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You are here: Home / Main Course Recipes / Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

February 7, 2019 By Spices in My DNA 12 Comments

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This Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef is an insanely delicious take on the Mexican shredded beef you see in burrito bowls and tacos! It’s unbelievably flavorful, easy to make, and it’s super versatile! It’s great for feeding a large crowd, or to make for meal prep to have on hand all week!

Overhead shot of a bowl of barbacoa beef garnished with sliced radishes, a lime wedge, and cilantro with a fork resting in the bowl against a light blue background

I cannnnot stop making this beef! I’ve made it four times in the past month and there’s no end in sight. The flavor is SO amazing and it’s such a versatile protein option to have on hand all week. I’ve added it to salads, burrito bowls, tacos, and even in a potato and egg hash for brunch! It’s absolutely DELISH.

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of shredded barbacoa beef garnished with a lime wedge, cilantro, and sliced radishes with a fork resting in the bowl

And the best part about it: it couldn’t be simpler. It’s made in the slow cooker, and after you sear the beef, you can completely just set it and forget it! The beef is literally melt-in-your-mouth tender and it has the perfect amount of heat and smokiness from the chipotles in adobo, without being overpowering whatsoever.

Overhead shot of a burrito bowl with barbacoa beef, avocado, sliced radishes, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, and cilantro

My favorite way to serve it is in a burrito bowl or salad with brown rice, avocado or guac, tomatoes or pico de gallo, sometimes a corn salsa, shredded romaine, shredded pepperjack, and cilantro. Sometimes I add black beans too! I was actually going to call this recipe “Chipotle Copycat Barbacoa Beef” because it really tastes just like it. I definitely love me some Chipotle, but you can really make it at home and customize it to whatever you’re in the mood for all week!

Overhead shot of a bowl of barbacoa beef garnished with sliced radishes, a lime wedge, and cilantro with a fork resting in the bowl against a light blue background

A couple steps I wouldn’t skip out on when making this: generously season the beef with salt and pepper, and SEAR the beef really well before you put it in the slow cooker. I know that sometimes with slow cooker recipes, people like to just throw everything in the slow cooker without searing the meat first, but it’s really a game changer. The caramelization you get on the beef adds SO MUCH FLAVOR, and seasoning it beforehand really flavors the meat and locks in that flavor really beautifully. So don’t skip it! And it only adds like 10 minutes to your prep.

For the rest of the ingredients, you whirl everything up in a food processor, and just stir that in with the beef, beef broth, and bay leaves.

It’s a mixture of garlic, onion, lime juice, apple cider vinegar (I looove the tang it gives this – it really cuts the richness of the beef!), chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and a littttle bit of ground cloves. Sounds weird, but it’s SO good with the beef!

Overhead shot of tacos filled with barbacoa beef, avocado, sliced radish, and cilantro against a light blue background

Another way I love to serve this barbacoa is in tacos, obviously. You can load up the toppings or keep them simple like I did here. Corn salsa, a little cotija, or a drizzle of crema would be delish here. And extra lime juice, always.

Overhead close up shot of a bowl of shredded barbacoa beef garnished with a lime wedge, cilantro, and sliced radishes

It’s also super perfect to make for a crowd! I made it for 12 people last weekend and it was a HUGE hit!

Overhead shot of a bowl of barbacoa beef garnished with sliced radishes, a lime wedge, and cilantro with a fork resting in the bowl against a light blue background

Basically, the possibilities are endless with this!

Overhead shot of a bowl of barbacoa beef garnished with sliced radishes, a lime wedge, and cilantro with a fork resting in the bowl against a light blue background
5 from 1 vote
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Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

This Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef is an insanely delicious take on the Mexican shredded beef you see in burrito bowls and tacos! It's unbelievably flavorful, easy to make, and it's super versatile! It's great for feeding a large crowd, or to make for meal prep to have on hand all week!

Course Beef, Main
Cuisine Crockpot, Mexican, Slow Cooker
Keyword barbacoa beef recipe, chipotle copycat barbacoa recipe, crockpot barbacoa beef, mexican shredded beef, slow cooker barbacoa beef
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings 6 -8
Author Molly | Spices in My DNA

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2-4 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1 1/2'' chunks, any large pieces of fat trimmed and discarded
  • salt and pepper for seasoning the beef
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil or grapeseed oil, or other high heat friendly oil
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 of a large yellow onion, cut into chunks
  • juice of 2 limes
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Season beef generously with salt and pepper. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once hot, sear the beef for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and caramelized. Add beef to your slow cooker.

