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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.
I make this recipe all the time, we love it! I rarely have time to make anything that takes a slow cook, so instead of short ribs, I use the shaved steak found at Trader Joe’s, mixed with the short rib marinade ingredients in the recipe, and broil until caramelized. The whole dinner is ready in 1/2 hour. Great flavors, and no leftovers!!!
Hey Sus,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit!⛄️ xT
This was another great HBH recipe!!! We thought something tasted off with the yum yum sauce (might’ve been the Trader Joe’s brand gochujang paste) so we used store bought.
Hey Jazzie,
Wonderful!!🎄 I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for making it and sharing your review! xx
This recipe is Fantastic!! This will be my third time making it. Do you think that I should double all of the sauce ingredients when making 6 pounds of short-ribs for a crowd of teenage boys? Or maybe just increase them by 50% for the slow cooker?
Hey Lisa,
Happy Friday!!🌻 I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it and sharing your review:) I would double everything if you are doubling the meat, just be sure your pot is large enough to handle it all. xT
Would love to try this recipe. How do you char your tortillas like in the pictures?
Hey Briana,
I put my tortillas directly over a stove top flame! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Darn. I have an electric stovetop. Thanks for the reply and will do. <3
I do mine on my electric burner
Was excited to try this recipe in the crockpot. But felt it lacked any actual Korean flavors. Definitely may make again with some adjustments.
Hi Morgan,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xT
I made this recipe for the second time last week and it is still a favorite! I love all the flavors in this! I made a tasty, easy korean cucumber salad for a side and we had the perfect meal. Can’t wait to make this again!
Hey Emily,
I am so glad to hear that this recipe was tasty for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xxT
This is family favorite! Cooked it at least 3 times and it was delicious everytime. Looking forward to having it tonight!
Hey Shawna,
Happy Friday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! 👻
Another great recipe! I used flap meat and marinated and grilled instead of short rib in crockpot. Pineapple instead of pear in marinade. Made both sauces and slaw. Cilantro on side. Great flavors.
My son said “Keep making the Half-Baked Harvest recipes. She really throws down.” LOL
Hi Deborah,
Perfect! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was a hit! xxT
I love your other stuff but this one was off. I followed the directions exactly for the instant pot preparation.
My husband is the least picky eater I know amd hates food waste, but after 1 bite he picked up the phone to order take out.
Hi Sheila,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xTieghan
I frequently cook and bake from HBH but this was not a favorite. The flavors just weren’t hitting it for me.
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed! xT
These are super tasty! I used bone in short ribs in the Instapot (that’s all they had) and cooked it for 45 min. So yummy.
Hi Lauren,
Amazing!! So glad to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks so much for trying it out! xTieghan
Very good recipe! Will make again!
Hey Bri,
Amazing! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I am so glad it was a winner! xx
I made these a few weeks ago and my whole family loved them! Do you think it’s possible to make these with chicken instead of beef? If so, would I need to change anything? Thank you for all of your delicious recipes! I am a fan of everything I’ve tried so far.
Hey Rebecca,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Sure, chicken would be great, you can follow the recipe as is. Have the best weekend! xxT
Love love love!!! Made for my family of 9 and everyone LOVED! Making again this week.
Hey Caroline,
Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it was a winner! xTieghan
A great recipe if your looking for something different for a change! Awesome flavors as always, meat shredded nice, will definitely make again!
Hey Jessie,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This looks delicious…but any suggestions for gluten free diets? I’m having a hard time finding a GF version of gochujang paste. I’ve heard of GF gochujang sauce, could that work instead?
Hey Kelly,
Sure, if you can find a gluten free brand I’m sure that would work well for you! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I subbed the main recipe gochujang paste with miso but was able to find GF gochujang at Trader Joe’s for the yum yum sauce. It was all delicious, and I’ll make it with the real thing next time. My family devoured it. Thanks!!!
Hey Kelly,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xxT