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Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is so easy to make, so flavorful and delicious. Slow cooked until beef is tender and falling apart. This recipe is so versatile as it can be served in so many different ways. Perfect for tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, and more.
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Who doesn’t love a good recipe that is easy to make, super flavorful and versatile. That is exactly what you get with this delicious Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa. Rich in traditional flavors, hearty and can be served in many ways. Just prep your beef and stir in with the rest of the ingredients in the slow cooker. Slow cook for a long time until beef is tender, moist and falling apart. This recipe is perfect to make for meal prep to make burrito bowls. It’s a crowd pleaser perfect to make some delicious homemade tacos for game day. The possibilities are truly endless!
Ingredients needed to make Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa:
- Boneless Beef Chuck Roast– Can also use Brisket or Beef Shoulder.
- Aromatics– Garlic and yellow onion.
- Tomato Paste– Adds more flavor and richness.
- Lime Juice– Fresh lime juice to elevate the flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar– Adds tanginess and depth to the dish.
- Spices and Herbs– Bay leaves, oregano, pink sea salt, black pepper, ground cloves, paprika, cumin, crushed chipotle chili, chili powder.
- Beef Broth– Gets the slow cooker going and adds moisture to beef keeping it tender as it cooks.
Equipment needed to make Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa:
- Slow Cooker– A medium-sized slow cooker works perfectly.
- Small Mixing Bowl– To mix all of your spices and herbs in.
- Whisk– A small whisk to mix spices and herbs.
- Cutting Board– Use a large cutting board to prep your beef chuck on.
How to make Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa:
- Step 1– Start by thinly slicing onion and mince garlic. In a small mixing bowl whisk together oregano, pink sea salt, black pepper, ground cloves, paprika, cumin, crushed chipotle chili, and chili powder. Make sure spices are well blended together.
- Step 2– Pat beef chuck dry and place on a large cutting board. Sprinkle spice mix over beef chuck and rub throughly all over the chuck along with minced garlic. Make sure you get the bottom and those sides. Place seasoned beef chuck in slow cooker.
- Step 3– Toss sliced onions over prepped beef chuck. Pour in lime juice, apple cider vinegar, add tomato paste and toss in bay leaves. Pour beef broth over chuck and give eveything a quick stir. Place lid on slow cooker and turn on low. Slow cook beef chuck for 8 hours.
- Step 4– After 8 hours, remove lid from slow cooker. Beef chuck should be cooked to the point it has started to fall apart. Use tongs to finish completely shredding chuck. Once all chuck is completely shredded, give it a good stir while still in the pot with the broth.
- Step 5– Serve beef barbacoa while still hot over heated tortillas to make tacos or burritos, over rice to make burrito bowls, or in any other preferred way. Enjoy!
Tips and Substitutions:
- You want to make sure you slow cook your beef barbacoa- This is what will get your beef nice and tender.
- Use any cut of beef that is tough and can be slowly cooked for a long time- This recipe calls for beef chuck roast but you can also use other cuts such as brisket and beef shoulder.
- Do not use lean meat for this recipe- it will dry out and become too stringy.
- Substitute for beef broth– You can use chicken or vegetable broth. I would suggest to use low-sodium broth to keep the amount of salt under control.
How to serve Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa:
One of the best things about this recipe is how versatile Beef Barbacoa is. It can be served in so many different ways. Warm up some tortillas and make some delicious homemade tacos. Our favorite way to serve beef barbacoa is to make burrito bowls. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice and top with some homemade guacamole, fajitas, and pickled red onions. You can also use Beef Barbacoa to make burritos, quesadillas, salads, etc.
What to serve Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa with:
- Grilled Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Loaded Guacamole
- Pickled Red Onions
- Best and Easiest Homemade Guacamole
- Rice or Cauliflower Rice
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa FAQ’s:
What is Beef Barbacoa?
