Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef Recipe
This traditional Barbacoa recipe slow cooks tender beef chuck roast with a flavorful blend of chipotle peppers, lime, garlic, and warm spices to create a rich, smoky, and juicy meat perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls. The slow cooking process ensures the beef falls apart easily and absorbs the aromatic spices for an authentic Mexican dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Meat
- 4 pounds beef chuck roast (cut into 3-inch chunks)
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 5 garlic cloves (minced)
- 3 to 4 chipotles in adobo sauce (finely diced)
Liquids & Seasonings
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- ½ tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¾ cup beef stock
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Place all the ingredients except the bay leaves into the slow cooker bowl. This allows all flavors to combine as the beef slow cooks.
- Mix and Add Bay Leaves: Use tongs to gently toss and mix the ingredients in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves on top and cover with the lid.
- Slow Cook: Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The beef should become very tender and easily shred with a fork. If it isn’t shredding easily, extend the cooking time.
- Shred Beef: Remove the cooked beef to a cutting board and use two forks to shred it finely into pieces.
- Combine and Absorb Juices: Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker, stir it into the cooking juices, and let it absorb the flavors for a few minutes.
- Serve: Serve the barbacoa directly from the slow cooker or plate it and garnish with chopped cilantro and lime wedges for added freshness and color.
Notes
- For more heat, add additional chipotles or some of the adobo sauce.
- Barbacoa can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Serve with warm tortillas, rice, or as a filling for tacos and burritos.
- Adjust salt according to taste after cooking, as slow cooking can concentrate flavors.
Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/slow-cooker-barbacoa-beef-recipe/
