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
Perfect Machaca Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Pound Chuck Roast
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 2 teaspoons Cumin
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 2 teaspoons Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
- 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 1 15 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
- 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
- 2 Bell Peppers, sliced
- 2 Onions, sliced
- 2 Jalapeños, sliced
- Juice of Two Large Limes
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Season the roast evenly with the spice mixture. Cover the roast with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the roast and sear until browned on all sides.
- Add the roast to the crockpot. Pour over the diced tomatoes, broth, bell pepper onion, jalapenos, then squeeze over the lime juice.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve immediately with your favorite toppings! This meat is great for nachos, burritos, tacos, or salad!
Ya all , I just made this it is so good. Followed the recipe to the T. Im a AZ native , I have tried it all in my state , and as far as my taste buds are concerned this is the best recipe I have found .. will be my go to .. !
When I order Machaca in restaurants, it’s usually Machaca con Huevos. Any recommendations for incorporating the eggs besides the obvious (just cook up with eggs in a skillet before serving)?
Nichole, Made your Machaca for dinner tonight. It was totally awesome. I opted to not do an 8 hour cook in a crockpot since I don’t own one. Just slow cooked it in a covered Dutch oven. It was incredible. I highly recommend this recipe.
I just made this with round steak and it was delicious! I added fresh tomatoes instead of the canned tomatoes. The meat was very flavorful an tender. Thanks!
Hi, I have a question, I’m very interested in trying this recipe since relocating to Wisconsin we don’t have many options like in Arizona and my husband is haveing Mexican food withdrawals! Is this recipe similar to what (filibertos) would use in their machacca egg and potato burrito? If any one can help that would be so awesome thank you!
Hi Tia, I live in Tempe, Arizona and I think this recipe is better than Filibertos. Plus, you have extra on hand for when the cravings kick in again! Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for the reply. I was looking for one that came closest to tasting like the machaca beef from that restaurant. Looking every day to see if anyone had commented back. Thank you again!
That’s what I’m looking for as well. I’m in michigan and would love to have some filibertos right about now. I’m going to give it a shot.
Thank you! I love machaca from when I lived in Arizona. There was a family restaurant that was the only place to find it. Now that I live in Virginia, I’ve been trying to recreate it without much luck. Your recipe is spot on!
Thanks for leaving a review! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
i love machaca, used to eat it all the time when i lived in arizona, and am hoping to try this recipe soon. how would i convert the cook time for instant pot instead of slow cooker?
How did you know I an obsessed with tacos? Haha! Love all the flavours in these beef ones! It looks so good, can’t wait to give it a try!
To be honest, I have never even heard of machaca before!! When I saw the name, I thought you misspelled matcha until I scrolled down and looked at the photos, haha. Definitely need to try this!
I’ve never heard of machaca before, but it looks fabulous! I’m loving all of the flavors, and already imagining all the ways that I can use it. I’m adding this one to my list for sure.