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!
Had Barbacoa today, and authentic Mexican Barbacoa uses Cow Cheek and Cow lip. Some even use Cow tongue. You can definitely tasted the difference.
I’m trying this out for the first time this weekend wish me 🤞🏼
Great recipe! Made it about 10 times and know getting special requests for it. I love the smell and taste of it. It’s soooo good.
Second time I’ve made it. Kitchen smelled so good all day. Just took a taste it’s Delish!
We love this recipe!! It never disappoints. Easy meal to throw in the crockpot before work and come home to a delicious meal. Thank you!
Recipe calls for 2 pieces of chipotle in adobo sauce, chopped or 2 cans of chipotles in adobo sauce?
I made this for our 4th of July gathering to make Barbacoa Burrito Bowls. I was buying this dish from a local place quite frequently, so thought I’d give it a try myself. I asked them if they used cheek meat and they said no, they use a different cut, so I went with the chuck roast. I did not trim the fat. I had 4 lbs, so I added a little extra of each ingredient. I used 3 chipotle’s with some of the adobo sauce and liked the spice level. I mixed all the ingredients into the slow cooker except salt and pepper. I cut the beef into 2 inch chunks and salted and peppered each piece to ensure the right amount. Then I mixed the beef into the rest of the ingredients. Turned it on low and left to go boating. When we came back 9 hours later, it was perfectly cooked. Shredded it, mixed it all up again and let it sit while I prepared the rest of the ingredients for the burrito bowls. Really, really good!
My whole family loved this recipe! It was sooo good!
I made this tonight with some Mexican rice and refried beans. Garnish for tacos , diced white onion and chopped cilantro with lime juice . And of course corn tortillas . Oh my goodness this stuff is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing
This was literally the best recipe for anything that I’ve ever tried. My mother in law came over unexpectedly that night and I was devastated I had to offer her some because I wanted more for left overs. I decided to put everything but the meat and bay leaves in the food processor first and it was perfect. Will try not blending next time. I’ve been waiting over a month for chuck roast to go on sale so I could make it again but I’m going out today and won’t tell the husband I paid full price because I just want this so bad again. Thank you!
ME TOO! It’s almost bizarre how great this is with no changes whatsoever…making it again today…smh…;o]…Teresa
PS: THANK YOU, ALI!!!