Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Tacos ~ a super easy method for cooking authentic, fork tender Mexican style brisket for an easy weeknight meal.

This recipe comes from the Muy Bueno Cookbook, the project of a mother and 2 daughters who lovingly explore and share three generations of Mexican and Mexican American food heritage. A group of bloggers have been sent advance copies of the book and we’ll be cooking from it for the three weeks before publication. The book is gorgeous, inspiring, and full of so many recipes I want to try that my head is spinning.
Maybe I cheated a little in that I chose one of the simplest recipes from the book to share with you today. I mean, really, beef brisket + a bottle of beer + crock pot, along with some fresh corn tortillas is about the gist of it. But there’s something so approachable, so understandable, and so mouthwatering about that shredded meat inside those warm corn tortillas. And for me this recipe demystifies the art of a great taco. It’s all about perfectly cooked meat, and a selection of well chosen toppings.
This is a great weekday dinner, the toppings can be prepped the night before, and the meat goes in the crock pot as you step out the door. This recipe will be my slow cooker’s maiden voyage this season, it feels good.
It takes two seconds to shred the meat and heat the tortillas. Set out the toppings buffet style and you have a winner.
The meat is really flavorful after the long slow cooking in beer, and the liquid smoke adds a nice touch, But I have to say, these tacos really came alive after we loaded them up with the toppings. Especially the Queso Fresco and the Crema Mexicana, which I’d never used before. The cheese is crumbly, salty, and melts beautifully. The crema, or sour cream, gives a wonderful creamy moistness to the meat and tacos.
I made Cherry Tomato Salsa to go with these tacos, but I’ve got lots of salsa recipes to choose from!
For a real feast, serve your brisket on your own easy Homemade Tortillas!
Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Tacos
Ingredients
Tacos
- 4 lbs beef brisket, fat trimmed
- 2 ounces liquid smoke, per pound of meat
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 ounces beer
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 24 corn tortillas
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheese, I used Queso Fresco
- 1/2 cup Crema Mexicana, or sour cream
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- 2 large white onions, chopped
- 2 avocados, peeled and diced or sliced
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Put the brisket, bay leaves, liquid smoke and beer in a slow cooker.ย Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
- Remove the brisket and shred the meat.ย Add the salt and pepper to taste.
- Warm the corn tortillas.
- Place shredded brisket in tortillas and add your favorite toppings.
I love to use my crock pot once the weather gets chilly. These look delicious. I would also be thrilled to win a copy of the cookbook. Thanks for the opportunity.
Looks amazing!
This looks fantastic and I’m all about the salsa. Anything I can put in my slow cooker is a happy thing.
This is magazine perfect. I’ve been seeing posts from this cookbook, and I’m most definitely interested– because I’m half Mexican. The simplicity of these tacos is what’s perfect. LOVE brisket, and never thought to use that for tacos. Perfect for Game Day! All I need is some guacamole and cold Cervezas and I’m good. Beautiful colors and food styling, too.
Are those your homemade tortillas in the top shots?
I’ve never made brisket so the slow cooker method sounds blissfully easy.
Yes, they are, they are so easy I’m making them all the time!
Sounds and looks amazing, thanks!
Mouthwatering! This book is right up my alley!
karenreichmann@hotmail.com
Those look amazing!
I love how foods from other countries fit right into our own comfort foods! What would we do without tacos, enchiladas, tamales……YUM!
Great looking! I am going to make your gorgeous salsa as well! That is the way a “real” taco is….simple ingredients ~ maximum flavor! as some lime juice and “Ole” Love it!