Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

Home » Dinner » Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef)

Jump to Recipe

Cuban Shredded beef or ropa vieja made in the slow cooker! We sear the meat and then braise it for hours with onions, garlic, and spices until the meat is just falling apart tender. Serve it up with black beans and rice!

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)

ROPA VIEJA!

Okay, that’s a littletoo much fun to say. And a lot fancier sounding than the amount of energy actually required to make this dish. Because let’s face it, we’re talking a quick sear on the meat and into the slow cooker it goes and out comes braised, cuban shredded beef that is falling apart tender and delicious with rice, on tacos, and even with eggs and black beans for breakfast. Or maybe mixed in with migas. Holy cow, the possibilities are endless.

YUM. YES. PLEASE.

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

So what is Cuban shredded beef (Ropa Vieja)?

It’s the most amazing Cuban shredded beef of your life.Slow cooked and shredded beef stew-ish type dish that you didn’t even know you were missing. And if you’re thinking this is going to be a ton of work, it’s as simple as:

How to make Cuban shredded beef:

  1. Season a beef chuck with salt and pepper and add hide garlic cloves in the thickness of the meat.
  2. SEAR the meat. This is EVERYTHING. When you sear the outer surface of a piece of meat in a hot pan with a little bit of oil it forms a crust on the outside which then allows for crazy amounts of flavor to develop and helps get the meat extra tender.
  3. Toss in the onions, garlic, bell peppers, tomato sauce, and seasonings into the slow cooker. Add the seared beef and allow to braise for 6-8 hours on the low setting.

That’s it. It’s seriously the easiest dinner ever and you can start it right before you go to work and have it ready and waiting for you when you get home.Perfect, tender, and a crowd pleaser. And seriously, the comfort factor — it’s to a whole new level. I serve it on a bed of cilantro lime rice with a side ofcuban-style black beans. And obvi, in the almost 3 years we’ve been together now, you know I need tons of chopped cilantro and lime wedges to serve on the side.

That’s how we do. ✌️

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

This crockpot braised cuban shredded beef is everything. Warm, cozy, comforting, meaty, and saucy. The tomato sauce seasoned with oregano, cumin, and garlic adds such a nice balanced warmth to the dish. Plus theres the whole thing about not having to turn on the oven and just a quick 10 minutes of stovetop time and still having comfort food that’s perfect for rainy Sundays and chilly autumn nights alike. Cuban shredded beef is my jam.

Also, whatever you do, don’t forget the black beans, cilantro, and lime juice. It’s non-negotiable!This is really my go-to shredded beef recipe for when I want to make comfort food on Monday with a bowl of rice, but then again on Tuesday for #tacotuesday topped with all the fixings and a little Mexican street corn salad action on the side. And when I feel guilty for eating all the carbs with a big baked sweet potato or mashed potatoes on Wednesday and then because brinner is a real thing, maybe witha quick scrambled egg, crushed tortilla chips, Montereyjack cheese topped with a little Cuban shredded beef for Thursday — because you gotta celebrate that it’s almost the weekend. And then on Friday over a big plate of nachos because it IS the end of the workweek.

Yummy yummy in my tummy.

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

Yield: 10-12 servings

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker)

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time8 hours 15 minutes

Total Time8 hours 25 minutes

Cuban Shredded beef or ropa vieja made in the slow cooker! We sear the meat and then braise it for hours with onions, garlic, and spices until the meat is just falling apart tender. Serve it up with black beans and rice!

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Ingredients

sear the meat:

  • 6 whole cloves garlic
  • 2-2 1/2 lbs. beef chuck roast or flank steak
  • 1 tablespoon oil

for ropa vieja:

  • 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons EACH dried oregano AND salt
  • 1 tablespoon EACH ground cumin AND white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro + more for serving

serving:

