Barbacoa
Beef barbacoa (barbacoa de res) that’s juicy, meltingly tender, and seasoned with flavorful chilies and spices. The key to this Mexican staple is cooking it low and slow for meat that falls right apart. And once it does, it makes for the ultimate barbacoa tacos, bowls, and so much more!
What Is Barbacoa?
If you live in the US, you might know barbacoa from eating at your local Chipotle restaurant. It’s that juicy, tender beef that sits in that tub of spicy liquid. And I’ll be the first to admit it’s delicious, but it’s not quite as authentic as traditional Mexican barbacoa.
Mexican barbacoa is more traditionally made from beef cheeks, but it can also be made from various cuts of beef, or even lamb, or goat. It really varies among the different regions of Mexico. But here’s the gist of it – it’s heavily seasoned meat with spices and chipotle peppers, then slow-cooked in a pit with coals or over an open flame until you’ve got beautifully juicy, fall-apart tender meat.
I’ve been lucky to enjoy many of those tasty variations on my travels through Mexico. But today, I’m sharing an easy, slow-cooker version that you can make at home, using beef chuck roast along with all those delicious Mexican flavors!
Beef Barbacoa Ingredients
With the help of a flavorful spice blend, chilies, and other aromatics, this recipe is a flavor sensation!
- Beef Chuck Roast: Make sure to cut this into 3-inch chunks before adding into the slow cooker.
- Chipotles In Adobo Sauce: These peppers add the most delicious smoky flavor and just the right amount of heat. If you’ve got leftovers, blend them up into a chipotle sauce!
- Onion and Garlic: Essential aromatics that make any recipe better.
- Lime Juice: Fresh is always best, don’t use jarred lime juice. Trust me.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: For a big of tang and acidity.
- Spices: Just a little cumin, oregano, ground cloves, salt and pepper take this meat to the next level.
- Bay Leaves: A few bay leaves simmer in the juices to help round out the flavor.
- Beef Stock: Helps to keep the beef moist and tender as it cooks.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
What Cut Of Beef To Use
When it comes to cooking meat low and slow, it’s best to use tough and lean cuts of beef with minimal fat. You might be thinking the opposite, but as it cooks, their high amount of collagen will break down into gelatin and tenderize the meat. In other words, it’ll taste just as luscious as meat with fat on it!
How To Make Slow Cooker Barbacoa
Combine and cook. Add everything except for the bay leaves to the bowl of a slow cooker, and toss it all together with tongs. Then add in the bay leaves and cook on low for 8-9 hours. By then, the beef should be extremely tender and fall apart easily.
Shred it up! Transfer the beef to a cutting board and shred it with two forks.
Make it extra juicy. Move the shredded beef back into the slow cooker and give it a stir to absorb all the delicious juices.
Serve immediately. Use the barbacoa straight from the slow cooker or add it to a plate for serving it up family style!
How To Serve Barbacoa
Now that you’ve got an entire slow cooker filled with juicy, shredded beef – make the most of it! Sure, you can add it to a plate with a side of Mexican rice and beans. But it doesn’t stop there.
- Tacos: Make barbacoa tacos with diced onions, chopped cilantro, red salsa, and a fresh squeeze of lime juice.
- Burrito Bowls: Build a barbacoa burrito bowl to replicate your favorite Chipotle version! Start with a base of cilantro lime rice, then pile on barbacoa, black beans, pico de gallo, corn, sour cream, and avocado slices.
- Salads: For a lighter meal, swap your base for chopped lettuce! Then pack on the same ingredients as the bowl.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- To store: Let the meat come to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. It’ll stay good for 4-5 days in the fridge.
- To Freeze: In a freezer-safe container, the barbacoa will keep for 1-3 months in the freezer.
- For Reheating: Microwave the barbacoa for 1-2 minutes until it’s warmed through.
Want to prep barbacoa in advance for a party? You can make it up to 3 days in advance, let it cool, then store it in a covered bowl (with the juices) in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, transfer the barbacoa (with juices) into a baking dish and reheat in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350F.
Spruce Up Mexican Night!
