This homemade beef barbacoa recipe is easy to make in the slow cooker, and it’s SO flavorful and delicious! Perfect for burritos, tacos, salads, quesadillas and more.
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Homemade Barbacoa Recipe | 1-Minute Video
Barbacoa
This barbacoa recipe is simple to make in your slow cooker, and makes the most tender, flavorful, delicious barbacoa beef.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast (fat trimmed), cut into 2-inch chunks
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- 1 small white onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano (or standard dried oregano)
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup beef stock or water
Instructions
- Slow cook. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a slow cooker. Toss gently to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the beef is tender and falls apart easily when shredded with a fork.
- Shred and toss. Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces inside of the slow cooker. Toss the beef with the juices, then cover and let the barbacoa beef soak up the juices for an extra 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves.
- Serve. Use a pair of tongs or a slotted spoon to serve the barbacoa beef and enjoy!
Notes
Storage instructions: Any leftovers can be stored (with their juices) in a food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Yum…I’m loving the fresh cilantro/onion topping on the finished product. Looks great!
Oh wow! My mouth watered at all those amazing ingredients. Love the chipotle in it = one of my favorite things! Pinned!
This sounds amazing! Perfect base for street tacos!
Come to Mama!!!! My favorite!!
I have never eaten that at Chipotl. They are a favorite, quick, easy place our family likes to eat at when in a hurry. Growing up, we always ate at the Mexican restaurants as well. Our valley was not a “foodie” place at all – Ashland was just starting to be! Always love your posts, Ali! xo
I have never heard of barbacoa before.. what a delicious recipe. I definitely need to recreate the recipe, it is perfect for days when I don’t feel like cooking at all!
So excited to try this! Love all of your ideas! Thanks!
Oh my goodness!!! What a fab taco or salad or sandwich or anything this would make. The flavor came thru the picture on the screen. I could almost smell it.
Yuuummm!! I can’t wait to break out my slow cooker :)
Yum! The barbacoa beef is my favorite at Chipotle. I can’t wait to try this! One question though as I’m not a big cook and I’ve never used chipotle peppers… Do I add any of the adobo sauce from the can into the slow cooker as well? Or just whatever is on the pepper?