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Barbacoa Beef that is AMAZING and tender and is better than any restaurant I have had! The flavor is amazing and it slow cooks to perfection!
This barbacoa can be made in so many variations. Add it to your favorite taco, burrito or even salad! If you love Mexican food, enjoy a refreshing Horchata Drink and Seven Layer Dip with chips to make this a complete meal.
Barbacoa Beef
Reason #346 why I love my slow cooker. It slow cooks this barbacoa beef to perfect tender and juicy melt in your mouth perfection. Is there anything better than barbacoa beef that is slow cooked all day and it just falls apart because it is so tender? I don’t think so! And I am pretty particular when it comes to eating beef. It has to be tender and juicy. I just can’t do that dry and chewy beef.
My hubby is a huge fan of Chipotle. I wanted to make this barbacoa beef for him and when I heard that it is better than Chipotle’s I couldn’t wait to make it. Just look how amazing and juicy that barbacoa beef looks! It shreds so easily and the flavor is so dang good! This barbacoa beef recipe is so simple to make and the slow cooker does all the work. It is one of the easiest and most delicious barbacoa recipes I have made.
What is Barbacoa?
Barbacoa is known to be an authentic Mexican meal that is made with beef, goat or lamb meat. The meat is heavily seasoned with chilies and spices then slow cooked until perfectly tender that it literally falls apart easily. Once it is cooked, the barbacoa is used to fill tacos, burritos and salads. It is one of the best meats and tastes amazingly delicious!
Barbacoa Beef Ingredients:
My husband said that this instantly became one of his favorite meals. He thought it was even better than Chipotle and we made it right at home! You are going to love it just as much as we did!
- Beef Brisket: Super tender beef that will soak in all the seasonings and spices making this barbacoa irresistible.
- Vegetable Oil: This will be used to seer the beef before placing it in the slow cooker.
- Chipotle Chili in Adobo: Adding a little heat. If you prefer not to have too much spice, just reduce the amount.
- Beef Broth: Soak the beef in beef broth making it tender and juicy.
- Minced Garlic: Fresh is best but you can use the minced garlic already minced.
- Ground Cumin and Dried Oregano: Together these seasonings build a flavorful coating.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Just add a pinch.
- Ground Cloves: Brings on a strong flavor to soak into the barbacoa beef.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Always my favorite when making Mexican food. It gives this barbacoa a zest.
How to Make Barbacoa Beef:
This beef has just enough of a kick to give it some awesome flavor and the spices come together perfectly. I love beef brisket so I used that and pan seared large cubes. It smelled so amazing while it cooked all day in my house and when it was finished it just fell apart.
- Prepare the beef: Cut the beef into large cubes. In a large skillet over medium high heat add the vegetable oil and sear the beef on each side. Transfer to your slow cooker.
- Blend the seasonings: In a food processor add adobo chilis, beef broth, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cloves, and lime juice. Pulse until blended and pour on top of the meat.
- Slow Cook: Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours. Shred the meat with two forks and turn on warm.
The Recipe Critic Pro Tip:
For the most tender barbacoa beef cook on low instead of high for this recipe.
Sides to Serve with Barbacoa Beef:
What Should I Serve Barbacoa Beef In?
There are so many options for enjoying this beef barbacoa recipe. Stuff your barbacoa in a taco or burrito, fill a bowl or a wrap or add it to any salad or nacho. It is that simple and makes a complete meal within minutes.
- Tacos
- Burritos
- Bowls
- Wraps
- Salads
- Nachos
- Quesadillas
- Enchiladas
Recommended Toppings for Barbacoa Beef:
Have fun with your barbacoa. Show it off and enjoy the tender, juicy flavors in every bite! These toppings for barbacoa is perfect and will create endless amounts of recipes.
- Lettuce: For a salad romaine or even iceberg are delicious to top
- Cheese: Mix up your favorite cheese together like monterey jack, Mexican blend, cotija or queso fresco.
- Tomatoes: Dice up fresh tomatoes to layer on top.
- Avocados: Slice up a ripe avocado and lay over top.
- Cilantro: Great for garnish and color but also adds a hint of flavor.
- Radishes: If you are a radish fan, add these for a bitter crunch.
- Onions: Dice them or slice them in anyway that you prefer.
- Guacamole: My homemade guacamole is always a treat or a store bought one works for ease.
- Salsa: A simple salsa is always tasty or a chunky one like Mango Lime Avocado Salsa is fresh and fun.
