Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

  • September 21, 2016
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Melt in your mouth Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef. Cooked low and slow for 8 hours! Perfect for tacos, burritos and quesadillas!

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef


I love the Barbacoa Beef from Chipotle so much I had to try making it at home. This Barbacoa Beef is cooked low and slow in the crockpot until it is fall apart tender. It’s the perfect topping for burrito bowls or tacos.

This Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef is super easy to make. Throw all of the ingredients together into a slow cooker a let the crockpot do the rest.

The chipotles in adobo make this Barbacoa Beef. It adds a nice smokiness and spice to the meat. I add 4 peppers to my beef as well as a little sauce. I like it to have an extra kick. I also add garlic, fresh squeezed lime juice, beef broth, diced green chilies and tons of spices. The meat is loaded with flavor and is incredibly tender!

easy-crockpot-barbacoa-beef

After the beef is done cooking I remove it from the slow cooker and shred it. I pour the juices from the slow cooker on top and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the meat to soak up all of the juices and flavor.

Serve this Barbacoa Beef on tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, or with rice. Anyway you serve it is amazing!

easy-slow-cooker-barbacoa-beef

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

5 from 6 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Melt in your mouth Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef. Cooked low and slow for 8 hours! Perfect for tacos, burritos and quesadillas!

Ingredients

  • 3 pound chuck roast fat trimmed and cut into 2 inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 3-4 chiptoles in adobo chopped (depending on how spicy you like it)
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and toss to combine.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the beef is tender.
  3. When the beef is tender spoon it out of the liquid and into another dish or cutting board. Shred with two forks into bite sized pieces.
  4. Remove the bay leaves
  5. Spoon the liquid from the slow cooker on top. Allow the beef to rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the beef to soak up some of the liquid.
  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately!

 

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Comments

  • S.Lynn

    We just butchered a steer so I was looking on ways to use the chuck cut. This sounds wonderful. It’s in the oven now on low for 6-8 hours. I’ll let you know!

  • Jeff Stern

    I think I’ll try this with some pork shoulder. i prefer to brown my meat well first or throw it on the grill. Adds a nice extra layer of flavor! Thanks for the great recipe!

  • tracy morales

    I would assume i could just buy stew meat, rather than have to cut it up anyways, correct?

    • Kelley

      Hi Tracy,

      That is totally personal preference I really like chuck roast because it gets super tender. To me it’s worth the extra time of cutting it.

      Thanks!

      Kelley

  • Kerri

    Do you think I could put all of these ingredients in a freezer bag along with the uncooked beef for cooking later? After thawing. The only ingredient I’m unsure about is the acv and lime juice. Going to have a freezer meal make ahead Day and love this recipe. Wanted to double and have on hand.

    • Kelley

      Hi Kerri!

      I have never personally tried it but I think you should be ok prepping everything and freezing it for later. I agree with you about holding off on the acv and lime juice. I would put those in the slow cooker when you ready to eat the meal.

      Let me know how you make out! Thanks!

      Kelley

  • Vesta

    Wonderful! I have tried a couple Barbados Beef recipes but this one is hands down the best. This is my go to shredded beef recipe. Try it you will not be disappointed!

  • G. Grocke

    Absolutely loved this recipe! Besides using the meat for tacos, we made paninis with pepper jack cheese on sourdough bread.

  • Mrs. Huhta

    Hi Kelley,

    The picture looks like it’s topped with cilantro…is that correct?

  • Laya Iliria

    Hi! If you are doubling the meat, would you double the sauce?

    Thanks!

  • Cinda

    I am using this recipe.. it sounds really good… But did you realize Barbacoa is cow cheek? I grew up in a Hispanic household, and we ate barbacoa all the time.. My mom would add a roast in it to make it stretch… But if it doesnt have the cheek it’s not barbacoa. I do like the recipe, and I will try it though.

  • Mayasah Al-Nuaimi

    I am going to try this recipe today.
    Do you think it would be okay to add the meat back into the crock pot on warm after I shred it?

  • Margaret

    This is the exact recipe from one of my Instant Pot Keto recipe books. Shouldn’t there be some attribution? Thanks

  • A. Chamberlain

    Made this for a work cinco de mayo party. Everyone loved it, served with corn and flour tortillas also served with salsa and guacamole. Big hit!! Will make again. Thank you for a easy and great receipe and tasty too!!

    • Nathan

      Hi A. Chamberlain,

      I’m so glad you liked it! Definitely one of my favorite! Happy Cinco De Mayo!

      Nathan
      @chefsavvy

  • Clem Meyerhoff

    I finally got around to trying one of your recipes after hearing about your website on the trip to Israel. This was an excellent choice. I used it to make some burritos which were really tasty and better than any Mexican restaurant versions I’ve had. I also found it really tasty straight out of the slow cooker (don’t let others in the house know or you might not have any left for dinner). I did take the extra step of searing the beef before adding it to the slow cooker.

    • Kelley

      Hi Clem!

      I am so glad you tried out one of my recipes! You are so kind! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe.

      I look forward to seeing you sometime soon and catching up about Israel!

      Kelley

  • Anne

    The best). I was unable to buy the chipotle pepper but was able to buy it in spice form.what measure should I use. …equivalent.?

    • Kelley

      Hi Anne,

      I would start with 1 teaspoon then taste the sauce before you add to the slow cooker with the meat. You can always add more.

      Thanks & Enjoy!

      Kelley

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