These Crockpot Shredded Beef Tacos taste like they came from a restaurant. They are a little sweet, a little spicy, and have a strong beef flavor. They make a simple, tasty meal. The shredded beef is flavored with green chilies, garlic, cumin, and other Mexican spices. It can be used in tacos, carnitas, burritos, enchiladas, and many other dishes.
Planning the right amount of shredded beef for a party or gathering can be tricky. You want to make sure you have enough so everyone gets fed, but not so much that you’re eating leftovers all week. So how much shredded beef should you plan per person? Here’s a guide to help calculate portions.
Factors That Affect Portion Size
How much shredded beef to serve per person depends on several factors:
-
Main dish vs side dish – More meat needed if beef is the main protein. Less if it’s just an accompaniment.
-
Kids vs adults – Kids eat smaller portions than grownups.
-
Appetites – Teen boys often eat larger servings than other guests
-
Other menu items – If serving lots of sides, people may fill up on those.
-
Leftovers – It’s better to have too much than run out. Plan for some extra.
Consider all these aspects when estimating portions for your event.
Suggested Serving Sizes
Here are some general shredded beef portion guidelines based on how it’s being served
- Main entree: 6-8 oz per adult
- Sandwiches: 4-6 oz per sandwich
- Tacos: 3-5 oz per taco
- Appetizer: 2-3 oz per person
- Kids ages 4-8: 2-4 oz
- Kids ages 9-12: 4-6 oz
- Teen boys: 8-12 oz
For a dinner with shredded beef as the main dish, plan on 6-8 ounces or 3⁄4 to 1 pound cooked weight per adult. Adjust up or down depending on your menu and guests.
Calculate for Raw Weight
You’ll shop for and cook beef based on the raw weight. Remember that cooked beef weighs 25-30% less than raw due to moisture loss during cooking.
To allow for this
-
Multiply the desired cooked weight per person by 1.3 to get the required raw weight.
-
For example, 8 oz cooked x 1.3 = 10.4 oz raw weight per serving.
-
For a group of 10 adults at 8 oz cooked each, you’d need 10 x 10.4 oz = 104 oz or 6.5 lbs of raw beef.
Buying the Right Cuts
Choose well-marbled beef chuck roast, brisket, rump roast or flank steak for easy shredding. Look for a 4-5 lb roast or 3-4 lb brisket to feed a group.
Fat marbling bastes the meat so don’t trim too much. Avoid pre-tied roasts as the strings prevent shredding.
Cooking Methods
Use moist gentle heat to make beef fork-tender:
- Crockpot – Low 8-10 hrs, High 4-6 hrs
- Oven – 250-275°F covered for 3-4 hrs
- Instant Pot – High pressure 60-90 mins
- Grill/smoker – Indirect 225°F for 4-6 hours
Let rest 10-15 minutes before shredding so juices redistribute.
Serving the Crowd
Keep shredded beef warm and appetizing with these tips:
- Offer fun personalized toppings like guacamole, cheese, and jalapeños
- Serve on rolls for easy shredded beef sandwiches
- Portion into taco shells or tortillas for DIY tacos
- Pair with classic sides like baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad
Key Takeaways
- Allow 6-8 oz cooked beef per adult for a main dish, less if a side item
- Plan for 25-30% shrinkage when calculating raw meat weight
- Select well-marbled roasts or brisket to shred easily
- Use moist heat methods and let rest before shredding
- Offer fun toppings and extras like sandwiches and tacos
With the right calculations and techniques, you can confidently cook up the perfect amount of shredded beef for your whole crowd. Let us know if you need any other serving tips or beef recipes!
How to Make Crock Pot Shredded Beef For Tacos
- Prep the beef. Cut the roast beef into 1-inch pieces and trim off any big fat pieces.
- Marinade beef. Put the garlic, oil, lime juice, cumin, salt, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl. Add the green chilies and mix them all together. Add the beef and toss, then marinate for 2-24 hours. Note: You can skip the marinating step if you are in a hurry.
- Cook in the crockpot. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 4 ½ hours. Add the beef and the marinade. until the meat is easy to shred with two forks
- Shred meat. Remove the beef from the slow cooker. Use two forks or your hands to shred it. If it’s hard to shred, put it back in the slow cooker and keep cooking.
- Broil shredded beef. Put the beef in a baking dish and pour about a cup of the cooking juices over it. Boil the meat in a hot oven for about 10 minutes, stirring it every two minutes, or until it turns a light golden color. You can make quick shredded beef tacos with almost any kind of roast that you have left over.
- Serve. Put it on corn or flour tortillas right away and top with shredded cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, and any other taco toppings you like. Enjoy!.
What to serve with Shredded Beef Tacos
Want some suggestions for what to serve with roast beef tacos? Here are some of our favorites:
How Much Meat Should You Buy to Feed a Crowd?
FAQ
How many people will 5 pounds of shredded beef feed?
|
Amount of Guests (Full Sandwich)
|
Lbs. of Meat
|
|
15
|
5 pounds
|
|
25
|
8 1/3 pounds
|
|
50
|
16 2/3 pounds
|
|
100
|
33 1/3 pounds
|
How much shredded beef for sandwiches per person?
How many pounds of chopped beef do I need for 20 people?
How many people will a 4 lb chuck roast feed?
|
Number of guests
|
Pounds of beef
|
|
4 people
|
2-3 pounds
|
|
6 people
|
3-4 pounds
|
|
8 people
|
5-6 pounds
|
|
10 people
|
6-7 pounds
|
How much shredded beef per person?
The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children. How Many Pounds Of Shredded Beef Per Person? The suggested serving size for shredded beef is 8 ounces or half a pound of raw meat per person.
How much meat do you need per person?
A question we often get is “How much meat do I need?” The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children. How Many Pounds Of Shredded Beef Per Person?
How much beef should a person eat?
If you are serving boneless beef, you can estimate that each person will eat 1/2 pound of beef. If everyone consumes 1/2 pound, here’s how much you’ll need: If you are serving beef as part of a dish like curry, and not as the main event, figure that each person will consume 1/4 to 1/3 pound.
Can You shred raw beef?
There is no way to shred raw beef. You can cut even cut it into very small pieces, but the meat won’t shred. Since the cooking process hasn’t broken down the fibers of the meat, it can’t shred. This is why meat that hasn’t been cooked enough will not be “falling off the bone.”