
Barbacoa Recipe
User Reviews
4.6
279 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
15 mins
-
Cook Time
8 hrs 15 mins
-
Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins
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Servings
10 servings
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Calories
307 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Mexican

Barbacoa Recipe
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This beef barbacoa recipe combines juicy and tender beef with delicious spices and seasonings. Use in tacos, burritos, gorditas, and more!
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Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds boneless beef chuck roast
- kosher salt (enough to generously coat meat)
- freshly ground black pepper (enough to generously coat meat)
- 2 ½ tablespoons oil, divided
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beer (broth or water also work)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 lime, juiced
- 4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, diced
- 1 tablespoon ancho chili powder (or regular chili powder)
- 1 tablespoon regular chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican oregano preferred)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 bay leaves
- for serving: chopped cilantro, diced onions, warm tortillas, and lime wedges
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Instructions
- Cut the beef chuck roast into large 4-inch chunks, removing any large pieces of fat. Generously season all sides of the meat with salt and black pepper.
- Heat 1 ½ tablespoons of oil in a large skillet (cast-iron works great for this) over medium-high heat. Add in 3 or 4 pieces of meat and brown it on all sides, flipping every minute. When browned, transfer to a plate and set aside. Continue working in batches until all the meat is browned.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and the onions. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, making sure to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the beer (or broth or water), apple cider vinegar, lime juice, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, ancho chili powder, chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves, and bay leaves. Stir together to combine and remove it from the heat.
- Add the seared meat into a large slow cooker and pour the liquid mixture on top. Toss everything to combine. (Instructions for how to make this in the oven or the Instant Pot are in the Tips section below.)
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours (or on high for 5 hours).
- Transfer the meat to a large plate or bowl and shred it with two forks. The meat should be fall-apart tender.
- Add the shredded beef back into the slow cooker and let it sit for 10 minutes to soak up all the juices. Taste and season with more salt if necessary.
- Serve in tacos, gorditas, sopes, huaraches, or with a side of refried beans and Mexican rice.
Notes
- Oven Instructions: Same as above, except sear the meat and cook the onion and broth mixture in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot. Braise everything in a 325°F oven for 4 hours.
- Instant Pot Instructions: Same as above, except use the Instant Pot's sauté function to sear the meat and cook the onion and broth mixture. Once the broth mixture is done, toss everything together to combine. Close the lid of the pressure cooker and move the valve to the sealing position. Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button to high pressure, and cook for 60 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the remaining pressure using the vent valve.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1serving
Calories
307kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
27g
(54%)
Fat
19g
(29%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
94mg
(31%)
Sodium
140mg
(6%)
Potassium
534mg
(15%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
506IU
(10%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
45mg
(5%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 307 kcal
% Daily Value*
Serving | 1serving | |
Calories | 307kcal | 15% |
Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
Protein | 27g | 54% |
Fat | 19g | 29% |
Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
Cholesterol | 94mg | 31% |
Sodium | 140mg | 6% |
Potassium | 534mg | 11% |
Fiber | 2g | 8% |
Sugar | 1g | 2% |
Vitamin A | 506IU | 10% |
Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
Calcium | 45mg | 5% |
Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
279 reviews
Excellent
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