Description
This Slow Cooker Barbacoa recipe features tender, flavorful shredded beef infused with smoky chipotle peppers and aromatic spices, perfect for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or served over rice. Easy to prepare and slow-cooked to perfection, it’s a delicious Mexican-inspired main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
Spices and Seasonings
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the chipotle can)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
Liquids
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup beef broth
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Place the beef chuck roast chunks into the slow cooker, ensuring they’re evenly spread out.
- Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, combine minced garlic, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves, salt, black pepper, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, and beef broth, mixing thoroughly.
- Combine beef with sauce: Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the beef in the slow cooker, tossing gently to coat the meat evenly with the spices and liquids.
- Add bay leaves: Nestle the two bay leaves into the mixture in the slow cooker for added aroma and flavor.
- Cook slowly: Cover the slow cooker and cook the beef on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 6 hours, until the meat is fork-tender and can be shredded easily.
- Shred the beef: Remove the bay leaves and shred the beef directly in the slow cooker using two forks, mixing well with the cooking juices to absorb all the flavors.
- Let it rest: Allow the shredded beef to sit on the warm setting for 10 to 15 minutes to soak up the juices before serving.
- Serve and enjoy: Use the barbacoa in tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or over rice for a hearty and flavorful meal.
Notes
- For a leaner cut, substitute beef chuck roast with brisket or bottom round.
- Leftovers freeze well and taste even better the next day as flavors continue to develop.
- Add extra chipotle peppers if you prefer a spicier dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