  2. While beef is cooking, add the garlic, onion, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, chipotle peppers, cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and cloves to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Add mixture to the slow cooker along with the beef broth and bay leaves and stir to combine.

  3. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 7-8 until beef falls apart. Discard any large pieces of fat and shred the beef with two forks (I just do this while it's still in the slow cooker, but you can remove the beef, shred it, and then stir it back in with its cooking juices). Serve in tacos, on a salad, or in a burrito bowl!

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Filed Under: Beef, Main Course Recipes, Tacos Tagged With: barbacoa, barbacoa beef, beef, burrito bowl, chipotle copycat barbacoa, crockpot, easy, gluten free, keto, meal prep, mexican, paleo, slow cooker, tacos

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Susan

    February 7, 2019 at 10:16 am

    This sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it. Also, have you ever tried it with pork?

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      February 8, 2019 at 1:25 pm

      Thanks Susan! I haven’t tried it with pork, but I’m pretty sure it would work! Let me know if you try it!!

      Reply
  2. Monique

    February 10, 2019 at 10:23 am

    Looks delicious! Can you cook the chuck roast whole? On my dinner menu tonight!
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      February 11, 2019 at 9:59 am

      Hi Monique! I wouldn’t cook the chuck roast whole. It really needs to be cut into chunks and seared to maximize flavor and cook evenly. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  3. Nancy

    February 20, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    5 stars
    We made this today for a snow day treat, and it did not disappoint. It was absolutely delicious. For sure this is going to be a staple in our cold weather dinner rotation!!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      February 21, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      Thank you so much Nancy!! So happy that you guys enjoyed it!! xoxoxo

      Reply
  4. Michelle

    March 1, 2019 at 7:56 am

    How would you cook this in an instant pot?

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      March 2, 2019 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Michelle! I actually don’t have an instant pot and I’ve never tested this recipe with anything but a slow cooker, so I am not sure. I’m pretty sure it would work though! Maybe look for similar recipes using the same cut of meat and compare cooking times? I’m sorry!!

      Reply
  5. Sonya

    July 30, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is a 10/10. I was tired of the ground beef with taco seasoning scenrio and so was my family. I watched a show on Amazon prime that mentioned barbacoa and off I went to search. I found this recipe and went straight to the store to buy what I needed. I followed the recipe exactly and it left me woth zero left overs. My husband and two adult sons literally couldn’t get enough. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Even tho the price of food has gone up this meal is still very economical and one that I can promise ypu will be made again and again. I appreciate you!

    Reply
    • Spices in My DNA

      August 8, 2022 at 2:57 pm

      Aw, thank you so much for your kind words, Sonya! I am so happy you and your family enjoyed it!!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Vegetables That Complement Beef Barbacoa – UnomAstaQuizA says:
    December 19, 2022 at 10:47 pm

    […] Barbacoa is a popular dish at many Mexican restaurants across the country. Historians believe the dish originated in the Caribbean, but the origins of the dish are unknown. Barbacoa evolved into a specific cooking style in Mexico, in which the meat is slowly cooked in a pit. In Mexico, barbacoa is typically made from beef, goat, lamb, or mutton. In the United States, it is commonly associated with rib roast, brisket, and beef cheeks. In place of traditional short ribs and oxtail, try a new combination. The main distinguishing feature of this dish from other slow-cooked Mexican meats is the Barbacoa seasoning. […]

    Reply
  2. The History Of Barbacoa Tacos – UnomAstaQuizA says:
    December 20, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    […] can be used in a more modern setting. The most distinguishing feature of this dish is its use of Barbacoa seasoning, which distinguishes it from other slow-cooked Mexican […]

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. This is the space where I share healthy recipes with a sprinkle of indulgence mixed in! I’m wildly passionate about food, and I grew up in a family of foodies. I was surrounded by it from an early age and immediately fell in love. I love to share super flavorful, unique, and healthy recipes, as well as indulgent, comforting meals we all need from time to time!

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