  • white rice + cuban-style black beans

Instructions

  1. SEARING THE MEAT:Take the beef chuck roast and using a small paring knife, make 3 small 'x' marks into the meat. Take 3 cloves of garlic and insert them into the 3 'x' marks so that the clove is completely inserted into the thickness of roast. Season both sides of the meat with a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet. Add the beef in one piece and fry on each side for 5 minutes, turning only when the exterior is browned. This will splatter a bit but don't cover the pan as the meat will end up steaming rather than searing.
  2. FOR THE ROPA VIEJA:Chop the remaining 3 cloves of garlic into thin slices and add to the slow cooker along with all the remaining ropa vieja ingredients. I used a 6-quart slow cooker but a 3-quart slow cooker will work too. Cover and let cook on the low setting for 7-8 hours. When the beef falls apart easily when pulled with two forks, it's done. Shred the beef with the forks and give it a stir. Taste for seasonings, season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
  3. TO SERVE:Serve over a bed of rice with cuban-style black beans on the side topped with additional cilantro and a few lime wedges. You can also use the shredded beef for burritos, breakfast quesadillas, or tacos! The possibilities are endless!

Notes

  • Leftover beef can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Beef Comfort Foods Dinner Slow Cookerbeef black beans cilantro and lime comfort foods crockpot cuban cuban beef meat mexican rice ropa vieja shredded beef slow cooker tacos

originally published on Jun 29, 2016 (last updated Dec 22, 2021)

95 comments Leave a comment »

« Previous PostCuban Black Beans with Cilantro and Lime

Next Post »Moroccan-Inspired Chickpea Quinoa Salad (Power Salad)

Leave a Reply

95 comments on “Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef)”

Leave a comment »

  1. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

    Lisa Reply

    Oh My Goodness, this was a huge hit with our bunch! I can’t say enough good things about it! Ironically, a few days before this recipe showed up, I was lucky enough to catch grass fed Chuck roasts (4 of them!) on the manager’s special-marked down rack at my local grocery store. The price was so excellent, I bought all 4 and boy, am I glad I did because I now have this terrific recipe! I made it exactly as instructed except I used my own home-canned tomato sauce & reduced the pepper flakes a bit because one member of our family doesn’t like things too spicy. It made the kitchen smell divine and was perfect after a day’s work out in the yard. I served it with organic white rice, your Cuban black beans (which are also just soooo yummy & a perfect compliment) a fresh fruit salad and pita breads. Everyone LOVED it. I will be making this regularly. Thanks again for another GREAT recipe!

  2. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (9)

    ruth ross Reply

    Can i ask is the oregano ground or crushed?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (10)

      Marzia Reply

      I used crushed or sometimes called dried oregano leaves.

  3. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (11)

    Brittany Reply

    I’m so glad I found this recipe! I very recently figured out I have food allergies and was feeling uninspired and sad about all the food I can’t eat anymore. This recipe is allergen free for me and my husband and kids really loved it! My 4 year old even got up from his seat, walked over to hug me, and told me “you’re the best cooker in the world”. So thank you for reminding me that “safe” food doesn’t have to be boring!

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (12)

      Marzia Reply

      This totally makes my day Brittany! So happy to hear that this recipe is one that you can all enjoy together. 🙂

  4. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (13)

    Nida Reply

    Is there any way to make this recipe with top sirloin? Unfortunately that is the only cut that is available at my butchers. However, based on a quick read it seems like the beef may become too tough if I put it in the slow cooker?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (14)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Nida! Yes, unfortunately, top sirloin won’t work for this recipe. I’m afraid the meat would dry out too much during the slow cooking process.

  5. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (15)

    vanprice Reply

    This recipe is so good!! I made it in the oven, for 3 1/2 hours at 300, and it was amazingly good! I’ve included the link in my most recent Weekly Meal Plan: http://thecheerfulkitchen.com/archives/857#.V-WPzLUWGRs I hope a lot of my readers try it out!

  6. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (16)

    Ashli Reply

    Made this tonight, followed the recipe exactly and it was absolutely mouthwatering!! My husband packed leftovers for work right after dinner. That’s always a great sign! Thanks for a great recipe!!

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (17)

      Marzia Reply

      I know what you mean! That’s how I gauge the success of a recipe too! Happy to hear it was a hit!