- Lime Chipotle Hummus: Spread hummus along the side of a tortilla or burrito.
More Amazing Mexican Recipes:
- Mexican Shrimp Skillet
- Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
- Turkey Taco Stuffed Avocados
- Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos
- Grilled Spicy Blackened Salmon Tacos
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Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
Equipment
- Alyssa Also Recommends:
- Want to make this even easier? Here are a few products that I LOVE:
- Utopia Kitchen Cooking Knives
- Staub Cast Iron Skillet
- Crock-Pot Cook & Carry
Ingredients
- 4 lbs beef brisket or beef chuck roast will also work
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 - 4 chipotle chilis in adobo
- 1 1/4 cups beef broth
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 Tbsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp salt then more to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Cut the beef into large cubes. In a large skillet over medium high heat add the vegetable oil and sear the beef on each side. Transfer to your slow cooker.
- In a food processor add adobo chilis, beef broth, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cloves, and lime juice. Pulse until blended and pour on top of the meat.
- Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 6 hours. Shred the meat with two forks and turn on warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your recipe and the “ones” below, sound amazing!!! You are obviously a seasoned, creative, “flavor-conscious,” cook. Can’t wait to try some of your stuff!
AWE!! Thanks so much! I love to cook and bake and create new and fun recipes! Hope you can find a few you love! XOXO
This was delicious!! We used the leftovers to make nachos!! Great flavors!
GREAT IDEA!! I love that! Thanks so much for sharing! XOXO
Can this be converted for the Instant Pot? If so do you know how long it would need to be cooked for?
Yes! Any of my slow cooker recipes can be converted to the Instant Pot. I am not sure the exact times but I would try 20 minutes in the Instant Pot and 10 minutes to release. I can’t wait to hear how it turns out! Good luck! XOXO
This recipe is AMAZING!!! I love barbacoa & this definitely makes the best barbacoa I’ve had. I make it with a beef roast, recipe is so easy to make. My family loves this recipe.
It know it says you can use chuck roast instead of brisket, but how much of a difference will it make? I’m sure brisket will be better, but at my supermarket brisket is like $12/lb and chuck is like $5. Will it still be good with chuck?
Taste my marinate that makes birria and barbacoa right in a package! great taste so easy a 8 year old can make it! Ill send you a package!
Mrs. Rivers, just watching at the picture of your dish one can tell that is well prepare and if we have cook long enough we can even capt the smell of that dish. This dish is great great for tacos de canasta or sweat tacos. It’s amazing how cook
enthusiasts can unite people from different races and we don’t see barriers. In this hungry moments we just share our happiness and tak the the same language.
Well done! Simple and great. ?
AWE! Thank you so much! That is so sweet of you! I am glad that you loved the dish. XOXO
Love this recipe! Making it for the second time. One question though I forgot the beef broth will it taste different without it?
That is AWESOME to hear! I am so glad that you love it! Beef broth add the deeper flavor but you could substitute soy sauce and water or a beef base. Hope that helps! XOXO
A wonderful recipe try it one day
Alyssa, this recipe was freaking fabulous! My boyfriend, best friend, and her picky kids ate this up. I literally had no leftovers from a huge pot of meat. I used my immersion blender to puree the sauce, I was a little short on lime so I used whole fruit. I reserved the liquid after cooking to dip the corn tortillas in just before crisping them in a hot cast iron skillet. A truly worthy extra step, topped with homemade pickled onions. Seriously I’ll never make beef for tacos any other way. Thanks for making me a hit!
Can you make the Adobo mixture the night before?
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I am Mexican American and I think that your combination on flavors are good if not better from some of the original “traditional” barbacoa that I have had in the past. My only addition would be to add 2 bay leaves.
Great idea!! I love bay leaves! Sounds delicious! XOXO
Hi Alyssa, what’s cooking good-looking? Thanks for the recipe, Ive got everything in the Crock-Pot. Smells great.
HAH! Sounds great! Enjoy your meal! XOXO
Thank you for sharing your recipe! My boyfriend and I loved it and can’t wait to make it again. He proclaimed that it’s the best thing I’ve ever made!
YES!! Success! I am so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing! XOXO
Yum!
Has anyone cooked it on high for 6 hours? I’m wondering if it’ll still be as good if it’s cooked on high for 6 hours verses slow for 8 hours
Just wondering if we’re able to marinate the night before??
YES!! That is even better!