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, Carne Asada 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.
Recipe 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
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – 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.
Step Two – Add on top of the meat the onion, bell peppers, olives, and garlic cloves.
Step Three – 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:
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!
How to Video:
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Ashley says
My Cuban husband misses Ropa so much from growing up in Florida. I’ve tried other recipes in the past and they were lack luster. He said the olives were very unique as he’s never seen them in the dish before but that it was really good and pretty spot on for the flavor profile. Our 7 year old also really liked it. I have a feeling this will be cooked many times in our house.
Philip Eisenwasser says
So I made it for a potluck at my job and it was a hit. I kept getting compliments. The only difference is I added 1 tsp of Adobo and 1 tsp of Sazon and I added 2 Bay leaves, it was also cooking for 10 hours and then at work it was on the warm setting from 8:30 A.M. to about 2 P.M. dunno if that in itself intensified the flavor but it was all gone
JOHN RODRIGUEZ says
I agree, for my taste I added 2 tsp each of adobo, cumin, and oregano. Very tasty, and my mom used to makes Ropa Vieja for my dad all the time. She is from PR and he was Cuban.
Mia says
I’ve made this recipe before and it is just delicious. My family begs me to make it for them often.
Some questions I had as I am preparing to make it this weekend!
Would you recommend any other cut than flank beef steak? Do you use the olives with pimento?
Sarah Olson says
A chuck roast would work great. And yes, the olives with pimento are the correct ones.
Philip Eisenwasser says
I’ve made this twice it was liked both times but ide like to make it a little more Spanish how much Sazon and/or Adobe should I add
Sarah Olson says
I have not tested, you could add a little at the beginning, then add more later if needed.
John says
Rich deep flavor
Ashley says
It was amazing!! I skipped on the olives bc hubby doesn’t like them but it was REALLY GOOD!!
Orlando says
The olives add the tart flavor that makes this dish…next time try it with sliced green olives instead of while ones and see how he likes it
Jack says
Yum
Ashley says
What is the serving size you mention for it to serve 8?? I have to make the dish for a 10th grade Spanish class of 30 kids but all they need is a “taste” in a small bowl with rice, so not sure how to increase the recipe.
Thank you!
Sarah Olson says
I do not have measurements. I apologize. I would add a little more meat or double it my self.
Amanda says
How much more time would need to be added if steak is frozen?
Sarah Olson says
Some studies suggest that cooking meat from frozen isn’t safe, I’m unsure I apologize.
Katie says
Hi! Love this! How long should it cook for 1.5 pounds of meat?
Pam says
My daughter uses this recipe, with a few minor changes. We are a Mexican/American family that enjoys spicy food, so we add a little more heat ( Jalapenos) to this recipe. We also use chuck roast as it is more cost effective and does not hurt the final outcome. So yummy! Thank you for sharing
Orlando says
So, not really ropa vieja at all…
Christina says
Actually…many recipes say chuck is awesome sub and a little heat doesn’t make it non ropa vieja
Cynthia says
I followed the recipe exactly and it was phenomenal. My family and dinner guests loved it and asked for more. My family isn’t a huge fan of olives, but I still cooked it with them and scooped them out prior to serving. Thank you for sharing!