Whether you’re prepping for Taco Tuesday or Cinco De Mayo, you can’t go wrong with any of these delicious options.
And you can wash down all that spicy meat with a classic margarita, strawberry margarita, or mango margarita!
Easy Barbacoa Recipe Video
Ready for the most tender shredded beef? Watch the video below for an easy, step-by-step guide on how to make it!
If you make this barbacoa, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Barbacoa (Slow Cooker)
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 4 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 3-inch chunks
- 1 onion, diced
- 3-4 chipotles in adobo sauce, finely diced
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients, except the bay leaves, to the bowl of a slow cooker.
- Use tongs to gently toss and mix it all together. Then add the bay leaves, and cover. Cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours. The beef should be tender and fall apart easily when shredded with a fork. If it doesn't shred easily, cook it a bit longer.
- Remove the beef to a cutting board and use two forks to shred it.
- Place the shredded beef back in the slow cooker, give it a stir, and let it absorb the juices.
- Serve the barbacoa straight from the slow cooker, or add it to a plate and garnish with chopped cilantro and lime wedges.
When do you add the bay leaves?
You add the bay leaves in step 2. You can refer to the recipe card (toward the bottom of the post) for the official list of instructions.
This is the best beef slow-cooker recipe I’ve ever had! Making it again today for Memorial Day. Thank you so much!
So glad you’re loving this barbacoa recipe Lori!
The flavor is amazing!!
Thanks so much, Heidi!
I’ve made this recipe a few times and it’s always a hit. I serve it over rice and people always ask for the recipe. Last night I used it as filling for quesadillas and it was *chef’s kiss*. Thanks, Lisa!
You’re more than welcome, Julianne! And sounds fab as filling for quesadillas – yum!
I am a Southern Texas girl and moved to a state further north, and our family craves good Mexican food. This meets all the restaurant quality requirements we so miss- taste and spice! With homemade tortillas, this is heaven for your mouth. I have made this recipe multiple times, and it always comes out wonderful! It is so much better than any other recipe out there. My son just came in from college and requested this for street tacos to get his Mexican food fix before heading back. Leftovers are often mixed with eggs and/or potatoes for breakfast tacos.
Glad you made such good use of this barbacoa recipe Jo!
This recipe was awesome! So easy too! I love barbacoa and this recipe is even better than the restaurants. I have a question, if I want more juices for the meat, can I add in more beef broth? Thanks!!
Yep, that’s fine!
Love your recipes. Thank you.
We have made this twice now and LOVE it! We decided to use our dutch oven in the oven instead, but didn’t change anything else. It is very flavorful and super juicy.
Good to know this worked out perfectly in your Dutch oven!
This recipe is a well loved staple in our house. I’ve been making it for more than a year now and it’s a consistent and easy meal. Both my husband and kids love it; they typically can’t stand anything cooked in the crockpot, but this is a winner for us all! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Happy to hear this barbacoa recipe is a staple!
Awesome! Made exactly as written. This recipe is now going to be in our monthly rotation. We may never go to Chipotle again!
Living in the Southwest I have eaten Barbacoa before, but have. Ever made it. This recipe was so easy, and tasty. My husband and I put it together in the crock pot ( an older, manual version of your recommendation) and let it cook all night on low. Both of us work up saying how the aroma drove us crazy. I would hav never thought of adding just a tad of clove. It rally made the taste pop. This is a keeper for sure.
Glad both you and your husband enjoyed this barbacoa recipe Talea!
I have made this twice now, but with canned beef chunks. Super easy and great flavor! Thanks for the recipe!
Glad this recipe has been great every time!
Absolutely delicious. Left out the cloves since I didn’t have any. Also increased the amount of chipotle peppers because we love the heat.
As a Mexican from central valley California I feel qualified to judge Mexican food. I have relatively high standards for this stuff. But let me tell you this recipe is so good and EASY too!! I’ve even made it for my mom and dad who both loved it (and are FROM MEXICO). I was concerned about the acv but you can’t even taste it. It just adds a nice acidity. 👍👍 2 thumbs up.