  7. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (18)

    Marcela Reply

    After reading all the comments, I can’t wait to make it tomorrow! Do you think it would be ok to cook it on high for half the time?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (19)

      Marzia Reply

      It will work in half the time but the meat might not be as tender and may require more ‘pulling’ to shred it. For best results, I suggest cooking it on low.

      • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (20)

        Marcela Reply

        Sounds good, I will cook it on low! I can’t wait to try it! I forgot to ask, is it pretty spicy?

  8. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (21)

    Tannisha Reply

    Hi there…sadly I mistakenly used 2 15 oz cans of tomato sauce. I tried to remove some, but do you think this will ruin the meal. Or should I just add more seasoning?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (22)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Tannisha! I hate it when something like that happens. Yes, i’d probably double all the ingredients listed under the ‘ropa vieja’ section of the ingredients to make sure the recipe tastes true to what was originally intended. You can always remove half the sauce before shredding the meat. Freeze the excess sauce in a zip-top bag and heat it through in a skillet with cooked ground beef for a quick version of this recipe next time! 🙂

  9. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (23)

    Stacy B Reply

    The cuban beef and black beans are just fabulous! I used a roast instead of flank steak and froze my leftovers into a few different bags. Very easy to make!

    5

  10. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (24)

    Sylvalyn Simpson Reply

    Made this dish last night for my boyfriend and I. I served it with the Cuban Black Beans from the blog as well. Absolutely DELICIOUS! Simple, tasty, and it made enough that I can have leftover for a few days. I look forward to trying more of your recipes!

    I didn’t have oregano, so I subbed Italian seasoning. Just thought I’d leave this in case anybody else had the same issue!

    4.5

  11. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (25)

    Melissa Reply

    This was SO GOOD! I made it today with flank steak and actually messed it up a bit. I was in a rush and in my haste, I accidentally dumped my entire can of tomato paste into the mix. I also didn’t have cilantro so I used Italian seasoning based on another comment’s suggestion. Despite all of this – it turned out absolutely delicious and I’m already daydreaming about when it could be acceptable to start eating the leftovers. Thank you for the recipe!!

    5

  12. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (27)

    Candice Reply

    I recently made the recipe, intending to serve in tortillas as tacos. I made a couple modifications – using a red bell pepper and a jalapeno as I did not have a green bell pepper or chilis, and I also rubbed the beef with taco seasoning instead of salt and pepper (fitting the taco theme). The beef was delicious. I think it would have been delicious without my modifications. The one issue is that the dish was a bit runny for tortillas (likely the tomato sauce, or maybe the fattiness of the chuck I used), though once I figured this out and poured it into a collander to strain the dish, this helped. Any other tips on reducing the sauciness of the dish? Overall, a successful dish and I will try another of your recipes soon.

    5

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (28)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Candace, i’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! As this dish was intended to be served with rice, it does some gravy. Straining it is a great idea, you could also simmer the shredded beef (with all the gravy) in a stock pot to help evaporate some of that liquid and concentrate the flavor a little more. Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂

  13. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (29)

    Laura Reply

    Made this recipe with a venison roast. It turned out great and tasted almost exactly like the ropa vieja I get at the local Cuban stand. The lime squeezed on just before serving is PERFECT!

    5

  14. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (30)

    Deanna Reply

    This is awesome but there is absolutely no reason to sear it ahead of time. That deletes the purpose of the crockpot.

    I just popped it in with the rest of the ingredients, after installing the garlic, and eight ours later it was beautiful, tender, easy to pull apart meat. Delicious!

  15. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (31)

    Kristine Reply

    This was great! My husband loved it! It will certainly become part of my regular rotation of crockpot recipes! Thanks for a great recipe!

  16. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (32)

    Kristine Reply

    This was great! My husband loved it. I used chopped jalapeños for the green chiles and it was just the right heat for us. This will be part of our regular rotation! Thanks for a great recipe!

  17. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (33)

    Tyler Reply

    Hi Marzia!
    I’ve had this recipe pinned for a while and now that it’s 95 degrees in NH I am ready to ditch the oven and embrace the crock pot! 🙂 but I wanted to ask, do you mix all the ingredients and then add the meat? Or pour everything on top of the meat in the crock pot?

