why we love this recipe

  • A real crowd-pleaser (be prepared for everyone to ask for the recipe!)
  • Easy to make.
  • Delicious for any taco dish or Mexican dish.

close up of homemade salsa, corn salad, beef, and tortillas

Gather these ingredients

We served tacos on this night last week, and everyone LOVED the beef tacos! Serve with an EPIC Chips and Dip Board appetizer.

  • Brown or coconut sugar
  • Coconut aminos (or use 1/2 cup soy sauce + 1/2 cup water)
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Limes
  • Garlic chili hot sauce, or regular hot sauce will work
  • Garlic cloves, micro planed
  • Shredded beef: we buy at Trader Joe’s (already shredded and ready for cooking)
  • Salt to taste
a white bowl taco shredded beef

What cut of beef is best for shredding?

Our favorite beef is from Trader Joe’s. It’s Trader Joe’s Shaved Beef Steak!

Some shaved steak you find on the market comes from tougher cuts of meat (like chuck roast, shoulder roast, chuck eye roast, or arm chuck roast). Pot roast or brisket is sometimes shredded too.

But we love Trader Joe’s Shaved Beef Steak that is from the cap of the rib eye, so it’s especially tender. Because the slices are so thin, pieces of this shaved beef cook up very quickly.

shredded beef on the grill

How to grill shaved beef steak

This recipe has quick and easy prep:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the marinade.
  2. Add the shredded beef into the bowl and use your hands to coat the shreds with the marinade. Make sure to pull apart the layers of meat for full marinade coverage. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 12. When you’re ready to cook the meat, make sure it is room temperature.
  3. Preheat your grill to high. Lay meat onto grill in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes before turning—in total cook for about 8 minutes.
  4. Allow meat to char slightly for a smokey flavor and delicious caramelization.
  5. Remove meat from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving!
close up of taco with meat, corn salad, salsa, and garnished with cilantro

Tips and substitutions:

Oh, and by the way, we LOVE this Microplane Zester Grater [AFFILIATE LINK]. It’s all stainless with a blade for zesting citrus and grating cheese.

We used this tool in this recipe to grate the garlic! VERY COOL TIP!

Serve these tacos with Best Frito Corn Salad or Summer Corn Tomato Salad. Don’t forget the Sangria!

Taco toppings: Add what your family loves, but we love corn, tomatoes, lime, cilantro. We love a guac or green sauce or salsa. There are so many options.

Can you freeze shredded beef?

Yes! This beef freezes very well. Store cooked meat in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers.

Use in tacos, burritos, nachos, soup, and BBQ sandwiches. stews, soups, and chilis.

This recipe serves a crowd—8-10 people—so halve the recipe if you need to!

woman holding a tray with chips and salsa

Sadly this lightweight tray is no longer available, but you can grab boards here, Best Charcuterie Boards to Buy

The green sauce? It’s Abby’s specialty sauce, and we haven’t been able to pry this recipe out of her yet! But it’s amazing!

outdoor entertaining space with 6 people standing and sitting with drinks

More beef recipes to try:

a taco spread with meat, corn salad, salsa, tortillas, and green sauce
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Taco Shredded Beef

This recipe serves a crowd—8-10 people—so halve the recipe if you need to!
Try this Taco Shredded Beef, a delicious Mexican Shredded Beef Recipe for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, taco bowls, salads, or tostadas.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 8 minutes
resting: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Yield: 8
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Ingredients
 

Marinade

  • ½ c brown or coconut sugar, packed
  • ½ c coconut aminos, (or ½ cup soy sauce + ½ cup water)
  • heaping c toasted sesame oil
  • 2 limes, juiced and zested
  • c garlic chili hot sauce, or regular hot sauce will work
  • 3-4 garlic cloves, micro planed

Shredded beef

  • 4-5 lbs shredded beef, we buy at Trader Joe's

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the marinade.
  • Add the shredded beef into the bowl and use your hands to coat the shreds with the marinade. Make sure to pull apart the layers of meat for full marinade coverage. Allow to marinate for at least 1 hour, or up to 12. When you’re ready to cook the meat, make sure it is room temperature.
  • Preheat your grill to high. Lay meat onto grill in a single layer and cook for 4-5 minutes before turning—in total cook for about 8 minutes. Allow meat to char slightly for a smokey flavor and delicious caramelization.
  • Remove meat from the grill and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Reposted from June 2020.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!
taco spread with shredded beef, corn salad, salsa, tortillas, and green sauce