Description
A tender, juicy, and flavorful beef barbacoa slow cooker recipe that delivers authentic Mexican street-style taste with smoky chipotle and fresh lime.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lbs beef chuck roast, well-marbled
- 2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 cup beef broth (preferably low sodium)
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Juice from 1 lime
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt to taste (kosher salt recommended)
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil (optional, for searing)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the chuck roast, leaving some for flavor. Pat dry with paper towels to ensure a good sear. (5 minutes)
- Generously season all sides of the beef with salt and freshly ground black pepper. (2 minutes)
- Optional but recommended: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef for 3-4 minutes per side until a deep crust forms. (10 minutes)
- In the slow cooker, combine chipotle peppers, chopped onion, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, apple cider vinegar, and beef broth. Stir well to combine. (5 minutes)
- Nestle the seared (or unseared) chuck roast into the sauce. Add two bay leaves on top. (2 minutes)
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 5-6 hours until the beef is fork-tender and shreddable. (Hands-off time)
- Remove beef from slow cooker and place on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Return shredded beef to the sauce and stir to coat evenly. (5-7 minutes)
- Stir in fresh lime juice just before serving. Taste and adjust salt if needed. (2 minutes)
Notes
Searing the beef before slow cooking adds a deeper flavor but can be skipped if short on time. Adjust chipotle peppers for desired heat level. If sauce is too thin after cooking, reduce by simmering on stovetop. If too thick, add broth or water. Let shredded beef soak in sauce for 10 minutes for extra flavor. Avoid lifting slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: beef barbacoa, slow cooker barbacoa, authentic barbacoa, Mexican beef recipe, chipotle beef, easy slow cooker recipes, tender beef, homemade barbacoa