    Thanks!!

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (34)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Tyler! Yes, so just mix everything in the slow cooker add the meat, spoon some of the sauce on top of the meat so it doesn’t dry out and just sit back! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂

  18. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (35)

    Sara Reply

    I just finished making this and it is so so so good! One thing is that this makes a lot of sauce! I used a 4lb chuck roast but didn’t scale the rest of the recipe. I still have plenty of sauce. I also cooked in the oven at 275 for about 5 hours instead of the crockpot. I will definitely be making this again!

  19. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (36)

    Kimberly Reply

    Hello, I am new to cooking a love crockpot recipes.I made this just the way you describe in the recipe with a chuck roast, but the meat came out very tough and would not shred like in the picture. What should I do differently next time? The only thing I can think of that could have messed it up was that I froze the meat, but I made sure it completely defrosted before searing it.

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (37)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Kimberly! It sounds like it just needed a little extra time in the slow cooker. Depending on the type of slow cooker you have, the timings can vary a little. If the meat doesn’t shred easily right away next time, just let it go for another hour in the slow cooker and then try shredding again. Hope that helps!

  20. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (38)

    Valentina Reply

    Hey ! I Will love to do this recipe bit i don’t have a crockpot. Can i do it with another way?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (39)

      Matt Reply

      Instead of a crock pot you can braise it in the oven. Use a pot with a tight fitting lid or aluminum foil, and cook at 250F for 5 hours.

  21. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (40)

    Andrea Reply

    This was sooo good. My hubby said it was the best beef burrito he has ever had. I served his in a tortilla with cheese and mine with sliced green olives.
    I also made it in my instant pot in under an hour! Cook on high for 52 min, came out awesome! Thanks for a delicious recipe.

    5

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (41)

      Becky Reply

      This recipe looks delicious. I was hoping to see an Instant Pot adaptation. Did you follow the recipe exactly, then cook on high pressure for 52 minutes on high pressure with all ingredients in the pot? Also, did you cut the meat into smaller portions for the Instant Pot?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (42)

      Catherine Reply

      Did you have to adjust the liquid at all? Did you sear the meat in the Instant Pot first?

  22. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (43)

    Info bisnis Reply

    i cooked this for my family dinner last night..and what they said?they totally love it..thanks for the recice 🙂

    5

  23. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (44)

    Chels Reply

    After visiting Cuba this summer and becoming OBSESSED with their food, I can’t wait to try this recipe!

  24. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (45)

    Samia Reply

    I made this the other day and it’s amazing! I polished off the whole thing in a couple days and can’t wait to make it again!

    5

  25. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (46)

    Amy Reply

    Do you think I could use crushed toms or purée instead of the two 8 oz cans of tomato sauce since I’d be adding tomato paste and spices?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (47)

      Marzia Reply

      Crushed tomatoes would work well with this recipe and you’d replace the sauce with equal parts of crushed tomatoes. For the puree, you’ll need to thin it out a bit. So I’d suggest using a 15oz can of puree along with 1 oz of water.

  26. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (48)

    Elizabeth Reply

    So, so good! My husband and I both loved it and the leftovers were just as tasty. It tastes exactly like the Ropa Vieja I order at a Cuban restaurant, except now I don’t have to go there to get it. I will be making this again and again and again!

    5

  27. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (49)

    Adam Reply

    Absolutely delicious! Have made this twice.

    The first time, I wasn’t able to get a chuck roast of the right size, so i ended up using i think a Bottom Round, seemed to work perfectly well, and since its not as fatty a cut, the beef ended up absorbing a bit more of the sauce so the liquid level at the end wasn’t as high.

    Second time used orange pepper instead of green, and the right cut and it tasted basically the same.

    5

  28. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (50)

    Mica Reply

    This recipe was amazing!! I made it with the grass fed beef we raise and we loved it so much, I would like to link your recipe to my blog. Thanks!!

