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5 from 130 votes

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa

Tender, spicy shredded Beef Barbacoa is easy to make in a slow cooker. This delicious Mexican dish is perfect for barbacoa tacos, burrito bowls, on sandwiches, salads and more.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 12 ½-cup servings (total yield approximately 5 ¾ -6 cups shredded beef)
Calories: 220kcal
Author: Toni Dash

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds beef chuck roast trimmed and cut into large pieces (7-8 pieces)
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 3 canned chipotle chilies in Adobo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Adobo sauce
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic or 5 whole cloves diced
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground recommended
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  • Place beef pieces into the crockpot.
  • In a blender, combine the beef broth, Chipotle chiles, Adobo sauce, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper and cloves. Puree until smooth.
  • Pour the contents of the blender over the beef in the crockpot. Toss the pieces of beef to coat in the sauce mixture.
  • Push the bay leaves down into the liquid in the crockpot.
  • Cook the beef in the crock pot on HIGH approximately 4 to 6 hours (depending on the size of the pieces) or 8 hours on low until they are tender.
  • Remove the bay leaves from the sauce and discard. Remove the beef and place on a cutting board.
  • Use two forks to shred the beef.
    Return the shredded beef to the crockpot and stir to coat the shredded meat with the sauce.
  • When ready to serve, use a slotted spoon to remove the shredded meat.

Notes

Cook time: 4-6 hours on High or 8 hours on Low
Variations & Tips
Want it less spicy? Reduce the chipotle pepper to using only 1 and reduce the adobo sauce to 2 teaspoons. This will still provide great authentic flavors just with less heat.
Want it spicier? Use 3-4 chipotle peppers and 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce.
Chipotle pepper substitutions. If you can't find them you can add a few shakes of chipotle hot sauce instead. OR ½ teaspoon EACH of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper.
Use the marinade on chicken or pork! The sauce or marinade is delicious on chicken and pork too. Substitute boneless chicken breasts or thighs and cook until tender. Check after 2-3 hours to check if they are tender enough to shred.
A trick to lessen the heat. Did you know dairy products reduce the heat in spicy food? If you find the barbacoa too spicy for your taste add some low fat sour cream or non fat Greek yogurt. This will add some creamy flavor and cool down the dish too.
How to Store it
Store prepared beef with the cooking liquid in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 860mg | Potassium: 421mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 223IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg