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    Home » Main » Barbacoa Beef Slow Cooker Recipe

    Barbacoa Beef Slow Cooker Recipe

    Published: Apr 12, 2021 by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This super easy and delicious barbacoa beef slow cooker recipe is great for taco night or your next party taco bar. Let your crock pot do the heavy lifting so you have more time to spend with loved ones!

    plate of barbacoa beef tacos loaded with toppings sitting next to cilantro and jalapenos

    Original recipe: May 2020 | Updated: April 2021

    Why This Recipe Works

    My husband and I fell in love with Chipotle’s Barbacoa burritos many years ago. We were so in love that we affectionately referred to them as “Barb.” Barbacoa beef is so succulent and delicious and just plain irresistible, especially when it swims with other Mexican flavors.

    I recently went to a taco shop in California with my sisters and I’d venture to say their barbacoa tacos were the BEST EVER. Yep, even better than Chipotle. So I set out on a mission to create my own and this slow cooker variety is pretty dang delicious, if I do say so.

    Throw this recipe together easily for your next taco night or Mexican-themed gathering. The meat comes out super tender and flavorful. We absolutely love this recipe!

    Recipe Ingredients

    Chuck roast – Use beef shoulder or chuck roast for this recipe.

    Beef broth – I highly recommend using broth over water for this recipe. It adds a flavor that water could never achieve. In a pinch, though, water works!

    Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce – Specialty chiles can be found in the Mexican aisle at most grocery stores. Optional replacements: Up to 1 Tbsp smoked paprika or dried Chipotle powder + 1/4 cup tomato paste.

    For extra heat, add a tablespoon or two of the chile adobo sauce (that the chiles sit in) into the crock pot when you add seasonings. 

    How to Make Barbacoa Beef Slow Cooker Style

    Step 1

    Place chuck roast in a slow cooker and pour the beef broth (or water) over the top. Place the bay leaves on top of the roast.

    roast sitting in crock pot with bay leaves on top

    Step 2

    In a medium bowl, combine garlic, onion, lime juice, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cloves.

    barbacoa sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl next to crock pot

    Mix well and pour over the top of the roast, spreading evenly.

    barbacoa mixture in crockpot before cooking

    Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 hours.

    Step 3

    Carefully transfer the roast to a cutting board and shred the meat. Add the shredded beef back to the slow cooker and stir.

    shredded beef added back to a slow cooker

    Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until heated through. Serve immediately with corn or flour tortillas and favorite taco toppings.

    top view of crockpot filled with savory beef and pepper mixture

    Recipe Notes

    • Go low and slow with this beef for the most tender, juicy end result. Some processes are not meant to be sped up.
    • Optional topping options for tacos: Sour cream, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese, cilantro, guacamole, salsa, jalapeno slices, shredded lettuce, avocados, green or red onions, tomatoes, taco sauce or lime wedges.

    Uses for Barbacoa Beef

    Add the beef to any type of Mexican food for a complete meal!

    • Tacos
    • Burritos
    • Tostadas
    • Quesadillas
    • Nachos
    • Enchiladas
    • Taco salad
    • Burrito bowls
    • Taco Cups
    top view of plate of beef tacos with tons of colorful toppings on top

    FAQ About Barbacoa

    What kind of meat is barbacoa

    Barbacoa is typically made with beef, goat or lamb. Traditional barbacoa is seasoned with chiles and other spices and slow-cooked to achieve a tender end result.

    Can dogs eat barbacoa

    Use caution when feeding any meat to dogs because of potential bones, which could be choking hazards or could cause intestinal damage. Also be wary of dogs ingesting overly spicy foods. Otherwise, barbacoa can be fed to dogs.

    How much barbacoa per person

    When serving barbacoa as a main dish, plan for about 1/2 pound of meat per person.

    Quick and Classic Guacamole

    Here is a quick and classic way to make guacamole! Serve with salty tortilla chips or spoon over beef tacos. Either way, this party staple will not disappoint.

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    • This is the BEST shredded chicken you will ever eat! SO GOOD! Making shredded chicken for tacos in the Instant Pot requires only FOUR ingredients. The meat turns out flavorful, tender and juicy every single time. Perfect for taco night!
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    Barbacoa Beef Slow Cooker Recipe

    This super easy and delicious Barbacoa beef slow cooker recipe is great for taco night or your next taco bar. Tender and perfect every time!
    4.34 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 335kcal
    Author: Megan Porta

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 3-4 lb beef chuck roast
    • 1 cup beef broth or water
    • 3 bay leaves
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 3-4 Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, chopped
    • 4 oz green chiles diced
    • 1 yellow onion chopped
    • 2 tbsp lime juice or juice from 1 lime
    • 1 tbsp ground cumin
    • 1 tbsp dried oregano
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 tsp pepper
    • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

    Instructions

    • Place chuck roast in a slow cooker and pour the beef broth (or water) over the top. Place the bay leaves on top of the roast.
    • In a medium bowl, combine chile adobo, green chiles, garlic, onion, lime juice, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and cloves. Mix well and pour over the top of the roast, spreading evenly. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 hours.
    • Remove and discard bay leaves. Carefully transfer the roast to a cutting board and shred. Add the shredded meat back to the slow cooker and stir. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, or until heated through. Serve immediately with tortillas and favorite taco toppings.

    Notes

    • I highly recommend using broth over water for this recipe. It adds a flavor that water could never achieve. In a pinch, though, water works!
    • For extra heat, add a tablespoon or two of the chile adobo sauce (that the chiles sit in) into the crock pot when you add seasonings. 
    • Go low and slow with this beef for the most tender, juicy end result. Some processes are not meant to be sped up.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 592mg | Potassium: 637mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 48IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4mg
    Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stacey

      August 16, 2020 at 11:49 pm

      3 stars
      This recipe was really good. However, I noticed in step two the picture appeared to have more than the ingredients listed in the recipe. It appeared to be Chipotle peppers, green chilies, and some sort of a red sauce. I added a 4 oz can of green chilies and 2 chipotle peppers in sauce. I also used an orange flavored beer (blue moon) instead of broth. My family enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply
      • Megan Porta

        August 18, 2020 at 3:46 pm

        Stacey, you are right! Thank you for catching that, I’ve updated the recipe. I like the blue moon addition, that was great, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4.34 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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