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Crockpot Korean Inspired Tacos with Yum Yum Yummm Sauce. Shredded beef in a sweet and spicy Korean inspired sauce topped with slaw and the yummiest sauces. Inspired by the tacos served up on the streets of LA, but with my own twist. These tacos are made in the crockpot (along with instant pot and oven variations). They’re the best tacos to really switch up your weekly taco night.
With the Olympics coming up in February, I keep thinking back to our time spent in South Korea 4 years ago. One, it’s so crazy that it’s been 4 years since we all traveled across the world to watch Red compete. We’re so excited for this year’s Olympics in Bejing (but bummed we can’t be with Red and Hailey this time). My memories of Korea have me craving those Korean flavors we all enjoyed while there.
Surprisingly, the Korean taco is more of an LA thing, but the flavors are just so delicious. These tacos are inspired by those famous LA food truck tacos. I did a little bit of my own thing here and they turned out so good! Everyone really loved these.
The meat
I actually used Korean short ribs from Five Mary’s Farms, which were so awesome. You could also use regular short ribs (though I would just use boneless). A flank steak works in a pinch too.
The sauce is a mix of soy sauce (I use Tamari, which is just gluten-free soy sauce…I actually think it’s better), rice vinegar, and honey with lots of ginger and garlic. Brown sugar is traditional, but I wanted to use something healthier. The pear also sweetens the sauce slightly too.
Pour the sauce over the meat, then cook low and slow in the slow cooker. You can also use the instant pot or even the oven.
Just before serving, I like to put the shredded meat under the broiler to caramelize it and get some of it a little crispy. Delicious.
The yum yum yummm sauce
I stole this name from the creamy pink sauce often served at Japanese steakhouses alongside steaming plates of food. Everything I found online was a little different for the sauce, which is tomato-based and made with a little butter.
I wanted something creamy, but spicy, so I made my sauce with Gochujang, which is Korean chili paste. It’s been one of my favorite ingredients for years. I love to use the Mother-In-Laws brand, which doesn’t have any weird ingredients or a lot of added sugar.
It’s so delicious, so I thought it would be fun to just call it yum yum yummm sauce.
Serving
Do these tacos up with a quick homemade slaw. Then top with that yum yum yummm sauce. If you love sauces like we do, you can also make a simple sesame salsa verde with store-bought salsa verde and sesame seeds.
There’s a lot happening with these tacos. Lots of sauce, slaw, and, of course, that caramelized Korean beef. Definitely not your average taco, but so flavorful and delicious. These are the perfect tacos to switch things up any night of the week!
Looking for other Korean inspired recipes?? Here are my favorites:
Oven Fried Korean Popcorn Chicken
30 Minute Korean Beef and Peppers with Sesame Rice
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Korean Inspired Tacos with Yum Yum Yummm Sauce, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Korean Inspired Tacos with Yum Yum Yummm Sauce
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 919 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless short ribs or 2 pounds flank steak
- 3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Gochujang (Korean chile paste)
- 1 inch fresh ginger peeled
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 small pear, cored and quartered
- 8-10 corn or flour tortillas, warmed
- sesame salsa verde, for serving (see notes)
- avocado, sesame seeds, queso, for serving
Slaw
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 6 green onions, chopped
- 1-2 fresno peppers, seeded, if desired, and sliced
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
Yum Yum Yum Sauce
- 1/2 cup olive oil mayo
- 1-2 tablespoons Gochujang (Korean chile paste)
- 2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- juice from 1/2 a lime
Instructions
- 1. In a blender, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, Gochujang, ginger, garlic, and pear. Blend until mostly smooth, then pour the sauce into the bowl of your crockpot. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Add the meat, then cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. 2. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the meat from the sauce to a baking sheet and lightly shred. Add 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Broil for 2-5 minutes, until the meat caramelizes. Watch closely! Toss with additional cooking liquid, if desired.3. To make the slaw. In a bowl, mix the cabbage, cilantro, green onions, peppers, lime juice, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. 4. To make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in a bowl. 5. Stuff the meat, slaw, and avocado, into the warmed tortillas. Top with sauces, sesame seeds, and cheese.
