Crockpot Ropa Vieja Meal Prep is a delicious stew of beef and veggies that happens to also be gluten free and loaded with protein!
No matter what time of year it is, ropa vieja is a delicious dish made from shredded or pulled beef. Think of it like a stew with beef and vegetables in a richly spiced tomato base. The result is a hearty and satisfying meal prep that packs a fantastic protein punch. And though it is enjoyed across the Caribbean, ropa vieja is actually one of the national dishes of Cuba!
We love slow cooking because it really aligns with our values at MPOF. We believe that cooking shouldn’t detract from enjoying the rest of your life, but that we should never have to compromise flavor or variety for the sake of a convenient meal. This Ropa Vieja slow cooker meal prep is the best of both worlds: super simple and easy to throw together (hello, 15 minutes of prep), and absolutely delicious when it’s ready. Plus your home will smell amazing while the flavors develop throughout the day.
Often, slow cooker meals can turn out bland and flat, and that's more often than not because a step was skipped. What are we talking about? We're talking about starting the steak and veggies first in a hot skillet in order to develop flavor and color on the food. Once you do this, you'll never skip this step before when you're doing meal preps for a slow cooker. Just a little bit of extra time goes a long way once it hits the crockpot. So, once these main ingredients start to cook a bit, transfer to the slow cooker, along with all the seasonings, tomatoes, and chicken broth, etc. And then? Set it and forget it!
We love how well this keeps. It preps great and just needs an airtight container. It will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge. Just reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a saucepan until piping hot all the way through.
You can also without a doubt freeze this dish; we'd leave off the garnishes, as avocado's texture suffers when you freeze it. If you make rice to go along with it, you can freeze that, too, whether it's brown, white, or cauliflower rice.
This delicious Ropa Vieja slow cooker meal prep can be frozen to be used later and savored all year round. Enjoy by itself or serve the traditional way, alongside black beans, rice, or plantains (or atop cauliflower rice, which you know we love, to keep the whole shebang Whole30 compliant).
Despite the variations in Ropa Vieja recipes, tomatoes, and bell peppers can always be expected in the base. Did you know that bell peppers actually have more vitamin C per serving than oranges? Yup! Eating one whole red bell pepper can provide over 160% of our daily need of the crucial immune-supporting vitamin. Acidic additions such as capers, pimientos, and olives are also to be expected in this Cuban classic, and we decided to feature olives in ours. Olives are high in naturally occurring antioxidants, making them wonderful allies in the support of our cardiovascular system and protecting against cellular damage due to free radicals.
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That looks delish! ?
I definitely need to try this!
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it out.
Looks sooo good! ?