Dinner is stress-free with this Beef Carnitas Freezer Meal! Juicy, tender, shredded beef tacos are a family favorite – and take you 5 minutes to prep.
Why You’ll Love this Beef Carnitas Freezer Meal
Authentic Flavors – Tastes like it came from your favorite Mexican restaurant!
Perfect for Crowds –Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or cooking for a potluck, this recipe came to impress.
Versatility – These Beef Carnitas play well with others – everything from slaw to street corn to beans to rice!
No Prep Work Needed – Just toss the ingredients into a freezer bag, then a slow cooker, and it’s done! No marinating or endless cooking steps necessary.
Everyone’s favorite! With a mild flavor base, you can up the spice individually with hot sauce, pickled jalapeños, or a spicy green salsa.
Dump all ingredients, except For Serving ingredients, into the slow cooker.
Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
Use two forks to shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, then stir.
Remove shredded beef with a slotted spoon and serve in tortillas with cheese.
Optional: Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Freezer Meal Prep Directions:
Prepare a gallon freezer bag, labeling according to your preferred method.
Mix the spice blend, then add all ingredients, except For Serving ingredients, to the freezer bag.
Seal bag, removing as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Meal Prep | Slow Cooker Directions:
Thaw freezer meal in the fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking.
Dump the contents of the freezer bag into a slow cooker.
Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
Use two forks to shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, then stir.
Remove shredded beef with a slotted spoon and serve in tortillas with cheese.
Optional: Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Meal Prep | Instant Pot Directions:
Thaw in the fridge for 12-24 hours before cooking. (Meals can be cooked from frozen, but some Instant Pots may trigger a burn notice due to slow steam generation.)
Dump the contents of the freezer bag, plus 1 cup water, into the Instant Pot.
Set to High Pressure for 60 minutes, then allow a 10-minute natural release followed by a quick release.
Shred the beef directly in the Instant Pot with two forks, then stir.
Remove shredded beef with a slotted spoon and serve in tortillas with cheese.
Optional: Top off with your favorite taco toppings.
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What to Serve with Beef Carnitas
Queso: Drizzle over the tacos, dip them, or serve with tortilla chips.
Pico, but Fruity: Diced watermelon, mango, or pineapple with onion, cucumber, lime juice, and seasoning, and voilà!, a sweet topper is served.
Cilantro-Lime Rice: The easiest side that brings the freshest complimentary flavor to these Beef Carnitas.
Avocado Slaw: The best of two worlds – just be sure to add fresh lime juice and cilantro!
Avocado-Lime Dip: Like guac, but creamy! Serve with fresh sliced vegetables for a crunchy contrast to the carnitas.
Freezer Notes for Beef Carnitas
Recipe will last for 3-6 months in the freezer (be sure to remove as much air as possible from the freezer bag before freezing).
As a meat recipe, I recommend thawing for 12-24 hours before cooking. This follows food safety guidelines and makes it much easier to transfer from the freezer bag to your slow cooker/Instant Pot.
Recipe can be frozen after cooking, however this does change the texture and flavor. I recommend freezing raw, not cooked.
When reheating, warm in a pot over medium heat with a splash of water (or broth) or reheat in the microwave in 30–45 second intervals, stirring between each.
Want to Make It Fresh in the Slow Cooker Today?
Step 1: Dump all ingredients, except For Serving ingredients, into the slow cooker.
Step 2: Cook on low for 9-11 hours.
Step 3:Use two forks to shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, then stir.
Step 4:Remove shredded beef with a slotted spoon and serve in tortillas with cheese.
Optional: Top with your favorite taco toppings.
Real Mom Tips
Freeze flat. It saves space, stacks neatly, and makes it easy to grab when you’re ready to cook.
Label the bag. No guessing games on cook day – especially if you label serving ideas.
Broil after shredding if you want crispy, caramelized beef tips. Not necessary, but worth the 5 minutes.
Shred in the slow cooker/Instant Pot. Who likes having extra dishes to wash?!
Add fresh lime juice. Just a splash of fresh lime juice elevates the flavors and brings a nice freshness to the beef flavors.
Beef Carnitas Dietary Adjustments:
Make it Gluten-Free: Recipe is naturally gluten-free.
Make it Dairy-Free: Recipe is naturally dairy-free.
Make it Nut-Free: Recipe is naturally nut-free.
Make it Egg-Free: Recipe is naturally egg-free.
Tacos are next level with these meal prep beef carnitas! All the flavor with none of the effort.
You can freeze after cooking, but I recommend freezing raw. The freshest flavor, best texture, and “I just made this” feel happens when you freeze raw. But, if you’ve already cooked it and have leftovers, let it cool and freeze in an airtight container for up to three months. It won’t be the same, but it’ll still save the dinner day.
What’s the best cut of beef to use for Beef Carnitas?
I recommend beef chuck roast over every other cut because it has great marbling, which means the beef is juicy and tender after cooking low and slow. The fat is what’s behind that melt-in-your-mouth texture carnitas are known for. Brisket and rump roast are close seconds, but I’d pick chuck roast every time because of its rich flavor.
What do I do if I can’t find beef chuck roast?
You can use a leaner cut of beef like round roast or a sirloin tip roast, but you’ll want to add a bit more broth to make sure it doesn’t dry out when cooking. Since they’re leaner cuts, there is less fat which means less moisture overall. Toss in an extra ½ – ¾ cup beef broth to your slow cooker when you put the beef in.
We love spice. How can I up the heat without ruining the flavor?
Add in an extra jalapeño, chipotle peppers, cayenne peppers, or your favorite hot sauce. Just be careful not to overdo it – too much spice will overpower the rich flavors of the beef.
We aren’t big beef fans; can I use pork or chicken instead?
While cultivated for beef, this recipe can work with both pork and chicken. If going the pork route, I’d use pork shoulder and cook for 8-10 hours. If you prefer chicken, use chicken thighs (they’re more tender and juicier) and cook for 6-8 hours.
What do I do with the leftovers?
Leftover beef carnitas are a culinary treasure! Tuck them into quesadillas, use as the protein for loaded nachos, roll them into taquitos or enchiladas, or even alongside eggs as a breakfast hash. You dream it up, these carnitas will show up.
What are the best toppings for Beef Carnitas?
Anything goes when it comes to toppings, but some favorites are shredded cheese (queso fresco is so yummy!), fresh cilantro, pickled onions, guacamole, salsa, and fresh lime juice. For a creamy addition, try sour cream or chipotle crema.
What drinks and desserts pair well with Beef Carnitas?
Horchata or a refreshing mocktail like a Cucumber Mint Limeade go well with Beef Carnitas – both compliment the flavors of the dish in a different way, so you can’t go wrong with either. For dessert, you could go the traditional route with churros, flan, or tres leches cake, but you also can’t go wrong with some cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips and a fruit salsa.
As a full time working mom of four, I know how hard it is to find time (or energy) to cook. That’s why I’ve spent over a decade perfecting freezer meal recipes to make sure they’re not only quick to prepare but packed with flavors the whole family will love!
