Perfect Machaca Recipe - The Salty Marshmallow (2024)

Perfect Machaca Recipe is full of the most juicy, tender, beef along with peppers, onions! The easy spice rub is what gives this Machaca its amazing flavor!

Machaca:

Something I’ve been obsessing over making for quite a while is Machaca! It’s a local Mexican restaurant fave, and I’ve been working my tail off to create it at home. There’s just nothing like the flavor of this super tender beef. If you don’t know what Machaca is, I’ve done a little research for you during my recipe creation so that you don’t have to. Typically, it’s made from dehydrated, spiced beef. Then, it’s rehydrated to use in different recipes. Since I’m not dehydrating meat, and I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you guys aren’t either, I’ve found a way to really infuse the seasoning into this meat and then let it slow cook to perfection. If you’re looking for a simple side or topping for this meat, definitely try my Black Bean Salsa!

How To Make Machaca:

• You’ll start with a 3-4 pound chuck roast. Lay it out flat on a cutting board lined with a large piece of plastic wrap.
• In a small bowl, whisk your seasonings. Season the roast as evenly as possible and use your hands to massage the seasoning into the roast until really well coated on all sides.
• Now, this is important for the best flavor. Wrap the beef up tightly in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a good 8-24 hours before cooking. You can cook it right away if you’re short on time, but it’s not quite the same.
• After you have let your roast marinate, heat your vegetable oil in a large skillet. Sear the roast on all sides until you have a nice “crust” this will take just a few minutes per side, and the roast won’t be cooked all the way through. Again, it might be tempting to make things a little faster and skip the searing, but you want to do this for max flavor!
• Add your meat to the slow cooker and pour in your beef broth, add your veggies, tomatoes, and squeeze over the juice of two limes.
• Cover and cook this on low for 8-10 hours until nice and tender and easy to shred. I don’t recommend cooking this on high, it doesn’t get as tender.

What To Make With Machaca:

The beauty of this is that it’s good on literally almost anything! Pile it up on chips with cheese and toppings for a nice plate of nachos, stuff it in a big tortilla with beans and rice if you’re a burrito lover. Or, of course stuff it into your favorite taco shells. Machaca also makes a great salad topped with extra salsa for a tasty lunch. This has so much flavor I don’t need a whole lot of toppings for it but things like queso fresco, shredded cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and olives are always a good choice.

NOTE: I simply slice my jalapenos and add them right into the crock pot with the meat. If you are sensitive to heat, then I’d recommend slicing your jalapeno in half and removing the seeds first.

Enjoy!

~Nichole