If you love Mediterranean bowls or recreating CAVA at home, you’re going to love this Mediterranean shredded beef. It’s seasoned with warm spices and cooked until incredibly tender, so it shreds effortlessly. This flavorful beef is perfect for meal prep—add it to gyros, satisfying bowls, or salads for a quick and satisfying meal. Easy, versatile and so so good!
Why You’ll Love This Mediterranean Shredded Beef
The Flavor: This Mediterranean Shredded Beef is full of the warm, familiar flavors you love from Mediterranean cuisine, with just a subtle hint of spice. It’s rich, comforting, and incredibly versatile—making it the perfect protein to prep once and enjoy throughout the week.
It’s Juicy: While some beef can be dry, this recipe is so tender, juicy and shreds like a dream. Oh and did I mention how EASY it is to make. Try it, to see for yourself.
Versatile: This shredded beef is incredibly versatile! Use it in gyros, Cava-inspired bowls or salads. It works perfectly with any meal, making weeknight dinners a breeze.
Ingredients for Mediterranean Braised Beef
- Beef: beef shoulder or chuck roast, chopped into large chunks
- Yellow Onion: thinly sliced.
- Tomato: Roma tomato, quartered
- Garlic: Minced. The more the better.
- Mediterranean seasoning blend: the star of the show — I love Dash Mediterranean Seasoning it’s salt-free and perfect for all your Mediterranean cooking needs.
- Oil: Neutral oil to help sear the beef.
- Tomato Paste: this creates depth of flavor and is the base of the sauce.
- Harissa paste: optional, but this brings a little kick while also including some Mediterranean flavor.
- Vinegar: this helps balance and bring out the flavor in the beef.
- Water: you can also use beef broth or veggie broth.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, Cumin, Chili Powder, Smoked paprika, Bay leaf and Salt & black pepper
How to cook this shredded beef?
I highly recommend making it in the instant pot. You can get this delicious beef in half the time. If you don’t have an instant pot, you can braise in the oven or put in the slow cooker if you have the time *See notes below for how to achieve it*
How to serve this Mediterranean Shredded Beef?
the possibilities endless. Here are some ways you can serve this shredded beef:
- CAVA bowls
- Gyros
- salads
- grilled cheese
- Greek-inspired nachos
So many ways to switch things up. Perfect way to get more for less!
How to store Mediterranean Shredded Beef?
When storing, reserve 1/3 cup of the sauce to mix with the beef. Store in an airtight container. This will keep the beef extra moist and flavorful and give you some gravy when reheating.
More Easy Recipes To Try
- The Best Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Delicious Creamy Cajun Pasta Recipe
- Easy Cajun Red Beans and Rice
- Easy 30-Minute Shrimp And Rice Bowls
If you try my Easy Mediterranean Shredded Beef, please be sure to leave a comment, and or tag me on Instagram @cookwithci. I would love to see your recreations and hear your thoughts.
Mediterranean Braised Beef
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 4 lbs Chuck roast
- 1 yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1-2 Roma tomato quartered
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp oil use more if needed
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp Mediterranean seasoning blend
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp harissa paste
Instructions
- Cut the beef into pieces and liberally season all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Set your Instant Pot to the sauté setting and heat a drizzle of oil. Sear the beef on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove the beef and place it on a plate or cutting board.
- In the same pot, add sliced onions and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Then, add tomatoes and minced garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot to pick up the browned bits, thats flavor.
- Add in onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika Mediterranean seasoning blend and allow the seasonings to blend for about 1 minute before adding in the tomato paste and harissa paste. Allow that to caramelize for 2 minutes then carefully pour in the water or broth. Mix to combine.
- Return the beef and juices to the pot. Add in salt and pepper to taste. (If you're using beef broth you can skip this step). Add a cap of vinegar and mix until combined.
- Using the pressure cook setting cook on high for 45 minutes. After cooking, allow the pressure to naturally release for 20 minutes before manually releasing the remaining pressure. Remove the beef from the pot and shred it.
- Optional – Turn the Instant Pot back to the sauté setting and bring the sauce to a boil. Let it simmer for 25 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Be sure to skim off any fat that rises to the top. Once thickened, pour some of the sauce over the shredded beef.
- Enjoy with rice, Cava bowls, gyros, or salads!
Notes
Oven instructions
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Preheat oven to 300 degrees F
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In a large dutch pot over medium-high heat, sear beef on all sides, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the beef from the pot. Then add in more oil, if needed and sautè onions for 3 minutes until fragrant then add in garlic and sautè for another minute.
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Add the beef back to the pot. Then pour in the blended sauce and water or beef broth. Bring to a simmer, cover and transfer to the oven. Cook in the oven for 3 hours or until the beef easily shreds.
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Transfer the beef to a bowl, then shred. Bring the beef broth to a boil. Let it simmer for 25 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Be sure to skim off any fat that rises to the top. Once thickened, pour some of the sauce over the shredded beef.
Did you make it?
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