Beef Barbacoa is a traditional and authentic Mexican dish. It is typically made with beef, goat or lamb. However, in the United States it is mainly made of beef. The meat is seasoned with traditional spices and herbs with dried chiles being one of the main ingredients and what gives this recipe its unique flavor and kick. Slowly cooked until tender and falling apart. Beef Barbacoa can be used to make tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, and more.
What cut of meat is Barbacoa made from?
Barbacoa is traditionally made with tougher cuts of meat that require long, slow cooking times. In the Unites States it is mainly made with beef chuck but you can also use other cuts such as brisket, or beef shoulder. You want to use beef that has a lot of connective tissue and takes a long time to cook until tender. There should also be enough fat in the beef cut that is dispersed through the muscle fibers. This fat is what will keep the meat moist and tender while cooking. If you use a leaner cut if beef, it will dry out and become too stringy.
What’s the difference between barbacoa and shredded beef?
Beef barbacoa is simply referred to beef that has been seasoned with Mexican inspired flavors and slowly cooked until fall-off the bone tender and juicy. Barbacoa is made with tougher cuts of meat that can withstand long, slow cooking times.
Meal Prepping it:
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is great for meal prepping. It takes little effort to prep, then you just throw it in the slow cooker, set it and forget it. You then have a good amount of beef that can be served in many versatile ways. Prep burrito bowls for the week for easy ready-to-go lunches. Make tacos for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. So many options.
How to store Beef Barbacoa:
Place any leftover beef barbacoa in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 4-5 days.
Can Beef Barbacoa be frozen?
This juicy, tender beef barbacoa is freezer friendly. Place it in a freezer bag and tightly seal (make sure to take out any excess air). Keep beef barbacoa frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Did you like this Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa recipe? You may also like these other Mexican Inspired recipes:
- Slow Cooker Carne Asada Tacos
- Shrimp Fajitas
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas
- Adobo Steak and Avocado Salad with Cilantro-Lime Ranch Dressing
- Air Fryer Shrimp Fajitas
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa is so easy to make, so flavorful and delicious. Slow cooked until beef is tender and falling apart. This recipe is so versatile as it can be served in so many different ways. Perfect for tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, and more.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs boneless beef chuck roast
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 2 tsp pink sea salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp crushed chipotle chili
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 cup beef broth
Instructions
-
Start by thinly slicing onion and mince garlic. In a small mixing bowl whisk together oregano, pink sea salt, black pepper, ground cloves, paprika, cumin, crushed chipotle chili, and chili powder. Make sure spices are well blended together.
-
Pat beef chuck dry and place on a large cutting board. Sprinkle spice mix over beef chuck and rub throughly all over the chuck along with minced garlic. Make sure you get the bottom and those sides. Place seasoned beef chuck in slow cooker.
-
Toss sliced onions over prepped beef chuck. Pour in lime juice, apple cider vinegar, add tomato paste and toss in bay leaves. Pour beef broth over chuck and give eveything a quick stir. Place lid on slow cooker and turn on low. Slow cook beef chuck for 8 hours.
-
After 8 hours, remove lid from slow cooker. Beef chuck should be cooked to the point it has started to fall apart. Use tongs to finish completely shredding chuck. Once all chuck is completely shredded, give it a good stir while still in the pot with the broth.
-
Serve beef barbacoa while still hot over heated tortillas to make tacos or burritos, over rice to make burrito bowls, or in any other preferred way. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips and Substitutions:
- You want to make sure you slow cook your beef barbacoa- This is what will get your beef nice and tender.
- Use any cut of beef that is tough and can be slowly cooked for a long time- This recipe calls for beef chuck roast but you can also use other cuts such as brisket and beef shoulder.
- Do not use lean meat for this recipe- it will dry out and become too stringy.
- Substitute for beef broth– You can use chicken or vegetable broth. I would suggest to use low-sodium broth to keep the amount of salt under control.
*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.
**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.
