Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey feature spice rubbed beef braised in Mexican lager with citrus. The shredded beef is piled high with 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.

The combination of the lager and citrus braised beef with sweet and smoky chipotle honey sauce makes for the perfect taco. I love crisping up the tortillas in the oven to keep all the toppings secure.

Ingredients for Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey

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.
• caramelized onion jam – 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

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
• food processor
• tongs
• large rimmed baking sheet(s)
• measuring cups and spoons

How to Make Crispy Beer Braised Beef Tacos with Chipotle Honey

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 while the beef is braising.

Braised Beef:

1. Make the spice rub then coat the beef slices in the mixture.
2. Sear all sides of beef until nicely browned.
3. Pour the beer and citrus juices into the pot then top with citrus zest, onion, jalapeno and citrus slices.
4. Braise the beef until tender and easy to shred. Remove the citrus slices then shred the beef.
5. 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:

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

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 turn out in the comments below! I can’t wait to hear from you.

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