I’m happy to hear this recipe was a hit Sky, and thanks so much for leaving a review.
This is my go to recipe for barbacoa tacos!! So delicious!!
I’m happy you love it Laura!
This is delicious! I use it for burritos night in our house. Left overs are used for everything from salads to sandwiches. I nor.ally do pork or ground meat for “taco” night in our hour. After making this it has become part of our regular routine.
I’ve made this recipe a few times and it’s a hit every time.
Happy to hear this barbacoa recipe is a hit every time Jeff!
Super easy and SUPER Delicious!!!
My sister made this recipe several times and talked about how good it is, So today I gave it a try. Delicious.
Glad you also enjoyed this barbacoa recipe Patti!
This looks absolutely delicious! I don’t have a slow cooker though, do you have any instructions for if I were to make this dish in a Dutch oven?
Do I use the same amount of water?
And how long do I keep it in the oven? And at what temperature?
Thank you :-)
Unfortunately, I haven’t made this in a Dutch oven, so I would look up a recipe for a specific oven temperature and time. But you can use the same spices and ingredients I use in this recipe :)
This is such a yummy and easy recipe. I make this for special nights when the house is full and we want to make simple tacos, barcoa bowls or even nachos. For just my husband and I, I meal prep these and have several taco nights in the freezer. Never disappoints.
This truly is such a great meal prep staple!
G’day! I’m in Aus and since it’s warming up my butcher didn’t have chuck… would brisket be silly to use instead?
Barbacoa typically isn’t made from brisket. But, you can if you’d like!
Do the Chipotles make it hot? I don’t like spicy foods as much, but I do love Barbacoa. This will be my first time making it! Hope to hear back thanks.
Nope! They add more flavor versus spiciness.
This is my favorite crock pot recipe. Its so flavorful and versatile.
Love to make a large batch then freeze it for tacos burritos bowls etc.
I only have 2lbs of beef. Should I just half all the other ingredients?
Yep, that should be fine :)
Best Barbacoa I’ve ever made and possibly had. We ate it for over a week without tiring of it. Kids loved it too. Tacos, nachos, all the things, yum!
Beautiful recipe! My crockpot had it cooked to perfection in 6 hours. My family loved it on Almond flour tortillas and didn’t even know they ate Keto! Loved it!
Happy to hear the whole family enjoyed this barbacoa recipe Heather!
This is my all time favorite recipe!
This recipe was great! Followed the directions as written and the beef was so tender and flavorful. Definitely adding this to the rotation for taco nights!
Delicious recipe! Just the right combination of spices. We loved it.
Glad you enjoyed this barbacoa recipe Maxie!
I don’t leVe reviews. This recipe is amazing. The cut of beef used did not shred but flavor was amazing. This will go into a regular rotation. Had all ingredients on hand. Made as directed. Use 3.5 adobo chilies and heat was spot on.
I love how easy and delicious it is! It was a bit too salty for my taste so next time I’ll only add one teaspoon of salt and season again at the end. Definitely will keep doing this one! Thank you!!!!
Wondering how to make this in the oven since I do not have a slow cooker
I just made this last night in my Dutch oven. I had the oven temp at 300F and cooked it for just over 3 hours. The meat shredded easily and was tender.
Generally, I am a pretty tough critic on recipes. I ran across this recipe and it looked intriguing. I put it together that evening for dinner. Wow, was I impressed. I had one major variation from your recipe. Because I didn’t start making the recipe early in the day for the slow cooker I used an InstantPot. I ended up cooking the recipe for an 1 hour and 30 minutes under pressure. Once it cooked I left the food stay an additional 10 minutes under pressure before releasing it. It was amazingly flavorful and tender. Good job. Thank you for your site.
Happy to hear this turned out great in an Instant pot Greg! If you loved this recipe, be sure to try my carnitas on as well, I think you’ll love it.
I know you have a delicious carnitas recipe, which I’ve made and love! But we adore the barbacoa recipe! Do you think it would work and take good is I used the pork with the barbacoa recipe? We can’t swing the price for beef right now and the butt is on sale for 99 cents!
It should be okay!