    5

  29. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (51)

    Audrey Reply

    One of the best things I have made in a long time. But I hint next time I make it,I will use first cut(flat cut) brisket..as I can get a bigger piece to make bigger shreds.But the sauce..incredible…

    5

  30. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (52)

    Christine Reply

    I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought it sounded really good. In all actuality, it blew my mind! My entire family loved it and it has been added to my list of must cook recipes. It was easy to follow, simple ingredients and tastes gourmet. Thank you so much for sharing!!

    5

  31. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (53)

    Mishelle Reply

    Can you omit the can of green chilies?!?! We really are not fond of the flavor

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (54)

      Marzia Reply

      Yes, you can omit them if you’d like.

  32. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (55)

    Sue Reply

    This recipe was amazing! I work long days and use my slow cooker a good bit. My daughter and grandkids were coming to visit for New Year’s weekend. I wanted a crock pot meal so we could spend time together instead of me cooking all day. It was a huge hit with my grand kids and I used the chiles…it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe!

    4.5

  33. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (56)

    Mandy Reply

    Hi, I absolutely love this recipe. Do you think I could make it in my pressure cooker rather than a slower cooker? I just got an instapot.

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (57)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Mandy! I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the ropa vieja recipe! Unfortunately, I’m not too confident this would work in the pressure cooker. The recipe only contains 16 ounces of liquid in total and since it’s a thick sauce, I’m afraid you may end up getting a burn notice on your instant pot. You could try diluting the sauce with broth or water but I’m not sure how much it would change the overall recipe.

  34. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (58)

    Kay Reply

    Great recipe, I love cooking big roasts in my crockpot. I cut back on the salt and added some chopped olives as I had seen in some other similar recipes. Delicious!

    5

  35. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (59)

    Liz Reply

    I loved this recipe. Easy and delicious. I served this in bowls with quinoa on the bottom, layered with beans and meat and then a salad made with corn, quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, avocado, crumbled feta and fresh lime juice. A dab of sour cream on top and then sprinkled with chopped cilantro. Yum.

    5

  36. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (60)

    Jason Reply

    There is no way this recipe only takes 10 minutes of prep time. I just started it this morning before work thinking I had plenty of time to put it together and get to the office on time. Nope. I even began with a frozen roast and didn’t sear the meat or stuff garlic cloves inside of it and from start to finish it took me 20 minutes. I was attempting to hurry through all the can opening and veggie slicing too. I’d say that with the searing of the roast this would be at least a 25 minute prep time, if not 30. And that’s just for the stuff that winds up in the slow cooker too.

  37. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (61)

    Kelly Reply

    Delicious. The first time I made it my husband and I both loved it. I am making it again tonight for the family. I also serve with Cuban black beans and rice cooked in chicken broth. So good!

    5

  38. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (62)

    Donna Briquet Reply

    We LOVED this recipe! Even my 9 month old grand-daughter ate heaps of the beef as she siphoned off the sauce of each bite. Black beans are another family favorite so, along with some butter corn off the cob, we had a delightful and filling dinner. The combination of spices is perfect and no need for modification. I prepared it in my insta-crockpot but increased the time to 1.5 hrs. A few pieces had to be shredded and put back into the sauce to simmer. I cannot say enough good about this dish. Thanks again for sharing it!

    5

  39. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (63)

    Melissa Reply

    Since finding this my family has requested it every 3rd week. It’s the perfect Sunday evening meal! It’s super easy to tweak it to make it work for a keto/low carb diet too! It reheats great the next day, but I don’t after that because we never have enough left over to go that far….

    5

  40. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (64)

    Rachelle Reply

    Absolutely amazing! I will be making this regularly from now on!!!

    4.5

  41. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (65)

    Mom to 4 in OR Reply

    Made this for my family this week. It was a universal hit. I served it with the rice and Cuban black beans AND homemade sopas, which were so simple it was ridiculous. Thank you for this fabulous recipe!

    5

  42. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (66)

    James Rudd Reply

    Absolutely delicious. Followed the recipe to the letter, using flank steaks. Came out perfectly, beans were fantastic. Would make it again without hesitation, and will definitely be passing this recipe along!

