Cuban Ropa Vieja Recipe

This Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja is the only version I make! The beef is undeniably tender, the peppers don't turn to mush (huge win!), and the sauce is so deliciously flavorful (and not watered down, I might add). It's basically a mix of all the little tricks I've picked up from years of making roasts that my family actually gets excited to eat.

📝 Ingredients

• 3-4 lb chuck roast (well marbled)
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive or avocado oil
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (or substitute beef broth)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce (regular )
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 bell peppers (thinly sliced (any color))
• 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley (minced)
• For serving: White rice and Cuban black beans

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Coat both sides of the roast in oil, then season with the salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a large skillet over high heat (I like to use cast iron, but a non-stick skillet will also work well). Once the skillet is hot, sear each side of the roast for 4-5 minutes, allowing a golden brown crust to form. Place the roast in a slow cooker.
2. 2While the roast is searing, combine the tomato sauce, wine, soy sauce, and tomato paste in a liquid measuring cup or bowl. Once the roast is removed, pour the mixture into the hot pan. Simmer for 15-30 seconds, stirring continually to scrape up the brown bits on the bottom and help the tomato paste incorporate. Then pour this mixture into the slow cooker over the meat.
3. 3Add the garlic, vinegar, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes to the slow cooker. Swirl everything together a bit to help it combine.
4. 4Cook it on low for a total of 8-10 hours or high for 4-4.5 hours. When you have about 1 hour of cooking time left, add the onions and bell peppers to the crockpot, stirring to help coat them in the sauce. Then allow it to finish the last hour of cooking. The meat should fall apart easily when prodded with tongs or forks.
5. 5Once tender, remove the meat from the crock pot and use two forks to shred it into medium chunks. Discard the fat. Stir the shredded meat and minced parsley back into the juices and serve warm with rice and beans.