Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

I found this yummy recipe here. We had these on Christmas Day for dinner for tacos, and loved them.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds beef (boneless chuck roast)
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 cup beef stock
• 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced (optional--we couldn't find this, and it was tasty without too!)
• 1/2 large sweet onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Flour tortillas
• Favorite taco toppings (guacamole, salsa, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, rice, beans, cilantro, lime juice, lettuce, tomato....mmm!)

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, combine the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.

Rub the spice mix into the beef, covering each side evenly. Once the oil is hot (it will shimmer a bit in the skillet), place the beef in the skillet and sear on each side.

Remove the beef from the skillet and place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Leave the pan on the heat, and add in the beef stock to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomato paste and minced chipotle and whisk into the pan sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic on top of the seared beef in the slow cooker. Pour the pan sauce down over the onions, garlic, and beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. (You can also strain out the onions if you like and mix them into the meat)

Serve the beef in the flour tortillas, topped with your favorite taco toppings, and enjoy!