Are you wanting to try something new in your Slow Cooker? Look no further; this Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja is a unique but delicious meal to try!
Shredded beef is wonderful in the slow cooker! In addition to this recipe, also try Amish Pot Roast or Mexican Shredded Beef.
The moment I saw this meal, I knew I must try it in the slow cooker. Shredded beef recipes in the slow cooker are where I shine, LOL.
Why is it called Ropa Vieja?
If you have never heard of Ropa Vieja, it’s a Cuban national dish that means old clothes; I’m guessing because the meat looks like really old shredded clothes?
Not a great name for a recipe, I know! Let’s move past that strange name and see what delicious ingredients create this beautiful dish.
This recipe is not spicy, but still full of great flavors. The sauce has diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, cumin, oregano, garlic, bell pepper, onion and green olives.
I wasn’t sure if the green olives would overpower this dish, they did not at all. The olives added a bit more vinegar flavor which lends to the overall character of the sauce.
How to make:
Ingredients:
- Beef flank steak
- Beef broth
- Canned tomato paste
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Tumeric
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Bell peppers
- Spanish Olives
- Garlic cloves
Directions:
- Add the beef broth, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, turmeric, and apple cider vinegar to the slow cooker and stir. Add the flank steak and flip it around in that sauce.
- Add on top of the meat the onion, bell peppers, olives, and garlic cloves.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 9 hours or high for 5 hours.
What to serve with Ropa Vieja:
- Yellow rice; homemade or store-bought
- Green salad and dressing
- Cuban black beans
I was on the hunt for yellow rice to serve with this, since I was in no mood to make it from scratch. Let me tell you that Yellow Rice from Mahatma below is impressive. It tastes like chicken, but the flavor is from saffron and turmeric. I highly recommend trying this and get two bags because they are tiny.
Want pork instead of beef?
Try my Slow Cooker Cuban Pork recipe, it has a citrus-based sauce and is just as good as this Ropa Vieja.
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Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Cuban Beef)
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker Size: 4 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 3 lbs. beef flank steak
- 1 cup beef broth
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 small white onion diced
- 2 bell peppers (orange and green) diced
- 1 cup Spanish olives
- 3 whole garlic cloves peeled
Instructions:
- Add the beef broth, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, turmeric and apple cider vinegar to the slow cooker. Stir.
- Add the flank steak and flip it around in the sauce so it gets coated. Add the bell pepper, onion, olives and garlic cloves, mix those items together to combine on top of the meat.
- Cover and cook on low for 9 hours on LOW or on HIGH for 5 hours, without opening the lid during the cooking time. Shred the meat with 2 forks right in the slow cooker.
- Serve with yellow rice and enjoy!
I really don’t like olives of any kind. Would it affect the taste if the olives were omitted?
No, it will be fine without.
My all time favorite recipe for this dish! I’ve made it at least 5x and always is a crowd pleaser. Love the olives and taste profile.
My husband and I loved this recipe!!! We lived in Florida several times and had lots of wonderful Cuban food. This recipe is spot on. I used 2 1/2 pds of flank, used a salt subsitute for health reasons and ran out of cumin so I used Mrs. Dash’s Southwest Blend. Oh, I sliced the white onion instead of dicing it. After 9 hours, shredded the meat in the slow cooker and let sit for about 15 minutes. Great over brown rice. Will make this again. I encourage people to try this easy, delicious recipe!!!
How would it be to make sandwiches out of it?
You could try that, but I think it would be a bit messy.
Just made this tonight, with a few variations for family preferences and food issues (no onions, light on the garlic). Delicious! And my house smells so good! I just might survive the closing of my favorite Cuban restaurant.
Minus the rice is this recipe freezer friendly? All your recipes have been great.
Yes, this would be a good freezer meal.
Thank you so much for responding back to me. It’s amazing. I’m grateful to have a delicious meal that you can freeze especially now with this pandemic.
I lived in the Miami area for 25 years, and Ropa Vieja is my favorite Cuban dish. Made your recipe today, and it turned out as good as anything I have eaten in the restaurants. You nailed it!
Thanks, Tom. I’ve had many comments that this isn’t authentic from people who haven’t tried it. I think it’s DARN good!
can you substatute another cut of beef
Yes, really any roast will do fine.
This recipe was amazing I highly recommend the Flank steak as it is lean and so tender. . Thanks for the recipe !
Big hit. Paired it with a turmeric yellow cauliflower rice for a low carb diabetic friendly meal that everyone enjoyed. Will make again
Can you use pork roast instead of beef
I think that will work fine. You will definitely want to degrease the sauce before serving.
Can you use 1 1/2 pounds instead of 3? If so how long do I cook it for
Yes that should be fine, the timing I wouldn’t be able to say without testing. You can’t over cook this, it will only get more tender.
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I had never made this before because I was always hooked on Roast Pork Mojo. I followed the recipe closely with only a few minor variations. Bottom round was on sale so I used a 2 lb. roast. My slow cooker is a metal one so I cut the roast into 2 pieces and browned it for more flavor. I did the first part of the recipe exactly as directed and then cooked it on low for 8 hours. I opened it up and shredded the meat and added red peppers from a jar and then cooked it for one more hour on low. I made a big pot of yellow rice and served the ropa vieja on top of the yellow rice. It was a real hit with everyone, even my picky eater. Thanks for such a great recipe!
I will have to try roast pork mojo! Glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Can you substitute the steak with a roast?
yes, that will work fine!
Accidentally grabbed skirt steak instead of flank. Should still be fine, right? I’ve made this recipe quite a few times and I love it!
Yes, I think it will be fine, and who knows you may like it better!
We love this recipe!! I have a question though, have you ever made it in the oven? I have my Cuban family coming in 3 weeks and we need more than my slow-cooker can accommodate! I was wanting to do it in a roasting pan, obviously low heat, but have you ever experimented with oven cooking?
Haven,t made it yet but can,t wait to try it. Looks great!
My family calls it Ropa Vieja because the day before my mom would boil the beef to make soup stock then the meat would make Ropa Vieja the next day. We also put the cooked meat in a large baggie and carefully smash it to shred it.
One of my most requested dishes.