Instant Pot
- 1. In a blender, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, Gochujang, ginger, garlic, and pear. Blend until mostly smooth, then pour the sauce into the bowl of your instant pot. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Add the meat, then seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. 2. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 2-5.
Oven
- 1. Preheat the oven to 325° F.2. In a blender, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, honey, Gochujang, ginger, garlic, and pear. Blend until mostly smooth, then pour the sauce into a large dutch oven. Stir in 1/2 cup water. Add the meat, cover and roast in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the short ribs are tender and falling off the bone.3. Follow the directions as directed above for steps 2-5.
Notes
Sesame Salsa Verde: combine 1 1/2 cups salsa verde, 1-2 tablespoons Gochujang, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds. Serve with the tacos.
This post was originally published on January 6, 2022
How did you brown your taco shells?
Hi Danielle,
I put them directly over a stove top flame. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks so good but I have pork tenderloin that I need to use up. What would change in the recipe so I could use that?
Hey Sue,
That should work well for you, you can follow the recipe as is! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Making it tonight, will report back ?
I hope you love it Sue!
This turned out better than expected! Everything from the sauce to the cabbage to the yum yum sauce xoxo
My husband said I outdid myself and he hoped it was easy to make. Spoiler: it was ?
Hi Sue,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it! xxT
Hi! If using the instant pot should I do a natural or manual release?
Hey Anin,
Either one works great! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Would Coconut Aminos substitute for the soy sauce? I can’t eat soy.
I can’t have soy either. I recommend No Soy brand soy sauce. It tastes really similar and I’ve had great results using it as a sub for real soy sauce.
Hope that helps! This recipe looks great.
Thanks for sharing Elia!
Hi Mary Lu,
Yes, that will work well for you. I hope this recipe turns out amazing, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi! Looks like a great recipe, can’t wait to try! If using flank steak for the recipe, do you slice it prior to cooking or after?
Thanks.
Hey Michelle,
You should be able to just shred the meat once it is done cooking. I hope this recipe turns out amazing for you, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can you share the temperature and length of cooking if doing the meat in the oven?
Hey Emmy,
I added the oven instructions for your convenience above:) Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hello! If one was using a dutch oven, what would be the timings in the oven? Thank u!
Hi there,
I would cook on low for 2-3 hours. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I am allergic to beef. What cut is pork could I substitute?
Hi Michelle,
I think a pork shoulder would work well for you. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Is it possible to substitute chicken breast tenders instead of the beef? For health reasons, his consumption of red meat is very, very low (once every couple of months). Just love your recipes.
Hey Wanda,
Yes, that would work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
What would the cooking instructions be for making this with chicken? Thanks!
Hi Allison,
I would still follow the recipe as is:) Please let me know if you give it a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Can this recipe be made in a dutch oven?
Hey Dana,
Sure, I would simmer on low for 2-3 hours. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Cheese is mentioned in last step of instructions, but is not on ingredient list. What kind of cheese? Thanks.
It lists Queso which is a Mexican cheese. Normally you will find it by cream cheese. It’s round and white and you just crumble it.
Hey Jenny,
I used queso like listed, but you could use any cheese you like! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I ant to make this soon. can you tell me how you get your tortillas’ edges like that? Are you warming on a griddle or what? thanks! I use your recipes all the time and love your books!
Her instagram story shows her just toasting them on the open fire stove top.
Hey there,
I put them directly over my stove top flame. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can’t wait to try this! I tried to follow your link to Thrive for the Gochujang and it doesn’t appear that they have it on stock, is this something you can get at a regular grocery store?
I got Mother inlaws brand at Whole Foods.
Hey Kelly,
I love Mother in Laws brand:)
Hey Melissa,
I use Mother in Laws Gochujang, your local grocery store will probably carry it. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Any specific kind of pear we should use?
Hey Tamara,
Nope, whatever you like will work:) You can even use an apple. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Gotta love anything with yum yum sauce! Looks so good!
http://www.kendallmehtablog.com
Thanks so much!
Can I use flat iron steak for these? Hope so because I have some in my freezer – love the crisping under the broiler idea!
Hey Diane,
Sure, I bet that would work well for you. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan