Description
This barbacoa recipe is simple to make in your slow cooker, and makes the most tender, flavorful, delicious barbacoa beef.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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.
Oh, yum!! My husband and I would love this! Yes, I was involved in Book-It and looked forward to going there for lunch with my mom. The Book-It Alumni sounds cool! :)
These look like some killer tacos! I cannot wait to make them for the fam! :)
Also, book-it was the best! Personal pan pizzas too!
Definitely going on my next meal plan!! I love easy dinners like this — and Pizza Hut is still pretty fabulous in my book :)
I think that is how I learned how to read…..Book-It changes lives:) Well, and this barbacoa, too!
I can tell just by looking at these photos are flavorful this is!
OK…I’m busted. I snuck a taste of this yesterday out of your fridge. Cold. And it was wonderful!
How could I not fall head over heels for this beef!?! It’s beautimus, Ali! And that gorgeous cilantro on top just seals the deal.
These look incredible! I’m going to try these for sure. MMM.
Oh my landlord would love it if i dug a hole into the ground to cook some beef! But by the look of it – it would be totally worth it!
I LOVED going to some American diner style restaurant as a kid – no pizza but a whole pile of fried mushrooms!
What a unique recipe! I love this thanks for sharing – I plan to work it into our weeknight dinners next week!
xo Rachel
Yum! The barbacoa beef is my favorite at Chipotle. I can’t wait to try this! One question though as I’m not a big cook and I’ve never used chipotle peppers… Do I add any of the adobo sauce from the can into the slow cooker as well? Or just whatever is on the pepper?
Yuuummm!! I can’t wait to break out my slow cooker :)
Oh my goodness!!! What a fab taco or salad or sandwich or anything this would make. The flavor came thru the picture on the screen. I could almost smell it.
So excited to try this! Love all of your ideas! Thanks!
I have never heard of barbacoa before.. what a delicious recipe. I definitely need to recreate the recipe, it is perfect for days when I don’t feel like cooking at all!
I have never eaten that at Chipotl. They are a favorite, quick, easy place our family likes to eat at when in a hurry. Growing up, we always ate at the Mexican restaurants as well. Our valley was not a “foodie” place at all – Ashland was just starting to be! Always love your posts, Ali! xo
Come to Mama!!!! My favorite!!
This sounds amazing! Perfect base for street tacos!
Oh wow! My mouth watered at all those amazing ingredients. Love the chipotle in it = one of my favorite things! Pinned!
Yum…I’m loving the fresh cilantro/onion topping on the finished product. Looks great!
Craving this so badly!!!
This is gorgeous, I want some right now!
Not only does this look amazing, but I think I have all of the ingredients…hmmm. Dinner this weekend?
This was so amazing, I just had to leave a comment and thank you for posting.Possibly the best tacos I’ve ever had and definitely better than Chipotle! Served on corn tortillas with guac and tomatoes. So much flavor in the meat, they don’t need many additions. Thank you!
This looks absolutely fabulous! I can’t wait to try it!
I love this recipe. It looks gorgeous and mouthwatering.
I don’t have a slow cooker but probably have to get one now.. :)
Barbacoa is always a hit at our house. Need to try your version now! AND…AWESOME gorgeous site you have. CONGRATS!
I would like to say that barbacoa originally is from sheep, that’s why it takes about 5 hours to cook on a pit dug in the ground, because the meat is though.
It also makes a delicious caldo that is called consomé, they just place a pot under the meat that is cooking full of water, chickpeas and rice.
I’m trying in right now, should I put two cans of Chipotle peppers or two single Peppers? Please help!
I love Mexican recipes. This one looks like it would be worth the 4 hours. Yum!
I love Mexican recipes. This one looks like it would be worth the 4 hours. Yum!
Hello, this looks so yummy, but I cant do chipotle (health issues) can i substitute anything else for this?
You can sub in an extra tablespoon of chili powder, or smoked paprika, OR include a diced jalapeno as a substitute if you’d like!
This looks fabulous….will be on my list to try (once we eat down from my packed freezer :)
Question though..assuming I could cook low in Dutch oven with same results?
Yep, you totally could! :)
I´ll try the barbacoca recipe this weekend. I´m mexican (barbacoa is almos a “must” as breakfast on weekends) and it sounds VERY GOOD.
…More comments, after taste. =)
I made this recipe yesterday. It was delicious. It slow cooked for 6 hours and it was tender and flavorful.
I LOVE Barbacoa!
Never thought of making it in a slow cooker. The chipotle and cumin will surely give it the smoky flavor that this dish is so famous for.
I definitely will give this one a try!
Thanks
This looks A-Mazing!
OMG! This is outstanding! I just recently started getting the Barbacoa Bowl at Chipotle and have never gone back to chicken. I got up early this morning put it all together in the crockpot. I made some brown cilantro rice, sautéed some peppers and onions and built my burrito (actually used a fajita-sized tortilla) with added cheese, lettuce and sour cream. I’m in love!
Ali, I have a small blog, do you think I could post a note and photo or your barbacoa with a link to your site? Thanks!
Hi Betsy! I’m so glad you liked it. And you’re welcome to post a photo and link to the recipe here. :) Thanks!
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I used crushed chipotle pepper instead of chipotle in adobo sauce and omitted cloves since I didn’t have any. Love the website!
When you say 2 chipotles in adobo sauce, do you mean 2 peppers or 2 of the small cans?
Ah – two peppers. I’ll clarify that in the recipe. Thank you! :)
Made this last week and loved it! We actually used it in our lunch wraps cold, still delicious! One night we put the Barbacoa on top of Mac n cheese. Easy recipe and so good!
I made this last night as our lunch for the week- it’s delicious!! so much flavor!
I made this for my family last night and everyone loved it! The leftover meat will become nacho toppings tomorrow. yum! Thanks for the recipe.
Chipotle is in danger of going broke if this tastes as good as it looks!
Having lived in Mazatlan, Sinaloa for 5 years I have a large collection of Mexican recipes including numerous ones for Barbacoa. Your recipe intrigued me because it was “slow cooker” prepared which the Mexicans seldom use. I made it for dinner last night and was very pleased with the result. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Finally made this yesterday & it turned out amazing! Omitted the clove because I didn’t have any & chose to purée all the other ingredients together before pouring it over the beef & adding the bay leaves. Looking forward to making this again!
Made this last week and it was a huge hit. My husband is in love and requested it again. Even my picky 6 year old liked it despite it being “spicy” – a first for her! I made nachos with the leftovers and they were to die for. I’m making it again for company tonight. Can’t wait for dinner. Thank you for this fantastic recipe!!!
Of course, if you lived in Wichita, Pizza Hut was a local restaurant–that is where Pizza Hut started. :)
Okay, so I was a little skeptical… Barbacoa in a slow cooker? My abuelita is shaking her head- no! But your recipes have never failed me yet so I decided to give it a try…and boy, am I glad I did! This recipe was super easy and super delish! Thanks for another great dinner!
I rarely post reviews of recipes but I had to take a moment to commend you on this amazing dish. I’m always looking for recipes that will appeal to my boyfriend’s taste (he is Mexican) and this did not disappoint! This dish was absolutely wonderful. The meat is so flavorful! We really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting!
OMG thank you! That was amazing, family loved it!