Shredded Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
Shredded Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw has flavorful melt in your mouth Mexican Shredded Beef. Paired with a crunchy cabbage slaw, this dinner is easy to make and fun to eat!
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Have you ever been in a place where you are working diligently towards a goal, making very little forward motion and then all of a sudden you feel like you have turned a corner?
As you turn this corner the fruits of your labor are not showing yet, but you can feel it in your bones that they soon will appear.
That is what the last few weeks have been like for me in regards to my business, my health and my overall wellness.
If I could narrow down what has made the difference I would summarize it as me showing up everyday with a purposeful focus.
To be honest with you, my focus this last month has been the most defined it has ever been.
I am zeroing in on what I want for the future and saying no to the distractions. It is as simple as that.
There have been days where I have been emotionally drained at the end of the day but the progress has felt amazing.
In complete transparency, all I want by the time the day is winding down is a dinner that is both wholesome, easy to make and completely satisfying.
Something I can sink my teeth into and just enjoy.
These Shredded Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw are exactly that. Flavorful, full of delicious textures and a wonderful way to end the day.
Healthy Beef Tacos
Friends, let’s be honest. The term healthy eating has started to become very fuzzy and confusing for many as to what that actually looks like. So many of my readers often find themselves torn between whether to follow the Paleo Diet, Ketogenic Diet or Mediterranean Diet. Because of this, it can be good to go back to basics and revisit the foundational nutrition principles. Just this simple refresher can often ease much of the guilt that so many feel about their food choices. (Note: Many of the diet trends are highly valid. It is always important to pay close attention to you individual dietary needs and speak with your healthcare provider.)
In addition to following basic nutrition, I feel passionately that limiting the amount or pesticides and endocrine disruptors in what we eat, drink and products we use can have a huge impact on overall health. The good news though, doing this doesn’t have to mean eating boring food and these Shredded Beef Tacos are evidence of that.
What Makes These Tacos Healthy
- If possible, cook with grass-fed beef. It provides a higher level of important nutrients.
- Cabbage is packed with health benefits.
- My favorite corn tortillas that are organic, have no lard and no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.
How To Make Mexican Shredded Beef
Making Mexican Shredded Beef in the slow cooker really is very simple. Here are the basic steps to yield meat that is tender, flavorful and melts in your mouth.
- Generously salt and pepper the beef roast and then sear all sides until caramelized in a heated dutch oven or large frying pan (either cast iron or stainless steel).
- Cut onion and place in bottom of slow cooker. Place seared roast on top of onions.
- Pour lime juice over roast.
- Mix spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle 1/2 over top of roast. Flip roast and sprinkle remaining remaining spices over top.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high heat.
Pro Tip: Adjust spices for taste preferences. Amounts listed will be enjoyable for most. However, please feel free to lessen or increase based on what is preferred.
Best Beef For Shredding
Boneless beef chuck roast was used for this recipe and created gorgeous tender strips of meat. In addition to chuck roast, bottom round roast and rump roast may be used with very similar cooking times. Although these other cuts may be used, my favorite cut for this recipe still is boneless chuck.
High Heat Oil For Searing
Unless preparing Italian dishes, my high heat oil of choice is avocado oil. I adore this oil for many reasons. Some of which; a high smoke point, is heart healthy and quite a few other health benefits. The best value I have seen for avocado oil is at Costco, however you can also purchase it here.
Mexican Oregano vs Regular Oregano
The main difference between Mexican oregano and the Mediterranean version in cooking comes down to taste. Mexican oregano has a more earthy flavor to it. Although from different plants, for the home cook you can exchange one for the other in equal amounts without any issues.
No Mayo Coleslaw
For the Cilantro Lime Coleslaw, Greek yogurt was used in place of mayonnaise. If needing a completely dairy free alternative use 1/2 cup avocado or olive oil whisked together with lime juice. lime zest, salt, pepper, chipotle powder and cilantro. Toss well with cabbage and onion.
Additional Add Ins and Sides For Shredded Beef Tacos
More Family Friendly Meals
Mom’s Family Style Sweet and Sour Chicken
Fried or Baked Crispy Chicken Strips
Shredded Beef Tacos with Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 16-20 med sized corn tortillas
Beef
- 2.5 lb boneless chuck roast
- 2 tbsp high heat oil *avocado oil was used for this recipe
- salt & pepper
- 1 lg brown onion *cut into strips
- 1 tbsp dried oregano *Mexican oregano or regular
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/4 tsp chipotle powder
- 1/2 cup lime juice *about 4-6 juicy limes
Coleslaw
- 4-5 cups shredded cabbage *about 1/2 med cabbage or about 14 oz
- 1 small red onion *cut into strips, about 1 cup
- 1 small bunch cilantro *chopped, about 1 cup
- 1 cup Greek yogurt *fat % of choice
- 1 lime zested
- 5 tbsp lime juice *about 3 juicy limes
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp chipotle powder
Garnish
- Queso Fresco
- fresh cilantro
Instructions
Beef
- Heat a large cast iron or stainless steel frying pan over med high heat with oil. Generously salt and pepper roast. Once heated, sear both sides of roast until caramelized about 5 mins per side.
- Add onion strips to the bottom of a slow cooker and place seared roast on top of onions. Pour lime juice over roast.
- In a small bowl mix together spices for beef. Sprinkle half over one side of the roast, flip and sprinkle remaining spices on other side. Cook on low for 8 hours and then shred with two forks. Taste test and salt beef if additional salt is needed.
Coleslaw
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, salt, pepper and chipotle powder. Add in shredded cabbage, onion and cilantro. Toss well.
Tacos
- Heat tortillas directly over a medium flame, using tongs, for 5-10 seconds per side. Another option is to heat a stainless steel skillet over medium heat with no oil. Using tongs heat the tortillas for 30 seconds per side.
- Fill heated tortillas with desired amount of shredded beef, coleslaw, cheese and cilantro.
Notes
- Approximately 9 limes will be needed for this recipe.
- For spicer heat levels use 1 tsp chipotle powder for medium heat and up to 1 tbsp for hotter spice level.
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Freshly diced jalapeño can also be added to slow cooker for additional spice.
