This Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is incredible! It's melt in your mouth tender beef in a chipotle and lime sauce. Cooked low and slow, the beef just falls apart and it's perfect to put in tacos and burrito bowls or even loaded on nachos. It is so simple to make, but bursting with flavor.
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This slow cooker barbacoa is spicy and comforting, but also light and fresh. It really has everything. It takes a little bit of prep to get the best flavor from the beef, but then you just put it all in the slow cooker and let it cook away. You end up with the most incredible tender and juicy beef that just pulls apart. No dry or chewy beef here!
The flavors in this barbacoa recipe are simple, with just 8 ingredients added to the beef. This is the kind of shredded beef you get in Mexican restaurants, but SO easy to make yourself.
The chipotle and lime mixed with plenty of garlic, cumin and oregano cook together in a beef broth which coats the chunks of beef for a huge burst of flavor in every mouthful.
If you are looking for other Mexican recipes to try, then why not try our easy Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas, quick Chicken Quesadillas, simple Salmon Tacos or our delicious Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chuck Roast/Braising steak - Slow cookers are great for making budget friendly meals, because you can use cheaper cuts of meat. Cooking low and slow will get cheaper cuts really tender and still full of flavor. So we used braising steak for this recipe. You can even use goat or lamb to make this.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is best, but you could use frozen, or ready crushed in a tube. You could add some finely diced onion too.
- Chipotle paste - This is where the spicy and smokiness comes from. If you don't like a lot of spice, then you can use less. Equally, if you like it really spicy, then you can add more.
- Lime - A squeeze of lime juice adds a lovely freshness to the best.
- Oil - We browned the beef in a good quality olive oil.
- Stock - This is what makes up most of the sauce. Use a really good quality beef stock pot (beef broth) as you will taste the difference. If you are making this for young children, then use a low salt stock.
- Spices - Along with salt and pepper, we added some cumin and oregano for some Mexican flavors.
What is the Best Beef to Use?
Beef chuck roast is definitely the best cut of meat to use for this beef barbacoa recipe. In the UK, this cut is referred to as braising steak. Similar to the shoulder of pork, chuck/braising steak contains a good amount of fat and marbling, making it perfect for shredding. We cut ours into chunks for adding to the slow cooker.
When it comes to slow cooker beef barbacoa, there is no need for an expensive joint of meat. You can get away with using a cheap cut, as cooking it low and slow makes it really fall apart and melt-in-your-mouth.
You could also use skirt, rump roast or brisket. Cooking times may vary though.
How To Make Beef Barbacoa
- Step 1: Heat the oil in a large pan. Cut the beef into chunks and add to the pan. Brown on all sides (about 5 minutes).
- Step 2: Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Step 3: Combine the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.
- Step 4: Pour the sauce over the beef. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours.
- Step 5: Remove the beef from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it. Return the shredded beef back to the slow cooker and mix with the liquid.
Add some chopped cilantro (coriander) if you desire.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
This beef barbacoa in the slow cooker goes in so many things. Our favorite way to serve it is in shredded beef tacos. Here are just a few ideas of how to use it:
- Tacos
- Enchiladas
- Burritos
- Pizza topping
- On tagliatelle or udon noodles
- Fajitas
- Sandwiches
- Beef Burrito bowl
- Nacho topping
- In a burger bun with coleslaw
- On rice or mashed potato
- On salads
Dannii's Top Tips
- Slow cookers all cook things at different rates. You want to make sure that you don't overcook your beef as it will dry out. The beef is cooked when it easily shreds with a fork.
- To make a lighter version of this slow cooker pulled beef, make sure to trim all the visible fat off the beef.
- If you like your food with a real kick of heat, add some extra red chilli flakes.
- If there is a lot of juice in your slow cooker after you take the beef out to shred, then you might want to remove some of the mixture before putting the shredded meat back in.
- For something different, but really easy, mix the beef with BBQ sauce rather than the stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
It will also keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days, but it might start to get a bit dry.
Yes, this freezes really well. You can portion it out and it will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months.
You don't have to, but if you have the time then it adds such a depth of flavor. Basically, you want to trigger the Maillard reaction. It is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor. You don't have to though, and you can just throw everything into the slow cooker and leave it if you are really short on time.
There really is no rule here. We use a Morphy Richards Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.
More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
If you've tried this barbacoa beef recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Ingredients
- 800 g (1.75 lb) of Braising steak (chuck roast)
- 2 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 150 ml (0.66 cups) of Beef stock
- 3 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 Lime - juice only
- 2 tablespoon of Chipotle en adobo
- 1 teaspoon of Sea salt
- 0.5 teaspoon of Ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of Dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon of Cumin
Instructions
- Heat 2 tbsp of Olive oil in a large pan. Cut 800 g of Braising steak (chuck roast) into chunks and add to the pan. Brown on all sides (about 5 minutes).
- Combine 150 ml of Beef stock, 3 Garlic clove, juice of 1 Lime, 2 tbsp of Chipotle en adobo, 1 tsp of Sea salt, 0.5 tsp of Ground black pepper, 1 tsp of Dried oregano and 0.5 tsp of Cumin in a bowl.
- Pour the sauce over the beef. Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- Slow cookers all cook things at different rates. You want to make sure that you don't overcook your beef as it will dry out. The beef is cooked when it easily shreds with a fork.
- If you like your food with a real kick of heat, add some extra red chilli flakes.
- If there is a lot of juice in your slow cooker after you take the beef out to shred, then you might want to remove some of the mixture before putting the shredded meat back in.
- For something different, but really easy, mix the beef with BBQ sauce rather than the stock.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Savita says
This looks so juicy and delicious. Can't wait to try it out.
Gina says
Perfect recipe for delicious taco meat! Love when the slow cooker does all the work for me.
Katherine says
I love chipotle flavors. Such a good idea to slow cook the beef to get it so tender.
Joaquin says
What a great recipe! It looks so juicy and tasty! I can't wait to put my slow cooker to good use!
Kristen Wood says
Pinned to make for family this weekend! Thank you!!
Toni says
This quickly became a favorite favorite at my house! Thanks for the recipe!
Tavo says
I made this barbacoa for my friends over the weekend and everyone loved it! Thanks for another great recipe!
Natalie says
I'm going to make this for my boys this weekend. Looks delicious and super easy to make. A simple recipe that tastes delicious. Love it!
Lindsay says
We just got a share of a cow, so I've been looking for ideas for the roast, that are different from the usual things. this is going to be perfect! Adding to the list!
Pam says
I love using my slow cooker at this time of year and this is a great recipe to last all week for easy meals!