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!
Have always loved your blog- actually figured out over the holidays we are related! Jennilee is my sister, Chris Swafford was my great aunt!
This was delicious, but next time I will cut the lime juice in half as it was a bit tangy for my hubby.
Love this recipe! I have made it so many times and it always turns out well!
I found chipotles in a little can. Do I only use two peppers or ?
This came out exactly like Chipotle barbacoa! It’s a keeper!
Better than chipotle!
I just made this dish tonight and it was so good! Thank you for sharing it. So flavorful and so easy – an absolute winner that we’ll be eating on a regular basis
I want to try this recipe. Just curious if I could freeze this? Thanks
This was deliciousssss! I put it in a homemade burrito bowl and it was perfect.
My husband eats so much of this he needs heartburn medicine and has interrupted sleep from strange dreams. It’s his absolute favorite, one worth having total system upset from the spices and heat and mass consumption. It is not too spicy but just right, and the clove is imperative. It creates a synergy with the juices and lime and the other spices and gives the meat incredible flavor. Thank you!!!