    5

  43. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (67)

    Jess Foster Reply

    Me and my partner loved it!!! Made everything 100% by the recipe including the beans and it was nothing like we’ve ever had before. Tasted very authentic and delicious.

    5

  44. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (68)

    Regina Reply

    So easy and delicious! We love it on tacos!

  45. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (69)

    Sharisa Reply

    Wtf did I just eat??? This was amazing!!! I also made the bean recipe that you recommended and put the meat right over the top. Soooo good! The whole family loved this.

    5

  46. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (70)

    Kathryn Weismiller Reply

    This has become my go to recipe when we have guests over. It is so easy and delicious. Currently attempting to modify it to use for a chili cook off. 🙂

    5

  47. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (71)

    Daniela Boßmann Reply

    Hi Marzia,
    I had grass fed galloway beef in my freezer. I was looking for a recipe other than roast beef. I am so glad that I found
    your recipe. It was soooo good. I made some corn Tortillas with it. Thank you for the recipe.
    Greetings from Germany.

    5

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (72)

      Marzia Reply

      Oh wow, the fact that you made homemade corn tortillas is amazing! I’m so glad you gave this recipe a try, Daniela! 🙂

  48. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (73)

    melanie Reply

    WOW! Made this over the weekend and it is awesome. Thanks for sharing the recipe, can’t wait to try this with tortillas. My picky husband even liked it!

    5

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (74)

      Marzia Reply

      Happy to hear it was enjoyed by all (picky eaters included ?)

  49. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (75)

    Leslie Reply

    So incredibly good! Made this last night for chipotle style burritos, fully loaded with cilantro lime rice and black beans. It was an absolute hit with my family. I’m so glad to have found this recipe, thank you!

    5

  50. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (76)

    Jesse Booth Reply

    My wife and I have made this recipe numerous times at home and for friends. It is unbelievably good, authentic, restaurant quality delicious and super easy to make. Can’t say enough good things about this one!!! Highly recommend you try it!!!

    5

  51. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (77)

    Ruth Reply

    I can’t wait to try this recipe for my fiance’s birthday!
    Do you think that stewing steak would work okay too?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (78)

      Marzia Reply

      Hi Ruth! Stewing meat would work, however, the cooking time may vary depending on the size of the meat. I would suggest just keeping a close eye on it and cook for at least 3-4 hours on low. You’ll know it’s done when the meat easily shreds apart with two forks. Hope you enjoy it 🙂

  52. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (79)

    Sandy Reply

    This recipe looks great! My husband accidentally bought pork shoulder instead of beef. Do you think the recipe would still work with it?

  53. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (80)

    Cheryl Reply

    This was so delicious! It tasted just like at my favorite Cuban restaurant, but without all the salt that leaves you thirsty afterward.

    5

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (81)

      Marzia Reply

      So happy to hear it was enjoyed, Cheryl! Appreciate you leaving a review!

  54. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (82)

    Toby whitson Reply

    Yes I made it! Unbelievable recipe, best ever! Going to make again this week, can’t help myself, I know it’s best to not remake so quickly! To bad , lol, making again.

  55. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (83)

    Toby whitson Reply

    I was missing my favorite Cuban restaurant in Cape Coral Fl.
    Well this recipe exceeded their’s. I used chuck, trimmed of 3/4 of the fat.
    Folks I ate it 4 days in a row. Absolutely the best, I just hope I do not over do it.
    Lol, enjoy! None made it to the freezer, no way..

  56. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (84)

    Yesenia Reply

    I tried to rush this – 4 hrs on high. It didn’t work out – had to wait longer. But it was worth it!! The flavor!!! The recipe is the simplest but the most delicious ropa vieja I’ve ever made. I am definitely making this over and over again!
    I did add a red pepper and a bay leaf but honestly, perfect as is.

    5

  57. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (85)

    Tina Reply

    I made this whole recipe and it was fabulous!
    Followed every step. We ate this for several days then froze the rest.
    I highly recommend this recipe!

    5

  58. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (86)

    Renae Reply

    This was sooo darn delicious. Served it with the Cuban black beans from the recipe mentioned. This has got to be one of my favorite recipes.

