My Favorite Slow Cooked Mexican Short Rib Tacos & Spicy Margarita Recipe – Cooking Around the World
Alright guys, as you know I’ve been eating and drinking around the world in quarantine with my Cooking Around the World blog series I started last week. I asked y’all where we should ‘travel’ to next and there was a resounding response and love for Mexico, and a great Taco Tuesday recipe – especially with Cinco De Mayo coming up right around the corner! So here is my all-time favorite Mexican dinner, and all the steps to make it.
Christina’s Slow Cooked Barbacoa Braised Short Rib Tacos with A Spicy Habanero Margarita Recipe
I made these tender, slow cooked short rib tacos this week and they were TO DIE FOR. Juicy, flavorful, and the perfect amount of spicy. Tender, braised beef falling off the bone is the star of these Mexican short rib tacos but the toppings MAKE the taco, as well, so don’t skimp!
The best part is this recipe leaves plenty of leftovers for the next day, and the day after that (if you’re cooking for 2 people)- Kenny and I made short rib quesadillas for lunch both days after making this – and they were SO good.
Barbacoa translates in Spanish to ‘barbecue’ and is typically meat that is slow-cooked over an open fire or, more traditionally in ancient Mexico, in a hole dug in the ground covered with agave leaves. Barbacoa meat is known for its strong flavor, and is often accompanied with onions and cilantro in street tacos in Mexico.
And while Mexican barbacoa is delicious on any meat, the tender, melt-in-your-mouth short rib is what makes these tacos next-level.
I love the food scene in Mexico today – it’s like simple street food meets contemporary cuisine, all with a nod to Mexico’s rich culture and history. And these tacos are no exception. They’re an elevated take on a streetside classic, and will have you going down in Taco Tuesday hall of fame with your family. I swear my fiance Kenny definitely loves me a little more just because of this taco recipe.
What you need for slow cooked short rib tacos:
Beef Short Ribs (I made 4, it was enough for 3 people, or 2 people with leftovers, if you add more short ribs, add a little more of the onion/spice/chipotle mix)
Beef broth or stock
1 medium white onion
1/2 red onion
Cumin
A slow cooker (OPTIONAL.. you can make these slow cooked all day in the oven too!)
What you need for short rib taco toppings
Goat cheese
Cilantro
Avocado
Pickled red onions (I’ll explain how to pickle your own in <1 hour below – so easy!)
Sour cream (optional, I usually leave out and like to goat cheese creaminess to counteract the spice, instead, but do you!)
What you need for purple crunchy cabbage salad (an optional side, but super good and tastes good in the tacos as well!)
Purple cabbage
Apple cider vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
An elevated take on a Mexican street food classic. Tender, braised beef falling off the bone is the star of these Mexican short rib tacos, but the deliciously fresh toppings and balanced flavors are what make this recipe one you'll want to make every Taco Tuesday. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Trim as much visible fat as possible from each rib (optional but helps lessen the fat content, so I always do). Brown the ribs slightly on both sides (2 minutes each side). Transfer the browned ribs to a slow cooker or dutch oven for oven cooking. In a large bowl, combine the chipotles, adobo sauce, onion, garlic, barbecue sauce (I love this one), lime juice, vinegar, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and broth together. Whisk well and pour over the ribs in the dutch oven or slow cooker. Cover and cook for 5 hours on high or 10 hours on low, until the meat is falling off the bone. Allow the ribs to cool slightly in the sauce. If cooking in the oven, cook at 325°F for about 4 hours or until the meat is falling off the bone. Remove the ribs from the sauce. Remove any excess fat from the ribs; discard the bones and shred the rib meat. Using a metal spoon, skim any excess fat from the surface of the sauce in the slow cooker and throw away. Mix the sauce into the meat and season with salt to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon light tasting olive oil or vegetable oil on a pan on high heat. Place 2 tortillas at a time for about 2 mins per side, or until golden and to your level of crispiness you like, folding the tortillas into taco shells as they cook. Spoon the meat and sauce into prepared corn tortillas and serve with chopped fresh cilantro, avocado slices, pickled red onions and goat cheese. The more of the adobo sauce you put in, the spicier the tacos will be, I like to do the whole can's sauce but only 4 peppers - but I like them a bit spicy! If