This Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is a traditional Mexican dish that never fails to impress. Add everything to your slow cooker and set it and forget it! Beyond easy and flavorful!
Melt in your Mouth Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Tender, juicy shredded beef that’s loaded with flavor and melts in your mouth, this Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is a crowd favorite. Let’s face it, nothing beats a slow cooker meal. I mean really.. not slaving over a hot stove, especially during the summer, always wins in my book. Just add your ingredients to your slow cooker and set it and forget it. I’m all about it.
This Beef Barbacoa made in my slow cooker is a meal we all enjoy. It’s the perfect way to jazz up our Taco Tuesday. You can use it for your tacos, burritos or quesdillas.
Leave the boring ole ground beef aside and make way for this super tasty, tender beef. And when you see how easy it is to make, you’ll wonder why you didin’t try it sooner.
And what I love about barbacoa is that you’ll be using a chuck roast, which is relatively inexpensive. It’s the ideal cut of meat for slow cooking because it’s got some fat, that after hours of cooking breaks down and gives the meat all its flavor and juiciness.
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Ingredients
• chuck roast
• olive oil
• kosher salt and pepper
• chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• low-sodium beef broth
• fresh lime juice
• garlic cloves
• oregano
• ground cloves
• ground cumin
• bay leaves
The beef is sprinkled generously with kosher salt and pepper and then seared in a hot skillet until it’s browned on all sides before adding it to your slow cooker. Then you’ll combine all your ingredients for your sauce in a small food processor or blender. You’ll pulse together some chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, beef broth, lime juice, garlic cloves, ground cumin, oregano and cloves until smooth and then pour it over your meat in your slow cooker.
Then you’ll set your timer for 8 hours and come back to ridiculously tender, juicy meat that is sure to melt in your mouth. You’re gonna love it folks! Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
For best results, I always make my barbacoa with a chuck roast that has a little bit of fat. The fat will cook down and then give your meat superior flavor and juiciness.
You can shred your meat right in your slow cooker using two forks.
I like to serve my barbacoa with some rice with red beans or as a taco filling with tortillas and all the taco fixings.
I added three chipotle peppers to my sauce which gave it significant heat, add two if you enjoy things less spicy.
More Mexican Recipes to Enjoy
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 3-3 1/2 lb. chuck roast, cut into 6-8 large pieces
- kosher salt and pepper, for seasoning
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 3 bay leaves
Barbacoa Sauce
- 3 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, 2 if you like things less spicy
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 4 garlic cloves
- 4 tsp. ground cumin
- 3 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
Instructions
- Heat two tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat. Pat chuck roast pieces dry with a papper towel. Season pieces generously with salt and pepper. Sear pieces on all sides and then place pieces in slow cooker.
- Add all the ingredients for the barbacoa sauce to a small food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.
- Pour the sauce over the meat in the slow cooker. Add the bay leaves. Cook, covered for 8 hours on low.
- Shred the meat with two forks in your slow cooker. Serve the barbacoa with warm tortillas and all your favorite taco fillings and/or with some Mexican rice with beans.
Notes
We love barbacoa in this house, Mary Ann and yours looks like perfection! I love slow cooker recipes for these hot summer days, so this will be happening pronto!
Hope you enjoy it Marissa! I love a good slow cooker meal during the summer when we spend lots of days at the beach or out on the boat. It’s nice to come home to a dinner already made!
I’m with Marissa – we absolutely LOVE Barbacoa! Yours looks ultra-tender and your photos have me drooling!! I love that you made this in the slow cooker – perfect for those slower summer dinners!! Can’t wait to make this, Mare!
Thanks so much Chey!
I often order barbacoa when I’m out, but I’ve never made it at home. I have no excuse now. Yours look perfect and I can’t wait to try it :)
t’s super easy Jennifer. Hope you give it a go!
This sounds Amazing! I wonder if this recipe could be converted to cooking it in an Instant Pot?
I don’t actually have an Instant Pot Jennifer, but I bet with a little Googling, you’ll find something. Enjoy!
I’ve made this before and it’s spectacular! I have to make it for 20 people so I’m wondering if I triple the recipe does that affect the slow cooker time?
Hi Chana. Here’s a link that will help. Thanks so much for trying the recipe! https://www.recipesthatcrock.com/resourcestips-tools/how-to-adjust-crock-pot-servings/