Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam feature spice rubbed beef braised in Mexican lager with citrus. The shredded beef is piled high with caramelized bacon and sharp cheddar on warm corn tortillas crisped to perfection. These tacos LOVE to be dunked in the simple yet flavorful homemade chipotle honey sauce.
Whenever I’m cooking for a large group of people, I love making recipes that only require a few minutes of prep work then letting my oven do the rest of the work. These crispy beer braised beef tacos take just 15 minutes to prepare before letting them braise in the oven for 3 hours. While the beef is braising, that gives me time to make the homemade chipotle honey sauce and bacon jam. That’s right – BACON JAM!
The combination of the lager and citrus braised beef, sweet and smoky chipotle honey sauce and caramelized bacon jam makes for the perfect taco. I love crisping up the tortillas in the oven to keep all the toppings secure, but I’ve got some recommendations in the notes for other options of heating the corn tortillas.
Ingredients for Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam
Braising is one of my favorite ways to achieve flavor when I cook because the low and slow method allows protein like beef chuck to tenderize perfectly. Plus, your kitchen will smell AMAZING and you’ll barely have to do any work! The spice blend for the braised beef is simple but packs a punch in flavor. The brown sugar caramelizes when you sear the beef and helps balance the bitterness of the citrus juices.
Braised Beef:
- ancho chili powder
- brown sugar
- salt
- black pepper
- cumin
- dried oregano – Mexican oregano preferred.
- beef chuck
- neutral oil
- Mexican lager – Modelo, Corona or Pacifico are my preferred lagers for this recipe.
- orange zest and juice
- lime zest and juice
- white onion
- orange slices
- lime slices
- jalapeno – optional.
- corn tortillas
- sharp cheddar cheese
- fresh cilantro – optional garnish.
Chipotle Honey Sauce:
This chipotle honey sauce could not be easier to make and your guests will appreciate the extra effort to have a homemade sauce for the tacos. A food processor or blender will do all the work for you. The sweet and smoky flavors of the sauce pair perfectly with the crispy tacos.
- chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- honey
- soy sauce
- apple cider vinegar
- garlic powder
- lime juice
Bacon Jam:
The bacon jam is optional if you don’t have the time, but I highly recommend putting in the extra 15 minutes of work. It is SO worth it!
- bacon
- white onion
- ancho chili powder
- brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar
Here’s what else you’ll need:
- large Dutch oven with lid or large oven proof pot with lid
- small mixing bowl
- cutting board and knife
- juicer – optional.
- large skillet
- stirring spoon
- slotted spoon
- paper towel lined plate
- food processor
- tongs
- large rimmed baking sheet(s)
- measuring cups and spoons
How to Make Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam
Your oven will be your best friend when making the beer braised beef. The seared beef will braise at low heat for a few hours until it’s so tender that you can use a fork to tear it apart. You can make the chipotle honey sauce and bacon jam while the beef is braising.
Braised Beef:
- Make the spice rub then coat the beef slices in the mixture.
- Sear all sides of beef until nicely browned.
- Pour the beer and citrus juices into the pot then top with citrus zest, onion, jalapeno and citrus slices.
- Braise the beef until tender and easy to shred. Remove the citrus slices then shred the beef.
- Assemble the tacos. Heat the corn tortillas then add the toppings (cheese, shredded beef, bacon jam, more cheese). Fold tortillas in half then bake again until crispy.
Chipotle Honey Sauce:
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Bacon Jam:
- Cook bacon until almost crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon.
- Cook onion in bacon fat then add remaining ingredients. Simmer until mixture has thickened.
More Mexican Inspired Recipes
- Mexican Street Style Roasted Carrots
- Modelo and Citrus Marinated Steak with Chimichurri
- Chicken Chili Pot Pie with Cornbread Biscuits
- Margarita Bars
View all Mexican inspired recipes here
Please let me know how your Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam turn out in the comments below! I can’t wait to hear from you.
Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam
Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey and Bacon Jam feature spice rubbed beef braised in Mexican lager with citrus. The shredded beef is piled high with caramelized bacon and sharp cheddar on warm corn tortillas crisped to perfection. These tacos LOVE to be dunked in the simple yet flavorful homemade chipotle honey sauce.
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a small bowl, combine the spices (salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder and brown sugar). Rub the spice mixture over all surfaces of the beef pieces.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef on all sides, about 2 minutes per side until nicely browned. Lower heat to medium.
Pour the beer, orange and lime juice over the beef to deglaze the bottom of the pot. Top evenly with orange and lime zest, onion slices, jalapeno slices, orange and lime slices.
Cover the Dutch oven with a lid. Place Dutch oven in the oven for 3 Hours until the beef is tender and falls apart easily. Remove the orange and lime peels with tongs (don't worry if you don't get them all) then shred the beef with 2 forks.
Taco assembly: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place corn tortillas on 2 baking sheets (or however many you need to fit them all). Place tortillas in the oven for 3 minutes just to heat them up. Remove from the oven, then add the toppings. Place a handful of cheese on 1/2 of the tortilla then top with a scoop of shredded beef and bacon jam. Finish with 1 more layer of cheese then fold the tortillas in half (if your tortillas won't stay shut, place a baking sheet over top while baking). Bake the tacos for 8 minutes or when golden and crisp. Serve with chipotle honey sauce and fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
While the beef is braising, make the chipotle honey sauce and bacon jam: Add all chipotle honey sauce ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. That's it!
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned but not quite crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
Add the onion to the skillet and cook in the bacon fat until translucent and soft, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Transfer the bacon back to the skillet then add the chili powder, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Stir until well combined then let simmer over medium heat for 15 Minutes or when the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and let cool in a bowl while the beef is braising.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 300°F. In a small bowl, combine the spices (salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder and brown sugar). Rub the spice mixture over all surfaces of the beef pieces.
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the beef on all sides, about 2 minutes per side until nicely browned. Lower heat to medium.
Pour the beer, orange and lime juice over the beef to deglaze the bottom of the pot. Top evenly with orange and lime zest, onion slices, jalapeno slices, orange and lime slices.
Cover the Dutch oven with a lid. Place Dutch oven in the oven for 3 Hours until the beef is tender and falls apart easily. Remove the orange and lime peels with tongs (don't worry if you don't get them all) then shred the beef with 2 forks.
Taco assembly: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place corn tortillas on 2 baking sheets (or however many you need to fit them all). Place tortillas in the oven for 3 minutes just to heat them up. Remove from the oven, then add the toppings. Place a handful of cheese on 1/2 of the tortilla then top with a scoop of shredded beef and bacon jam. Finish with 1 more layer of cheese then fold the tortillas in half (if your tortillas won't stay shut, place a baking sheet over top while baking). Bake the tacos for 8 minutes or when golden and crisp. Serve with chipotle honey sauce and fresh cilantro. Enjoy!
While the beef is braising, make the chipotle honey sauce and bacon jam: Add all chipotle honey sauce ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. That's it!
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned but not quite crisp. Remove using a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Set aside.
Add the onion to the skillet and cook in the bacon fat until translucent and soft, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Transfer the bacon back to the skillet then add the chili powder, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Stir until well combined then let simmer over medium heat for 15 Minutes or when the mixture thickens to a jam-like consistency. Remove from the heat and let cool in a bowl while the beef is braising.
Notes
CORN TORTILLA WARMING TECHNIQUES: If you don’t want to make your corn tortillas crispy, here are a few more options for cooking/warming:
- Hot Skillet: heat a DRY cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 30-60 seconds per side until slightly browned and crisped.
- Oven: preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap the tortillas in aluminum foil (don’t stack more than 6) and place in the oven for 8 minutes.
- Microwave: stack the tortillas on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1 minute.
RECOMMENDATIONS: You can also make this recipe with pork shoulder, pork butt or short ribs.
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