you're making more short ribs (this recipe is for 4 short ribs), add more of the adobe peppers and a little more cumin and stock. To make pickled red onions, you'll need: Place thinly sliced red onions in a mason jar. In a measuring cup or bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar, and warm water. Stir to dissolve the sugar and salt. Pour this pickling mixture over your sliced onions, making sure they are immersed, and let them set for an hour at room temp. After an hour, cover and store in the fridge for up to three weeks. As a member of affiliate programs, I earn a small commission off of purchases from my links that help me continue to run this blog. A delicious side dish for short rib tacos, or any Taco Tuesday meal. 1. Combine vinegar, oil, garlic, a large pinch of salt in a salad bowl. Beat with a fork until combined into a dressing. 2. Add the cabbage and any vegetables, sprinkle lightly with more salt and pepper, and toss and serve immediately. I like using a mandolin (like this one) to finely slice radishes, carrots, and other veggies You can do this same salad with any color cabbage, and add other veggies like celery, red onion, etc. Add feta crumbles to the salad, and avocado for a yummy touch. As a member of affiliate programs, I earn a small commission off of purchases from my links that help me continue to run this blog. Sweet and spicy, this fresh-squeezed refreshing favorite is my go-to cocktail for happy hours, Taco Tuesdays, pool days, or anytime I want to spice up my night. This recipe makes 2 margaritas. If you have time - infuse the tequila in a mason jar or pitcher with a sliced jalapeño, with seeds, or 1/2 sliced habanero, with seeds. Set aside at room temp for 30 minutes (or longer, the longer you let the peppers infuse, the spicier it will be). You can also skip this step. Make the simple syrup. In a small saucepan, combine equal parts of sugar and boiling water, with 1 chopped habanero. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. Make the margaritas by mixing together the tequila, habanero syrup, cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker – I have this cute gold one) with some ice. Shake shake shake. Taste it to check. If you want it spicier, add a little more peppers or a little more of the simple syrup and let it it sit a little longer. If you want it sweeter, add some agave. Pour into chili salt dipped glasses filled with ice and add lime slices and peppers for garnish. My tequila of choice is usually Casamigos but my all-time favorite tequila is Clase Azul You have the option to infuse the tequila with habanero or jalapeno peppers beforehand for a little extra kick! Do this by pouring the tequila in a mason jar along with 1 chopped jalapeno pepper (and seeds) or 1 chopped habaneros (and seeds). You can also add a splash of club soda if you like that in your margs. Add in pineapple juice or muddled mangos for a delicious twist on this recipe to make pineapple spicy margaritas or mango habanero margaritas! As a member of affiliate programs, I earn a small commission off of purchases from my links that help me continue to run this blog.
Slow Cooked Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
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Crunchy Purple Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
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The Best Spicy Margarita Recipe Ever - Habanero Margaritas
Ingredients
Instructions
To make the Habanero Simple Syrup
Directions:
To make the chili salt for the margarita rimsTo make the margaritas
Notes
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Enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments!
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Sharib Nichol
This recipe was so yum! Thank you! Will definitely be making it again
Christina Vidal
Thank you! So glad you liked it!
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Esther
Slow Cooked Barbacoa Short Rib Tacos; I can’t wait to eat this tomorrow! Sounds outstanding 🤤 the recipe says 3 tsp of salt and cumin; 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon. Just verifying the amount in case it was a typo. Thanks so much for so sharing! 😁
Christina Vidal
Haha! Thank you – Not a typo but I will change it to 1 TBSP, thank you! Hope you love them!
Esther
They were incredible! Thank you so much! I spaced out on making the red cabbage ahead of time so I just did a quick pickle with red cabbage, red onion, cilantro, lime juice and salt. My husband was impressed and said it was even better than the food trucks… Or maybe he’s just trying to butter me up 🤣
Christina Vidal
Yay!!! That’s so awesome to hear!
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