    5

  59. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (87)

    Catherine Reply

    This is one of my absolute all time favorite dishes. I am so thankful I found the recipe and your blog! I share it constantly with neighbors and they are always impressed!

    Do you think you could accomplish this recipe in the Pressure Cooker?

    5

  60. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (88)

    Chef Mimi Reply

    I haven’t made this in a long time! Thanks for the reminder. It looks so good how you’ve presented it.

  61. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (89)

    Eugene Cottrell Reply

    This was delicious. Previous poster suggested that the sear is not necessary…untrue. The sear creates those little crunchy bits that are a necessary texture in this dish. So good.

    5

  62. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (90)

    Robert Pontious Reply

    5 stars true cuban

    5

  63. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (91)

    Eileen Reply

    I just finished putting this together. I have made it before but it’s been a while. My husband’s birthday is this week and he requested it! I’m doing mine in the oven so I browned the meat and then built the sauce. I added a red bell, some sugar and my biggest deviation from your recipe is that I added some chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I hope it doesn’t mean it’s unauthentic! I’ll let you know tomorrow how it was! Oh, and we will the black beans too. So delicious!

    Thank you so much!

  64. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (92)

    Brenda West Reply

    This is one of our favorites! Thank you for posting!
    I freeze the leftovers and make enchiladas or wet burritos for another meal.

    5

  65. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (93)

    Kaitlin Reply

    My husband said this was in the top 5 recipes we’ve ever made (and we cook a lot)! So yes, just make it. And don’t forget the cilantro lime black beans!

    5

  66. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (94)

    Nancy Reply

    I have made this 3 times now. I pair with the black beans recipe and lime jasmine rice. 2 substitutions. We use finely sliced (long way) cored jalapeños in the Ropa Vieja sauce. In the black beans recipe we use 2 tablespoons of bacon grease instead of oil. This is my sons favorite meal. We prepare it at least once a month. Soooo delicious!!!!

    5

  67. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (95)

    Shelbg Reply

    Hi, I’m having company tonight and we are excited to try this recipe. Quick question is it a total of 4 or 5 pounds of meat or a total of 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of meat?

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (96)

      Glenn Reply

      2-2.5 lbs of meat

  68. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (97)

    Jenna Reply

    Super easy & incredibly delicious! This recipe is a family favorite and works well for a crown as well.

    5

  69. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (98)

    Glenn Reply

    Okay, this was delicious. We will certainly do it again.

    I used a flank steak from Costco instead of the chuck steak, and followed the recipe exactly. When we pulled the meat out of the cooker, it smelled great, and I couldn’t resist trying a piece. Wow, it was disappointment, not nearly as tasty as it smelled. However, we cut it up and shredded it, and added the shredded beef back into the cooker and stirred things up a bit and voila! Delicious. My wife was raving about it.

    We just ate it on a hamburger bun with a salad on the side. We liked it so much, we ate it for lunch the next couple of days as well. Next time, I plan to try the rice and beans with it.

    Thanks for a great recipe! This one is on my list for sure.

    • Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (99)

      Glenn Reply

      I forgot to rate it. Can I give it 6 stars?

      —Glenn

  70. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (100)

    Lisa Reply

    Hi There-I have a skirt steak. Can I use that to make this recipe?

  71. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (101)

    Mikala Reply

    Hello! Just wondering what nutrition info is for this recipe. I can’t seem to find it. Thank you!

  72. Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (102)

    Sandra Reply

    If I put it on high settings how long approximately should I put it on?

    5

Cuban Shredded Beef (Slow Cooker) Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rob Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5872

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (68 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rob Wisoky

Birthday: 1994-09-30

Address: 5789 Michel Vista, West Domenic, OR 80464-9452

Phone: +97313824072371

Job: Education Orchestrator

Hobby: Lockpicking, Crocheting, Baton twirling, Video gaming, Jogging, Whittling, Model building

Introduction: My name is Rob Wisoky, I am a smiling, helpful, encouraging, zealous, energetic, faithful, fantastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.