Slow Cooker Squirrel Tacos

Have these tasty squirrel tacos ready to eat when you get home from work or hunting

By author of Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes Print Recipe
prep time
cook time
6-9
serves
Easy
difficulty

While tacos might not be the first meal you think of when it comes to squirrels, they are the perfect game animal for these slow cooker tacos. We use our Weston Realtree Slow Cooker to make even large fox squirrels fall-off-the-bone tender. Add in the Tex-Mex flavors and you have the perfect taco filling that is ready to eat when you get home from a long day afield or at work. 

Serve the tacos with lime wedges, crumbled cheese, and chopped cilantro for garnish.

You can start the squirrel either whole or in sections, but I always like to remove the rib bones before cooking so I don’t have to fish them out of the finished dish. 

This one couldn’t be easier. Add the squirrel, tomatoes, beans, and spices to the slow cooker and cook all day on low. When you get home, gently remove the squirrel from the pot and pick the meat free from the bones. Return the meat to the slow cooker and add the shredded cheese. 

To build the tacos, you can either dip the corn tortillas in the warm juice from the slow cooker or heat them in a tiny bit of oil in a skillet. The dipped version is tastier but tends to be a bit messy to eat.

Ingredients

3 squirrels, whole or quartered

Two 14-ounce cans of fire-roasted garlic diced tomatoes 

One 14-ounce can of beans, either black (rinsed) or ranch style

1 white or yellow onion, diced 

2 jalapeno peppers, diced, optional

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tablespoons salt 

1  tablespoon ground cumin 

1  tablespoon paprika 

1  tablespoon chili powder 

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (or to taste)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

18 taco-size corn tortillas 

Sour cream

Fresh cilantro, chopped

Crumbled queso fresco

2 limes, cut into wedges

Cooking Instructions

Add the squirrel, tomatoes, beans, and diced onion to the slow cooker.

Canned beans and fire-roasted tomatoes make the recipe quick and easy.

Add the diced peppers and garlic, then stir in the salt, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or until the meat pulls easily from the bones. 

Pick the squirrel meat from the bones once it becomes tender.

Remove the squirrel and allow to cool. Pick the meat free from the bones. Return the boneless squirrel meat and the shredded cheddar to the slow cooker. Stir well to blend. 

Stir in shredded cheese just before serving.

Spoon the filling into the corn tortillas. Top with sour cream, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco cheese. Serve with lime wedges.

Spoon the taco filling into warm tortillas.

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