Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Beef

It's no secret that I love Mexican food. So, when people ask me, "If you could only eat one cusine for the rest of your life, what would it be?" my answer is always "Something Mexican!"

Check out my list of Instant Pot Mexican Recipes for more easy and delicious recipes when you are in the mood for Mexican-inspired food!

Why I Love This Recipe

One of the best things about Mexican cuisine is that there are so many possibilities of dishes to make once you have your meat. This Instant Pot Spicy Shredded Beef recipe will make dinner or serving a crowd so much easier.

The other great thing about this recipe and Mexican-inspired food in general is that you can make it your own by adding extra spices, vegetables, or whatever you like.

Key Ingredients for This Recipe

• Stew meat or beef roast - Either cut of beef will work and both are easy to work with. If you purchase a whole cut of meat cut it into smaller pieces when cooking the Instant Pot for even cooking.
• Ground cumin - Cumin is very common in Mexican recipes for its distinct taste which is warm, earthy, and slightly smoky.
• Ground cloves - Cloves add another unique flavor to the dish. Adding cloves enhances the flavor with warm, aromatic, and slightly sweet notes that complement the richness of the meat and balance other spices.
• Canned chipotle peppers - Canned chipotle peppers add spiciness to this recipe as well as flavor. Canned chipotles are smoked jalapeños in a tangy, spiced tomato-based adobo sauce, adding a smoky element to dishes.

How to Make Shredded Beef with Mexican Spices

Step 1: Dry the beef well with a paper towel and cut it into equally sized cubes if not already in pieces. Turn the Instant Pot to "Saute" mode, add the olive oil, and let it heat up for 1-2 minutes.

Step 2: Add the beef pieces and brown on all sides for about 10 minutes.

Step 3: Add all of the remaining ingredients to the pot and stir together. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on high for 45 minutes. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally.

Step 4: After the pin drops, carefully take off the lid and remove the bay leaves. Use your metal tongs to shred the beef and stir the juices. The picture below is just stirring with metal tongs!

How to Make this Shredded Beef More or Less Spicy

This recipe has canned chipotles in adobo sauce in it which are smoked and dried jalapeños rehydrated and canned in a purée of tomato, garlic, vinegar, and spices. I don't like super spicy foods but these add a wonderful smokiness and flavor with just a little bit of spice. If you don't want a lot of heat only add 1 or 2 peppers.

If you do want extra spice, add more chipotle peppers or try adding a fresh-cut jalapeno or serrano pepper. Because I don't like a lot of heat spice, I always start with less chipotle. You can always add spice, but you can't take it away.

Expert Tips

Searing the meat before pressure cooking adds and locks in the flavor of the beef.
Cutting a large cut of meat before sauteing and cooking results in a better texture and even cooking.
If you want crispy edges, spread the beef on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for a few minutes for more texture.
If you don't use the whole can of chipotle peppers, which you probably will not, you can freeze the rest of them for your next batch of shredded beef or another dish.

Serving Suggestions for Spicy Shredded Beef

• Tacos - try this beef with my Doritos Locos Tacos.
• Chimichangas - my Air Fryer Chimichangas are perfect for this recipe!
• Nachos - Who doesn't love shredded beef nachos?
• Enchiladas - The smokiness of this beef makes enchiladas irresistible.
• Taco Salads - Taco salads and shredded beef are a match made in heaven.
• Beef Sandwiches - This Mexican beef is amazing between 2 slices of bread.
• Beef Tortilla Soup - Take my Chunky Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe and replace chicken with beef!

More Mexican-Inspired Recipes To Try