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Chipotle Beef for Tacos

Chipotle Beef for Tacos- Beef chuck roast is slow cooked in a Dutch oven until tender. Flavored with chipotle chiles in adobo, it makes a wonderful taco filling.

Chipotle Beef for Tacos on a serving plate surrounded by cilantro.

Slow Cooked in the Oven

Chipotle Beef makes a wonderful base for weeknight tacos or burritos. It takes 2 1/2 to 3 hours to cook, but except for mixing the ingredients together, it is totally hands off.

Chipotle Beef on a blue serving plate.

Pop it in the oven on a Sunday afternoon, settle down to watch a football game, and it will be done when the game is over. You can either eat it that night for dinner or refrigerate it and reheat at the end of a long weekday for a quick and easy meal.

Ketchup and chipotle peppers mixed together in Dutch oven.

In a Dutch oven, stir together ketchup, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper, plus 1 cup of water.

Cut chuck roast into 4 pieces.

Uncooked chuck roast coated in sauce.
Chuck roast after being cooked.

Feeds a Crowd

If served as tacos with tortillas and a bunch of fixings (cheese, lettuce, salsa, avocado, onion, sour cream ,etc) you can easily get 8 servings out of it. So for a family of four, you can get a bonus meal. Score!

Adjust the Spiciness

Add 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a moderate amount of heat, and 3 if you like it spicy. If you find that it is not spicy enough, serve with TABASCO Chipotle Hot Sauce. It is so good!

Chipotle Beef Recipe Tip

Occasionally chuck roast can be a little stubborn. If you pull it out of the oven at the end of the cooking time and it is still a little tough- keep cooking. It will eventually get fork tender. Have patience and you will be rewarded.

Can You Freeze Chipotle Beef?

Yes, after cooking, let it cool completely and freeze in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the microwave or in a pot set over medium-low heat.

Chipotle Beef on a serving plate and bowl of chipotle peppers.

More Amazing Recipes Made with Chuck Roast

Chipotle Beef for Tacos

Beef chuck roast is slow cooked in a Dutch oven until tender. Flavored with chipotle chiles in adobo, it makes a wonderful taco filling.
PREP: 10 minutes
COOK: 2 hours 30 minutes
TOTAL: 2 hours 40 minutes
SERVINGS: 8

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2-3 chipotle chiles in adobo, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (3-pound) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
  • chopped fresh cilantro and sliced green onion, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a Dutch oven, stir together ketchup, tomato paste, garlic, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper, plus 1 cup of water.
  • Cut beef into 4 equal sized pieces and place in Dutch oven. Turn meat to coat it in the liquid. Place on stove and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once mixture comes to a boil, cover with lid and place in the oven. Bake until beef is tender and can be shredded with 2 forks, about 2 1/2 hours.
  • Shred with 2 forks and sprinkle with cilantro and green onion.

Notes

Some chuck roasts can take longer than others to get tender. If it is not tender after 2 1/2 hours, cook another 30 minutes.
Nutritional info is an estimate only and can vary based on brands of products used and measuring techniques. It is best that you use an app for measuring nutritional values and enter the info from the products that you use.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 866mg | Potassium: 636mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 161IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 4mg
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keyword: chuck roast, tacos

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Originally posted October 7, 2013.

Recipe Source: adapted from Martha Stewart

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19 thoughts on “Chipotle Beef for Tacos”

  1. Hi Christine, This looks delicious! I was wondering if it could be cooked in a slow cooker as opposed to the oven? If so, how long would you recommend cooking the beef for?

    Thanks,
    Mary

  2. Anne ~ Uni Homemaker

    What a fantastic looking beef! So juicy looking and you gotta love that heat here. Great recipe Christin!

  3. lisaiscooking

    Spicy chipotles are a favorite of mine! And, prepping something that will last for multiple meals is the best.

    1. Christin
      Christin Mahrlig

      I love chipotles too Lisa and use them in so many things. Don’t know what I did before I discovered them 🙂

  4. Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes

    Yummy!! I like the idea to make it ahead of time and reheat it for a quick weeknight dinner!

  5. I need meals like this for school. I love the hands off approach, and this is something everyone would love (even as leftovers)! Pinning!

  6. This sounds incredible for Taco Tuesday! Love the sound of the chipotle chiles in adobo sauce added in here too. The meat looks so juicy and flavorful, thanks for sharing Christin 🙂

  7. Consuelo @ Honey & Figs

    This looks so so easy to make! It makes me wish it was taco nigh today ;–)

  8. Kammie @ Sensual Appeal

    Mmm and tomorrow is Taco Tuesday I’m guessing? 😉 Will do, will do! Awesome recipe.

  9. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl

    Super yummy taco recipe which will leaving us wanting 2nds and 3rds! Thank you!

  10. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking

    Oh I love recipes that you can just pop in the oven or leave on the stove and they are magically ready at dinner time! This sounds perfect for hectic weeknights!

  11. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor

    I was just looking for a good shredded beef taco recipe. Thanks for sharing, Christin!

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