Recipe for Shredded Beef Taquitos at Life's Ambrosia

I bet everyone has their favorite fast food Mexican place and no, I am not talking about Taco Bell, although it can be good from time to time. I’m talking about that little hole in the wall, that may not look like it has good food but it actually does. For me, although some from my hometown of Vancouver may disagree, my favorite little Mexican place growing up was Muchas Gracias. It has since ballooned in the city and is everywhere, but there was only one when I started eating there and I would always get the same thing, rolled tacos. Perfectly crunchy, topped with melted cheese and scoops of guacamole. I still crave them to this day so imagine how bummed I was when I didn’t make it there while I was visiting last weekend. Since I was still craving them, the first thing I did when I got home was make my self some and they turned out perfect. Crunchy and loaded with cheese and guacamole. Mmm…

For the shredded beef in this recipe I did use a slow cooker to cook a 3 lb roast, now that was obviously more than enough to make the 10 taquitos that I made but I refrigerated the left overs and made some delicious sandwiches the next night for dinner. So while I did include the recipe for the shredded beef I used, if you have any left over roast this would be a great use for it.

Makes 10

You will need:

2-3 tablespoons canola oil
10 corn tortillas (I used white, but you can use yellow as well)
2 cups cooked shredded beef (recipe follows)
2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
shredded lettuce
guacamole
non-stick spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray.
Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, fry each tortilla one at a time until soft, about 30 seconds per side (you want them soft so that you can roll them). Add more oil if needed. Transfer to plate using a paper towel to separate each tortilla.
To assemble, spoon 2 tablespoons of meat mixture into tortilla and roll closed. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all are rolled.
Bake in oven for 15 -20 minutes or until ends start to brown. Remove and sprinkle cheese on top. Turn oven setting to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven.
Top with shredded lettuce and guacamole. Serve with salsa for dipping.

For Shredded Beef:

1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 (3.3 pound) beef roast
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups beef broth
2 cups water
1 onion quartered
3 garlic cloves

In a bowl mix together salt, pepper, chili powder, granulated garlic, cumin and oregano.
Rub mixture all over beef roast to completely coat.
In a large pan heat olive oil. Brown roast on all sides, about 5 minutes per side.
Place in slow cooker. Add onion and garlic. Pour in water and beef broth. Cover and cook for 8 hours.
Remove from slow cooker and shred.

As I said before, this made a lot of meat and I made some awesome sandwiches the next day, be sure to check back on Monday when I share the quick and easy recipe for that. Enjoy!

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Responses to "Shredded Beef Taquitos"

“
Yummy!! I love recreating my favourite restaurant dishes at home because then you can control what goes in it (getting rid of some unhealthy stuff) and you make sure you maximize your favourite components. I’d turn up the dial on guacamole and cheese, just like you did!!! Lovely presentation :)
”

- Marta

“
I love taquitos and have never attempted them at home. I think I will soon, thanks for sharing this recipe!
”

- Elizabeth F.

“
yum! just the meat itself sounds amazing! Time to bust out the crock pot!
”

- zoe

“
i love how you explained everything step by step, specially how you kept it simple and delicious, they are originally called, flautas and are also great with sour cream.
”

- Ponquereta

“
Fun! This is the sort of thing that we pick up in little Mexican fast food shacks around here in San Diego. Love them w/ guac & cheese. Have never tried to do them myself though!
”

- Lori @ RecipeGirl

“
These look so DAMN good – We are big anything Mexican in this house and what a great addition to rotation!!
”

- Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer

“
Any suggestions for those of us w/o a crockpot? I’m thinking that it’s similar to a brisket, which cooks at 350 for 3-4 hours. Think it’ll work here?
”

- Young Foodie Jedi

“
Thanks Marta! You can never have enough guacamole and cheese!
You’re welcome elizabeth!
Thanks Zoe! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks Ponquereta! Thanks for the tip on the original name for these and I bet they would be good with sour cream. Then again, just about everything is good with sour cream :)
Lori: I have family in San Diego and we love going to all of the little Mexican fast food shacks you have down there! On a recent trip we tried Tacos El Gordo in Chula Vista and loved love loved it! You are so luck to be so close to so many excellent Mexican places.
I hope you and your family enjoy them Cathy!
Young Foodie Jedi: I do think that that should work just fine. I did something similar with my pot roast recipe just because I was too lazy to get my crock pot out of the attic and it turned out perfect. Let me know how it goes!
”

- Deseree

“
another dish I haven’t made at home-YET. You are inspiring me to do so!
”

- oneshotbeyond

“
I did try the slow roasting. Started with a 2 pound chuck roast, your spice blend, 1 can of beef broth and a couple cups of water (liquid nearly covered the roast). 250 degrees for about 6 hours. More than enough time. Fell apart as I was pulling it out of the pot. I cooled the broth in the fridge, skimmed off the fat and froze the broth for later. (i’m thinking onion soup).

A nice tip: since the oven was on for 6 hours, I also whipped up a batch of Dara’s oven dried canned tomatoes which got pureed into the most intense tomato paste/spread you will ever taste. Really.
http://inpraiseofleftovers.com/2009/04/17/daras-oven-dried-tomatoes/
Extra bonus: my house smelled awesome.
”

- Young Foodie Jedi

“
I hope you enjoy them oneshotbeyond!
That sounds wonderful Young Foodie Jedi! I am glad it worked so well for you and I will definitely have to give those oven dried tomatoes a try. Thanks for the link!
”

- Deseree

“
Thank you for the Shredded Beef Technique [...truely the heart and soul of authentic taquitos.]

Are “Taquitos: The M-R-E of Choice(?)”

I’ve heard frequently that Taquitos fed the Conquisadoras in the field and on the march across much of the present day United States. –These boys saw about hallf of our country between 1640 and 1750.

Supposedlly, their taquito recipe was good for weeks without refriguraion.

In Los Angele, California, legend tells that “The Taquito Stand on Olvera Street” has been making “The Same Taquitos con Guacamole” in the same exact location since before the founding of El Pueblo de Los Angeles de la Cala (1781).

Olvera Street (and Plaza) is less than 200 yards long (original type vendor stalls.

The Taquito stand is the last stall on the North-East terminess of Olvara Street.

If you find yourself near Civic Center in Los Ageles, you are a five minute cab-ride away from these little gems. If you happen to be in The Santa Fe Union Station,
just walk across the street (Alameda), it’s the first Vendor on your left.
—–Feliz Gusto
”